94-22575. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Changes and Amendments Thereto by the American Stock ...  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-22575]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: September 13, 1994]
    
    
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    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
    
    [Release No. 34-34632; File Nos. SR-Amex-94-21, SR-CBOE-94-10, SR-NYSE-
    94-22, SR-PSE-94-16, and SR-Phlx-94-09]
    
     
    
    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Approving Proposed Rule 
    Change of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and Notice of Filing and 
    Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Changes and 
    Amendments Thereto by the American Stock Exchange, New York Stock 
    Exchange, Pacific Stock Exchange, and Philadelphia Stock Exchange 
    Relating to Short Sales of Nasdaq National Market Securities
    
    September 2, 1994.
    
    I. Introduction
    
        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
    (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ on March 31, 1994, the 
    Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE''), on June 1, 1994, the 
    Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (``Phlx''), on June 13, 1994, the 
    American Stock Exchange, Inc., on June 16, 1994, the Pacific Stock 
    Exchange, Inc. (``PSE''), and on June 27, 1994, the New York Stock 
    Exchange (``NYSE''), respectively (each individually referred to herein 
    as an ``Exchange'' and two or more collectively referred to as 
    ``Exchanges''), submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
    (``Commission'') proposed rule changes designed to allow their members 
    to designate certain short sales of Nasdaq\3\ National Market (``NM'') 
    securities\4\ as bid test exempt sales in connection with the bid test 
    applicable to short sales of such securities (``bid test rule'' or 
    ``short sale rule'') recently adopted by the NASD and included in the 
    NASD Manual, Rules of Fair Practice (``NASD Rules'').\5\ On May 9, 
    1994, the CBOE filed Amendment No. 1;\6\ on June 20, 1994, the Phlx 
    filed Amendment No. 1;\7\ on June 21, 1994, the Amex filed Amendment 
    No. 1;\8\ on June 30, the PSE filed Amendment No. 1,\9\ and on August 
    3, 1994, the Phlx filed Amendment No. 2.\10\ The CBOE proposal was 
    published for comment in the Federal Register on May 18, 1994.\11\ No 
    comments were received on these proposed rule changes. This order 
    approves the Exchanges' proposals and the Exchanges' Amendments.
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        \1\15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) (1988).
        \2\17 CFR 240.19b-4 (1993).
        \3\Nasdaq is a computerized system that provides brokers and 
    dealers with price quotations for securities traded over the 
    counter.
        \4\Nasdaq includes both Nasdaq SmallCap Market and Nasdaq NM 
    securities. In July 1993, the NASD began referring to Nasdaq 
    National Market System or Nasdaq NMS securities as Nasdaq National 
    Market securities.
        \5\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34277 (June 29, 
    1994), 59 FR 34885 (File No. SR-NASD-92-12).
        \6\In Amendment No. 1, the CBOE removes the term ``NMS 
    securities'' and replaces it with ``Nasdaq National Market 
    securities,'' National Market securities,'' or ``NM securities.'' In 
    addition, Amendment No. 1 confirms that surveillance procedures had 
    been or would be implemented by the CBOE in order for the CBOE to be 
    deemed a ``qualified Options exchange'' that satisfies the 
    requirements of the NASD's short-sale rule (File No. SR-NASD-92-12). 
    See letter from Michael L. Meyer, Schiff Hardin & Waite, to Francois 
    Mazur, Attorney, Division of Market Regulation (``Division''), 
    Commission, dated May 9, 1994. See also Securities Exchange Act 
    Release No. 34277, supra note 5.
        \7\See letter from Michele R. Weisbaum, Phlx, to Francois Mazur, 
    Attorney, Division, Commission, dated June 16, 1994. The Phlx's 
    amendment revises the term ``NMS securities, and refers instead to 
    ``National Market securities'' or ``NM securities.'' Id.
        \8\See letter from Claire P. McGrath, Managing Director and 
    Special Counsel, Derivative Securities, Amex, to Michael Walinskas, 
    Branch Chief, Division, Commission, dated June 20, 1994. Amendment 
    No. 1 corrects a typographical error made in the original 
    submission.
        \9\See letter from Michael D. Pierson, Senior Attorney, Market 
    Regulation, PSE, to Francois Mazur, Attorney, Division, Commission, 
    dated June 29, 1994. Amendment No. 1 requests the Commission to find 
    good cause for accelerating effectiveness of the PSE's proposal.
        \10\See Phlx Amendment No. 2. Amendment No. 2 revises the 
    proposal to allow a Phlx specialist to designate all the Nasdaq NM 
    securities underlying the options or index options which the 
    specialist has been allocated as ``designated'' NM securities. Under 
    the original proposal, Phlx specialists were limited to designating 
    twenty such securities.
        \11\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34049 (May 12, 
    1994), 59 FR 25971.
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    II. Description of Proposals
    
