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 Securities and Exchange Commission [Release No. 34-83415; File No. SR-CBOE-2018-042]
 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 June 4, 2018, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “Cboe Options”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act [3]
                    
                     and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[4]
                    
                     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 proposes to amend Rule 4.11 to amend the position limit for options on SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (“SPY”). (additions are 
                    *italicized;*
                     deletions are [bracketed]) 
 Cboe Exchange, Inc. Rules 
 Rule 4.11. Position Limits (No change). . . . Interpretations and Policies: .01-.06 (No change). .07 The position limits under Rule 4.11 applicable to options on shares or other securities that represent interests in registered investment companies (or series thereof) organized as open-end management investment companies, unit investment trusts or similar entities that satisfy the criteria set forth in Interpretation and Policy .06 under Rule 5.3 shall be the same as the position limits applicable to equity options under Rule 4.11 and Interpretations and Policies thereunder; except that the position limits under Rule 4.11 applicable to option contracts on the securities listed in the below chart are as follows: Security underlying option
Position limitThe DIAMONDS Trust (DIA)
300,000 contracts.The Standard and Poor's Depositary Receipts Trust (SPY)
[None] 
                            *1,800,000 contracts*.The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)
1,000,000 contracts.The PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQQ)
1,800,000 contracts.The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)
1,000,000 contracts.iShares China Large-Cap ETF (“FXI”)
500,000 contracts.iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (“EFA”)
500,000 contracts.iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (“EWZ”)
500,000 contracts.iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund ETF (“TLT”)
500,000 contracts.iShares MSCI Japan ETF (“EWJ”)
500,000 contracts.
 
 
 [Position limits for SPY options are subject to a pilot program through July 12, 2018.] .08 No change. 
 The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the Exchange's website (
                    *http://www.cboe.com/​AboutCBOE/​CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx*), 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 aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose Rule 4.11 establishes position limits for aggregate positions in option contracts traded on the Exchange. Interpretation and Policy .07 to Rule 4.11 lists specific position limits for certain select underlying securities.[5]
                    
                     SPY is among the certain select underlying securities listed in that Rule. Currently, the Rule provides that there is no position limit (or exercise limit) on options overlying SPY pursuant to a pilot program, which is scheduled to expire on July 12, 2018 (“SPY Pilot Program”).[6] The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 4.11, Interpretation and Policy .07 to allow the SPY Pilot Program to terminate on July 12, 2018, the current expiration date of the SPY Pilot Program. In lieu of extending the SPY Pilot Program another year, the Exchange proposes to allow the SPY Pilot Program to terminate and to establish position (and exercise) limits of 1,800,000 contracts for options on SPY, with such change becoming operative on July 12, 2018, so that there is no lapse in time between termination of the SPY Pilot Program and the establishment of the new limits. Furthermore, as a result of the termination of the SPY Pilot Program, the Exchange does not believe it is necessary to submit a SPY Pilot Program Report at the end of the SPY Pilot Program. Based on the prior SPY Pilot Program Reports provided to the Commission,[7]
                    
                     the Exchange believes it is appropriate to terminate the SPY Pilot Program and that permanent position (and exercise) limits should be established for SPY. Position limits are designed to address potential manipulative schemes and adverse market impact surrounding the use of options, such as disrupting the market in the security underlying the options. The potential manipulative schemes and adverse market impact are balanced against the potential of setting the limits so low as to discourage participation in the options market. The level of those position limits must be balanced between curtailing potential manipulation and the cost of preventing potential hedging activity that could be used for legitimate economic purposes. The SPY Pilot Program was established in 2012 in order to eliminate the position (and exercise) limit for physically-settled SPY options.[8]
                    
                     In 2005, the position (and exercise) limit for SPY options was increased from 75,000 contracts to 300,000 contracts on the same side of the market.[9]
                    
                     In July 2011, the position limit (and exercise) for these options was again increased from 300,000 contracts to 900,000 contracts on the same side of the market.[10]
                    
                     Then, in 2012, the position (and exercise) limit for SPY options were eliminated as part of the SPY Pilot Program.[11] The underlying SPY tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index and the Exchange notes that the SPY and SPY options have deep, liquid markets that reduce concern regarding manipulation and disruption in the underlying markets. In support of this proposed rule change, the Exchange has collected the following trading statistics for SPY and SPY options: (1) The average daily volume (“ADV”) to date (as of May 15, 2018) for SPY is 108.32 million shares; (2) the ADV to date in 2018 for SPY options is 3.9 million contracts per day; (3) the total shares outstanding for SPY are 965.43 million; and (4) the fund market cap for SPY is 261.65 billion. The Exchange represents further that there is tremendous liquidity in the securities that make up the S&P 500 Index. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 4.11, Interpretation and Policy .07 to set forth that the position limit for options on SPY would be 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market.[12]
                    
                     This position (and exercise) limit equal the current position (and exercise) limit for options on QQQ, which the Commission previously approved to be increased from 900,000 contracts on the same side of the market to 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market.[13]
                    
                     The Exchange notes that SPY is more liquid than QQQ.[14]
                    
                     The Exchange believes that establishing a position (and exercise) limit for the SPY options in the amount of 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market subject to this proposal would allow for the maintenance of the liquid and competitive market environment for these options, which will benefit customers interested in these products. Under the proposal, the reporting requirement for the options would be unchanged. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.[15]
                    
