Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc.,
[Federal Register: March 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 10711-10712]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr05-138]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-51260; File No. SR-CBOE-2005-02]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated Relating to Exchange Fees for Reduced-Value Options on the Russell 2000 Index
February 25, 2005.
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 January 3, 2005, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (``CBOE'' 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 Exchange filed the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\4\ 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)(iii).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The CBOE proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to establish fees for reduced-value options on the Russell 2000 Index. The text of the proposed rule change is available on CBOE's Web site (http://www.cboe.com ), at the Exchange's principal office, and at the
Commission's Public Reference Room.
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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 statutory 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 Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
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Purpose
The Exchange has submitted to the Commission a proposal to list for trading options that are based on one-fifth and one-tenth the value of the Russell 2000 Index (``Reduced-Value Options'').\5\ The Exchange proposes to amend its Fee Schedule to establish fees for the Reduced- Value Options by setting the fees equal to the fees that are currently assessed by the Exchange for options on exchange-traded funds (``ETFs'').
\5\ See File No. SR-CBOE-2004-89.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to assess public customers a transaction fee of $0.15 for transactions in the Reduced-Value Options, which is equivalent to what public customers are assessed for transactions in ETFs and Holding Company Depositary Receipts (``HOLDRS'') options.\6\ Thus, public customer transaction fees for the Reduced-Value Options will be lower than the public customer transaction fees for the full-value Russell 2000 Index options (``RUT'').\7\
\6\ Public customer transaction fees for options on ETFs and HOLDRS were reduced to $0.15 effective October 1, 2004. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50469 (September 29, 2004), 69 FR 59628 (October 5, 2004) (``ETF and HOLDRS fee filing'').
\7\ Public customer transaction fees for RUT options are $0.45 if the premium is greater than or equal to $1 and $0.25 if the premium is less than $1.
All other fees for the Reduced-Value Options will also be the same as the fees currently assessed for ETF options. Market-maker and DPM transaction fees will be $0.24 and member firm proprietary transaction fees will be $0.20 for facilitation of customer orders and $0.24 for non-facilitation orders. Linkage and broker-dealer transaction fees will be $0.45 if the premium is greater than or equal to $1 and $0.25 if the premium is less than $1.\8\ Non-member market-maker transaction fees will be $0.47 if the premium is greater than or equal to $1 and $0.27 if the premium is less than $1. The floor brokerage fee will be $0.04 and $0.02 for crossed orders.
\8\ The Exchange is also making a clarifying change to the Fee Schedule to make clear that broker-dealer transaction fees for options on ETFs and HOLDRS are not equal to the customer transaction fees. Only public customers pay a transaction fee of $.15 for ETF and HOLDRS options. See ETF and HOLDRS fee filing, supra note 6.
The RAES Access Fee will not apply as the Reduced-Value Options will trade on the Exchange's Hybrid Trading System. Also, the $0.40 RUT DPM and Market-Maker License Fee will not apply as that fee is only applicable to DPM and Market-Maker transactions in the full-value Russell 2000 Index (RUT) options. The $0.22 marketing fee will not apply as that fee is not applied to index option transactions.
The effect of this proposed rule change is to establish public customer transaction fees for the Reduced-Value Options that are lower than the public customer transaction fees for RUT options.\9\ The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will further the Exchange's goal of making trading in Russell 2000 index options accessible to a greater range of investors.
\9\ Except for public customer transaction fees and the RUT DPM and Market-Maker License Fee, all fees for RUT options are the same as the fees that are applicable to options on ETFs.
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Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\10\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \11\ in particular, in that it is
[[Page 10712]]
designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among CBOE members and other persons using its facilities.
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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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.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposal.
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Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as a ``non- controversial'' rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \12\ and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\13\ The Exchange represents that the foregoing 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) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange provided the Commission with 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 the filing of the proposed rule change as required by Rule 19b-4(f)(6). The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay period for ``non- controversial'' proposals and make the proposed rule change effective and operative upon filing.
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
The Commission has determined to waive the 30-day operative delay period.\14\ The effect of the proposal would be to establish public customer transaction fees for the Reduced-Value Options that are lower than the public customer transaction fees for full-value Russell 2000 Index options. For this reason, the Commission sees no reason to delay the operation of the proposed change. 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 purposes of the Act.\15\
\14\ For purposes only of accelerating the operative date of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
\15\ See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
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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-2005-02 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-CBOE-2005-02. 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, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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-2005-02 and should be submitted on or before March 25, 2005.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-874 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
