[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1383-1386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31943]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79712; File No. SR-CBOE-2016-091]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change Related to a 
Change to the Trading Symbol for P.M.-Settled Options on the Standard & 
Poor's 500 Index

December 29, 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 December 16, 2016, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated 
(the ``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described 
in Items I, II, and

[[Page 1384]]

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.
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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 Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange seeks to amend Exchange rules related to P.M.-settled 
options on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site (http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), 
at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 seeks to amend Exchange rules related to P.M.-settled 
options on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (``S&P 500 Index''). 
Specifically, the Exchange seeks to move third-Friday P.M.-settled 
options into the Hybrid 3.0 S&P 500 Index options class. This proposed 
rule change will facilitate a change to the trading symbol for P.M.-
settled S&P 500 Index options that have standard third Friday-of-the-
month (``third-Friday'') expirations from ``SPXPM'' to ``SPXW.''
    The Exchange lists A.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options that have 
standard third-Friday expirations.\3\ The Exchange also lists P.M.-
settled S&P 500 Index options that have standard third-Friday 
expirations.\4\ Currently, third-Friday A.M.-settled S&P 500 Index 
options trading under the symbol ``SPX'' are included in the Hybrid 3.0 
options class.\5\ Also included in the Hybrid 3.0 options class are 
nonstandard P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options trading under the symbol 
``SPXW,'' which may expire on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (other than 
third-Friday-of-the-month), and the last trading day of the month.\6\ 
While included in the Hybrid 3.0 class, the group of options trading 
under the symbol ``SPXW'' trade on the Hybrid Trading System.\7\ 
Currently, third-Friday P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options form a 
separate options class and trade under the symbol ``SPXPM'' on the 
Hybrid Trading System.\8\
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    \3\ See Rule 24.9(a)(4)(i) (identifying A.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options as being approved for trading on the Exchange).
    \4\ See Rule 24.9.14 (authorizing the Exchange to list P.M.-
settled S&P 500 options).
    \5\ See Rule 8.3(c)(iii).
    \6\ See Rule 24.9(e).
    \7\ See Rule 8.14.01.
    \8\ See Rule 8.3(c)(i) (identifying P.M.-settled third-Friday 
S&P options as a Tier AA Hybrid Options Class).
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    The Exchange believes moving SPXPM into the SPX options class to 
trade under the SPXW symbol will have no adverse impact on the 
marketplace. In fact, the Exchange believes moving SPXPM into the SPX 
options class to trade under the SPXW symbol will have a positive 
impact on the marketplace and retail customers in particular. As 
previously noted, in addition to end-of-the-month expirations, SPXW 
options are P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options that may expire on 
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (other than third-Friday-of-the-month) 
(i.e., nonstandard weekly expirations pursuant to Rule 24.9(e)). 
Trading P.M.-settled third-Friday expirations under the SPXW symbol 
will ensure market participants, particularly retail customers, have 
seamless access to P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options expiring every 
Friday of the month. Currently, a user of SPXW options cannot roll an 
existing SPXW position that expires on a first or second Friday of a 
month into a SPXW position that expires on a third-Friday. Thus, for 
SPXW users, there is a gap in Friday expirations. Changing the SPXPM 
symbol to SPXW will remove the gap in Friday SPXW expirations and allow 
market participants, especially retail customers that are less likely 
to utilize both SPXPM and SPXW options to maintain exposure to Friday 
expirations, to have seamless access to P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index 
options expiring every Friday of the month.
    In addition, offering seamless access to P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index 
options that expire every Friday of the month will allow market 
participants to submit complex orders with options series that expire 
on third-Fridays and other Friday expirations. Market participants may 
not submit complex orders that consist of SPXPM options series and SPXW 
options series because they are currently in separate classes.\9\ 
Although market participants have the ability to submit separate orders 
to leg into a position with third-Friday and other Friday exposure, 
retail customers are less likely to leg into a position. Thus, changing 
the SPXPM symbol to SPXW will allow market participants, especially 
retail customers, to submit complex orders with options series that 
expire on third-Fridays and other Fridays.
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    \9\ The Exchange notes that Rule 24.19 provides a limited 
exception for the trading of Multi-Class Broad-Based Index Option 
Spread Orders in open outcry. See also Regulatory Circular RG15-152.
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    As previously noted, the Exchange does not believe moving SPXPM 
into the SPX options class and changing the SPXPM symbol to SPXW will 
have any adverse impact on market participants. Because SPXPM and SPXW 
options both trade on the Hybrid Trading System,\10\ and Exchange Rules 
and systems treat SPXPM and SPXW the same in most respects, the 
Exchange expects a smooth transition of SPXPM series to the SPXW 
symbol. For example, the minimum increment applicable to both SPXPM and 
SPXW orders is the same.\11\ Additionally, the allocation algorithm for 
both SPXPM and SPXW is currently price-time during Regular Trading 
Hours (``RTH''),\12\ there is no Lead Market-Maker (``LMM'') \13\ 
appointed in SPXPM or SPXW during RTH, and the only firm appointed as 
the LMM in SPXPM during Extended Trading Hours (``ETH'') is also an 
appointed LMM in SPXW (via the SPX options class appointment) during 
ETH.\14\ The few differences between SPXPM and SPXW trading parameters 
are as follows:
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    \10\ See Rules 8.3(c)(i) (identifying P.M.-settled third-Friday 
S&P Index options as a Tier AA Hybrid Options Class) and 8.14.01 
(allowing the Exchange to authorize a group of series of a class for 
trading on the Hybrid Trading System).
    \11\ See Rule 6.42(1)-(4).
    \12\ See Rule 6.45B(a)(i).
    \13\ See Rule 8.15 (giving the Exchange the ability to appoint 
LMMs).
    \14\ See CBOE Regulatory Circulars RG 14-134 and RG15-131.
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     The allocation algorithm for opening rotations is pro-rata 
in SPXW and price-time in SPXPM; \15\
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    \15\ See Rule 6.2B.04 (allowing the Exchange to determine the 
allocation algorithm for opening rotations on a class-by-class 
basis); see also Regulatory Circulars RG14-016 (setting forth the 
allocation method for SPXW, which, at the time, only applied to 
Regular Trading Hours as the Exchange did not yet offer Extended 
Trading Hours); RG13-012 (setting forth the allocation method for 
SPXPM, which, at the time, only applied to Regular Trading Hours as 
the Exchange did not yet offer Extended Trading Hours); RG15-029 
(setting forth the allocation method for SPXW during Extended 
Trading Hours); and RG15-131 (setting forth the allocation method 
for SPXPM during Extended Trading Hours).

