[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15522-15523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05560]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-88374; File No. SR-Phlx-2020-08]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Certain 
Phlx Rules To Remove References to Mini Options

March 12, 2020,
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on March 5, 2020, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``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.
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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 proposes to amend Phlx Rules at Options 3, Section 3, 
Minimum Increments, Section 12, Electronic Qualified Contingent Cross 
Order, Section 13, Price Improvement XL (``PIXL''), Section 14, Complex 
Orders; Options 4, Section 5, Series of Options Open for Trading; 
Options 7, Section 1, General Provisions, Section 6, Other Transaction 
Fees; Options 8, Section 24, Bids And Offers--Premium, Section 30, 
Crossing, Facilitation and Solicited Orders; and Options 9, Section 13, 
Position Limits to remove references to Mini Options.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://nasdaqphlx.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
    The Exchange proposes to amend Phlx Rules at Options 3, Section 3, 
Minimum Increments, Section 12, Electronic Qualified Contingent Cross 
Order, Section 13, Price Improvement XL (``PIXL''), Section 14, Complex 
Orders; Options 4, Section 5, Series of Options Open for Trading; 
Options 7, Section 1, General Provisions, Section 6, Other Transaction 
Fees; Options 8, Section 24, Bids And Offers--Premium, Section 30, 
Crossing, Facilitation and Solicited Orders; and Options 9, Section 13, 
Position Limits to remove references to Mini Options.
    The Exchange has not listed Mini Options in several years and is 
proposing to delete listing rules and other ancillary trading rules 
related to the listing of Mini Options. The Exchange notes that it has 
no open interest in Mini Options.
    Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend the following Phlx 
Rules: Options 3, Section 3, Minimum Increments, Section 12, Electronic 
Qualified Contingent Cross Order, Section 13, Price Improvement XL 
(``PIXL''), Section 14, Complex Orders; Options 4, Section 5, Series of 
Options Open for Trading; Options 7, Section 1, General Provisions, 
Section 6, Other Transaction Fees; Options 8, Section 24, Bids And 
Offers--Premium, Section 30, Crossing, Facilitation and Solicited 
Orders; and Options 9, Section 13, Position Limits, to remove 
references to Mini Options in the System as well as the pricing of Mini 
Options executed on Phlx. In the event that the Exchange desires to 
list Mini Options in the future, it would file a rule change with the 
Commission to adopt rules to list Mini Options.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\3\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\4\ in particular, in that it is 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

[[Page 15523]]

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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    The Exchange's proposal to removal references to the listing and 
handling of Mini Options is consistent with the Act because Mini 
Options have not been listed in several years and thereby removing the 
references to the rules would render the rules more accurate and reduce 
potential investor confusion. Also, the Exchange notes that it has no 
open interest in Mini Options. In the event that the Exchange desires 
to list Mini Options in the future, it would file a rule change with 
the Commission to adopt rules to list Mini Options.

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 Exchange's proposal to 
removal references to the listing and handling of Mini Options do not 
impose an undue burden on competition. Mini Options have not been 
listed in several years. Also, the Exchange notes that it has no open 
interest in Mini Options.

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 \5\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\6\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \6\ 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 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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    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-Phlx-2020-08 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-Phlx-2020-08. 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-Phlx-2020-08 and should be submitted on 
or before April 8, 2020.
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-05560 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P