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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-74146; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2015-005]

                    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 21, 2015. The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ” or “Exchange”) 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 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 Chapter IV, Section 6 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading) to introduce finer $.50 strike price intervals in non-index Short Term Options with strike prices less than $100.

                    The text of the proposed rule change is available at                     *http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/​,*                     at the Exchange's principal 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 purpose of this proposed rule change is to amend Chapter IV, Section 6 governing the Short Term Option (“STO”) [3]                                          Series Program to introduce finer strike price intervals for certain STOs. In particular, the Exchange proposes to amend Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .07(e) to Section 6 to extend $0.50 strike price intervals in non-index options to STOs with strike prices less than $100 instead of the current $75. This proposed change is intended to eliminate gapped strikes between $75 and $100 that result from conflicting strike price parameters under the STO Series Program and the $2.50 Strike Price Program, as described in more detail below.                

                    This is a competitive filing that is based on a recent STO proposal of the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”).[4] 

                    Under the Exchange's rules, the Exchange may list STOs in up to fifty option classes in addition to option classes that are selected by other securities exchanges that employ a similar program under their respective                           ( print page 5596)                        rules.[5]                                          On any Thursday or Friday that is a business day, the Exchange may list STO series in designated option classes that expire at the close of business on each of the next five Fridays that are business days and are not Fridays in which monthly or quarterly options expire.[6]                                          These STO series trade in $0.50, $1, or $2.50 or greater strike price intervals depending on the strike price and whether the option trades in dollar increments in the related monthly expiration.[7]                                          Specifically, STOs in non-index option classes admitted to the STO Series Program currently trade in: (1) $0.50 or greater intervals for strike prices less than $75, or for option classes that trade in one dollar increments in the related monthly expiration option; (2) $1 or greater intervals for strike prices that are between $75 and $150; and (3) $2.50 or greater intervals for strike prices above $150.[8] 

                    The Exchange also operates a $2.50 Strike Price Program that permits the Exchange to select up to sixty options classes on individual stocks to trade in $2.50 strike price intervals, in addition to option classes selected by other securities exchanges that employ a similar program under their respective rules.[9]                                          Monthly expiration options in classes admitted to the $2.50 Strike Price Program trade in $2.50 intervals where the strike price is (1) greater than $25 but less than $50; or (2) between $50 and $100 if the strikes are no more than $10 from the closing price of the underlying stock in its primary market on the preceding day.[10]                                          These strike price parameters conflict with strike prices allowed for STOs as dollar strikes between $75 and $100 otherwise allowed under the STO Series Program may be within $0.50 of strikes listed pursuant to the $2.50 Strike Price Program. In order to remedy this conflict, the Exchange proposes to extend the $0.50 strike price intervals currently allowed for STOs with strike prices less than $75 to STOs with strike prices less than $100.                

With this proposed change, STOs in non-index option classes will trade in: (1) $0.50 or greater intervals for strike prices less than $100, or for option classes that trade in one dollar increments in the related monthly expiration option; (2) $1 or greater intervals for strike prices that are between $100 and $150; and (3) $2.50 or greater intervals for strike prices above $150.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and                    **                     the rules and regulations thereunder, including the requirements of Section 6(b) of the                    **                     Act.[11]                                          In particular, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) [12]                                          requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and to perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.                

                    During the month prior to expiration, the Exchange is permitted to list related monthly option contracts in the narrower strike price intervals available for STO series.[13]                                          After transitioning to short term strike price intervals, however, monthly options that trade in $2.50 intervals between $50 and $100 under the $2.50 Strike Price Program, trade with dollar strikes between $75 and $150. Due to the overlap of $1 and $2.50 intervals, the Exchange cannot list certain dollar strikes between $75 and $100 that conflict with the prior $2.50 strikes. For example, if the Exchange initially listed monthly options on ABC with $75, $77.50, and $80 strikes, the Exchange could list the $76 and $79 strikes when these transition to short term intervals. The Exchange would not be permitted to list the $77 and $78 strikes, however, as these are $0.50 away from the $77.50 strike already listed on the Exchange. This creates gapped strikes between $75 and $100, where investors are not able to trade otherwise allowable dollar strikes on the Exchange. Similarly, these conflicting strike price parameters create issues for investors who want to roll their positions from monthly to weekly expirations. In the example above, for instance, an investor that purchased a monthly ABC option with a $77.50 strike price would not be able to roll that position into a later short term expiration with the same strike price as that strike is unavailable under current STO Series Program rules. Permitting $0.50 intervals for STOs up to $100 would remedy both of these issues as strikes allowed under the $2.50 Strike Price Program would not conflict with the finer $0.50 strike price interval.                

The STO Series Program has been well-received by market participants and the Exchange believes that introducing finer strike price intervals for STOs with strike prices between $75 and $100, and thereby eliminating the gapped strikes described above, will benefit these market participants by giving them more flexibility to closely tailor their investment and hedging decisions.

With regard to the impact of this proposal on system capacity, the Exchange has analyzed its capacity and represents that it and the Options Price Reporting Authority (“OPRA”) have the necessary systems capacity to handle any potential additional traffic associated with this proposed rule change. The Exchange believes that its members will not have a capacity issue as a result of this proposal. The Exchange also represents that it does not believe this expansion will cause fragmentation of liquidity.

### 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. To the contrary, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will result in additional investment options and opportunities to achieve the investment objectives of market participants seeking efficient trading and hedging vehicles, to the benefit of investors, market participants, and the marketplace in general.

### 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 

                    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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)                           ( print page 5597)                        of the Act [14]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[15] 

                    The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement will ensure fair competition among exchanges by allowing the Exchange to open additional series of individual stocks and ETF options in $.50 strike price intervals up to $100 in the same manner as ISE. For this reason, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change presents no novel issues and that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest; and will allow the Exchange to remain competitive with other exchanges. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.[16] 

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-NASDAQ-2015-005 on the subject line.                

### Paper Comments 

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

                    All submissions should refer to File Number                     *SR-NASDAQ-2015-005.*                     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-NASDAQ-2015-005 and should be submitted on or before February 23, 2015.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[17] 

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
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2.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
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3.                             STOs, also known as “weekly options” as well as “Short Term Options”, are series in an options class that are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange in which the series are opened for trading on any Thursday or Friday that is a business day and that expire on the Friday of the next business week. If a Thursday or Friday is not a business day, the series may be opened (or shall expire) on the first business day immediately prior to that Thursday or Friday, respectively. STOs are listed and traded pursuant to the STO Series Program. For STO Series Program rules regarding non-index options,                         *see*                         Chapter 1, Section 1(a)(59) and Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .07 to Section 6. For STO Series Program rules regarding index options,                         *see*                         Chapter XIV, Section 2(p) and Chapter XIV, Section 11(h).                    
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4.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73999 (January 6, 2015), 80 FR 1559 (January 12, 2015) (SR-ISE-2014-52) (order approving).                    
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5.                                                     *See*                         Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .07(a) to Section 6.                    
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6.                                                     *See*                         Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .07 to Section 6.                    
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7.                                                     *See*                         Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .07(e) to Section 6.                    
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8.                                                     *Id.*
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9.                                                     *See*                         Chapter IV, Supplementary Material .03 to Section 6.                    
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10.                                                     *Id.*                         For a definition of “primary market”,                         *see*                         Chapter 1, Section 1(a)(47).                    
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11.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                    
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12.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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13.                                                     *See*                         Chapter IV, Section 6(d).                    
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14.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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15.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its 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.                    
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16.                             For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.                         *See*15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
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17.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 2015-01864 Filed 1-30-15; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P