96-17665. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc., To Amend the Firm Facilitation Exemption  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 134 (Thursday, July 11, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 36592-36593]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-17665]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    [Release No. 34-37393; File No. SR-CBOE-96-35]
    
    
    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
    Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc., To Amend the Firm 
    Facilitation Exemption
    
    July 2, 1996.
        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 June 12, 1996, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE'' or 
    ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
    (``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.
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        \1\ 15 U.S.C. Sec. 78s(b)(1) (1988).
        \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
    of the Proposed Rule Change
    
        The CBOE, pursuant to Rule 19b-4 of the Act, proposes to amend the 
    firm facilitation exemption provisions of its common or basic position 
    limit rule.
    
    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
    
        Earlier in 1996, the CBOE obtained Commission approval to expand 
    the firm facilitation exemption \3\ from position and exercise limits 
    to all non-multiply-listed Exchange option classes.\4\ Interpretation 
    .06 to Exchange Rule 4.11, the common or basic position limit rule, 
    contains the new firm facilitation exemption provisions. Currently, 
    only a member firm who facilitates and executes an order for its own 
    customer \5\ may qualify for a firm facilitation exemption.
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        \3\ The CBOE notes that a facilitation trade is a transaction 
    that involves crossing an order of a member firm's public customer 
    with an order from the member firm's proprietary account.
        \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36964 (March 13, 
    1996), 61 FR 11453 (March 20, 1996) (File No. SR-CBOE-95-68).
        \5\ The CBOE defines a customer order as one that is entered, 
    cleared, and in which the resulting position is carried with the 
    firm.
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        The CBOE is proposing to amend the firm facilitation exemption so 
    that both: (a) A member firm who facilitates its own customer whose 
    account it carries, whether the firm executes the order itself or gives 
    the order to an independent broker for execution; and (b) a member firm 
    who receives a customer order for execution only (and thus will not 
    have the resulting position carried by the firm, may qualify for this
    
    [[Page 36593]]
    
    exemption. The CBOE believes that the proposed rule change will better 
    allow its member firms to meet the investing needs of their customers.
        Because the proposed amendment to the firm facilitation exemption 
    should enhance the depth and liquidity of the market by allowing member 
    firms an exemption from position limits to facilitate large customer 
    orders, whether they are firms who accept customer orders for execution 
    only, or they are firms who carry their customers' accounts and 
    positions, the Exchange believes that this rule change is consistent 
    with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that 
    it would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free 
    market in a manner consistent with the protection of investors and the 
    public interest.
    
    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
    
        The CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose 
    any inappropriate burden on competition.
    
    C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on the Comments on Proposed 
    Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
    
        No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
    proposed rule change.
    
    III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
    Commission Action
    
        Within 35 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal 
    Register, or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
    designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
    be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or (ii) as to 
    which self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
        A. By order approve the proposed rule change, or
        B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
    change should be disapproved.
    
    IV. Solicitation of Comments
    
        Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
    arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions 
    should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
    Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
    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. Sec. 552, will be available for inspection and copying at 
    the Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available 
    for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All 
    submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-96-35 and should be 
    submitted by August 1, 1996.
        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant 
    to delegated authority.\6\
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        \6\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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    Jonathan G. Katz,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-17665 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/11/1996
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-17665
Pages:
36592-36593 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-37393, File No. SR-CBOE-96-35
PDF File:
96-17665.pdf