Document ID: SEC-2012-1565-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: BOX Options Exchange LLC
Posted Date: 2012-09-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58600-58604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23288]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-67870; File No. SR-BOX-2012-012]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice 
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding 
Strike Price Intervals in the Short Term Options Program

September 17, 2012.
    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 September 11, 2012, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the ``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 self-regulatory organization. The Commission 
is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule 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 with the Commission a proposal to amend Rule 
5050 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading) and Rule 6090 
(Terms of Index Options Contracts) to: modify the Short Term Option 
Series Program (``STO Program'' or ``Program'') to indicate that the 
interval between strike prices on STOs \3\ shall be $0.50 or greater 
where the strike price is less than $75 and $1 or greater where the 
strike price is between $75 and $150; indicate that during the 
expiration week of a non-STO \4\ that is selected for the STO Program, 
the strike price intervals for the non-STO and the STO shall be the 
same; and indicate that during the week before the expiration week of 
the non-STO, the non-STO shall be opened for trading in STO intervals 
in the same manner as the STO. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the 
Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's Internet 
Web site at http://boxexchange.com.
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    \3\ Short term options are generally known as ``STOs,'' 
``weeklies,'' or ``weekly options.'' STOs 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. See 
Rules 100(a)(64), 6010(n), IM-5050-6 and IM-6090-2.
    \4\ A non-STO is an option that is in the same option class as 
the STO but has a longer expiration cycle (e.g. a SLV monthly option 
as compared to a SLV weekly option).
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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 self-regulatory organization 
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 self-regulatory organization 
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 indicate in Rule 
5050 and Rule 6090 and Interpretive Material thereto, that the interval 
between strike prices on STOs shall be $0.50 or greater where the 
strike price is less than $75 and $1 or greater where the strike price 
is between $75 and $150 (``STO intervals''). The purpose is also to 
indicate that during the expiration week of a non-STO that is selected 
for the STO Program, the strike price intervals for the non-STO and the 
STO shall be the same; and that during the week before the expiration 
week of the non-STO, the non-STO shall be opened for trading in STO 
intervals in the same manner as the STO. The STO Program is codified in 
IM-5050-6 and IM-6090-2.\5\ These provisions state that after an

[[Page 58601]]

