
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40377-40379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14560]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78080; File No. SR-MIAX-2016-16]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 510 To Extend the Penny 
Pilot Program Until December 31, 2016

June 15, 2016.
    Pursuant to the provisions of 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 13, 2016, Miami International Securities 
Exchange LLC (``MIAX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a proposed rule change as 
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by 
the Exchange. 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. 78s(b)(1).
    \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 Exchange is filing a proposal to amend Exchange Rule 510, 
Interpretations and Policies .01 to extend the pilot program for the 
quoting and trading of certain options in pennies (the ``Penny Pilot 
Program'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/wotitle/rule_filing, at 
MIAX's principal

[[Page 40378]]

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
    The Exchange is a participant in an industry-wide pilot program 
that provides for the quoting and trading of certain option classes in 
penny increments (the ``Penny Pilot Program'' or ``Program''). The 
Penny Pilot Program allows the quoting and trading of certain option 
classes in minimum increments of $0.01 for all series in such option 
classes with a price of less than $3.00; and in minimum increments of 
$0.05 for all series in such option classes with a price of $3.00 or 
higher. Options overlying the PowerShares QQQTM (``QQQ''), 
SPDR[supreg] S&P 500[supreg] ETF (``SPY''), and iShares[supreg] Russell 
2000 ETF (``IWM''), however, are quoted and traded in minimum 
increments of $0.01 for all series regardless of the price. The Penny 
Pilot Program was initiated at the then existing option exchanges in 
January 2007 \3\ and currently includes more than 300 of the most 
active option classes. The Penny Pilot Program is currently scheduled 
to expire on June 30, 2016.\4\ The purpose of the proposed rule change 
is to extend the Penny Pilot Program in its current format through 
December 31, 2016.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 55154 (January 23, 
2007), 72 FR 4743 (February 1, 2007) (SR-CBOE-2006-92); 54603 
(October 16, 2006), 72 FR 4754 (February 1, 2007) (SR-ISE-2006-62); 
54688 (November 2, 2006), 71 FR 239 (December 13, 2006) (SR-Phlx-
2006-74); 54590 (October 12, 2006), 71 FR 201 (October 18, 2006) 
(SR-NYSEArca-2006-73); and 54741 (November 9, 2006), 71 FR 223 
(November 20, 2006) (SR-Amex-2006-106).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75284 (June 24, 
2015), 78 FR 37349 (June 30, 2015) (SR-MIAX-2015-40)(extending the 
Penny Pilot Program from June 30, 2015, to June 30, 2016).
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    In addition to the extension of the Penny Pilot Program through 
December 31, 2016, the Exchange proposes to extend one other date in 
the Rule. Currently, Interpretations and Policies .01 states that the 
Exchange will replace any Penny Pilot issues that have been delisted 
with the next most actively traded multiply listed option classes that 
are not yet included in the Penny Pilot Program, and that the 
replacement issues will be selected based on trading activity in the 
previous six months. Such option classes will be added to the Penny 
Pilot Program on the second trading day following July 1, 2015, and 
January 1, 2016.\5\ Because these dates have expired and the Exchange 
intends to continue this practice for the duration of the Penny Pilot 
Program, the Exchange is proposing to amend the Rule to reflect that 
such option classes will be added to the Penny Pilot Program on the 
second trading day following July 1, 2016.
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    \5\ The month immediately preceding a replacement class's 
addition to the Pilot Program (i.e., June) is not used for purposes 
of the six-month analysis. For example, a replacement added on the 
second trading day following July 1, 2016, will be identified based 
on trading activity from December 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016.
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    The purpose of this provision is to reflect the new date on which 
replacement issues may be added to the Penny Pilot Program.
2. Statutory Basis
    MIAX believes that its 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 is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a 
free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    In particular, the proposed rule change, which extends the Penny 
Pilot Program for six months, allows the Exchange to continue to 
participate in a program that has been viewed as beneficial to traders, 
investors and public customers and viewed as successful by the other 
options exchanges participating in it.

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. Specifically, the Exchange 
believes that, by extending the expiration of the Pilot Program, the 
proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Penny Pilot 
Program and a determination of how the Program should be structured in 
the future. In doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to 
promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on 
the marketplace, facilitating investor protection, and fostering a 
competitive environment. In addition, consistent with previous 
practices, the Exchange believes the other options exchanges will be 
filing similar extensions of the Penny Pilot Program.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \8\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\9\ 
Because the 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) become operative prior to 
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, the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \10\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing.\11\ However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\12\ the 
Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
has asked the

[[Page 40379]]

Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may 
become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that 
waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest because doing so will allow the Pilot 
Program to continue without interruption in a manner that is consistent 
with the Commission's prior approval of the extension and expansion of 
the Pilot Program and will allow the Exchange and the Commission 
additional time to analyze the impact of the Pilot Program. 
Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as 
operative upon filing with the Commission.\13\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change along with a 
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least 
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The 
Exchange has satisfied this pre-filing requirement.
    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \13\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such 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. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \14\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-MIAX-2016-16 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2016-16. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email 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 Web site viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the 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-MIAX-2016-16 and 
should be submitted on or before July 12, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-14560 Filed 6-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


