83_FR_28415 83 FR 28298 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 1001, Entitled “Position Limits”

83 FR 28298 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 1001, Entitled “Position Limits”

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 117 (June 18, 2018)

Page Range28298-28300
FR Document2018-12928

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28298-28300]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12928]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-83412; File No. SR-Phlx-2018-44]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 1001, 
Entitled ``Position Limits''

June 12, 2018.
    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 June 4, 2018, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed 
rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 1001, entitled ``Position 
Limits'', to amend position limits for options on the SPDR[supreg] S&P 
500[supreg] exchange-traded fund (``SPY ETF'' or ``SPY''),\3\ which 
list and trade under the symbol ``SPY.''
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    \3\ ``SPDR[supreg],'' ``Standard & Poor's[supreg],'' 
``S&P[supreg],'' ``S&P 500[supreg],'' and ``Standard & Poor's 500'' 
are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services 
LLC. The SPY ETF represents ownership in the SPDR S&P 500 Trust, a 
unit investment trust that generally corresponds to the price and 
yield performance of the SPDR S&P 500 Index.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.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 Exchange 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.

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

1. Purpose
    Phlx Rule 1001, entitled ``Position Limits'' establishes position 
for aggregate positions in option contracts traded on the Exchange. The 
rule lists specific position limits for certain select underlying 
securities.\4\ SPY is among the certain select underlying securities 
listed in each such Rule. Currently, these Rules provide that there are 
no position limits and there are no exercise limits on options 
overlying SPY pursuant to a pilot program, which is scheduled to expire 
on July 12, 2018 (``SPY Pilot Program'').\5\
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    \4\ Rule 1002, entitled ``Exercise Limits'' notes that ``except 
as set forth in subparagraph (c) herein, no member or member 
organization shall exercise, for any account in which such member or 
member organization has an interest or for the account of any 
partner, officer, director or employee thereof or for the account of 
any customer, a long position in any option contract of a class of 
options dealt in on the Exchange (or, respecting an option not dealt 
in on the Exchange, another exchange if the member or member 
organization is not a member of that exchange) if as a result 
thereof such member or member organization, or partner, officer, 
director or employee thereof or customer, acting alone or in concert 
with others, directly or indirectly, has or will have exercised 
within any five (5) consecutive business days aggregate long 
positions in that class (put or call) as set forth as the position 
limit in Rule 1001, in the case of options on a stock or on an 
Exchange-Traded Fund Share, on a foreign currency, or stock index 
warrants; without regard to the exchange on which the options were 
purchased.''
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67999 (October 5, 
2012), 77 FR 62295 (October 12, 2012) (SR-Phlx-2012-122); 70879 
(November 14, 2013), 78FR 69731 (November 20, 2013) (SR-PHLX-2013-
108); 74099 (January 20, 2015), 80 FR 4021 (January 26, 2015) (SR-
Phlx-2015-07); 75414 (July 9, 2015), 80 FR 41538 (July 15, 2015) 
(SR-Phlx-2015-60); 78124 (June 22, 2016), 81 FR 42008 (June 28, 
2016) (SR-Phlx-2016-68); and 81091 (July 7, 2017), 82 FR 32404 (July 
13, 2017) (SR-Phlx-2017-52).
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    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 1001 to allow the SPY Pilot 
Program to terminate on July 12, 2018, the current expiration date of 
the SPY Pilot Program. In lieu of extending the SPY Pilot Program for 
another year, the Exchange proposes to allow the SPY Pilot Program to 
terminate and to establish position and exercise limits of 1,800,000 
contracts, for options on SPY, with such change becoming operative on 
July 12, 2018, so that there is no lapse in time between termination of 
the SPY Pilot Program and the establishment of the new limits. 
Furthermore, as a result of the termination of the SPY Pilot Program, 
the Exchange does not believe it is necessary to submit a SPY Pilot 
Program Report at the end of the SPY Pilot Program. Based on the prior 
SPY Pilot

[[Page 28299]]

