02-6642. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. Relating to the Permanent Adoption of Decimal Pricing and the Establishment of Minimum Price Variations for Quoting in ...

March 12, 2002.

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 January 14, 2002, 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 CBOE. 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 CBOE proposes to amend its rules to establish minimum price variations (“MPVs”). The text of the proposed rule change is available at the CBOE and at the Commission.

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 September 25, 2001, the Commission issued an order requiring the securities exchanges and the NASD to submit their own respective rule filings to establish MPVs for quoting equity securities and options by January 14, 2002.^[3] The CBOE now proposes to formally adopt the MPVs currently in place on the Exchange.

As part of the industry conversion to decimal pricing and pursuant to the Decimals Implementation Plan for the Equities and Options Markets submitted to the Commission on July 26, 2000 (the “Plan”),^[4] the Exchange adopted the following MPV schedule for quoting: a five cent MPV for option issues quoted under $3 a contract; a ten cent MPV for option issues quoted at $3 a contract or greater; and a one cent MPV for the quoting of CBOE's equity products. The Plan, including the MPVs adopted under the Plan, remains in effect until the Commission approves rules submitted by each exchange and the NASD designating each market's MPVs. The Exchange seeks to designate the MPVs utilized under the Plan as its minimum increments.

The proposed rule change also provides that future changes to the Exchange's MPVs would be handled as they were handled before the conversion to decimal pricing, namely that the CBOE Board of Directors may determine to change the minimum increments and that the Exchange will designate any such change as a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the administration of the CBOE minimum increment rule for bids and offers (CBOE Rule 6.42) within the meaning of section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act^[5] and will file a rule change for effectiveness upon filing with the Commission. Lastly, the Exchange also seeks to formally eliminate CBOE Rule 15.11 (Mandatory Year 2000 Testing) and CBOE Rule 15.22 (Mandatory Decimal Pricing Testing), both of which have expired.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the 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 should promote just and equitable principles of trade, serve to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and 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.

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

Within 35 days of the date of 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 the Exchange consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve such 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, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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. Copies of the filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices of the Exchange. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2002-02 and should be submitted by April 10, 2002.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[8]

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 44846 (September 25, 2001), 66 FR 49983 (October 1, 2001).

4.  See letter from Dennis L. Covelli, Vice President, New York Stock Exchange, Inc. to Annette Nazareth, Director, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, dated July 25, 2000.

5.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

8.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).