2024-08570. Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Permit the Listing and Trading of Options Series With Tuesday and Thursday Expirations for Options on iShares ...

April 17, 2024.

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 April 12, 2024, BOX Exchange LLC (“Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[4] 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 amend BOX Rule 5050 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading) to permit the listing and trading of options series with Tuesday and Thursday expirations for options on iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), specifically permitting two expiration dates for the proposed Tuesday and Thursday expirations in IWM. The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's internet website at https://rules.boxexchange.com/​rulefilings.

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 proposes to amend BOX Rule 5050 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading) to permit the listing and trading of options series with Tuesday and Thursday expirations for options on iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), specifically permitting two expiration dates for the proposed Tuesday and Thursday expirations in IWM. This is a competitive filing that is based on a proposal submitted by NASDAQ ISE, LLC (“ISE”) and approved by the Commission.^[5]

Currently, Table 1 in IM-5050-6 specifies each symbol that qualifies as a Short Term Option Daily Expiration.^[6] Today, Table 1 permits the listing and trading of Monday Short Term Option Daily Expirations and Wednesday Short Term Option Daily Expirations for IWM. At this time, the Exchange proposes to expand the Short Term Option Series Program to permit the listing and trading of no more than a total of two IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations beyond the current week for each of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday expirations at one time.^[7] The listing and trading of Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations would be subject to IM-5050-6.

Today, Tuesday Short Term Option Daily Expirations in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the INVESCO QQQ Trust^[SM] , Series 1 (QQQ) may open for trading on any Monday or Tuesday that is a business day series of options on the symbols provided in Table 1 that expire at the close of business on each of the next two Tuesdays that are business days and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire (“Tuesday Short Term Option Expiration Date”).^[8] Also, today, Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations in SPY and QQQ may open for trading on any Tuesday or Wednesday that is a business day series of options on the symbols provided in Table 1 that expire at the close of business on each of the next two Wednesdays that are business days and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire (“Wednesday Short Term Option Expiration Date”). In the event that options on IWM expire on a Tuesday or Thursday and that Tuesday or Thursday is a business day in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire, the Exchange would skip that week's listing and instead list the following week; the two weeks would therefore not be consecutive. With this proposal, the Exchange would be able to open for trading series of options on IWM that expire at the close of business on each of the next two Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively, that are business days beyond the current week and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire.^[9] The interval between strike prices for the proposed Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations will be the same as those for Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations in SPY and QQQ, applicable to the Short Term Option Series Program.^[10] IM-5050-1(b) provides that, notwithstanding any other provision regarding the interval of strike prices of series of options on Exchange-Traded Fund Shares in BOX Rule 5050, the interval of strike prices on options on IWM will be $1 or greater.^[11] Further, IM-5050-6(b)(5) provides that the interval between strike prices on Short Term Option Series may be (i) $0.50 or greater where the strike price is less than $100, and $1 or greater where the strike price is between $100 and $150 for all option classes that participate in the Short Term Options Series Program; (ii) $0.50 for option classes that trade in one dollar increments in Related non-short Term Options and are in the Short Term Option Series Program; or (iii) $2.50 or greater where the strike price is above $150. Specifically, the Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations will have a $0.50 strike interval minimum. As is the case with other equity options series listed pursuant to the Short Term Option Series Program, the Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expiration series will be P.M.-settled.

Pursuant to BOX Rule 100(a)(66),^[12] with respect to the Short Term Option Series Program, a Tuesday or Thursday expiration series shall expire on the first business day immediately prior to that Tuesday or Thursday, e.g., Monday or Wednesday of that week, respectively, if the Tuesday or Thursday is not a business day.

Currently, for each option class eligible for participation in the Short Term Option Series Program, the Exchange is limited to opening thirty (30) series for each expiration date for the specific class.^[13] The thirty (30) series restriction does not include series that are open by other securities exchanges under their respective weekly rules; the Exchange may list these additional series that are listed by other options exchanges.^[14] This thirty (30) series restriction would apply to Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expiration series as well.

With this proposal, Tuesday and Thursday IWM Expirations would be treated the same as Tuesday and Thursday Expirations in SPY and QQQ. With respect to standard option series, Short Term Option Daily Expirations may expire in the same week in which standard option series on the same class expire.^[15] Further, as is the case today with other Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations, the Exchange would not permit Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations to expire on the same day in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series on the same class expire.^[16] Therefore, all Short Term Option Daily Expirations would expire at the close of business on each of the next two Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively, that are business days beyond the current week and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire.

The Exchange does not believe that any market disruptions will be encountered with the introduction of P.M.-settled Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations. The Exchange has the necessary capacity and surveillance programs in place to support and properly monitor trading in the proposed Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations. The Exchange currently trades P.M.-settled Short Term Option Series that expire Tuesday and Thursday for SPY and QQQ and has not experienced any market disruptions nor issues with capacity. Today, the Exchange has surveillance programs in place to support and properly monitor trading in Short Term Option Series that expire Tuesday and Thursday for SPY and QQQ.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),^[17] in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[18] 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 mechanism 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 IWM Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations will allow market participants to purchase IWM options based on their timing as needed and allow them to tailor their investment and hedging needs more effectively. Further, the proposal to permit Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations for options on IWM listed pursuant to the Short Term Option Series Program, subject to the proposed limitation of two nearest expirations, would protect investors and the public interest by providing the investing public and other market participants more flexibility to closely tailor their investment and hedging decisions in IWM options, thus allowing them to better manage their risk exposure. In particular, the Exchange believes the Short Term Option Series Program has been successful to date and that Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Daily Expirations should simply expand the ability of investors to hedge risk against market movements stemming from economic releases or market events that occur throughout the month in the same way that the Short Term Option Series Program has expanded the landscape of hedging. Similarly, the Exchange believes Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations should create greater trading and hedging opportunities and provide customers the flexibility to tailor their investment objectives more effectively. BOX currently lists SPY and QQQ Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations.^[19]

