E7-13748. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the Quarterly Options Series Pilot Program for a Two-Week Period

July 10, 2007.

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 July 10, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“Exchange” or “NYSE Arca”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated this proposal as non-controversial under section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[4] which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the Commission. 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 is proposing to extend the Quarterly Options Series pilot program (“Pilot Program”) for an additional two-week period, through July 24, 2007, and to amend Rule 5.19(a) regarding the restriction on the number of strike prices for Quarterly Options Series based on an underlying index. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.nysearca.com), at the Exchange'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

On July 12, 2006, the Exchange filed with the Commission a proposed rule change that allowed it to establish the Pilot Program, pursuant to which the Exchange lists and trades Quarterly Options Series.^[5] The rule change was effective upon filing. The Exchange hereby proposes to extend the Pilot Program for an additional two-week period, so that it will expire on July 24, 2007.^[6]

In the Pilot Program Release, the Exchange stated that it would submit, in connection with any proposed extension of the Pilot Program, a Pilot Program Report (“Report”) that would provide an analysis of the Pilot Program covering the entire period which the program was in effect. The Report will include: (1) Data and written analysis on the open interest and trading volume in the classes for which Quarterly Options Series were opened; (2) an assessment of the appropriateness of the option classes selected for the Pilot Program; (3) an assessment of the impact of the Pilot Program on the capacity on the Exchange, OPRA, and market data vendors (to the extent data from market data vendors is available); (4) any capacity problems or other problems that arose during the operation of the Pilot Program and how the Exchange addressed such problems; (5) any complaints that the Exchange received during the operation of the Pilot Program and how the Exchange addressed them; and (6) any additional information that would assist the Commission in assessing the operation of the Pilot Program. The Exchange plans to submit the Report in connection with a proposal that will extend the Pilot Program until July 10, 2008. This proposal and Report will be filed with the Commission at the conclusion of the proposed two-week extension.

The Exchange also proposes at this time to add a provision to Rule 5.19(a) regarding the limitations on the number of strikes the Exchange may list for Quarterly Options Series based on an underlying index. These changes mirror provisions previously submitted by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) and approved by the Commission.^[7] The Exchange proposes to: (1) Limit the number of strike prices that the Exchange may initially open for Quarterly Options Series to five strike prices above and five below the value of the underlying index; (2) clarify that the Exchange may open for trading additional Quarterly Options Series of the same class when the Exchange deems such action necessary to maintain an orderly market or meet customer demand, provided that the additional series priced above (below) the value of the underlying index do not cause there to be more than five strike process above (below) the value of the underlying index; and (3) clarify that the opening of any new Quarterly Options Series will not affect the previously opened series of the same class. These changes are based on CBOE Rule 24.9 and are shown in Exhibit 5 to the proposed rule change on Form 19b-4 filed with the Commission.

Finally, NYSE Arca represents that the Exchange has the necessary system capacity to support any additional series listed as part of the Pilot Program.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the continuation of the Quarterly Options Series Pilot Program will stimulate customer interest in options by creating greater trading opportunities and flexibility in investment choices. The Exchange further believes that continuation of the Pilot Program will provide the ability to more closely tailor investment strategies and provide a valuable hedging tool for investors. For these reasons, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular, the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act.^[8] Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[9] which requires that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

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.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the 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

The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one that: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[10] and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[11] The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the operative delay to permit the Pilot Program extension to become operative prior to the 30th day after filing.^[12]

The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it will allow the benefits of the Pilot Program to continue without interruption.^[13] Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing. The Commission, in deciding to waive the operative delay in order to allow the Pilot Program to continue uninterrupted for the proposed two-week extension, has relied on the Exchange's representation that it will submit the Report as required by the Pilot Program on or before the expiration of the extension period (i.e., July 24, 2007).^[14]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate the 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

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to: [e-mail]. Please include File No. SR-NYSEArca-2007-67 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-67. 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 Commissions 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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 Number SR-NYSEArca-2007-67 and should be submitted on or August 7, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[15]

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy 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. 54166 (July 18, 2006), 71 FR 42151 (July 25, 2006) (File No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-45) (“Pilot Program Release”).

6.  At the end of this proposed two-week extension, NYSE Arca will submit a subsequent proposal to the Commission, in conjunction with a report on the Pilot Program, requesting that the Pilot Program be extended until July 10, 2008.

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54762 (November 16, 2006), 71 FR 67663 (November 22, 2006) (File No. SR-CBOE-2006-93).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

12.  As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business before doing so.

13.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

14.  As set forth in the Exchange's original filing proposing the Pilot Program, if the Exchange were to propose an extension, an expansion, or permanent approval of the Pilot Program, the Exchange would submit, along with any filing proposing such amendments to the program, a report that would provide an analysis of the Pilot Program covering the entire period during which the Pilot Program was in effect. The report would include, at a minimum: (1) Data and written analysis on the open interest and trading volume in the classes for which Quarterly Options Series were opened; (2) an assessment of the appropriateness of the option classes selected for the Pilot Program; (3) an assessment of the impact of the Pilot Program on the capacity of the Exchange, OPRA, and market data vendors (to the extent data from market data vendors is available); (4) any capacity problems or other problems that arose during the operation of the Pilot Program and how the Exchange addressed such problems; (5) any complaints that the Exchange received during the operation of the Pilot Program and how the Exchange addressed them; and (6) any additional information that would assist in assessing the operation of the Pilot Program. The report must be submitted to the Commission at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the Pilot Program. See Form 19b-4 for File No. SR-PCX-2005-32, filed March 16, 2005.

15.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).