    A. Introduction
    
        The Exchanges have submitted substantially similar proposals to the 
    Commission to amend their respective rules\12\ so as to coordinate them 
    with the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice relating to a bid test 
    applicable to short sales of NM securities traded through Nasdaq.\13\ 
    The proposals require Exchange members who initiate, accept, or 
    transmit for execution, or execute sales of NM securities for the 
    account of another Exchange member, to designate such sales as long 
    sales, short sales, or bid test exempt sales. Accordingly, NASD members 
    who receive orders to sell NM securities from or for the account of 
    Exchange members will have a basis to determine whether such sales are 
    short sales subject to or exempt from the bid test.\14\
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        \12\CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10; Phlx Proposed Rule 1072; Amex 
    Proposed Rule 957(d); and PSE Proposed Rule 4.19.
        \13\The NASD bid test prohibits broker-dealers from effecting 
    short sales, for themselves or their customers, at or below the 
    ``bid'' when the current ``inside'' or best bid is below the 
    previous inside bid.
        \14\An executing NASD member is required to make a good-faith 
    determination whether an order is long, short, or bid test exempt. 
    Thus, an NASD member is prohibited from effecting a short sale for 
    the account of a customer or for its own account directly or through 
    the offices of a third party for the purpose of avoiding the 
    application of the short sale rule. Further, an NASD member is 
    prohibited from knowingly, or with reason to know, effecting sales 
    for the account of a customer or for its own account for the purpose 
    of avoiding the rule. It is the belief of the NASD that NASD 
    members' activities to circumvent the short sale rule through 
    indirect actions such as executions with other members or through 
    facilitation of customer orders while being protected from loss are 
    antithetical to the purposes of the rule. See NASD Rules, Article 
    III, Section 48.
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        Under NASD Rules, Article III, Section 48, sales of NM securities 
    may be designated as bid test exempt if they qualify for one or more of 
    the exemptions from the bid test included in the rule. One of these 
    exemptions applies to short sales effected by ``qualified options 
    market makers''\15\ (``market maker exemption'') to hedge offsetting 
    options positions. This exemption recognizes the need for options 
    market makers to hedge their options positions by buying or selling 
    (including selling short) shares of underlying stocks or underlying 
    component stocks contained in stock indexes.
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        \15\A ``qualified options market maker'' is an options market 
    maker who has received an appointment as a ``qualified options 
    market maker'' for certain classes of stock options on Nasdaq 
    National Market securities and index options on qualified stock 
    indexes pursuant to the rules of a ``qualified options exchange.'' 
    See NASD Rules, Article III, Section 48(h)(2)(b). For a definition 
    of a ``qualified options exchange,'' see infra note 16 and 
    accompanying text.
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        To benefit from the bid test exemption afforded to qualified 
    options market makers, a market maker must be designated as a qualified 
    options market maker by a ``qualified options exchange.''\16\ The NASD 
    Rules define a ``qualified options exchange'' as a national securities 
    exchange with Commission approved rules and procedures governing the 
    designation of qualified options makers. In addition, to be deemed a 
    ``qualified options exchange,'' the NASD Rules require an exchange to 
    implement procedures governing the surveillance of its market makers' 
    use of the exemption, as well as to require the exchange to authorize 
    the NASD to limit the designation of a qualified options market maker 
    where the options exchange finds substantial, willful, or continuing 
    violations of its rule governing qualified options market makers.\17\
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        \16\See NASD Rules, Article III, Section 48(h)(2)(c).
        \17\Id.
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        The Exchanges' rules governing qualified options market makers will 
    be implemented as an eighteen month pilot and will be effective 
    concurrently with the NASD's bid test rule pilot program. The proposals 
    are subject to modification or termination at the end of the pilot 
    period. Additionally, the exchanges will require market makers to 
    designate the NM securities to which the NASD market maker exemption 
    will apply.
        If an Exchange determines that a qualified options market maker has 
    failed to comply with the terms of the market maker exemption, that 
    Exchange may withdraw, suspend, or modify the designation of a 
    qualified options market maker based upon that Exchange's determination 
    that such action is warranted in light of the substantial, willful, or 
    continuing nature of the violation. Each Exchange also will notify the 
    NASD of such a determination so that the NASD may take steps to ensure 
    that Nasdaq NM sales are executed in compliance with all applicable 
    NASD rules. Moreover, the Exchanges have designed surveillance 
    procedures to ensure compliance with the proposed rule change. 
    Specifically, these procedures must be implemented to allow the 
    Exchanges to be deemed qualified options exchanges as that term is 
    defined by the NASD pursuant to the options market maker exemption.\18\
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        \18\Id.
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    B. The CBOE's Proposal
    
