2018-24304. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq ISE, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Delete ISE Section 22 of the Rulebook Entitled “Rate-Modified Foreign Currency Options Rules”

November 1, 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 October 25, 2018, Nasdaq ISE, LLC (“ISE” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “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.

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

The Exchange proposes to delete ISE Section 22 of the Rulebook entitled “Rate-Modified Foreign Currency Options Rules.”

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://ise.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

Today, the Exchange has a set of rules within ISE Section 22, titled “Rate-Modified Foreign Currency Options Rules” which governs the listing and trading of foreign currency options on ISE. The Exchange proposes to delete ISE Section 22.

Background

In 2007, ISE received approval for the listing and trading of cash-settled rate-modified foreign currency options (“FCOs”).^[3] The Exchange adopted rules for the listing and trading of FCOs on the following currencies: The euro, the British pound, the Australian dollar, the New Zealand dollar, the Japanese yen, the Canadian dollar, the Swiss franc, the Chinese renminbi, the Mexican peso, the Swedish krona, the Russian ruble, the South African rand, the Brazilian real, the Israeli shekel, the Norwegian krone, the Polish zloty, the Hungarian forint, the Czech koruna and the Korean won (collectively, the “Currencies”). The Exchange currently has rules which permit it to list and trade FCOs that include, among other things, the U.S. Dollar on one side of the underlying currency pair, as well as certain cross-rate FCOs that include two of the aforementioned Currencies in the underlying currency pair.

Proposal

The Exchange notes that it has not listed or traded any FCOs since January 2018.^[4] The Exchange does not desire to list or trade FCOs on ISE at this time. The Exchange proposes to eliminate the rules within ISE Section 22 and reserve this section. The Exchange would file rules with the Commission to list and trade FCOs if it determines to list and trade foreign currency options at a later date.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[5] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[6] 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, by eliminating rules within its Rulebook which it no longer intends to utilize for listing and trading FCOs.

The Exchange notes that it has not listed or traded any FCOs since January 2018. The Exchange does not desire to list or trade FCOs on ISE at this time. The Exchange proposes to eliminate the rules within ISE Section 22 and reserve this section. The Exchange would file rules with the Commission to list and trade FCOs if it determines to list and trade foreign currency options at a later date.

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 does not believe that eliminating the ISE Section 22 rules will create an undue burden on intra-market competition because no market participant on ISE would be able to trade FCOs. Further the Exchange notes that the deletion of the ISE Section 22 rules will not create an undue burden on inter-market competition because other markets today such as Nasdaq Phlx LLC lists FCOs.^[7]

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 ^[8] and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[9]

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-ISE-2018-91 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-ISE-2018-91. 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-ISE-2018-91 and should be submitted on or before November 28, 2018.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55575 (April 3, 2007), 72 FR 17963 (April 10, 2007) (SR-ISE-2006-59).

4.  Specifically, the last expiration was for the Canadian dollar option with a symbol of “CDD” on January 19, 2018.

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

7.  See Phlx Rule 1009.

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

9.  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.

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).