Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Extend Two Pilot Programs Until July 18, 2007 Related to the Exchange's Automated Improvement Mechanism

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Federal RegisterJul 21, 2006
71 Fed. Reg. 41487 (Jul. 21, 2006)
July 14, 2006.

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on July 6, 2006, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (“Exchange” or “CBOE”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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 proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder, 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.

17 CFR 240.19b-4.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

CBOE proposes to extend two pilot programs related to the Exchange's Automated Improvement Mechanism (“AIM”) for one year, until July 18, 2007. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.cboe.com ), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

In February 2006, CBOE obtained approval of a filing adopting the AIM auction process. AIM exposes certain orders electronically to an auction process to provide such orders with the opportunity to receive an execution at an improved price. The AIM auction is available only for orders that an Exchange member represents as agent and for which a second order of the same size as the “Agency Order” (and on the opposite side of the market) is also submitted (effectively stopping the Agency Order at a given price).

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53222 (February 3, 2006), 71 FR 7069 (February 10, 2006).

Two components of AIM were approved on a pilot basis: (1) That there is no minimum size requirement for orders to be eligible for the auction, and (2) that the auction will conclude prematurely anytime there is a quote lock on the Exchange pursuant to Exchange Rule 6.45A(d). In connection with the pilot programs, the Exchange has been submitting to the Commission monthly reports providing detailed AIM auction and order execution data. Extending the pilots for an additional year will allow the Commission more time to consider the impact of the pilot programs on AIM order executions. The proposed rule change merely extends the duration of the pilot programs until July 18, 2007.

That rule relates to situations where a Market-Maker's quote interacts with the quote of another CBOE Market-Maker (i.e., when internal quotes lock).

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, in that it is designed to allow the Commission additional time to evaluate the AIM pilot programs, 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.

15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

CBOE 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

The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposal.

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

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) by its terms, become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, it has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to 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 and designate the proposed rule change immediately operative upon filing. The Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it would allow the pilots to continue without interruption until July 18, 2007. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.

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. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2006-64 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-CBOE-2006-64. 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 Commission's 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. 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-CBOE-2006-64 and should be submitted on or before August 11, 2006.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. E6-11572 Filed 7-20-06; 8:45 am]

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