Program Reports provided to the Commission,\6\ the Exchange believes it 
is appropriate to terminate the SPY Pilot Program and that permanent 
position and exercise limits should be established for SPY.
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    \6\ Id.
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    Position limits are designed to address potential manipulative 
schemes and adverse market impact surrounding the use of options, such 
as disrupting the market in the security underlying the options. The 
potential manipulative schemes and adverse market impact are balanced 
against the potential of setting the limits so low as to discourage 
participation in the options market. The level of those position limits 
must be balanced between curtailing potential manipulation and the cost 
of preventing potential hedging activity that could be used for 
legitimate economic purposes.
    The SPY Pilot Program was established in 2012 in order to eliminate 
position and exercise limits for physically-settled SPY options.\7\ In 
2005, the position limits for SPY options were increased from 75,000 
contracts to 300,000 contracts on the same side of the market.\8\ In 
July 2011, the position limit for these options was again increased 
from 300,000 contracts to 900,000 contracts on the same side of the 
market.\9\ Then, in 2012, the position limits for SPY options were 
eliminated as part of the SPY Pilot Program.\10\
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67999 (October 5, 
2012), 77 FR 62295 (October 12, 2012) (SR-Phlx-2012-122).
    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51071 (January 21, 
2005), 70 FR 4911 (January 31, 2005) (SR-Phlx-2005-05).
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64348 (April 27, 
2011), 76 FR 24951 (May 3, 2011) (SR-Phlx-2011-58).
    \10\ See note 5 above.
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    The underlying SPY tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index and 
the Exchange notes that the SPY and SPY options have deep, liquid 
markets that reduce concerns regarding manipulation and disruption in 
the underlying markets. In support of this proposed rule change, the 
Exchange has collected the following trading statistics for SPY and SPY 
Options: (1) The average daily volume (``ADV'') to date (as of May 15, 
2018) for SPY is 108.32 million shares; (2) the ADV to date in 2018 for 
SPY options is 3.9 million contracts per day; (3) the total shares 
outstanding for SPY are 965.43 million; and (4) the fund market cap for 
SPY is 261.65 billion. The Exchange represents further that there is 
tremendous liquidity in the securities that make up the S&P 500 Index.
    Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 1001 to set forth 
that the position and exercise limits for options on SPY would be 
1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market. These position and 
exercise limits equal the current position and exercise limits for 
options on QQQQ, which the Commission previously approved to be 
increased from 900,000 contracts on the same side of the market, to 
1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market.\11\ The Exchange 
also notes that SPY is more liquid than QQQQ.\12\ The Exchange believes 
that establishing position and exercise limits for the SPY options in 
the amount of 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market 
subject to this proposal would allow for the maintenance of the liquid 
and competitive market environment for these options, which will 
benefit customers interested in these products. Under the proposal, the 
reporting requirement for the options would be unchanged.
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    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82932 (March 22, 
2018), 83 FR 13316 (March 28, 2018) (SR-Phlx-2018-24).
    \12\ From the beginning of the year, through May 15, 2018, the 
ADV for SPY was 108.32 million shares while the ADV for QQQQ was 
46.64 million shares (calculated using data from Yahoo Finance as of 
May 15, 2018).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\13\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments 
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public 
interest. The Exchange believes that establishing permanent position 
and exercise limits for SPY options subject to this proposal will 
encourage Market Makers to continue to provide sufficient liquidity in 
SPY options on the Exchange, which will enhance the process of price 
discovery conducted on the Exchange. The proposal will also benefit 
institutional investors as well as retail traders, and public 
customers, by continuing to provide them with an effective trading and 
hedging vehicle. In addition, the Exchange believes that the structure 
of the SPY options subject to this proposal and the considerable 
liquidity of the market for those options diminishes the opportunity to 
manipulate this product and disrupt the underlying market that a lower 
position limit may protect against.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    Increased position limits for select actively traded options, such 
as that proposed herein (increased as compared to the 900,000 limit in 
place prior to the SPY Pilot Program),\15\ is not novel and has been 
previously approved by the Commission. For example, the Commission has 
previously approved a rule change permitting the Exchange to double the 
position and exercise limits for FXI, EEM, IWM, EFA, EWZ, TLT, QQQQ, 
and EWJ.\16\ Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the Commission 
specifically approved a proposal by the Exchange to increase the 
position and exercise limits for options on QQQQ from 900,000 contracts 
on the same side of the market to 1,800,000 contracts on the same side 
of the market; similar to the current proposal for options on SPY.\17\ 
The Exchange also notes that SPY is more liquid than QQQQ.\18\
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    \15\ See note 9.
    \16\ See note 11 above.
    \17\ Id.
    \18\ See note 12 above.
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    Lastly, the Commission expressed the belief that implementing 
higher position and exercise limits may bring additional depth and 
liquidity without increasing concerns regarding intermarket 
manipulation or disruption of the options or the underlying 
securities.\19\ The Exchange's existing surveillance and reporting 
safeguards are designed to deter and detect possible manipulative 
behavior which might arise from increasing position and exercise limits 
(increased as compared to the 900,000 limit in place prior to the SPY 
Pilot Program).\20\
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    \19\ See note 11 above.
    \20\ See note 9 above
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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 Exchange believes the 
entire proposal is consistent with Section (6)(b)(8) of the Act \21\ in 
that it does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary 
or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. On the 
contrary, the Exchange believes the proposal promotes competition 
because it will enable the option exchanges to attract additional order 
flow from the over-the-counter market, who in turn compete for those 
orders. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will result 
in continued opportunities to achieve the investment and trading 
objectives of market participants seeking

