Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.,

[Federal Register: August 22, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 162)]

[Notices]

[Page 47092-47094]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22au07-158]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-56268; File No. SR-BSE-2007-41]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Time Period for the Position Limits Pilot Program

August 15, 2007.

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 August

[[Page 47093]]

15, 2007, 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 substantially prepared by BSE. The Exchange has filed the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders it effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

  1. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    BSE proposes to amend Chapter III, Section 7 (Position Limits) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange (``BOX''), an options trading facility of BSE, to extend its current pilot program to increase the standard position and exercise limits for equity option contracts and options on the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (``QQQQ'') (``Pilot Program''). The text of the proposed rule change is available at BSE, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://www.bostonstock.com.

  2. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, BSE 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.

    1. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

      1. Purpose

        The Pilot Program provides for an increase to the standard position and exercise limits for equity option contracts and for options on QQQQs for a six-month period.\5\ Specifically, the Pilot Program increased the applicable position and exercise limits for equity options and options on the QQQQ to the following levels:

        \5\ The Pilot Program, which began on March 3, 2005, was extended on August 15, 2005, February 22, 2006, August 30, 2006, and February 8, 2007. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 51317 (March 3, 2005), 70 FR 12254 (March 11, 2005) (SR-BSE-2005-10) (``Pilot Program Notice''); 52264 (August 15, 2005), 70 FR 48992 (August 22, 2005) (SR-BSE-2005-37); 53347 (February 22, 2006), 71 FR 10573 (March 1, 2006) (SR-BSE-2006-07); 54388 (August 30, 2006), 71 FR 52833 (September 7, 2006) (SR-BSE-2006-32); and 55260 (February 8, 2007), 72 FR 7487 (February 15, 2007) (SR-BSE-2007-04).

        \6\ Except when the Pilot Program is in effect.

        Current equity option contract

        Pilot program equity option limit \6\

        contract limit

        13,500

        25,000 22,500

        50,000 31,500

        75,000 60,000

        200,000 75,000

        250,000

        Current QQQQ Option Contract Limit Pilot Program QQQQ Option Contract Limit

        300,000

        900,000

        The Exchange believes that extending the Pilot Program for six months is warranted due to positive feedback from members and for the reasons cited in the original rule filing that proposed the adoption of the Pilot Program.\7\ In addition, BOX has not encountered any problems or difficulties relating to the Pilot Program since its inception. For these reasons, the BSE requests that the Commission extend the Pilot Program for an additional six months, through and including March 1, 2008.

        \7\ See Pilot Program Notice, supra note 5.

      2. Statutory Basis

        The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and furthers the objective of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest.

        \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

        \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

    2. 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 that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    3. 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.

  3. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

    Because the foregoing rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for 30 days from the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act\10\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\11\

    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing.\12\ However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)\13\ 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 requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and in the public interest because it will allow the Pilot Program to continue uninterrupted. For this

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    reason, the Commission designates that the proposed rule change become operative immediately.\14\

    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b- 4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory organization submit to 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. BSE has satisfied the five-day pre-filing requirement.

    \13\ Id.

    \14\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 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 furtherance of the Act.

  4. 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 No. SR-BSE-2007-41 on the subject line.

    Paper Comments

    Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File No. SR-BSE-2007-41. 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 Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of 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 No. SR-BSE-2007-41 and should be submitted on or before September 12, 2007.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\15\

    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. 6 [FR Doc. E7-16530 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

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