71 FR 239 pgs. 74968-74969 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Extension of the Pilot Period Applicable to CBOE's Listing and Trading of Options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund
Type: NOTICEVolume: 71Number: 239Pages: 74968 - 74969
Docket number: [Release No. 34-54876; File No. SR-CBOE-2006-103]
FR document: [FR Doc. E6-21173 Filed 12-12-06; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-54876; File No. SR-CBOE-2006-103]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Extension of the Pilot Period Applicable to CBOE's Listing and Trading of Options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund
December 5, 2006.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"),1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on December 4, 2006, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated ("Exchange" or "CBOE") 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 this proposal as a "non-controversial" proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act3and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,4which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the commission.5The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
Footnotes:
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).
5 The Exchange requested the Commission to waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay, as specified in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii). 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated ("CBOE" or "Exchange") proposes to extend the pilot period applicable to CBOE's listing and trading of options on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund ("Fund Options"). CBOE is not proposing any textual changes to the rules of CBOE. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.cboe.com ), the Office of the Secretary, CBOE, 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, CBOE 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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The CBOE has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
On April 10, 2006, the Commission approved a CBOE proposal (SR-CBOE-2006-32) to list and trade Fund Options.6SR-CBOE-2006-32 was approved for a sixty-day pilot period that was due to expire on June 9, 2006 ("Pilot"). On May 31, 2006, CBOE filed SR-CBOE-2006-56 which extended the Pilot for an additional 90 days, until September 7, 2006.7On August 21, 2006, CBOE filed SR-CBOE-2006-72 which extended the Pilot for an additional 90 days, until December 7, 2006.8
Footnotes:
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53621 (April 10, 2006), 71 FR 19568 (April 14, 2006) (SR-CBOE-2006-32).
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53930 (June 1, 2006), 71 FR 33322 (June 8, 2006) (granting immediate effectiveness to SR-CBOE-2006-56).
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54347 (August 22, 2006), 71 FR 51242 (August 29, 2006) (granting immediate effectiveness to SR-CBOE-2006-72).
The Fund Options will continue to meet substantially all of the listing and maintenance standards in CBOE Rules 5.3.06 and 5.4.08, respectively. For the requirements that are not met, the Exchange continues to represent that sufficient mechanisms exist that would provide the Exchange with adequate surveillance and regulatory information with respect to the Fund. Continuation of the Pilot would permit the Exchange to continue to work with the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores ("Bolsa") to develop a surveillance sharing agreement.9
Footnotes:
9 Telephone conference between Patrick Sexton, Associate General Counsel, Exchange and Geoffrey Pemble, Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on December 5, 2006.
CBOE now proposes to extend the Pilot for an additional 90 days, until June 7, 2007.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.10Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) Act11requirements that the rules of an exchange be 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:
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of purposes of the Act.
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 with respect to the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act12and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder13because the proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act14and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)15thereunder.
Footnotes:
12 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
13 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
14 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
15 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay.16The Commission is exercising its authority to waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement and believes that the waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Waiver of the five-day pre-filing and 30-day operative periods will extend the Pilot, which would otherwise expire on December 7, 2006, and allow the Exchange to continue in its efforts to obtain a surveillance agreement with the Bolsa. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.17
Footnotes:
16 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
17 For the purposes only of waiving the operative date of this proposal,the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change the Commission may summarily abrogate 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 the furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2006-103 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2006-103. 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. 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-CBOE-2006-103 and should be submitted on or before January 3, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.18
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
Footnotes:
18 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
[FR Doc. E6-21173 Filed 12-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P