[[Page 28300]]

efficient trading and hedging vehicles, to the benefit of investors, 
market participants, and the marketplace in general. The Exchange 
believes this proposed rule change is necessary to permit fair 
competition among the options exchanges and to establish uniform 
position limits for additional multiply listed option classes. 
Furthermore, the Exchange believes that the other options exchanges 
will file similar proposals with the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(8).
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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.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change 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, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \22\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\23\
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    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \23\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give 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. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-Phlx-2018-44 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2018-44. 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 website (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 website 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 the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2018-44 and should be submitted on 
or before July 9, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
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    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-12928 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                              28298                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 117 / Monday, June 18, 2018 / Notices

                                              Paper Comments                                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                        COMMISSION                                                Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                               Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                                                                           Change
                                                                                                        [Release No. 34–83412; File No. SR–Phlx–
                                              and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                     2018–44]
                                              NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                                      1. Purpose
                                                                                                        Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq                        Phlx Rule 1001, entitled ‘‘Position
                                              All submissions should refer to File                                                                                Limits’’ establishes position for
                                              Number SR–BOX–2018–22. This file                          PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and
                                                                                                        Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                       aggregate positions in option contracts
                                              number should be included on the                                                                                    traded on the Exchange. The rule lists
                                                                                                        Rule Change To Amend Rule 1001,
                                              subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                          specific position limits for certain select
                                                                                                        Entitled ‘‘Position Limits’’
                                              Commission process and review your                                                                                  underlying securities.4 SPY is among
                                              comments more efficiently, please use                     June 12, 2018.                                            the certain select underlying securities
                                              only one method. The Commission will                         Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                    listed in each such Rule. Currently,
                                              post all comments on the Commission’s                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934                           these Rules provide that there are no
                                              internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                     (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                   position limits and there are no exercise
                                              rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           notice is hereby given that on June 4,                    limits on options overlying SPY
                                              submission, all subsequent                                2018, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or                        pursuant to a pilot program, which is
                                              amendments, all written statements                        ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities                   scheduled to expire on July 12, 2018
                                              with respect to the proposed rule                         and Exchange Commission                                   (‘‘SPY Pilot Program’’).5
                                              change that are filed with the                            (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                           The Exchange proposes to amend
                                              Commission, and all written                               change as described in Items I, II, and                   Rule 1001 to allow the SPY Pilot
                                              communications relating to the                            III below, which Items have been                          Program to terminate on July 12, 2018,
                                                                                                        prepared by the Exchange. The                             the current expiration date of the SPY
                                              proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                        Commission is publishing this notice to                   Pilot Program. In lieu of extending the
                                              Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                        solicit comments on the proposed rule                     SPY Pilot Program for another year, the
                                              those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                        change from interested persons.                           Exchange proposes to allow the SPY
                                              public in accordance with the                                                                                       Pilot Program to terminate and to
                                              provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         establish position and exercise limits of
                                              available for website viewing and                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of                    1,800,000 contracts, for options on SPY,
                                              printing in the Commission’s Public                       the Proposed Rule Change                                  with such change becoming operative
                                              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                             The Exchange proposes to amend                         on July 12, 2018, so that there is no
                                              Washington, DC 20549, on official                         Rule 1001, entitled ‘‘Position Limits’’, to               lapse in time between termination of the
                                              business days between the hours of                        amend position limits for options on the                  SPY Pilot Program and the
                                              10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                    SPDR® S&P 500® exchange-traded fund                       establishment of the new limits.
                                              filing also will be available for                         (‘‘SPY ETF’’ or ‘‘SPY’’),3 which list and                 Furthermore, as a result of the
                                              inspection and copying at the principal                   trade under the symbol ‘‘SPY.’’                           termination of the SPY Pilot Program,
                                              office of the Exchange. All comments                         The text of the proposed rule change                   the Exchange does not believe it is
                                              received will be posted without change.                   is available on the Exchange’s website at                 necessary to submit a SPY Pilot Program
                                              Persons submitting comments are                           http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.com/,                     Report at the end of the SPY Pilot
                                              cautioned that we do not redact or edit                   at the principal office of the Exchange,                  Program. Based on the prior SPY Pilot
                                              personal identifying information from                     and at the Commission’s Public
                                              comment submissions. You should                           Reference Room.                                              4 Rule 1002, entitled ‘‘Exercise Limits’’ notes that