With this proposal, Tuesday and Thursday IWM Expirations would be treated similarly to existing Tuesday and Thursday SPY and QQQ Expirations and would expire in the same week that standard monthly options expire on Fridays.^[20] Further, today, Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations do not expire on the same day in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series or Quarterly Options Series expire.^[21] Today, all Short Term Option Daily Expirations expire at the close of business on each of the next two Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively, that are business days and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series or Quarterly Options Series expire. There are no material differences in the treatment of Tuesday and Thursday SPY and QQQ Short Term Option Daily Expirations as compared to the proposed Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations.

Finally, the Exchange represents that it has an adequate surveillance program in place to detect manipulative trading in the proposed Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations, in the same way that it monitors trading in the current Short Term Option Series and trading in Tuesday and Thursday SPY and QQQ Expirations. The Exchange also represents that it has the necessary systems capacity to support the new options series. Finally, the Exchange does not believe that any market disruptions will be encountered with the introduction of Tuesday and Thursday IWM Short Term Option Daily Expirations.

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. In this regard and as indicated above, the Exchange notes that the rule change is being proposed as a competitive response to a filing submitted by ISE that was recently approved by the Commission.^[22] Similar to SPY and QQQ Tuesday and Thursday Expirations, the introduction of IWM Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations does not impose an undue burden on competition. The Exchange believes that it will, among other things, expand hedging tools available to market participants and continue the reduction of the premium cost of buying protection. The Exchange believes that IWM Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations will allow market participants to purchase IWM options based on their timing as needed and allow them to tailor their investment and hedging needs more effectively. The Exchange notes that Cboe began listing Tuesday and Thursday expirations in RUTW and MRUT on January 8, 2024.

The Exchange does not believe the proposal will impose any burden on inter-market competition, as nothing prevents other options exchanges from proposing similar rules to list and trade Short Term Option Series with Tuesday and Thursday Short Term Option Daily Expirations. The Exchange notes that having Tuesday and Thursday IWM expirations is not a novel proposal, as SPY and QQQ Tuesday and Thursday Expirations are currently listed on BOX.^[23]

Further, the Exchange does not believe the proposal will impose any burden on intramarket competition, as all market participants will be treated in the same manner under this proposal.

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

The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[24] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[25] 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 ^[26] and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[27]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[28] normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[29] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. According to the Exchange, the proposed rule change is a competitive response to a filing submitted by Nasdaq ISE that was recently approved by the Commission.^[30] The Exchange has stated that waiver of the 30-day operative delay would permit the Exchange to implement the proposal at the same time as its competitor exchanges, thus creating competition among Short Term Option Series. 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. Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.^[31]

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 ( https://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or

• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include file number SR-BOX-2024-11 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-BOX-2024-11. 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 ( https://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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-BOX-2024-11 and should be submitted on or before May 14, 2024.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[32]

Vanessa A. Countryman,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.   See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 99946 (April 11, 2024) (Order Approving SR-ISE-2024-06).

6.  The Exchange may open for trading on any Thursday or Friday that is a business day series of options on that class that expire at the close of business on each of the next five Fridays that are business days and are not Fridays in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series. Of these series of options, the Exchange may have no more than a total of five Short Term Option Expiration Dates. In addition, the Exchange may open for trading series of options on certain symbols that expire at the close of business on each of the next two Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively, that are business days beyond the current week and are not business days in which standard expiration options series, Monthly Options Series, or Quarterly Options Series expire (“Short Term Option Daily Expirations”). See BOX IM-5050-6.

7.  The Exchange would amend the Tuesday and Thursday expirations for IWM in Table 1 in IM-5050-6 from “0” to “2” to permit Tuesday and Thursday expirations for options on IWM listed pursuant to the Short Term Option Series Program. The Exchange notes that Cboe Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe”) began listing Tuesday and Thursday expirations in the Russell 2000 Index Weeklys® (“RUTW”) and Mini-Russell 2000 Index Weeklys® (“MRUT”) on January 8, 2024.

8.   See BOX IM-5050-6.

9.  Today, IWM may trade on Mondays and Wednesdays, in addition to Fridays, as is the case for all options series.

10.  See BOX IM-5050-6(b)(5).

11.  Options on SPY, iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (“IVV”), QQQ, IWM, and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (“DIA”) are also subject to IM-5050-1(b) strike intervals.

12.  BOX Rule 100(a)(66) provides, “The term `Short Term Option Series' means a series in an option class that is approved for listing and trading on BOX in which the series is opened for trading on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is a business day and that expires on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of the next business week, or, in the case of a series that is listed on a Friday and expires on a Monday, is listed one business week and one business day prior to that expiration. If a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday is not a business day, the series may be opened (or shall expire) on the first business day immediately prior to that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, respectively. For a series listed pursuant to this section for Monday expiration, if a Monday is not a business day, the series shall expire on the first business day immediately following that Monday.”

13.  See BOX IM-5050-6(b)(3) and (4).

14.  See BOX IM-5050-6(b)(1).

15.  See BOX IM-5050-6(b)(2).

16.  Id.

17.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

18.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

19.   See BOX IM-5050-6(a).

20.   See BOX IM-5050-6(b)(2).

21.   Id.

22.   See supra, note 3.

23.   See BOX IM-5050-6(a).

24.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

25.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

26.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

27.  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.

28.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

29.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

30.  See supra note 5.

31.  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. See15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

32.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12), (59).