[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 210 (Thursday, October 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68605-68607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23913]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-90265; File No. SR-ISE-2020-34]


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

October 23, 2020.
    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 October 21, 2020, Nasdaq ISE, LLC (``ISE'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 extend the pilot period for the Exchange's 
nonstandard expirations pilot program, currently set to expire on 
November 2, 2020.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/ise/rules, 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. 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 extended various 
times with the last extension through November 2, 2020.\3\
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 85030 (February 1, 
2019), 84 FR 2633 (February 7, 2019) (SR-ISE-2019-01); 85672 (April 
17, 2019), 84 FR 16899 (April 23, 2019) (SR-ISE-2019-11); 87380 
(October 22, 2019), 84 FR 57786 (October 28, 2019) (SR-ISE-2019-28); 
and 88681 (April 17, 2020), 85 FR 22775 (April 23, 2020) (SR-ISE-
2020-17).
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    Supplementary Material .07(a) to Options 4A, Section 12 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 Options 4A, Section 12 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 Options 4A, Section 12 
the Exchange may open for trading EOM expirations on any broad-based 
index eligible for standard options trading to expire on the last 
trading day of the month. EOM expirations are subject to all provisions 
of Options 4A, Section 12 and treated the same as options on the same 
underlying index that expire on the third Friday of the expiration 
month. However, the EOM expirations are p.m.-settled.
    The Exchange now proposes to amend Supplementary Material .07(c) to 
Options4A, Section 12 so that the duration of the pilot program for 
these nonstandard expirations will be through May 4, 2021. The Exchange 
continues to have sufficient systems capacity to

[[Page 68606]]

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 continue to make 
public on its website any data and analysis it submits to the 
Commission under the pilot program.
    The Exchange will be submitting a rule change to request that the 
pilot program become permanent. In lieu of submitting any additional 
annual reports, the Exchange would provide additional information 
requested by the Commission in connection with the permanency rule 
change for this pilot program.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\5\ 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 
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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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 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.

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 \6\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\7\
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 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 \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 
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.\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 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-2020-34 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-2020-34. 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

[[Page 68607]]

to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number 
SR-ISE-2020-34, and should be submitted on or before November 19, 2020.

    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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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-23913 Filed 10-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P