2019-07367. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami PEARL, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 530, Limit Up-Limit Down, and Exchange Rule 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options ...  

  • Start Preamble April 9, 2019.

    Pursuant to the provisions of 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 April 5, 2019, Miami PEARL, LLC (“MIAX PEARL” or the “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 Start Printed Page 15264solicit 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 (i) Exchange Rule 530, Limit Up-Limit Down, and (ii) Exchange Rule 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including Obvious Errors, Interpretations and Policies .01, to extend the pilot to the close of business on October 18, 2019, for certain options market rules that are linked to the equity market Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility.

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://www.miaxoptions.com/​rule-filings/​pearl at MIAX PEARL'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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to extend the pilot to the close of business on October 18, 2019, for certain options market rules that are linked to the equity market Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility (the “Limit Up-Limit Down Plan” or the “Plan”). This change is being proposed in connection with a proposed amendment to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan that would allow the Plan to continue to operate on a permanent basis (“Amendment 18”).

    In an attempt to address extraordinary market volatility in NMS Stock, and, in particular, events like the severe volatility on May 6, 2010, U.S. national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (collectively, “Participants”) drafted the Plan pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS and under the Act.[3] On May 31, 2012, the Commission approved the Plan, as amended, on a one-year pilot basis.[4]

    The Commission recently published an Amendment 18, which would allow the Plan to operate on a permanent, rather than pilot, basis.[5] In connection with this change, the Exchange proposes to amend the Options Pilots to expire at the close of business on October 18, 2019—i.e., six months after the expiration of the current pilot period for the Plan. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 530 and Rule 521, Interpretation and Policy .01 to untie the Options Pilot's effectiveness from that of the Plan and to extend the Options Pilot's effectiveness to the close of business on October 18, 2019. The Exchange understands that the other national securities exchanges will also file similar proposals to extend their respective pilot programs, the substance of which are identical to the proposal.

    The Exchange does not propose any additional changes to Exchange Rules 530 or Rule 521, Interpretation and Policy .01. The Exchange believes the benefits to market participants from the Options Pilots should continue on a limited six month pilot basis after Commission approves the Plan to operate on a permanent basis. Assuming the Plan is approved by the Commission to operate on a permanent, rather than pilot, basis the Exchange intends to assess whether additional changes should also be made to the Options Pilots. Extending the Options Pilots for an additional six months should provide the Exchange and other national securities exchanges additional time to consider further amendments to their rules in light of proposed Amendment 18.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [6] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act [7] 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 and not to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change promotes just and equitable principles of trade in that it promotes transparency and uniformity across markets concerning rules for options markets adopted to coincide with the Plan. The Exchange believes that extending the Options Pilots for an additional six months would help assure that the rules subject to such Pilots are either similarly made permanent, amended or removed, following additional discussion and analysis by the Exchange and other national securities exchanges. The proposed rule change would also help assure that such rules are not immediately eliminated, thus furthering fair and orderly markets, the protection of investors and the public interest. Based on the foregoing, the Exchange believes the Options Pilots should continue to be in effect on a pilot basis while the Exchange and the other national securities exchanges consider and develop a permanent proposal for such rules.

    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 proposal would ensure the continued, uninterrupted operation of the Options Pilots while the Exchange and other national securities exchanges consider further amendments to these rules in light of proposed Amendment 18. The Exchange understands that the other national securities exchanges will also file similar proposals to extend their respective pilot programs, the substance of which are identical to this proposal. Thus, the proposed rule change will help to ensure consistency across market centers without implicating any competitive issues.

    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.Start Printed Page 15265

    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]

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [10] normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) [11] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become effective and operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the current options pilots linked to the Plan to continue uninterrupted, without any changes, while the Exchange and the other national securities exchanges consider and develop a permanent proposal for these options pilots. For this reason, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.[12]

    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

    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-PEARL-2019-14. 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-PEARL-2019-14 and should be submitted on or before May 6, 2019.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[13]

    Jill M. Peterson,

    Assistant Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64547 (May 25, 2011), 76 FR 31647 (June 1, 2011) (File No. 4-631).

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    4.  See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012).

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    5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 84843 (December 18, 2018), 83 FR 66464 (December 26, 2018) (Amendment No. 18 Proposing Release).

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    9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and 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. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

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    12.  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).

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    [FR Doc. 2019-07367 Filed 4-12-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
04/15/2019
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2019-07367
Pages:
15263-15265 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-85571, File No. SR-PEARL-2019-14
PDF File:
2019-07367.Pdf