[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76415-76417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29815]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-73846; File No. SR-MIAX-2014-64]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change by Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC To 
Amend Exchange Rules 307 and 309 To Extend the SPY Pilot Program

December 16, 2014.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on December 11, 2014, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC 
(``MIAX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend Exchange Rules 307 and 
309 to extend the pilot program that eliminates the position and 
exercise limits for physically-settled options on the SPDR S&P 500 ETF 
Trust (``SPY Pilot Program'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/wotitle/rule_filing, at 
MIAX's principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 307, Commentary .01, 
Position Limits, and Exchange Rule 309, Commentary .01, Exercise 
limits, to extend the duration of the SPY Pilot Program through July 
12, 2015. There are no substantive changes being proposed to the SPY 
Pilot Program. In proposing to extend the SPY Pilot Program, the 
Exchange affirms its consideration of several factors that support the 
proposal to establish the SPY Pilot Program, which include: (1) The 
liquidity of the option and the underlying security; (2) the market 
capitalization of the underlying security and the securities that make 
up the S&P 500 Index; (3) options reporting requirements; and (4) 
financial requirements imposed by MIAX and the Commission.
    The current Pilot Report for the SPY Pilot Program is not due until 
on or before January 15, 2015. The Exchange notes that it is not aware 
of any problems created by the current SPY Pilot Program and does not 
foresee any problems with the proposed extension. The Exchange will 
formally submit the current Pilot Report for the SPY Pilot Program on 
or before January 15, 2015. In addition, the Exchange represents that 
if it chooses to extend or seek permanent approval of the SPY Pilot 
Program, that the Exchange will submit another Pilot Report at least 
thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the extended SPY Pilot 
Program time period which would cover the period between reports. The 
Pilot Report will compare the impact of the pilot program, if any, on 
the volumes of SPY options and the volatility in the price of the 
underlying SPY contract, particularly at expiration. The Pilot Report 
also will detail the size and different types of strategies employed 
with respect to positions established in SPY options; note whether any 
problems, in the underlying SPY ETF or otherwise, arose as a result of 
the no-limit approach; and include any other information that may be 
useful in evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program. In 
preparing the Pilot Report, the Exchange will utilize various data 
elements such as volume and open interest. In addition the Exchange 
would make available to Commission staff data elements relating to the 
effectiveness of the SPY Pilot Program.
    Prior to the expiration of the SPY Pilot Program and based upon the

[[Page 76416]]

findings of the Pilot Report, the Exchange will be able to either 
extend the SPY Pilot Program, adopt the SPY Pilot Program on a 
permanent basis, or terminate the SPY Pilot Program. If the SPY Pilot 
Program is not extended or adopted on a permanent basis by the 
expiration of the Extended Pilot, the position limits for SPY would 
revert to limits in effect at the commencement of the SPY Pilot 
Program.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) \3\ of the Act in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) \4\ of the Act in particular, in that it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    Specifically, the Exchange believes that extending the SPY Pilot 
Program promotes just and equitable principles of trade by permitting 
market participants, including market makers, institutional investors 
and retail investors, to establish greater positions when pursuing 
their investment goals and needs. The Exchange also believes that 
economically equivalent products should be treated in an equivalent 
manner so as to avoid regulatory arbitrage, especially with respect to 
position limits. Treating SPY and SPX options differently by virtue of 
imposing different position limits is inconsistent with the notion of 
promoting just and equitable principles of trade and removing 
impediments to perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market. At the 
same time, the Exchange believes that the elimination of position 
limits for SPY options would not increase market volatility or 
facilitate the ability to manipulate the market.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is not 
designed to address any aspect of competition, whether between the 
Exchange and its competitors, or among market participants. Instead, 
the proposed rule change is designed to allow the SPY Pilot Program to 
continue as other SROs have adopted similar provisions.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \5\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\6\ Because 
the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 
days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the 
Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along 
with a brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, 
at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the 
proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the 
Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the 
Act \8\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \9\ permits the 
Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay, noting 
that the Exchange believes a waiver of the operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest 
because it would ensure fair competition among the exchanges by 
allowing the SPY Pilot Program to continue without interruption. The 
Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. 
Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the operative delay and 
designates the proposed rule change operative upon filing.\10\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \10\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-MIAX-2014-64 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2014-64. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of

[[Page 76417]]

10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2014-64, and should be 
submitted on or before January 12, 2015.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-29815 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P