[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32908-32910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14982]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81129; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-76]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Commentary 
.06 to Rule 6.8 To Extend the Pilot Program That Eliminated the 
Position Limits for Options on SPDR S&P 500 ETF

July 12, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act''),\2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that on July 10, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. 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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 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 proposes to amend Commentary .06 to Rule 6.8 to extend 
the pilot program that eliminated the position limits for options on 
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (``SPY'') (``SPY Pilot Program''). The proposed rule 
change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.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 self-regulatory organization 
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 those 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 parts 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 Commentary .06 to Rule 6.8 to extend 
the time period of the SPY Pilot Program,\4\ which is currently 
scheduled to expire on July 12, 2017, through July 12, 2018.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68001 (October 5, 
2012), 77 FR 62303 (October 12, 2012). The SPY Pilot Program was 
subsequently extended. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 
70968 (December 3, 2013), 78 FR 73899 (December 9, 2013); 74029 
(January 9, 2015), 80 FR 2161 (January 15, 2015); 75415 (July 9, 
2015), 80 FR 41541 (July 15, 2015); and 78242 (July 7, 2016), 81 FR 
45330 (July 13, 2016) (the ``July 2016 Extension'').
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    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.
    In the July 2016 Extension, the Exchange stated that if it were to 
propose an extension, permanent approval or termination of the program, 
the Exchange would submit, along with any filing proposing such 
amendments to the program, a report providing an analysis of the SPY 
Pilot Program covering the period since the previous

[[Page 32909]]

extension (the ``Pilot Report''). Accordingly, the Exchange is 
submitting a Pilot Report detailing the Exchange's experience with the 
SPY Pilot Program for the period covering twelve (12) months from June 
2016 to May 2017. The Pilot Report is attached as Exhibit 3 to this 
filing [sic]. 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. In extending the SPY Pilot Program, the 
Exchange states that if it were to propose another extension, permanent 
approval or termination of the program, the Exchange will submit 
another Pilot Report covering the period since the previous extension, 
which will be submitted at least 30 days before the end of the proposed 
extension. If the SPY Pilot Program is not extended or adopted on a 
permanent basis by July 12, 2018, the position limits for SPY would 
revert to limits in effect at the commencement of the pilot program. 
The proposed extension will allow the Exchange and the Commission 
additional time to further evaluate the SPY Pilot Program and its 
effect on the market.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \5\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \6\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, 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. 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.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 uninterrupted. Additionally, the Exchange expects all other 
SROs that currently have rules regarding the SPY Pilot Program to also 
extend the pilot program for an additional year.

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

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

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) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with 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.
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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 so that 
the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange 
believes that waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because it will allow 
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-NYSEArca-2017-76 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-NYSEArca-2017-76. 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

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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-NYSEArca-2017-76, and should 
be submitted on or before August 8, 2017.

    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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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-14982 Filed 7-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P