E8-30858. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fee Changes  

  • Start Preamble December 19, 2008.

    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 10, 2008, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange” or the “ISE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change, as described in Items I, II, and III 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.

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

    The ISE is proposing to amend its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on 14 Premium Products.[3] The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.ise.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 these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 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 its Schedule of Fees to establish fees for transactions in options on the Direxion Energy Bear 3x Shares (“ERY”), the Direxion Energy Bull 3x Shares (“ERX”), the Direxion Financial Bear 3x Shares (“FAZ”), the Direxion Financial [Bull] [4] 3x Shares (“FAS”), the Direxion Large Cap Bear 3x Shares (“BGZ”), the Direxion Large Cap Bull 3x Shares (“BGU”), the Direxion Small Cap Bear 3x Shares (“TZA”), the Direxion Small Cap Bull 3x Shares (“TNA”),[5] the Ultra Basic Materials ProShares (“UYM”),[6] the iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Start Printed Page 79953Fund (“IWS”),[7] the Vanguard® Energy ETF (“VDE”), the Vanguard® Large-Cap ETF (“VV”), the Vanguard® Small-Cap ETF (“VB”) and the Vanguard® Value ETF (“VTV”).[8] The Exchange represents that ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA, TNA, UYM, IWS, VTV, VV, VB and VDE are eligible for options trading because they constitute “Exchange-Traded Fund Shares,” as defined by ISE Rule 502(h).

    All of the applicable fees covered by this filing are identical to fees charged by the Exchange for all other Premium Products. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to adopt an execution fee for all transactions in options on ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA, TNA, UYM, IWS, VTV, VV, VB and VDE.[9] The amount of the execution fee for products covered by this filing shall be $0.18 per contract for all Public Customer Orders [10] and $0.20 per contract for all Firm Proprietary orders. The amount of the execution fee for all ISE Market Maker transactions shall be equal to the execution fee currently charged by the Exchange for ISE Market Maker transactions in equity options.[11] Finally, the amount of the execution fee for all non-ISE Market Maker transactions shall be $0.45 per contract.[12] Further, since options on ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA, TNA, UYM, IWS, VTV, VV, VB and VDE are multiply listed, the Exchange's Payment for Order Flow fee shall apply to all these products. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will further the Exchange's goal of introducing new products to the marketplace that are competitively priced.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,[13] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),[14] in particular, in that it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities.

    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) of the Act [15] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) [16] thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    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

    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-2008-94. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Copies of such filing also will be Start Printed Page 79954available for inspection and copying at the principal office of ISE. 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 No. SR-ISE-2008-94 and should be submitted on or before January 20, 2009.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.17

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Acting Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  Premium Products is defined in the Schedule of Fees as the products enumerated therein.

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    4.  See e-mail from Samir Patel, Assistant General Counsel, International Securities Exchange, to Richard Holley, Senior Special Counsel, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, dated December 18, 2008 (correcting typographical error for product associated with ticker symbol FAS from Bear to Bull).

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    5.  The Russell 1000® Energy Index, Russell 1000® Financial Services Index, Russell 1000® Index and Russell 2000® Index are trademarks of Frank Russell Company (“Russell”) and have been licensed for use by Direxion Shares ETF Trust. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. The Direxion Energy Bear 3x Shares (“ERY”), the Direxion Energy Bull 3x Shares (“ERX”), the Direxion Financial Bear 3x Shares (“FAZ”), the Direxion Financial [Bull] 3x Shares (“FAS”), the Direxion Large Cap Bear 3x Shares (“BGZ”), the Direxion Large Cap Bull 3x Shares (“BGU”), the Direxion Small Cap Bear 3x Shares (“TZA”) and the Direxion Small Cap Bull 3x Shares (“TNA”) are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Russell. Russell has not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA and TNA or (ii) to use and refer to any of their trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA and TNA or with making disclosures concerning options on ERY, ERX, FAZ, FAS, BGZ, BGU, TZA and TNA under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. Russell does not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE and is not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

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    6.  “Dow Jones” and “Dow Jones U.S. Basic MaterialsSM. ” are service marks of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. (“Dow Jones”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by ProFunds Trust. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. The Ultra Basic Materials ProShares (“UYM”) is not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Dow Jones. Dow Jones has not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on UYM or (ii) to use and refer to any of its trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on UYM or with making disclosures concerning options on UYM under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. Dow Jones does not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE and is not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

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    7.  iShares® is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (“BGI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC. “Russell Midcap® Value Index” is a trademark of Frank Russell Company (“Russell”) and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by BGI. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. iShares Russell Midcap Value Index Fund (“IWS”) is not sponsored, sold or endorsed by Russell. Russell and BGI have not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on IWS or (ii) to use and refer to any of their trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on IWS or with making disclosures concerning options on IWS under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. Russell and BGI do not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE and are not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

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    8.  The Vanguard Group, Vanguard ETF and Vanguard are trademarks of The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“Vanguard”). The Vanguard® Energy ETF (“VDE”) tracks the Morgan Stanley Capital International® (MSCI®) U.S. Investable Market Energy Index. The Vanguard® Large-Cap ETF (“VV”) tracks the MSCI U.S. Prime Market 750 Index. The Vanguard® Small-Cap ETF (“VB”) tracks the MSCI U.S. Small Cap 1750 Index. The Vanguard® Value ETF (“VTV”) tracks the MSCI U.S. Prime Market Value Index. The MSCI Indexes are the exclusive property of MSCI. MSCI and the MSCI Index names are service marks of MSCI or its affiliates and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Vanguard. All other marks are the exclusive property of their respective owners. MSCI does not sponsor, endorse, or promote VDE, VV, VB, and VTV and makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in VDE, VV, VB, and VTV. Vanguard has not licensed or authorized ISE to (i) engage in the creation, listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on VDE, VV, VB, and VTV or (ii) to use and refer to any of their trademarks or service marks in connection with the listing, provision of a market for trading, marketing, and promotion of options on VDE, VV, VB, and VTV or with making disclosures concerning options on VDE, VV, VB, and VTV under any applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. Vanguard does not sponsor, endorse, or promote such activity by ISE, and is not affiliated in any manner with ISE.

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    9.  These fees will be charged only to Exchange members. Under a pilot program that is set to expire on July 31, 2009, these fees will also be charged to Linkage Principal Orders (“Linkage P Orders”) and Linkage Principal Acting as Agent Orders (“Linkage P/A Orders”). The amount of the execution fee charged by the Exchange for Linkage P Orders and Linkage P/A Orders is $0.24 per contract side and $0.15 per contract side, respectively. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58143 (July 11, 2008), 73 FR 41388 (July 18, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-52).

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    10.  Public Customer Order is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(39) as an order for the account of a Public Customer. Public Customer is defined in Exchange Rule 100(a)(38) as a person or entity that is not a broker or dealer in securities.

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    11.  The Exchange applies a sliding scale, between $0.01 and $0.18 per contract side, based on the number of contracts an ISE market maker trades in a month.

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    12.  The amount of the execution fee for non-ISE Market Maker transactions executed in the Exchange's Facilitation and Solicitation Mechanisms is $0.19 per contract.

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    [FR Doc. E8-30858 Filed 12-29-08; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
12/30/2008
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E8-30858
Pages:
79952-79954 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-59127, File No. SR-ISE-2008-94)
EOCitation:
of 2008-12-19
PDF File:
e8-30858.pdf