        The CBOE proposes to adopt Rule 15.10 to require members to 
    designate sales of Nasdaq NM securities as long sales, short sales, or 
    bid-test exempt sales.\19\ The CBOE proposal allows a short sale to be 
    designated as bid-test exempt if the sale qualifies for one of the 
    NASD's bid-test exemptions, or, as further provided in the NASD's rule, 
    if the short sale is an exempt hedge transaction in a ``designated NM 
    security''\20\ underlying a class of stock options, or included in an 
    index underlying a class of index options for which the market maker 
    holds an appointment under the CBOE's rules.\21\
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        \19\See CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10(a).
        \20\``Designated NM security'' is defined as an NM security 
    which the market maker has designated as qualifying for the bid-test 
    exemption. See Proposed CBOE Rule 15.10(c)(2)(B).
        \21\See CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10(c).
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        Under the CBOE's proposal, a registered market maker will be 
    considered a qualified options market maker in options on properly 
    designated NM securities. Such a market maker is entitled to engage in 
    ``exempt hedge transactions'' with respect to those NM securities.\22\ 
    The CBOE's proposed rule will remain effective for the eighteen month 
    pilot period of the NASD's short sale rule, or for whatever period the 
    market maker short sale exemption remains effective.\23\
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        \22\The CBOE defines an ``exempt hedge transaction,'' consistent 
    with the definition in the NASD's short sale rule, as a short sale 
    in an NM security effected to hedge, and which in fact serves to 
    hedge, an existing offsetting options position or an offsetting 
    options position that was created in one or more transactions 
    contemporaneous with the short sale.
        With respect to index options, the CBOE will require that the NM 
    security sold short be a component security of the index underlying 
    such index option, that at least 10 percent of the value of the 
    index underlying such index option be represented by one or more NM 
    securities, and that the current aggregate value of the NM 
    securities sold short not exceed the aggregate current index value 
    of the index options position being hedged. Once an underlying index 
    satisfies the 10 percent test, the continued qualification of the 
    index shall be reviewed as of the end of each quarter, and the index 
    shall cease to qualify if the value of the index represented by one 
    or more NM securities is less than 8 percent at the end of any 
    subsequent year. See CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10(c)(2)(ii)(A). See also 
    NASD Rules, Article III, Section 48(h)(2)(d) (defining ``qualified 
    stock index'').
        A transaction unrelated to normal options market making 
    activity, such as index arbitrage or risk arbitrage, that is 
    independent of a market maker's market making functions, will not be 
    considered an exempt hedge transaction. See CBOE Proposed 
    Interpretation and Policy .01, CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10.
        \23\See CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10(d).
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        The CBOE proposal also provides that if one of its members 
    initiates, accepts for execution, transmits for execution, or executes 
    a short sale of an NM security without properly identifying it, such a 
    sale may violate certain CBOE rules. In addition, if a participant 
    designates a short sale as a bid test exempt sale, including claiming 
    the sale to be exempt by reason of the market maker exemption, but does 
    not satisfy the requirements for such an exemption, or if the sale is 
    made with the purpose of disrupting or manipulating the market in the 
    security that is the subject of the sale of a related option, such a 
    sale may also violate certain CBOE rules.\24\ The CBOE has designed 
    surveillance procedures to monitor member compliance with the CBOE's 
    proposed rule once it becomes effective.\25\ Finally, the CBOE has 
    stated its commitment to notify the NASD if the CBOE determines that 
    there has been a substantial, willful, or continuing violation of its 
    proposed rule.
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        \24\See CBOE Proposed Rule 15.10(f).
        \25\See CBOE Amendment No. 1, supra note 6.
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    C. The Phlx's Proposal
    
