70 FR 20 pgs. 5260-5261 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval to a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Position Limits and Exercise Limits on the Boston Options Exchange for Options on Standard and Poor's Depositary Receipts
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 20Pages: 5260 - 5261
Docket number: [Release No. 34-51069; File No. SR-BSE-2005-05]
FR document: [FR Doc. E5-361 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-51069; File No. SR-BSE-2005-05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval to a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Position Limits and Exercise Limits on the Boston Options Exchange for Options on Standard and Poor's Depositary Receipts
January 21, 2005.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on January 20, 2005, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. ("BSE" 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. In addition, the Commission is granting accelerated approval of the proposed rule change.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its Boston Options Exchange Rules ("BOX Rules") to increase position limits and exercise limits for options on Standard and Poor's Depositary Receipts ("SPDRs"). The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.bostonstock.com ), at the BSE's Office of the Secretary, 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 had received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item III 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 BSE began trading options on SPDRs on January 10, 2005 on the Boston Options Exchange. Currently, under BOX Rules Chapter III Section 7 and Section 9, position limits and exercise limits for options on SPDRs are 75,000 contracts on the same side of the market. The Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .01 to Section 7 of Chapter III and Supplementary Material .01 to Section 9 of Chapter III of the BOX Rules to increase position limits and exercise limits for options on SPDRs to 300,000 contracts on the same side of the market.
Given the expected institutional demand for options on SPDRs, the BSE believes the current equity position limit of 75,000 contracts to be too low and a deterrent to the successful trading of the product. Options on SPDRs are 1⁄1 th the size of options on the Standard and Poor's 500 Index ("SPX").3Thus, a position limit of 75,000 contracts in SPDR options is equivalent to a 7,500 contract position limit in SPX options. Traders who trade SPDR options to hedge positions in SPX options are likely to find a position limit of 75,000 contracts in SPDR options too restrictive, which may adversely affect BOX's ability to provide liquidity in this product.
Footnotes:
3 Options on SPX are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
Comparable products such as options on the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock ("QQQ") are subject to a 300,000-contract limit.4The BSE proposes that options on SPDRs similarly be subject to position limits and exercise limits of 300,000 contracts. The Exchange believes that increasing position limits and exercise limits for SPDR options would lead to a more liquid and competitive market environment for SPDR options that would benefit customers interested in this product.
Footnotes:
4 See Supplementary Material .01 to Section 7 of Chapter III and Supplementary Material .01 to Section 9 of Chapter III of the BOX Rules.
Consistent with the reporting requirement for QQQ options, the Exchange would require that each Options Participant5that maintains a position on the same side of the market in excess of 10,000 contracts in the SPDR option class, for its own account or for the account of a customer, report certain information.6This data would include, but would not be limited to, the option position, whether such position is hedged and if so, a description of the hedge and if applicable, the collateral used to carry the position. In addition, the general reporting requirement for customer accounts that maintain a position in excess of 200 contracts would remain at this level for SPDR options.7
Footnotes:
5 Defined in Section 1(40) of Chapter I of the BOX Rules.
6 See Section 10(b) of Chapter III of the BOX Rules.
7 See Section 10(a) of Chapter III of the BOX Rules.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act8in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,9in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
Footnotes:
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received from Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.
III. 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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov . Please include File Number SR-BSE-2005-05 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2005-05. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Section. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the BSE. All comments 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-BSE-2005-05 and should be submitted on or before February 22, 2005.
IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change
After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, applicable to a national securities exchange,10and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.11Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change should ensure that the Exchange's position limits and exercise limits on SPDR options provide its members with sufficient flexibility to participate in the market for such options in a manner that should provide greater depth and liquidity for all market participants.
Footnotes:
10 10 In approving this proposal, the Commission has considered its impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
The Commission finds good cause for approving this proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register . Specifically, the Commission believes that granting accelerated approval to the proposed rule change should permit greater depth and liquidity in the SPDR options market that should benefit all market participants, including retail investors. Because the higher position limits and exercise limits mirror those that the Commission has previously approved for like products, the Commission believes it is consistent with Sections 6(b)(5)12and 19(b)(2)13of the Act to approve the BSE's proposed rule change on an accelerated basis.
Footnotes:
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,14that the proposed rule change (SR-BSE-2005-05) is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.
Footnotes:
14 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.15
Footnotes:
15 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-361 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
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