                                                                                                                                                                  ‘‘except as set forth in subparagraph (c) herein, no
                                              submit only information that you wish                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        member or member organization shall exercise, for
                                              to make available publicly. All                           Statement of the Purpose of, and                          any account in which such member or member
                                              submissions should refer to File                                                                                    organization has an interest or for the account of
                                                                                                        Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                    any partner, officer, director or employee thereof or
                                              Number SR–BOX–2018–22 and should                          Change                                                    for the account of any customer, a long position in
                                              be submitted on or before July 9, 2018.                                                                             any option contract of a class of options dealt in on
                                                                                                          In its filing with the Commission, the                  the Exchange (or, respecting an option not dealt in
                                                For the Commission, by the Division of                  Exchange included statements                              on the Exchange, another exchange if the member
                                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                concerning the purpose of and basis for                   or member organization is not a member of that
                                              authority.24                                              the proposed rule change and discussed                    exchange) if as a result thereof such member or
                                                                                                                                                                  member organization, or partner, officer, director or
                                              Eduardo A. Aleman,                                        any comments it received on the                           employee thereof or customer, acting alone or in
                                              Assistant Secretary.                                      proposed rule change. The text of these                   concert with others, directly or indirectly, has or
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–12930 Filed 6–15–18; 8:45 am]               statements may be examined at the                         will have exercised within any five (5) consecutive
                                                                                                        places specified in Item IV below. The                    business days aggregate long positions in that class
                                              BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                                                                              (put or call) as set forth as the position limit in Rule
                                                                                                        Exchange has prepared summaries, set                      1001, in the case of options on a stock or on an
                                                                                                        forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                   Exchange-Traded Fund Share, on a foreign
                                                                                                        the most significant aspects of such                      currency, or stock index warrants; without regard
                                                                                                        statements.                                               to the exchange on which the options were
                                                                                                                                                                  purchased.’’
                                                                                                                                                                     5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67999
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                                                                                          1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                 (October 5, 2012), 77 FR 62295 (October 12, 2012)
                                                                                                          2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.                                    (SR–Phlx–2012–122); 70879 (November 14, 2013),
                                                                                                           3 ‘‘SPDR®,’’ ‘‘Standard & Poor’s®,’’ ‘‘S&P®,’’ ‘‘S&P   78FR 69731 (November 20, 2013) (SR–PHLX–2013–
                                                                                                        500®,’’ and ‘‘Standard & Poor’s 500’’ are registered      108); 74099 (January 20, 2015), 80 FR 4021 (January
                                                                                                        trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services        26, 2015) (SR–Phlx–2015–07); 75414 (July 9, 2015),
                                                                                                        LLC. The SPY ETF represents ownership in the              80 FR 41538 (July 15, 2015) (SR–Phlx–2015–60);
                                                                                                        SPDR S&P 500 Trust, a unit investment trust that          78124 (June 22, 2016), 81 FR 42008 (June 28, 2016)
                                                                                                        generally corresponds to the price and yield              (SR–Phlx–2016–68); and 81091 (July 7, 2017), 82 FR
                                                24 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            performance of the SPDR S&P 500 Index.                    32404 (July 13, 2017) (SR–Phlx–2017–52).