        The Phlx proposal is substantially the same as the CBOE proposal. 
    The Phlx's proposal creates new Rule 1072 entitled Reporting 
    Requirements Applicable to Short Sales in NASD/NM Securities. The Phlx 
    proposal applies to Registered Options Traders (``ROTs'') and 
    specialists. In its original filing, Phlx ROTs and specialists were 
    both limited to designating Nasdaq NM securities underlying no more 
    than twenty of the options or index options, which the specialist or 
    ROT has been allocated or assigned respectively, as designated Nasdaq 
    NM securities. The Phlx has since amended its proposal to state that a 
    Phlx specialist may designate all Nasdaq NM securities in which it is 
    registered.\26\ The Phlx proposal also amends Phlx Rule 455(d)(12) 
    (Short Sales) by adding a reference to its new Rule 1072.
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        \26\See Phlx Amendment No. 2.
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    D. The Amex's Proposal
    
        The Amex proposal is substantially the same as the CBOE proposal. 
    The Amex proposal adds a new paragraph (d) to its Rule 957, Accounts, 
    Orders and Records of Registered Traders Specialists and Associated 
    Persons. The Amex refers to options specialists and registered options 
    traders, as those terms have the same basic meaning as the CBOE term 
    ``market maker.'' The Amex proposal also amends Amex Rule 590 (Minor 
    Rule Violation Fine Systems) by adding a reference to new paragraph (d) 
    of its Rule 957.\27\
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        \27\When the Amex originally submitted its rule proposal, its 
    proposed amendment of Rule 590 incorrectly made reference to a Rule 
    992. The Amex amended its proposal to correct this error. See Amex 
    Amendment No. 1, supra note 8.
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    E. The PSE's Proposal
    
        The PSE proposal is nearly identical to the CBOE proposal. The PSE 
    proposal creates new Rule 4.19, Reporting Requirements Applicable to 
    Short Sales in Nasdag/NM Securities. The PSE filed an amendment 
    requesting accelerated effectiveness of its proposal.28 In 
    addition, the PSE's proposal contains a non-substantive difference with 
    respect to format.
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        \2\8See PSE Amendment No. 1, supra note 9.
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    F. The NYSE's Proposal
    
