[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16899-16900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08105]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-85672; File No. SR-ISE-2019-11]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq ISE, LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Extend the 
Pilot Period for the Exchange's Nonstandard Expirations Pilot Program

April 17, 2019.
    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 April 10, 2019, Nasdaq ISE, LLC (``ISE'' or the ``Exchange'') 
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 Exchange. The Exchange filed the 
proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule change pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\4\ 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.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to a proposal [sic] to extend the pilot 
period for the Exchange's nonstandard expirations pilot program, 
currently set to expire on May 6, 2019.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://ise.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.

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

1. Purpose
    ISE filed a proposed rule change for the listing and trading on the 
Exchange, on a twelve month pilot basis, of p.m.-settled options on 
broad-based indexes with nonstandard expirations dates.\5\ The pilot 
program permits both Weekly Expirations and End of Month (``EOM'') 
expirations similar to those of the a.m.-settled broad-based index 
options, except that the exercise settlement value of the options 
subject to the pilot are based on the index value derived from the 
closing prices of component stocks. This pilot was subsequently 
extended through May 6, 2019.\6\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82458 (January 8, 
2018), 83 FR 1636 (January 12, 2018) (approving SR-ISE-2017-111) 
(Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Establish a Nonstandard 
Expirations Pilot Program).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85030 (February 1, 
2019), 84 FR 2633 (February 7, 2019) (approving SR-ISE-2019-01) 
(Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 
Change To Extend the Nonstandard Expirations Pilot Program).
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    Supplementary Material .07(a) to ISE Rule 2009 provides that the 
Exchange may open for trading Weekly Expirations on any broad-based 
index eligible for standard options trading to expire on any Monday, 
Wednesday, or Friday (other than the third Friday-of- the-month or days 
that coincide with an EOM expiration). Weekly Expirations are subject 
to all provisions of Exchange Rule 2009 and are treated the same as 
options on the same underlying index that expire on the third Friday of 
the expiration month. Unlike the standard monthly options, however, 
Weekly Expirations are p.m.-settled.
    Pursuant to Supplementary Material .07(b) to ISE Rule 2009(b) the 
Exchange may open for trading End of Month (``EOM'') Expirations on any 
broad-based index eligible for standard options trading to expire on 
the last trading day of the month. EOMs are subject to all provisions 
of Rule 2009 and treated the same as options on the same underlying 
index that expire on the third Friday of the expiration month. However, 
the EOMs are p.m.-settled.
    The Exchange now proposes to amend Supplementary Material .07(c) to 
ISE Rule 2009 so that the duration of the pilot program for these 
nonstandard expirations will be through November 4, 2019. The Exchange 
continues to have sufficient systems capacity to handle p.m.-settled 
options on broad-based indexes with nonstandard expirations dates and 
has not encountered any issues or adverse market effects as a result of 
listing them. Additionally, there is continued investor interest in 
these products. The Exchange will make public on its website any data 
and analysis it submits to the Commission under the pilot program.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\7\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\8\ in particular, in that its designed 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 the proposed rule change will protect investors 
and the public interest by providing the Exchange, the Commission and 
investors the benefit of additional time to analyze nonstandard 
expiration options. By extending the pilot program, investors may 
continue to benefit from a wider array of investment opportunities. 
Additionally, both the Exchange and the Commission may continue to 
monitor the potential for adverse market effects of p.m.-settlement on 
the market, including the underlying cash equities market, at the 
expiration of these options.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 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. Options with nonstandard 
expirations would be available for trading to all market participants.

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.

[[Page 16900]]

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

    Because the 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 \9\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\10\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule19b-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 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 \11\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \12\ 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 
investors may continue to trade nonstandard expiration options listed 
by the Exchange as part of the pilot program on an uninterrupted basis. 
The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest as 
it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby 
avoiding investor confusion that could result from a temporary 
interruption in the pilot program. Accordingly, the Commission hereby 
waives the operative delay and designates the proposed rule change 
operative upon filing.\13\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \13\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission also 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 change 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-ISE-2019-11 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-ISE-2019-11. 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 website (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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2019-11 and should be submitted on 
or before May 14, 2019.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-08105 Filed 4-22-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P