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[[Page 1385]]

     The Exchange has activated the Automated Improvement 
Mechanism (``AIM'') for SPXPM during RTH but not SPXW.\16\ AIM is 
available for SPXPM and SPXW during ETH; \17\
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    \16\ See Rule 6.74A(a)(1) (providing that the Exchange 
determines the options classes that are eligible for AIM); see also 
Regulatory Circular sRG16-024 (providing that AIM will not be 
available in SPXW options during Regular Trading Hours) and RG13-012 
(providing that AIM will be available for SPXPM, which, at the time, 
only applied to Regular Trading Hours as the Exchange did not yet 
offer Extended Trading Hours).
    \17\ See Regulatory Circular RG16-049 (providing that AIM will 
be available in Extended Trading Hours for SPXW and SPXPM).
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     During RTH the appointment cost for the SPXPM options 
class is .50, and the appointment cost for the SPX class is 1.0. 
However, all Market-Makers currently appointed in SPXPM during RTH are 
also appointed in SPX during RTH, which SPX appointment confers the 
right to trade A.M.-settled SPX options as well as P.M.-settled SPXW 
options.\18\
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    \18\ See Rule 8.3(c)(iii).
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     During ETH the appointment cost for the SPXPM options 
class is .1, and the appointment cost for the SPX class is .4. However, 
all Market-Makers currently appointed in SPXPM during ETH are also 
appointed in SPX during ETH.
     Market-Makers are not allowed to enter orders to rest in 
the complex order book (``COB'') for SPXW during RTH but are allowed 
during ETH whereas Market-Makers are allowed to enter orders to rest in 
the COB for SPXPM in both Regular and Extended Trading Hours.\19\
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    \19\ See Rule 6.53C(c)(i) (providing the Exchange with authority 
to determine which origin codes are eligible to be entered into the 
COB); see also Regulatory Circulars RG15-195 (identifying origin 
codes that are not allowed to rest in the SPXW COB during Regular 
and Extended Trading Hours); RG13-012 (identifying origin codes that 
are allowed for SPXPM, which, at the time, only applied to Regular 
Trading Hours as the Exchange did not yet offer Extended Trading 
Hours); and RG15-131 (identifying origin codes that are allowed to 
rest in the SPXPM COB during Extended Trading Hours).
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Position Limits/Reporting Requirements
    In addition, since third-Friday P.M.-settled options trading under 
the SPXW symbol will be a new type of series under the SPX options 
class and not a new options class, all third-Friday P.M.-settled SPXW 
options will be aggregated together with all other standard expirations 
for applicable reporting and other requirements.\20\
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    \20\ See e.g., Rule 4.13, Reports Related to Position Limits, 
and Interpretation and Policy .03 to Rule 24.4, which sets forth the 
reporting requirements for certain broad-based indexes that do not 
have position limits.
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Pilot Reports
    Third-Friday P.M.-Settled S&P 500 Index options are listed on a 
pilot basis.\21\ The pilot will continue under the same terms that 
established the pilot. As part of the pilot, the Exchange submits 
quarterly reports and annual reports that analyze the market impact and 
trading patterns of third-Friday P.M.-settled S&P 500 options. The 
reports will be modified to provide the same data and analysis for 
third-Friday P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options trading under symbol 
SPXW that is currently submitted for third-Friday P.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options trading under symbol SPXPM.
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    \21\ See Rule 24.9.14 and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
68457 (December 18, 2012), 77 FR 76135 (December 26, 2012) (SR-CBOE-
2012-120).
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2013 SPXPM Approval Order
    The Exchange also proposes to correct the record with respect to 
the original approval to list SPXPM options on CBOE.\22\ The Exchange's 
initial filing to list SPXPM on CBOE proposed ``to move all P.M.-
settled S&P 500 Index options series that are part of the SPXPM [sic] 
options class and that have an expiration on any day other than the 
third Friday of every month (e.g., Quarterly Index Options (``QIX''), 
End-of-Week (``EOW'') series, etc.) to the SPXPM class.'' \23\ First, 
noted in the previous sentence, the initial filing mistakenly proposed 
to move options series that were part of the SPXPM options class to the 
SPXPM options class, which has no meaning because if series are part of 
an options class they can't be moved to the same options class. Second, 
the Exchange's Amendment No. 3 to the rule filing sought to replace the 
above-quoted sentence with the following sentence:
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    \22\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68888 (February 8, 
2013), 78 FR 10668 (February 14, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2012-120) (Order 
approving SPXPM for trading on CBOE) (``Approval Order'').
    \23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68457 (December 18, 
2012), 77 FR 76135 (December 26, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-120).