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 117 / Monday, June 18, 2018 / Notices                                             28299

                                              Program Reports provided to the                         position and exercise limits for options                  Increased position limits for select
                                              Commission,6 the Exchange believes it                   on SPY would be 1,800,000 contracts on                 actively traded options, such as that
                                              is appropriate to terminate the SPY Pilot               the same side of the market. These                     proposed herein (increased as compared
                                              Program and that permanent position                     position and exercise limits equal the                 to the 900,000 limit in place prior to the
                                              and exercise limits should be                           current position and exercise limits for               SPY Pilot Program),15 is not novel and
                                              established for SPY.                                    options on QQQQ, which the                             has been previously approved by the
                                                 Position limits are designed to                      Commission previously approved to be                   Commission. For example, the
                                              address potential manipulative schemes                  increased from 900,000 contracts on the                Commission has previously approved a
                                              and adverse market impact surrounding                   same side of the market, to 1,800,000                  rule change permitting the Exchange to
                                              the use of options, such as disrupting                  contracts on the same side of the                      double the position and exercise limits
                                              the market in the security underlying                   market.11 The Exchange also notes that                 for FXI, EEM, IWM, EFA, EWZ, TLT,
                                              the options. The potential manipulative                 SPY is more liquid than QQQQ.12 The                    QQQQ, and EWJ.16 Furthermore, as
                                              schemes and adverse market impact are                   Exchange believes that establishing                    previously mentioned, the Commission
                                              balanced against the potential of setting               position and exercise limits for the SPY               specifically approved a proposal by the
                                              the limits so low as to discourage                      options in the amount of 1,800,000                     Exchange to increase the position and
                                              participation in the options market. The                contracts on the same side of the market               exercise limits for options on QQQQ
                                              level of those position limits must be                  subject to this proposal would allow for               from 900,000 contracts on the same side
                                              balanced between curtailing potential                   the maintenance of the liquid and                      of the market to 1,800,000 contracts on
                                              manipulation and the cost of preventing                 competitive market environment for                     the same side of the market; similar to
                                              potential hedging activity that could be                these options, which will benefit                      the current proposal for options on
                                              used for legitimate economic purposes.                  customers interested in these products.                SPY.17 The Exchange also notes that
                                                 The SPY Pilot Program was                            Under the proposal, the reporting                      SPY is more liquid than QQQQ.18
                                              established in 2012 in order to eliminate               requirement for the options would be                      Lastly, the Commission expressed the
                                              position and exercise limits for                        unchanged.                                             belief that implementing higher position
                                              physically-settled SPY options.7 In                                                                            and exercise limits may bring additional
                                              2005, the position limits for SPY                       2. Statutory Basis                                     depth and liquidity without increasing
                                              options were increased from 75,000                                                                             concerns regarding intermarket
                                              contracts to 300,000 contracts on the                      The Exchange believes that its
                                                                                                                                                             manipulation or disruption of the
                                              same side of the market.8 In July 2011,                 proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
                                                                                                                                                             options or the underlying securities.19
                                              the position limit for these options was                of the Act,13 in general, and furthers the
                                                                                                                                                             The Exchange’s existing surveillance
                                              again increased from 300,000 contracts                  objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,14            and reporting safeguards are designed to
                                              to 900,000 contracts on the same side of                in particular, in that it is designed to               deter and detect possible manipulative
                                              the market.9 Then, in 2012, the position                promote just and equitable principles of               behavior which might arise from
                                              limits for SPY options were eliminated                  trade, to remove impediments to and                    increasing position and exercise limits
                                              as part of the SPY Pilot Program.10                     perfect the mechanism of a free and                    (increased as compared to the 900,000