        The NYSE's proposal is structured differently from those of the 
    CBOE and other Exchanges, though it is not dissimilar in effect. 
    Instead of referring to ``Nasdag NM securities,'' the NYSE refers to 
    ``Nasdag NMS securities,'' defining such securities as having the 
    meaning that Part I of Schedule D to the By-Laws of the NASD assigns 
    either to NM or NMS securities.29 The NYSE defines a ``qualified 
    options Exchange market maker'' to mean either an NYSE options 
    specialist acting in respect of one of his specialty options or an NYSE 
    Competitive Options Trader (``COT'') acting in respect of an NYSE 
    listed option.30
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        \2\9See Proposed NYSE Rule 759A(a)(iv).
        \3\0See NYSE Proposed Rule 759A(a)(v).
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        Unlike the CBOE proposal, the NYSE proposed rule does not state 
    explicitly the prohibition against its members transacting an improper 
    short sale for the account of another NYSE member. Instead, the NYSE 
    states that the market maker exemption is available only if the short 
    sale is related to normal market making activity.31
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        \3\1See NYSE Proposed Rule 759A(a)(i)(C)(3). A short sale 
    effected for such purposes as index arbitrage or risk arbitrage that 
    in either case is independent of a market maker's market making 
    functions is not considered related to normal market making 
    activity. Id.
        In its filing, the NYSE states that its specialists are subject 
    to market making obligations with respect to all activity in their 
    assigned specialty options and COTs are subject to market making 
    obligations with respect to all activity in all Exchange listed 
    options. Nevertheless, the NYSE proposal also includes a requirement 
    that the market maker exemption only be available for transactions 
    ``related to market making activity'' in order to accommodate the 
    possibility that the Exchange may someday limit the scope or 
    parameters pursuant to which COTs must fulfill their market making 
    obligations in a manner similar to that of the options market makers 
    on the options exchanges that divide their floors into zones. See 
    File No. SR-NYSE-94-22.
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    III. Discussion
    
