[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 68 (Monday, April 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19050-19052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07387]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-91484; File No. SR-Phlx-2021-21]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the 
Nonstandard Expirations Pilot Program

April 6, 2021.
    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 1, 2021, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' 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 May 
4, 2021.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/phlx/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
    On December 15, 2017, the Commission approved a proposed rule

[[Page 19051]]

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 (``Program'').\3\ The 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 and is currently extended through 
May 4, 2021.\4\
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82341 (December 15, 
2017), 82 FR 60651 (December 21, 2017) (approving SR-Phlx-2017-79) 
(Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment 
No. 1 and Granting Accelerated Approval of Amendment No. 2, of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Establish a Nonstandard Expirations Pilot 
Program).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 84835 (December 17, 
2018), 83 FR 65773 (December 21, 2018) (SR-Phlx-2018-80); 85669 
(April 17, 2019), 84 FR 16913 (April 23, 2019) (SR-Phlx-2019-13); 
87381 (October 22, 2019), 84 FR 57788 (October 28,2 019) (SR-Phlx-
2019-43); 88684 (April 17, 2020), 85 FR 22781 (April 23, 2020) (SR-
Phlx-2020-24); and 90256 (October 22, 2020), 85 FR 68393 (October 
28, 2020) (SR-Phlx-2020-48).
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    Pursuant to Phlx Options 4A, Section 12(b)(5)(A) 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.
    Similarly, pursuant to Options 4A, Section 12(b)(5)(B) 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 Options 4A, Section 12(b)(5)(C) 
so that the duration of the Program for these nonstandard expirations 
will be through November 4, 2021. 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 continue to make public on its website any 
data and analysis it submits to the Commission under the 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 Program.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed extension of the Program 
will not have an adverse impact on capacity.
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 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. In particular, the Exchange believes that the 
Program has been successful to date. The Exchange has not encountered 
any problems with the Program. By extending the 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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    \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. 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 \7\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\8\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 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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    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-Phlx-2021-21 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.


[[Page 19052]]


All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2021-21. 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-2021-21, and should be submitted on 
or before May 3, 2021.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-07387 Filed 4-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P