[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42009-42011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15175]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78125; File No. SR-BX-2016-030]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Elimination of 
SPY Position Limits

June 22, 2016.
    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 June 10, 2016, NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``Exchange'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to extend for another twelve (12) month time 
period the pilot program to eliminate position limits for options on 
the SPDR[supreg] S&P 500[supreg] exchange-traded fund (``SPY ETF'' or 
``SPY''),\3\ which list and trade under the symbol SPY (``SPY Pilot 
Program'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``SPDR[supreg],'' ``Standard & Poor's[supreg],'' 
``S&P[supreg],'' ``S&P 500[supreg],'' and ``Standard & Poor's 500'' 
are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services 
LLC. The SPY ETF represents ownership in the SPDR S&P 500 Trust, a 
unit investment trust that generally corresponds to the price and 
yield performance of the SPDR S&P 500 Index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, 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.

[[Page 42010]]

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the 
Supplementary Material at the end of Chapter III, Section 7 (Position 
Limits) to extend the current pilot which expires on July 12, 2016 for 
an additional twelve (12) month time period to July 12, 2017 
(``Extended Pilot''). This filing does not propose any substantive 
changes to the SPY Pilot Program. In proposing to extend the SPY Pilot 
Program, the Exchange reaffirms its consideration of several factors 
that supported the original proposal of the SPY Pilot Program, 
including (1) the availability of economically equivalent products and 
their respective position limits; (2) the liquidity of the option and 
the underlying security; (3) the market capitalization of the 
underlying security and the related index; (4) the reporting of large 
positions and requirements surrounding margin; and (5) the potential 
for market on close volatility.
    With this proposal, the Exchange submits the SPY report to the 
Commission, which report reflects, during the time period from May 2015 
through May 2016, the trading of standardized SPY options with no 
position limits consistent with option exchange provisions.\4\ The 
report was prepared in the manner specified in the Exchange's prior 
rule filing extending the SPY Pilot Program.\5\ The Exchange notes that 
it is unaware of any problems created by the SPY Pilot Program and does 
not foresee any as a result of the proposed extension. The proposed 
extension will allow the Exchange and the Commission additional time to 
further evaluate the pilot program and its effect on the market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The report is attached as Exhibit 3.
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75412 (July 9, 
2015), 80 FR 41517 (July 15, 2015) (SR-BX-2015-039).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As with the original proposal to establish the SPY Pilot Program, 
the Exchange represents that a SPY Pilot Report will be submitted at 
least thirty (30) days before the end of the Extended Pilot and would 
analyze that period. The Pilot Report will detail the size and 
different types of strategies employed with respect to positions 
established as a result of the elimination of position limits in SPY. 
In addition, the report will note whether any problems resulted due to 
the no limit approach and any other information that may be useful in 
evaluating the effectiveness of the Extended Pilot. The Pilot Report 
will compare the impact of the SPY Pilot Program, if any, on the 
volumes of SPY options and the volatility in the price of the 
underlying SPY shares, particularly at expiration during the Extended 
Pilot. In preparing the report the Exchange will utilize various data 
elements such as volume and open interest. In addition the Exchange 
will make available to Commission staff data elements relating to the 
effectiveness of the SPY Pilot Program. Conditional on the findings in 
the SPY Pilot Report, the Exchange will file with the Commission a 
proposal to extend the pilot program, adopt the pilot program on a 
permanent basis or terminate the pilot. 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 options would revert to 
limits in effect prior to the commencement of the SPY Pilot Program.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \6\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \7\ 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 mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would be 
beneficial to market participants, including market makers, 
institutional investors and retail investors, by permitting them 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 proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition 
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of 
the Act. In this regard, the Exchange notes that the rule change is 
being proposed as a competitive response to similar filings that the 
Exchange expects to be filed by other options exchanges. The Exchange 
believes this proposed rule change is necessary to permit fair 
competition among the options exchanges and to establish uniform 
position limits for a multiply listed options class.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    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)(iii) of the Act \8\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(iii).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) 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

[[Page 42011]]

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-BX-2016-030 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-BX-2016-030. 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 
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-BX-2016-030, and should be 
submitted on or before July 19, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-15175 Filed 6-27-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P