                                                 The underlying SPY tracks the                        open market and a national market                      limit in place prior to the SPY Pilot
                                              performance of the S&P 500 Index and                    system, and, in general to protect                     Program).20
                                              the Exchange notes that the SPY and                     investors and the public interest. The
                                              SPY options have deep, liquid markets                   Exchange believes that establishing                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              that reduce concerns regarding                          permanent position and exercise limits                 Statement on Burden on Competition
                                              manipulation and disruption in the                      for SPY options subject to this proposal                  The Exchange does not believe that
                                              underlying markets. In support of this                  will encourage Market Makers to                        the proposed rule change will impose
                                              proposed rule change, the Exchange has                  continue to provide sufficient liquidity               any burden on competition that is not
                                              collected the following trading statistics              in SPY options on the Exchange, which                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                              for SPY and SPY Options: (1) The                        will enhance the process of price                      of the purposes of the Act. The
                                              average daily volume (‘‘ADV’’) to date                  discovery conducted on the Exchange.                   Exchange believes the entire proposal is
                                              (as of May 15, 2018) for SPY is 108.32                  The proposal will also benefit                         consistent with Section (6)(b)(8) of the
                                              million shares; (2) the ADV to date in                  institutional investors as well as retail              Act 21 in that it does not impose any
                                              2018 for SPY options is 3.9 million                     traders, and public customers, by                      burden on competition that is not
                                              contracts per day; (3) the total shares                 continuing to provide them with an                     necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                              outstanding for SPY are 965.43 million;                 effective trading and hedging vehicle. In              of the purposes of the Act. On the
                                              and (4) the fund market cap for SPY is                  addition, the Exchange believes that the               contrary, the Exchange believes the
                                              261.65 billion. The Exchange represents                 structure of the SPY options subject to                proposal promotes competition because
                                              further that there is tremendous                        this proposal and the considerable                     it will enable the option exchanges to
                                              liquidity in the securities that make up                liquidity of the market for those options              attract additional order flow from the
                                              the S&P 500 Index.                                      diminishes the opportunity to                          over-the-counter market, who in turn
                                                 Accordingly, the Exchange proposes                   manipulate this product and disrupt the                compete for those orders. The Exchange
                                              to amend Rule 1001 to set forth that the                underlying market that a lower position                believes that the proposed rule change
                                                                                                      limit may protect against.                             will result in continued opportunities to
                                                6 Id.
                                                                                                                                                             achieve the investment and trading
                                                 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67999        11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82932
                                                                                                                                                             objectives of market participants seeking
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                                              (October 5, 2012), 77 FR 62295 (October 12, 2012)       (March 22, 2018), 83 FR 13316 (March 28, 2018)
                                              (SR–Phlx–2012–122).                                     (SR–Phlx–2018–24).                                      15 See
                                                 8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51071        12 From the beginning of the year, through May                 note 9.
                                                                                                                                                              16 See   note 11 above.
                                              (January 21, 2005), 70 FR 4911 (January 31, 2005)       15, 2018, the ADV for SPY was 108.32 million
                                                                                                                                                              17 Id.
                                              (SR–Phlx–2005–05).                                      shares while the ADV for QQQQ was 46.64 million
                                                                                                                                                              18 See note 12 above.
                                                 9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64348      shares (calculated using data from Yahoo Finance
                                              (April 27, 2011), 76 FR 24951 (May 3, 2011) (SR–        as of May 15, 2018).                                    19 See note 11 above.
                                              Phlx–2011–58).                                            13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                  20 See note 9 above
                                                 10 See note 5 above.                                   14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               21 15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(8).