option class has been approved for listing and trading on BOX, BOX may 
open for trading on any Thursday or Friday that is a business day 
series of options on that class that expire on the Friday of the 
following business week that is a business day. The Exchange may select 
up to thirty currently listed option classes on which Short Term Option 
Series may be opened. In addition to the thirty-option class 
limitation, there is also a limitation that no more than twenty series 
for each expiration date in those classes may be opened for trading.\6\ 
Furthermore, the strike price of each STO has to be fixed with 
approximately the same number of strike prices being opened above and 
below the value of the underlying security at about the time that the 
short term options are initially opened for trading on the Exchange, 
and with strike prices being within thirty percent (30%) above or below 
the closing price of the underlying security from the preceding day. In 
respect of the STO Program, the Exchange does not propose any changes 
to these additional program limitations; the Exchange proposes only to 
specify that STOs can have interval prices of $0.50 and $1.\7\
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    \5\ The Exchange adopted the STO Program at its inception in 
2012. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66871 (April 27, 
2012), 77 FR 26323 (May 3, 2012), In the Matter of Application of 
BOX Options Exchange LLC for Registration as a National Securities 
Exchange Findings, Opinion, and Order of the Commission. The STO 
Program was last expanded in May 2012. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 66982 (May 14, 2012), 77 FR 29718 (May 18, 2012)(SR-BOX-
2012-001)(order approving the expansion of the STO Program)[sic]. 
Like BOX, other options exchanges have STO programs. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release Nos. 62296 (June 15, 2010), 75 FR 35115 (June 
21, 2010)(SR-Phlx-2010-84)(notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness permanently establishing STO Program on the Exchange); 
65776 (November 17, 2011), 76 FR 72482 (November 23, 2011)(SR-Phlx-
2011-131)(order approving expansion of STO Program), 59824 (April 
27, 2009), 74 FR 20518 (May 4, 2009)(SR-CBOE-2009-018)(approval 
order); 62444 (July 2, 2010), 75 FR 39595 (July 9, 2010)(SR-ISE-
2010-72)(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); 62297 (June 
15, 2010), 75 FR 35111 (June 21, 2010)(SR-NASDAQ-2010-073)(notice of 
filing and immediate effectiveness); 62369 (June 23, 2010), 75 FR 
37868 (June 30, 2010) (SR- NYSEArca-2010-059)(notice of filing and 
immediate effectiveness); 62370 (June 23, 2010), 75 FR 37870 (June 
30, 2010)(SR-Amex-2010-062)(notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness); 62505 (July 15, 2010), 75 FR 42792 (July 22, 
2010)(SR-BX-2010-047)(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); 
and 62597 (July 29, 2010), 75 FR 47335 (August 5, 2010)(SR-BATS-
2010-020)(notice of filing and immediate effectiveness).
    \6\ BOX may open up to 10 additional series for each option 
class that participates in the Short Term Option Series Program when 
deemed necessary to maintain an orderly market, to meet customer 
demand or when the market price of the underlying security moves 
substantially from the exercise price or prices of the series 
already opened. Any additional strike prices listed by BOX shall be 
within thirty percent (30%) above or below the current price of the 
underlying security. BOX may also open additional strike prices of 
Short Term Option Series that are more than 30% above or below the 
current price of the underlying security provided that demonstrated 
customer interest exists for such series, as expressed by 
institutional, corporate or individual customers or their brokers. 
Market Makers trading for their own account shall not be considered 
when determining customer interest under this provision. The opening 
of the new Short Term Option Series shall not affect the series of 
options of the same class previously opened. See IM-5050-6(d) and 
IM-6090-2(d).
    \7\ Currently, STOs have the same interval prices as the 
relevant non-STOs.
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    The principal reason for the proposed interval pricing structure is 
market demand for weekly options. There is continuing strong retail 
customer demand for having the ability to execute hedging and trading 
strategies effectively via STOs,\8\ particularly in the current fast 
and volatile multi-faceted trading and investing environment that 
extends across numerous markets and platforms.\9\ BOX has observed such 
increased demand for STO classes and/or series, particularly when 
market moving events such as significant market volatility, corporate 
events, or large market, sector, or individual issue price swings have 
occurred. The STO Program is one of the most popular and quickly-
expanding options expiration programs.
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    \8\ In the last STO Program filing, the Exchange noted that it 
was seeking an expansion in the number of STO classes to ensure 
