2013-31520. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Short Term Option Series Program

December 30, 2013.

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 December 23, 2013, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (“MIAX” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) a proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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.

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

The Exchange is filing a proposal to amend Rule 404 to allow the Exchange to list five Short Term Option Series at one time and to specify that new series of Short Term Option Series may be listed up to, and including on, the expiration date.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.miaxoptions.com/​filter/​wotitle/​rule_​filing,, at MIAX's principal office, 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

The Exchange is proposing to amend Exchange Rule 404. Currently the Exchange's Rules allow for the Exchange to list options in the Short Term Option Series Program (“STOS Program” or “STOS option”) “on each of the next five consecutive Fridays that are business days.” ^[3] Related filings of other option exchanges, including MIAX, which provided the Exchange with precedent for its rule to list five STOS option expirations specifically states [sic] that “the total number of consecutive expirations will be five (5), including any existing monthly or quarterly expirations” for the STOS Program.^[4] The Exchange is now proposing to make explicit that the next five STOS options may be listed at one time, not including the monthly or Quarterly options. The Exchange is also proposing to codify an existing practice by adding language stating that strikes may be listed up until and on the day of expiration.

As proposed, the Exchange will have the ability to list a total of five STOS and that count of five would not include monthly or Quarterly option expirations. The Exchange notes that this proposal would restrict the five listed STOS to those closest to the Short Term Option Opening Date. For example, if a class of options has five STOS listed with expiration dates in July, the other two listed expiration dates may not be in December. The Exchange believes that allowing otherwise would undermine the purpose of the STOS Program.

As examples of how this would work in practice, consider a situation in which a Quarterly option expires week 1 and a monthly option expire week 3 from now, the proposal would allow the following expirations: Week 1 Quarterly option, week 2 STOS option, week 3 monthly option, week 4 STOS option, week 5 STOS option, week 6 STOS option, and week 7 STOS option.^[5] As another example, if a Quarterly option expires week 3 and a monthly option expires week 5, the following expirations would be allowed: Week 1 STOS option, week 2 STOS option, week 3 Quarterly option, week 4 STOS option, week 5 monthly option, week 6 STOS option, week 7 STOS option.^[6]

Next, the Exchange is proposing to add language to Rule 404 to state that additional series of STOS options may be added up to, and including on, the expiration date of the series.^[7] Currently, Exchange rules state that the Exchange “may open up to 20 initial series for each option class that participates in the Short Term Option Series Program” and “up to 10 additional series for each option class that participates in the Short Term Option Series Program” however the Exchange's rules are silent on when series may be added.^[8] In practice, however, the Exchange notes that other exchanges list additional series until the expiration day.^[9] The Exchange believes that codifying this provision will clearly provide the ability which is currently not explicitly stated to add series up until the day of expiration which is in the current Rules [sic]. In addition, given the short lifespan of STOS, the Exchange believes that the ability to list new series of options intraday is appropriate.

The Exchange notes that the STOS Program has been very well-received by market participants, in particular by retail investors. The Exchange believes that the current proposed revision to the STOS Program will permit the Exchange to meet increased customer demand and provide market participants with the ability to hedge in a greater number of option classes and series. In addition, the proposed changes will codify an existing practice in the options exchange industry.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) ^[10] of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) ^[11] of the Act in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

In particular, the Exchange believes that expanding the STOS Program will result in a continuing benefit to investors by giving them more flexibility to closely tailor their investment decisions and hedging decisions in a greater number of securities. The Exchange also believes that expanding the STOS Program will provide the investing public and other market participants with additional opportunities to hedge their investment thus allowing these investors to better manage their risk exposure.

With regard to the impact of this proposal on system capacity, the Exchange has analyzed its capacity and represents that the Exchange and the Options Price Reporting Authority (“OPRA”) has the necessary systems capacity to handle any potential additional traffic associated with this current amendment to the STOS Program. The Exchange believes that its members will not have a capacity issue as a result of this proposal. The Exchange also does not believe this expansion will cause fragmentation to liquidity.

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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes this proposed rule change will benefit investors by providing additional methods to trade options on the liquid securities, and providing greater ability to mitigate risk in managing large portfolios. Specifically, the Exchange believes that investors would benefit from the introduction and availability of additional series available as an investing tool. The Exchange also believes the proposed changes will provide investors with an additional tool for hedging risk in highly liquid securities. For all the reasons stated, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, and believes the proposed change will enhance competition.

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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

Because the 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, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[12] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[13]

The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement will ensure fair competition among the exchanges by allowing the Exchange to open up to five expirations under the STOS Program in a manner consistent with another competing exchange. The proposal will also clarify that, like other options exchanges, the Exchange may list new STO series up to, and including on, the expiration date. For these reasons, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change presents no novel issues and that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and will allow the Exchange to remain competitive with other exchanges. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.^[14]

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 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 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 [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-MIAX-2013-60 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2013-60. 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 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; 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-MIAX-2013-60 and should be submitted on or before January 27, 2014.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[15]

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Exchange Rule 404.02.

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 69658 (May 29, 2013), 78 FR 33454 (June 4, 2013) (SR-MIAX-2013-23); 68242 (November 15, 2012), 77 FR 69908 (November 21, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-110).

5.  The proposal would not allow, for example, for nothing to be listed week 7 but week 8 a STOS option.

6.  Id.

7.  The Exchange is also proposing to add language stating that the proposed provisions in Rule 404.02 will not contradict current provisions in Exchange Rules. The Exchange believes this addition will eliminate any confusion about when additional series may be added in the STOS Program in comparison to other Exchange listing programs.

8.  See Exchange Rule 404.02.

9.  The Exchange notes that the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) has the ability to accommodate series in the STOS Program added intraday.

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

11.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

12.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

13.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.

14.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

15.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).