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                                              28300                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 117 / Monday, June 18, 2018 / Notices

                                              efficient trading and hedging vehicles,                   Electronic Comments                                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                              to the benefit of investors, market                                                                               COMMISSION
                                              participants, and the marketplace in                        • Use the Commission’s internet
                                              general. The Exchange believes this                       comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                [Release No. 34–83410; File No. SR–
                                              proposed rule change is necessary to                      rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                                                                                                                                NYSEArca–2018–42]
                                              permit fair competition among the                           • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                              options exchanges and to establish                        sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                              uniform position limits for additional                    Phlx–2018–44 on the subject line.                       Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and
                                              multiply listed option classes.                                                                                   Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
                                                                                                        Paper Comments
                                              Furthermore, the Exchange believes that                                                                           Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca
                                              the other options exchanges will file                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                   Equities Fees and Charges To Extend
                                              similar proposals with the Commission.                    to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities               the Effectiveness of the Decommission
                                              C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                   Extension Fee Until September 2018
                                              Statement on Comments on the                              NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                                                                                                                                June 12, 2018.
                                              Proposed Rule Change Received From                        All submissions should refer to File
                                              Members, Participants, or Others                                                                                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                                                                        Number SR–Phlx–2018–44. This file                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                                                                        number should be included on the                        ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                No written comments were either
                                                                                                        subject line if email is used. To help the              notice is hereby given that, on June 1,
                                              solicited or received.
                                                                                                        Commission process and review your                      2018, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’
                                              III. Date of Effectiveness of the                         comments more efficiently, please use                   or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with the
                                              Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                       only one method. The Commission will                    Securities and Exchange Commission
                                              Commission Action                                         post all comments on the Commission’s                   (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                                                                        internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                   change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                 Because the foregoing proposed rule                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                              change does not: (i) Significantly affect                                                                         III below, which Items have been
                                                                                                        submission, all subsequent                              prepared by the self-regulatory
                                              the protection of investors or the public                 amendments, all written statements
                                              interest; (ii) impose any significant                                                                             organization. The Commission is
                                                                                                        with respect to the proposed rule                       publishing this notice to solicit
                                              burden on competition; and (iii) become                   change that are filed with the
                                              operative for 30 days from the date on                                                                            comments on the proposed rule change
                                                                                                        Commission, and all written                             from interested persons.
                                              which it was filed, or such shorter time
                                                                                                        communications relating to the
                                              as the Commission may designate, it has                                                                           I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                        proposed rule change between the
                                              become effective pursuant to Section                                                                              Statement of the Terms of the Substance
                                                                                                        Commission and any person, other than
                                              19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 22 and                                                                                of the Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                        those that may be withheld from the
                                              subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4
                                                                                                        public in accordance with the
                                              thereunder.23                                                                                                        The Exchange proposes to amend the
                                                                                                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                 At any time within 60 days of the                      available for website viewing and                       NYSE Arca Equities Fees and Charges
                                              filing of the proposed rule change, the                   printing in the Commission’s Public                     (the ‘‘Fee Schedule’’) to extend the
                                              Commission summarily may                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                        effectiveness of the Decommission
                                              temporarily suspend such rule change if                   Washington, DC 20549, on official                       Extension Fee until September 2018.
                                              it appears to the Commission that such                    business days between the hours of                      The proposed rule change is available
                                              action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  on the Exchange’s website at
                                              the public interest; (ii) for the protection              filing also will be available for                       www.nyse.com, at the principal office of
                                              of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                       inspection and copying at the principal                 the Exchange, and at the Commission’s
                                              furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                   office of the Exchange. All comments                    Public Reference Room.
                                              If the Commission takes such action, the                  received will be posted without change.                 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                              Commission shall institute proceedings                    Persons submitting comments are                         Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                              to determine whether the proposed rule                    cautioned that we do not redact or edit                 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                              should be approved or disapproved.                        personal identifying information from                   Change
                                              IV. Solicitation of Comments                              comment submissions. You should
                                                                                                        submit only information that you wish                     In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                Interested persons are invited to                       to make available publicly. All                         self-regulatory organization included
                                              submit written data, views, and                           submissions should refer to File                        statements concerning the purpose of,
                                              arguments concerning the foregoing,                       Number SR–Phlx–2018–44 and should                       and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                              including whether the proposed rule                       be submitted on or before July 9, 2018.                 and discussed any comments it received
                                              change is consistent with the Act.                                                                                on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                                                                          For the Commission, by the Division of
                                              Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                               of those statements may be examined at
                                                                                                        Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                              the following methods:                                    authority.24
                                                                                                                                                                the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                                                                                                                                The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                                                                        Eduardo A. Aleman,
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                                                22 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                                                                                set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                23 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–      Assistant Secretary.                                    of the most significant parts of such
                                              4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give   [FR Doc. 2018–12928 Filed 6–15–18; 8:45 am]
                                              the Commission written notice of its intent to file
                                                                                                                                                                statements.
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                              the proposed rule change at least five business days
                                              prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                                 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                              change, or such shorter time as designated by the
                                                                                                                                                                 2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                              Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this
                                              requirement.                                                24 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                           3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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Document Created: 2018-06-18 15:50:48
Document Modified: 2018-06-18 15:50:48
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 28298 

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