80 FR 79645 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending Its Program That Allows Transactions To Take Place at a Price That Is Below $1 Per Option Contract Until January 5, 2017

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 245 (December 22, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79645-79647]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32049]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-76668; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2015-104]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending Its Program 
That Allows Transactions To Take Place at a Price That Is Below $1 Per 
Option Contract Until January 5, 2017

December 16, 2015.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that on December 9, 2015, NYSE MKT LLC (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE MKT'') 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 self-regulatory 
organization. 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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange proposes to extend its program that allows 
transactions to take place at a price that is below $1 per option 
contract until January 5, 2017. The proposed rule change is available 
on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, 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 self-regulatory organization 
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 Exchange 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 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this filing is to extend the Pilot Program \4\ under 
Rule 968NY to allow accommodation transactions (``Cabinet Trades'') to 
take place at a price that is below $1 per option contract for one 
additional year. The Exchange proposes to extend the program, which is 
due to expire on January 5, 2016, until January 5, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63475 (December 8, 
2010), 75 FR 77932 (December 14, 2010)(SR-NYSE Amex-2010-114).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An ``accommodation'' or ``cabinet'' trade refers to trades in 
listed options on the Exchange that are worthless and typically not 
actively traded. Cabinet trading is generally conducted in accordance 
with the Exchange Rules, except as provided in Exchange Rule 968NY 
Accommodation Transactions (Cabinet Trades), which sets forth specific 
procedures for engaging in cabinet trades. Rule 968NY currently 
provides for cabinet transactions to occur via open outcry at a cabinet 
price of a $1 per option contract in any options series open for 
trading in the Exchange, except that the Rule is not applicable to 
trading in option classes participating in the Penny Pilot Program. 
Under the procedures, bids and offers (whether opening or closing a 
position) at a price of $1 per option contract may be represented in 
the trading crowd by a Floor Broker or by a Market Maker or provided in 
response to a request by a Trading Official, a Floor Broker or a Market 
Maker, but must yield priority to all resting orders in the Cabinet 
(those orders held by the Trading Official, and which resting cabinet 
orders may be closing only).

[[Page 79646]]

Provided that the buyer and the seller yield to orders resting in the 
cabinet book, opening cabinet bids can trade with opening cabinet 
offers at $1 per option contract.
    The Exchange has temporarily amended the procedures through January 
5, 2016 to allow transactions to take place in open outcry at a price 
of at least $0 but less than $1 per option contract. These lower-priced 
transactions are permitted to be traded pursuant to the same procedures 
applicable to $1 cabinet trades, except that (i) bids and offers for 
opening transactions are only permitted to accommodate closing 
transactions in order to limit use of the procedure to liquidations of 
existing positions, and (ii) the procedures are also made available for 
trading in option classes participating in the Penny Pilot Program.\5\ 
The Exchange believes that allowing a price of at least $0 but less 
than $1 better accommodates the closing of options positions in series 
that are worthless or not actively traded, particularly in the event 
where there has been a significant move in the price of the underlying 
security that results in a large number of series being out-of-the-
money. For example, a market participant might have a long position in 
a put series with a strike price of $30 and the underlying stock might 
be trading at $100. In such an instance, there might not otherwise be a 
market for that person to close-out the position even at the $1 cabinet 
price (e.g., the series might be quoted no bid).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Currently, the $1 cabinet trading procedures are limited to 
options classes traded in $0.05 or $0.10 standard increment. The $1 
cabinet trading procedures are not available in Penny Pilot Program 
classes because in those classes an option series can trade in a 
standard increment as low as $0.01 per share (or $1.00 per option 
contract with a 100 share multiplier). Because the temporary 
procedures allow trading below $0.01 per share (or $1.00 per option 
contract with a 100 share multiplier), the procedures are available 
for all classes, including those classes participating in the Penny 
Pilot Program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As with other accommodation liquidations under Rule 968NY, 
transactions that occur for less than $1 will not be disseminated to 
the public on the consolidated tape. In addition, as with other 
accommodation liquidations under Rule 968NY the transactions will be 
exempt from the Consolidated Options Audit Trail (``COATS'') 
requirements of Exchange Rule 955NY Order Format and System Entry 
Requirements. However, the Exchange will maintain quotation, order and 
transaction information for the transactions in the same format as the 
COATS data is maintained. In this regard, all transactions for less 
than $1 must be reported to the Exchange following the close of each 
business day.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b) \6\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''), 
in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) \7\ in 
particular in that it is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, to 
remove impediments to and to perfect the mechanism for a free and open 
market and a national market system and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that allowing 
for liquidations at a price less than $1 per option contract will 
better facilitate the closing of options positions that are worthless 
or not actively trading, especially in Penny Pilot issues where Cabinet 
Trades are not otherwise permitted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 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 will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is 
to extend an established pilot program for one additional year and 
continue to facilitate ATP Holders ability to close positions in 
worthless or not actively traded series.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule 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 if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, provided that the self-regulatory 
organization has given the Commission written notice of its intent to 
file 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,\8\ the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) of the Act,\11\ the proposal does not become 
operative for 30 days after the date of its filing, or such shorter 
time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that 
the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay period after which a 
proposed rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) becomes operative so that 
the pilot may continue without interruption. The Commission believes 
that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because it will allow 
the pilot to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding any potential 
investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in 
the pilot and allowing members to continue to benefit from the program. 
Based on the foregoing, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day 
operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Id.
    \12\ 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 such 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 under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \13\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 79647]]

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-NYSEMKT-2015-104 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.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2015-104. 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 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 Web site 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 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-NYSEMKT-2015-104, and should 
be submitted on or before January 12, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-32049 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P