    The Exchange does not propose to move any P.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options series that are part of the SPX options class and that 
have an expiration on any day other than the third Friday of every 
month (e.g., Quarterly Index Options (``QIX''), End-of-Week (``EOW'') 
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series, etc.) to the SPXPM class.

    However, Footnote 5 of the Approval Order mistakenly indicated that 
pursuant to the Exchange's Amendment No. 3, any P.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options series that are part of the SPX options class and that 
have an expiration on any day other than the third Friday of every 
month will remain under the SPXPM class to avoid investor confusion. 
The Approval Order should have indicated that P.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options series that are part of the SPX options class and that 
have an expiration on any day other than the third Friday of every 
month will remain under the SPX class, not the SPXPM class. 
Notwithstanding the mistake in the Approval Order P.M.-settled S&P 500 
Index options series that have an expiration on any day other than the 
third Friday of every month have been included in the SPX class; thus, 
this proposal simply corrects the record.
Conforming Changes
    In order to move the SPXPM class into the SPX class the Exchange is 
making conforming changes to CBOE Rules 6.1A, 6.42, 8.3, 24.4, 24.5, 
24.6, 24.9, 24A.7, 24A.8, 24B.7, and 24B.8.
Implementation Date
    The Exchange intends to change the SPXPM symbol to SPXW at some 
point in February 2017.\24\ However, in the event that the Exchange 
determines to implement the change at a later date, the proposed rule 
text provides that current rule text provisions will remain in effect 
until a date specified by the Exchange in a Regulatory Circular, which 
date shall be no later than July 31, 2017, and on the date specified by 
the Exchange in a Regulatory Circular, the rule text provisions amended 
by this filing will be in effect.
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    \24\ See RG16-132.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\25\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \26\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be 
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 regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market

[[Page 1386]]

system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. 
Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is 
consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \27\ requirement that the rules of 
an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \27\ Id.
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    In particular, the Exchange believes trading P.M.-settled third-
Friday expirations under the SPXW symbol rather than the separate SPXPM 
symbol will ensure market participants, particularly retail customers, 
have seamless access to P.M.-settled S&P 500 Index options expiring 
every Friday of the month, which helps to remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market. The Exchange believes 
the proposed rule change will help to protect investors and the public 
interest by allowing market participants to enter options positions 
with the same underlying in one symbol that spans every Friday 
expiration in a month, thus providing a more efficient way to gain 
exposure and hedge risk.

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

    CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any 
burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange does not believe 
the rule change will impose a burden on intramarket competition because 
all market participants will continue to have access to P.M.-settled 
S&P 500 Index options expiring every Friday of the month and will be 
able to trade them under the SPXW symbol. The proposal will not impose 
a burden on intermarket competition because the options effected by 
this proposal are exclusive to CBOE. Additionally, the Exchange does 
not believe the proposal will impose any burden on intermarket 
competition as market participants on other exchanges are welcome to 
become Trading Permit Holders and trade at CBOE if they determine that 
this proposed rule change has made CBOE more attractive or favorable.

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

    The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be 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-CBOE-2016-091 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2016-091. 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 the 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-CBOE-2016-091 and should be 
submitted on or before January 26, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31943 Filed 1-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P