consistency and uniformity among the competing options exchanges 
that have adopted similar STO Programs and, like the current 
proposal, to allow execution of more effective trading and hedging 
strategies on the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
66982 (May 14, 2012), 77 FR 29718 (May 18, 2012)(SR-BOX-2012-
001)(order approving expansion of STO Program)[sic].
    \9\ These include, without limitation, options, equities, 
futures, derivatives, indexes, exchange traded funds (``ETFs''), 
exchange traded notes (``ETNs''), currencies, and over-the-counter 
instruments.
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    In the almost two years since the inception of the STO Program 
among the options exchanges, it has steadily expanded to the point that 
as of March 20, 2012, STOs represented 9.2% of the total options volume 
in the United States.\10\ The STO volumes become even more significant 
when the volumes of an STO class are compared to the volumes of the 
related non-STO options class. As an example, in May and June of 2012, 
there were 915,949 contracts of SPY STOs traded and 4,614,241 contracts 
of SPY monthly options traded; and 298,706 contracts of AAPL STOs 
traded and 802,499 contracts of AAPL monthly options traded on BOX. 
Industry wide, from the 4th quarter of 2010 to the 4th quarter of 2011, 
STO volume expanded more than 90%,\11\ and the Exchange believes that 
STO volumes will continue to expand throughout 2012. The Exchange 
believes that, as such, while STOs are currently one of most popular 
(high volume) expiration lengths of options traded on BOX and other 
options exchanges, the weekly options will only become more popular as 
market participants, particularly retail customers, continue to gain 
knowledge about more effective uses of these products for trading and 
hedging purposes.
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    \10\ The Exchange notes that, in fact, the volume increase in 
STOs since their inception less than two years ago greatly exceeds 
the volume increase of any other length option (e.g. monthly, 
quarterly, or long term) over the same equivalent time period.
    \11\ During the same time period, monthly options volume 
decreased by 8%.
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    Moreover, the Commission has approved the use of $0.50 and $1 
strike price intervals on the Exchange as well as in the options 
industry, particularly at lower price levels (e.g. below $150). 
Numerous options products are listed (and traded) on the Exchange at 
$0.50 and $1 strike price intervals. For example, there are a few 
individual ETF options listed on BOX at $0.50 strike price 
intervals.\12\ There are approximately 58 options listed on BOX at 
$0.50 strike price intervals pursuant to the $0.50 Strike Program.\13\ 
There are approximately 950 options listed on BOX with $1 strike price 
intervals; approximately 135 ETF options, and 820 options pursuant to 
the $1 Strike Program.\14\ Moreover, the Commission has recently 
approved certain products to trade at $0.50 and $1 strike price 
intervals on the Chicago Board Options Exchange Incorporated (``CBOE'') 
within exactly the same strike price points that are proposed by the 
Exchange in this filing, namely $75 and $150.\15\
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    \12\ Exchange Rule 5050(d)(4) provides that the interval between 
strike prices of series of options on ETFs is permitted to be at 
such intervals as may have been established on another options 
exchange prior to the initiation of trading on BOX.
    \13\ The Exchange notes, however, that the $0.50 Strike Program 
has inherent price limitations that make it unsuitable for STO 
options.
    \14\ Like the $0.50 Strike Program, the $1 Strike Program has 
inherent limitations that make it unsuitable for STO options. The 
Exchange is not aware of any material market surveillance issues 
arising because of the $0.50 or $1 strike price intervals.
    \15\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64189 (April 5, 
2011), 76 FR 20066 (April 11, 2011)(SR-CBOE-2011-008)(order granting 
approval of $0.50 and $1 strike price intervals for certain 
volatility options where the strike prices are less than $75 and 
between $75 and $150, respectively). In approving the CBOE interval 
proposal, the Commission stated that the proposal appears to strike 
a reasonable balance between the Exchange's desire to offer a wider 
array of investment opportunities and the need to avoid unnecessary 
proliferation of options series and the corresponding increase in 
quotes and market fragmentation. The Exchange notes that other 
options exchanges including NYSE Amex, NYSE Arca, ISE, NOM, and Phlx 
have made similar rule changes.
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    The Exchange believes that the benefits of the ability to trade 
STOs at $0.50 and $1 intervals at lower price levels cannot be 
underestimated. The proposed intervals would clearly allow traders and 
investors, and in particular public (retail) investors to more 
effectively and with greater precision