                     Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) [16]
                    
                     requirements that the rules of 
                    ( print page 28276)
                    an exchange be 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 regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) [17]
                    
                     requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. In particular, the Exchange believes that establishing a permanent position (and exercise) limit for SPY options subject to this proposal will encourage Market Makers to continue to provide sufficient liquidity in SPY options on the Exchange, which will enhance the process of price discovery conducted on the Exchange. The proposal will also benefit institutional investors as well as retail traders, and public customers, by continuing to provide them with an effective trading and hedging vehicle. In addition, the Exchange believes that the structure of the SPY options subject to this proposal and the considerable liquidity of the market for those options diminishes the opportunity to manipulate this product and disrupt the underlying market that a lower position limit may protect against. Increased position limits for select actively traded options, such as that proposed herein (increased as compared to the 900,000 limit in place prior to the SPY Pilot Program),[18]
                    
                     is not novel and has been previously approved by the Commission. For example, the Commission has previously approved a rule change permitting the Exchange to double the position (and exercise) limits for FXI, EEM, IWM, EFA, EWZ, TLT, QQQ, and EWJ.[19]
                    
                     Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the Commission specifically approved a proposal by the Exchange to increase the position (and exercise) limit for options on QQQ from 900,000 contracts on the same side of the market to 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market; similar to the current proposal for options on SPY.[20]
                    
                     The Exchange also notes that SPY is more liquid than QQQ.[21] Lastly, the Commission expressed the belief that implementing a higher position (and exercise) limit may bring additional depth and liquidity without increasing concerns regarding intermarket manipulation or disruption of the options or the underlying securities.[22]
                    
                     The Exchange's existing surveillance and reporting safeguards are designed to deter and detect possible manipulative behavior which might arise from increasing the position (and exercise) limit (increased as compared to the 900,000 limit in place prior to the SPY Pilot Program).[23] B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition Cboe Options 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. The Exchange believes the entire proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act [24]
                    
                     in that it does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. On the contrary, the Exchange believes the proposal promotes competition because it will enable the option exchanges to attract additional order flow from the over-the-counter market, which in turn compete for those orders. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will result in continued opportunities to achieve the investment and trading objectives of market participants seeking efficient trading and hedging vehicles, to the benefit of investors, market participants, and the marketplace in general. The Exchange believes this proposed rule change is necessary to permit fair competition among the options exchanges and to establish uniform position limits for additional multiply listed option classes. Another options exchange recently filed a similar proposal,[25]
                    
                     and the Exchange believes that the other options exchanges will file similar proposals with the Commission. 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 proposed rule change. 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) become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [26]
                    
                     and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [27]
                    
                     thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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 to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or 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. 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-CBOE-2018-042 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-CBOE-2018-042. 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 website (
                    *http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml*). Copies of the 
                    ( print page 28277)
                    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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2018-042 and should be submitted on or before July 9, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[28] Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary.


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4. Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         Pursuant to Rule 4.12, Interpretation and Policy .02, the exercise limits for options on those securities are the same as the position limits set forth in Rule 4.11, Interpretation and Policy .07. Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67937 (September 27, 2012), 77 FR 60489 (October 3, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-091); 70878 (November 14, 2013), 78 FR 69737 (November 20, 2013) (SR-CBOE-2013-106); 74149 (January 27, 2015), 80 FR 5606 (February 2, 2015) (SR-CBOE-2015-008); 75381 (July 7, 2015), 80 FR 40111 (July 13, 2015) (SR-CBOE-2015-065); 78131 (June 22, 2016), 81 FR 42011 (June 28, 2016) (SR-CBOE-2016-052); and 81017 (June 26, 2017), 82 FR 29960 (June 30, 2017) (SR-CBOE-2017-050). Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         
                        *Id.* Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67672 (August 15, 2012), 77 FR 50750 (August 22, 2012) (SR-NYSEAmex-2012-29); and 67937 (September 27, 2012), 77 FR 60489 (October 3, 2012) (SR-CBOE-2012-091). Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51041 (January 14, 2005), 70 FR 3408 (January 24, 2005) (SR-CBOE-2005-06). Back to Citation
 10.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64928 (July 20, 2011), 76 FR 44633 (July 26, 2011) (SR-CBOE-2011-065). Back to Citation
 11.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 8. Back to Citation
 12.
    
                         Pursuant to Rule 4.12, Interpretation and Policy .02, the exercise limit for options on SPY would be 1,800,000 contracts on the same side of the market. Back to Citation
 13.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82770 (February 23, 2018), 83 FR 8907 (March 1, 2018) (SR-CBOE-2017-057). Back to Citation
 14.
    
                         From the beginning of the year, through May 15, 2018, the ADV for SPY was 108.32 million shares while the ADV for QQQ was 46.64 million shares (calculated using data from Yahoo Finance as of May 15, 2018). Back to Citation
 15.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b). Back to Citation
 16.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Back to Citation
 17.
    
                         
                        *Id.* Back to Citation
 18.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 10. Back to Citation
 19.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 13. Back to Citation
 20.
    
                         
                        *Id.* Back to Citation
 21.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 14. Back to Citation
 22.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 13. Back to Citation
 23.
    
                         
                        *See supra*
                         note 10. Back to Citation
 24.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). Back to Citation
 25.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         SR-MIAX-2018-11 (May 24, 2018). Back to Citation
 26.
    
                         15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). Back to Citation
 27.
    
                         17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file 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 requirement. Back to Citation
 28.
    
                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2018-12931 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P