        The Commission believes that the Exchanges' proposed rule changes 
    are consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and 
    regulations thereunder applicable to national securities exchanges. 
    Specifically, the Commission believes the Exchanges' proposals are 
    consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act32 
    in that they are designed to promote just and equitable principles of 
    trade and to protect investors and the public interest. The proposals 
    coordinate the Exchanges' rules with the NASD's bid test applicable to 
    short sales of NM securities. The bid test is intended to reduce the 
    potential for abusive short selling practices in the Nasdaq market 
    without restricting options market makers who may need to sell stocks 
    short in order to hedge options positions resulting from their market 
    making activities.
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        \3\215 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5) (1988).
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        The Commission approved the NASD's short sale rule proposal on June 
    29, 1994,33 and in doing so stated that the rule, together with 
    the market maker exemption, is a reasonable approach to short sale 
    regulation of Nasdaq National Market securities. The Commission 
    believes the Exchanges' proposals are consistent with the NASD's bid 
    test rule. Moreover, the Commission believes the Exchanges' proposals 
    address the limitations imposed by the NASD for applicability of the 
    market maker exemption.
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        \3\3See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34277, supra note 5.
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        Specifically, the Exchanges' proposals will implement rules 
    designed so that each Exchange will satisfy the NASD's definition of a 
    ``qualified options exchange.''34 Additionally, the proposals 
    include provisions to allow the Exchanges to designate options market 
    makers, specialists, and their equivalents as ``qualified options 
    market makers.''35 This designation will allow these market 
    makers, specialists, and their equivalent to make use of the NASD's 
    market maker exemption to the bid test rule.
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        \3\4See supra note 16.
        \3\5See supra note 15.
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        The first requirement imposed by the NASD for an exchange to be a 
    ``qualified options exchange'' is that it have approved rules and 
    procedures for designating market makers as qualified options market 
    makers. These standards must be designed to identify options market 
    makers who regularly engage in market making activities in the 
    particular options class(es). Accordingly, the CBOE proposal states 
    that a CBOE market maker will be considered a ``qualified options 
    market maker'' in options on properly ``designated NM 
    securities.''36 CBOE market makers may designate NM securities 
    underlying options, or included in an index underlying options, for 
    which they hold an appointment at no more than three trading stations 
    at the CBOE.37 A short sale in a designated NM security that is an 
    ``exempt hedge transaction,''38 is entitled to the NASD's market 
    maker exemption from its bid test rule. The Phlx,39 Amex,40 
    PSE,41 and NYSE42 have very similar provisions in their 
    proposals. The Commission believes that these standards should help to 
    ensure that qualified options market makers continue to engage in 
    market making activities in their assigned options, while not allowing 
    the market maker exemption to be extended beyond its original purpose.
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        \3\6See Proposed CBOE Rule 15.10(c)(2)(B), and supra note 20.
        \3\7Id. A Phlx ROT may designate NM securities underlying no 
    more than 20 of the options or index options which the ROT has been 
    allocated or assigned as designated NM securities; a Phlx specialist 
    may designate NM securities underlying all the options or index 
    options for which the specialist is registered. See Phlx Proposed 
    Rule 1072(c)(2) (ii) & (iii). Designated securities of an Amex ROT 
    or options specialist are NM securities underlying a class of stock 
    options or included in an index underlying a class of index options 
    in which the specialist is registered or the ROT is assigned. See 
    Amex Proposed Rule 957(d)(2)(b)(i). A PSE market maker may designate 
    NM securities underlying options or included in an index underlying 
    options for which he holds an appointment on the PSE options floor. 
    See PSE Proposed Rule 4.19(c)(2)(B)(ii). For NYSE specialists and 
    COTS, designated securities include assigned specialty options for 
    NYSE options specialists, and all securities underlying NYSE-listed 
    options with respect to NYSE COTS. See File No. SR-NYSE-94-22.
        \3\8The CBOE proposal defines an ``exempt hedge transaction'' as 
    a short sale in an NM security that was effected to hedge, and in 
    fact serves to hedge, an existing offsetting options position or an 
    offsetting options position that was created in one or more 
    transactions contemporaneous with the short sale. See CBOE Proposed 
    Rule 15.10(c)(2)(ii)(A), and supra note 22.
        \3\9See Phlx Proposed Rule 1072.
        \4\0See Amex Proposed Paragraph (d) to its Rule 957.
        \4\1See PSE Proposed Rule 4.19.
        \4\2See NYSE Proposed Rule 759A.
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        The second requirement for an Exchange to be deemed a ``qualified 
    options exchange'' pursuant to the NASD's rules is that the exchange 
    have procedures providing for the surveillance of its market makers' 
    use of the market maker exemption set forth in NASD Rules, Article III, 
    Section 48(h)(1). The purpose of such procedures is to ensure that 
    short sales effected by qualified options market makers are exempt 
    hedge transactions and that other non-qualified market makers are not 
    using the exemption. The Commission is satisfied that the Exchanges 
    have provided for the implementation of such procedures to become 
    effective with the implementation of the NASD's bid test rule. These 
    procedures are intended to monitor market maker use of the market maker 
    exemption.
        Finally, each Exchange, in its respective proposal, has stated that 
    if it determines that a qualified options market maker has failed to 
    comply with the terms of the exemption, the Exchange may withdraw, 
    suspend, or modify the designation of a qualified options market maker 
    based upon the Exchange's determination of the substantial, willful, or 
    continuing nature of the violation.\43\ The purpose of this provision 
    is to satisfy the third NASD requirement for an exchange to be deemed a 
    qualified options exchange. That requirement states that an exchange 
    must have rules and procedures authorizing the NASD to withdraw, 
    suspend, or modify the designation of a qualified options market maker 
    if the qualified options exchange has determined that the qualified 
    options market maker has failed to comply with the terms of the market 
    maker exemption, and that such a withdrawal, suspension, or 
    modification of the market maker's exemption is warranted in light of 
    the substantial, willful, or continuing nature of the violation.\44\ 
    The Commission also notes that because each Exchange proposal contains 
    a commitment to notify the NASD of such a determination, the Exchanges 
    have provided the NASD with the means to withdraw, suspend, or modify 
    the designation of a qualified options market maker insofar as Nasdaq 
    NM securities are involved.
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        \43\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34049, supra note 
    11, and File Nos. SR-Amex-94-21, SR-NYSE-94-22, SR-PSE-94-16, and 
    SR-Phlx-94-09.
        \44\Moreover, the CBOE, in its proposal, provides that it will 
    not be deemed a violation of the proposed rule when a member 
    designates a short sale as bid test exempt where the member does not 
    know or have reason to know that the criteria for designating such a 
    sale as bid test exempt are not satisfied. See CBOE Proposed Rule 
    15.10(e). With the exception of the NYSE, the other exchanges have 
    very similar provisions. See Phlx Proposed Rule 1072(e); Amex 
    Proposed Rule 957(d)(4); and PSE Proposed Rule 4.19(e).
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        The Commission approved the NASD's short sale rule on an eighteen 
    month temporary basis, effective September 6, 1994, through March 5, 
    1996.\45\ In doing so, the Commission stated that questions remain 
    whether the market maker exemption from the short sale rule is 
    appropriate on an ongoing basis. The Commission noted that specialists 
    and other market makers do not enjoy similar exemptions from the 
    Commission's short sale rule for listed securities under Rule 10a-1 
    under the Exchange Act. Consequently, the Exchanges' proposals are 
    approved on a temporary basis, to remain in effect so long as there 
    exists a market maker exemption to the NASD's short sale rule.\46\
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        \45\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34277, supra note 5.
        \46\If the NASD later amends its short sale rule in a manner 
    that affects the market maker exemption, including its definition, 
    conditions, and requirements, the Exchanges might be required to 
    amend their respective companion market maker exemption rules so 
    that the Exchanges' members may avail themselves of any continued 
    market maker exemption.
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        During the eighteen-month temporary approval period for the NASD's 
    bid test rule, the Commission expects the Exchanges to gather data on 
    the operation and effectiveness of the rules and procedures relating to 
    the market maker exemption. In particular, the Exchanges should focus 
    on: gathering data regarding the number of market makers using the 
    market maker exemption, and the frequency with which they use it; the 
    sufficiency of the surveillance procedures; difficulties in 
    administering the market maker exemption and the accompanying 
    surveillance procedures; and the nature of any violations of the market 
    maker exemption.
        The Commission finds good cause for approving File Nos. SR-Phlx-94-
    09, and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto; SR-Amex-94-21, and Amendment 
    No. 1, thereto; SR-PSE-94-16, and Amendment No. 1 thereto; and SR-NYSE-
    94-22 prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of 
    notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. Each of the 
    Exchanges' proposed rule changes and amendments is consistent with the 
    CBOE's proposal, notice of which was published on May 18, 1994,\47\ and 
    contain only minor variations from the CBOE proposal. As a result, the 
    Commission believes that good cause exists for approving the foregoing 
    rule proposals and amendments on an accelerated basis given that the 
    implementation date of the NASD bid test rule is September 6, 1994.
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        \47\See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34049, supra note 
    11.
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    IV. Solicitation of Comments
    
        Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
    arguments concerning File Nos. SR-Phlx-94-09, and Amendment Nos. 1 and 
    2 thereto; SR-Amex-94-21, and Amendment No. 1, thereto; SR-PSE-94-16, 
    and Amendment No. 1 thereto; and SR-NYSE-94-22. 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 submissions, 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 at the Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, 
    N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filings will also be 
    available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
    above-mentioned self-regulatory organizations. All submissions should 
    refer to the file number(s) in the caption above and should be 
    submitted by October 4, 1994.
    
    V. Conclusion
    
        It Is Therefore Ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
    Act,\48\ that the proposed rule changes (File Nos. SR-Amex-94-21, SR-
    CBOE-94-10, SR-NYSE-94-22, SR-PSE-94-16, SR-Phlx-94-09), as amended, 
    are hereby approved on a temporary basis, to remain in effect so long 
    as the current market maker exemption to the NASD's short sale rule 
    remains in effect.
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        \48\15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2) (1988).
    
        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
    pursuant to delegated authority.\49\
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \49\17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1993).
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Margaret H. McFarland,
    Deputy Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 94-22575 Filed 9-12-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/13/1994
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-22575
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: September 13, 1994, Release No. 34-34632, File Nos. SR-Amex-94-21, SR-CBOE-94-10, SR-NYSE- 94-22, SR-PSE-94-16, and SR-Phlx-94-09