[[Page 58602]]

consummate trading and hedging strategies on BOX. The Exchange believes 
that this precision is increasingly necessary, and in fact crucial, as 
traders and investors engage in trading and hedging strategies across 
various investment platforms (e.g. equity and ETF, index, derivatives, 
futures, foreign currency, and even commodities products); particularly 
when many of these platforms enjoy substantially smaller strike price 
differentiations (e.g. as low as $.05).\16\
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    \16\ As an example, per the CME Web site, strike prices for 
options on futures may be at an interval of $.05, $.10, and $.25 per 
specified parameters. See http://www.cmegroup.com/trading/equity-index/files/EQUITY_FLEX_Options.pdf (options on S&P 500 and 
NASDAQ-100 contracts) and http://www.cmegroup.com/rulebook/files/S_5734_x11-05-18x_Change_in_Listing_Rules_ for_Goldx_Silverx_ 
Copper_Options.pdf (options on metals contracts).
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    Weekly options have characteristics that are attractive for certain 
trading and hedging strategies. Thus, weeklies may be attractive for 
retail trading strategies that could benefit from the inherent 
accelerated time decay of weekly options, such as selling (buying) 
vertical or calendar spreads. And weeklies may be particularly 
attractive instruments for short-term institutional hedging needs (e.g. 
sudden price movements against large option positions during expiration 
week; maintenance or adjustment of complex option positions) as well as 
for retail hedging needs (e.g. preceding large earnings plays). In 
every case, trading and hedging is more effective when it can be 
closely tailored.
    The Exchange believes the current wider STO price intervals have 
negatively impacted investors and traders, particularly retail public 
customers, who have on several occasions requested of the Exchange, 
finer, narrower STO intervals. The proposal would fix this.
    Following are examples of how inadequately narrow STO intervals 
negatively impact trading and hedging opportunities.
    If an investor needs to purchase an STO call option in CSCO (03/26/
12 closing price $20.84), the current $1 strike interval would offer 
less opportunity and choice for an investor seeking to keep cash 
expenditures low. For example, an investor wishing to buy an in-the-
money call option for less than a $2.50 investment per call purchase 
has only two strike prices that meet his criteria from which to choose: 
the 19 strike and the 20 strike. Such call options with five days until 
expiration might offer ``ask prices'' (option premiums) of $1.75 and 
$.75. However, if CSCO had $0.50 strike prices as proposed, the same 
investor would have a selection of March 18.50, 19.00, 19.50, 20.00, 
and the 20.50 strike call options that may have options premiums from 
approximately $2.25 down to approximately $.25. This expanded range of 
strikes, and commensurate option premiums, offers far more choice and a 
considerably lower cost of entry to the investor, thereby garnering the 
investor more than a 66% options premium savings. Lower intervals 
increase effective liquidity by offering investors and traders more 
price points at which they may execute trading and hedging 
strategies.\17\ This allows investors and traders the ability to more 
effectively execute their strategies at lower cost. Clearly, more 
efficient pricing is advantageous to all market participants, from 
retail to institutional investors.
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    \17\ Moreover, lower strike intervals provide additional price 
points for liquidity providers. This allows the liquidity providers 
to improve theoretical pricing as well as hedging capabilities, 
thereby enabling them to increase the size and quality of their 
markets.
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    If, on the put side, an investor is interested in purchasing an STO 
option in LNKD (03/26/12 closing price $101.38), the current strike 
interval rules similarly offer less opportunity and less choice for the 
investor seeking to keep cash expenditures low. For example, an 
investor wishing to buy an in-the-money put option for less than a 
$5.00 investment per put purchase has only one strike price that meets 
his criteria from which to choose: the 105 strike. This put option with 
five days until expiration may have an option premium of $5.00. 
However, if LNKD had $1 strike intervals as proposed, the investor 
would have a selection of March 105, 104, 103, 102, and 101 strike put 
options that may have options premiums from approximately $5 down to 
$2. This greatly expanded range of strikes allows the investor more 
choice and lower cost of entry, and may save the investor as much as 
60% in options premium payout.\18\
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    \18\ This premium savings may be very significant for an 
investor that is buying a large number of option contracts. See 
supra note 14 and related text.
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    And as yet another example, if an investor is interested in 
purchasing a complex option spread, narrow strike intervals would offer 
additional cost savings and choice. With the 105 LNKD puts trading at 
$5.00, as stated in the example above, the next strike available to 
offset the cost of the 105 strike would be the 100 puts trading at an 
approximately $1.50 premium. With the current intervals, this would 
result in a 105-100 put spread costing approximately $3.50. However, if 
strike prices were available in $1 increments, various cheaper spreads 
could be obtained within the same 105-100 range of strikes. In that 
each $1 incremented put spread might trade at approximately $.30 to 
$.80 within this strike range, it is easy to see that $1 strikes as 
proposed may result in significant savings for investors trying to 
execute complex strategies.
    Furthermore, the inadequate price intervals for STOs, particularly 
at the lower price levels proposed by the Exchange, may discourage 
retail and other customers from executing STO orders when they could be 
the most advantageous for effective execution of trading and hedging 
strategies on regulated and transparent exchanges. The Exchange feels 
that it is essential that such negative, potentially costly and time-
consuming impacts on retail investors are eliminated by offering 
tighter intervals within the STO Program. The changes proposed by the 
Exchange should allow execution of more trading and hedging strategies 
on BOX.\19\
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    \19\ In addition, there is a competitive impact. First, the 
proposal would enable BOX to provide market participants with an 
opportunity to execute their strategies (e.g. complex option 
spreads) wholly on their preferred market, namely BOX. Second, the 
proposal would diminish the potential for foregone market 
opportunities on BOX caused by the need to use a more advantageous 
(that is, interval-precise) platform than STOs currently allow.
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    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 the potential additional traffic associated with 
trading in the Program at $0.50 or greater where the strike price is 
less than $75 and $1 or greater where the strike price is between $75 
and $150. The Exchange believes that BOX Options Participants will not 
have a capacity issue as a result of this proposal.
    The Exchange also proposes language designed to enable a non-STO 
option class (e.g. monthly option) that is selected for the STO to 
behave like the STO during the expiration week of the related non-
STO.\20\ Specifically, the Exchange proposes that notwithstanding any 
other provision regarding strike prices in the applicable rule (Rule 
5050 for non-index options or Rule 6090 for index options), during the 
expiration

[[Page 58603]]

week of a non-STO that is selected for an STO, the strike price 
intervals for the non-STO shall be the same as the strike price 
intervals permitted for the STO. Thus, during the non-STO expiration 
week, the strike price intervals for the non-STO shall be $0.50 or 
greater where the strike price is less than $75 and $1 or greater where 
the strike price is between $75 and $150. The Exchange also proposes 
that notwithstanding any other provision regarding strike prices in the 
applicable rule (Rule 5050 or Rule 6090), during the week before the 
expiration week of a non-STO that is selected for an STO, the BOX shall 
open the non-STO for trading in $0.50 and $1 strike price intervals in 
the same manner as permitted for STOs. Thus, a non-STO may be opened in 
STO intervals on a Thursday or Friday that is business day before the 
STO expiration week.\21\ If BOX is not open for business on the 
respective Thursday or Friday, however, the non-STO may be opened in 
STO intervals on the first business day immediately prior to that 
respective Thursday or Friday.\22\
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    \20\ The Exchange notes that STOs are not listed and traded 
during the expiration week of the related non-STOs, which is 
generally the third week in the month. During this week, those that 
want or need weekly options must buy (sell) the related non-STOs. 
The proposal would allow traders and hedgers to have the same 
benefits during each week in a month, including the one week when 
STOs are not listed and traded.
    \21\ The proposed opening timing is consistent with the 
principle that BOX may add a new series of options until five 
business days prior to expiration. See Rule 5050 and Rule 6090.
    \22\ The STO opening process is set forth in IM-5050-6 and IM-
6090-2: After an option class has been approved for listing and 
trading on BOX, BOX may open for trading on any Thursday or Friday 
that is a business day (``Short Term Option Opening Date'') series 
of options on that class that expire on the Friday of the following 
business week that is a business day (``Short Term Option Expiration 
Date''). If BOX is not open for business on the respective Thursday 
or Friday, the Short Term Option Opening Date will be the first 
business day immediately prior to that respective Thursday or 
Friday. Similarly, if BOX is not open for business on the Friday of 
the following business week, the Short Term Option Expiration Date 
will be the first business day immediately prior to that Friday.
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    These changes are proposed to ensure conformity between STOs and 
non-STOs that are in the same options class (e.g. weekly and monthly 
SPY options). The Exchange believes that, as discussed, these changes 
are necessary to give investors and traders the ability to maximize 
trading and hedging opportunities while minimizing costs; and that a 
lack of such conforming changes would be counter-productive for market 
participants.
    The Exchange believes that the STO Program has provided investors 
with greater trading opportunities and flexibility and the ability to 
more closely tailor their investment and risk management strategies and 
decisions. Furthermore, BOX has had to reject trading requests because 
of the limitations imposed by the Program. For these reasons, the 
Exchange requests an expansion of the strike price intervals in the 
Program, as well as conformity of the relevant non-STO process, to 
provide investors with better weekly option choices for investment, 
trading, and risk management purposes.
    Finally, the Exchange proposes a technical, non-substantive change 
to Rule 5050(a) to correct cross references to the Interpretive 
Material for the Quarterly Options Series Program and Short Term Option 
Series Program which are codified in IM-5050-4 and IM-5050-6, 
respectively.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act of 1934 \23\ (the ``Act'') in 
general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \24\ 
in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, 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. This will be effectuated 
by the following rule changes: STO strike price intervals of $0.50 or 
greater where the strike price is less than $75 and $1 or greater where 
the strike price is between $75 and $150; during the expiration week of 
the non-STO, the strike price intervals for the non-STO will be the 
same as for the STO; and during the week before the non-STO expiration 
week, the timing for opening the non-STO in STO strike price intervals 
will be the same as for the STO. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed changes will result in a continuing benefit to investors by 
giving them more flexibility to closely tailor their investment and 
hedging decisions, while ensuring conformity between STOs and related 
non-STOs.
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    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Exchange Act. To the contrary, the 
Exchange believes the proposal is pro-competitive. First, the proposal 
would enable the Exchange to provide market participants with an 
opportunity to execute their strategies wholly on their preferred 
market, namely BOX. And second, the proposal would diminish the 
potential for foregone market opportunities on BOX caused by the need 
to use a more advantageous (that is, interval-precise) platform than 
STOs currently allow.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    The proposed rule change is filed pursuant to paragraph (A) of 
section 19(b)(3) of the Exchange Act \25\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\26\ The proposed rule change does not significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any 
significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become 
operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter 
time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest. The Exchange asked the Commission 
to waive the 30-day operative delay period for non-controversial 
proposed rule changes to allow the proposed rule change to be operative 
upon filing.\27\ The Commission believes such waiver is in the interest 
of investors because the proposed rule change presents no novel issues, 
and waiver will allow the Exchange to remain competitive with other 
exchanges. Therefore, the Commission grants such waiver and designates 
the proposal operative upon filing.\28\
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \26\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \27\ 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.
    \28\ 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. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    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.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing,

[[Page 58604]]

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-BOX-2012-012 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BOX-2012-012. 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, on business days between the hours 
of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., located at 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549. 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-BOX-2012-012 and 
should be submitted on or before October 12, 2012.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\29\
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    \29\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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 Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary .
[FR Doc. 2012-23288 Filed 9-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P