[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 52367-52368] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-26521] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-39162; File No. SR-CHX-97-23] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Relating to the Execution of Stopped Orders Under the Enhanced SuperMAX Program September 30, 1997. 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 16, 1997, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Incorporated (``CHX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend its Rule 37(e) of Article XX relating to the execution of stopped orders under the CHX's Enhanced SuperMAX program. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Office of the Secretary, the CHX, and at the Commission. 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 On May 22, 1995, the Commission approved a proposed rule change that allows specialists on the Exchange, through the Exchange's MAX system, to provide order execution guarantees that are more favorable than those required under CHX Rule 37(a), Article XX.\3\ That approval order contemplated that the CHX would file with the Commission specific modifications to the parameters of MAX that are required to implement various options available under the rule.\4\ The CHX now proposes to amend the Enhanced SuperMAX program, a program first adopted under CHX Rule 37 of Article XX in July 1995.\5\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 35753 (May 22, 1995), 60 FR 28007 (May 26, 1995) (order approving File No. SR-CHX- 95-08). \4\ Id. \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36027 (July 27, 1995), 60 FR 39465 (August 2, 1995) (order approving File No. SR- CHX-95-15). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Currently under the Enhanced SuperMAX program, certain orders are ``stopped'' at the ITS BBO \6\ and are executed with reference to the next primary market sale. The Enhanced SuperMAX program also includes a time-out feature whereby if there are no executions in the primary market after the order has been stopped for a designated time period, the order is executed at the stopped price at the end of such period. Such period, known as a time out period, is pre-selected by a specialist on a stock-by-stock basis based on the size of the order, may be changed by a specialist no more frequently than once a month and may be no less than 30 seconds. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ CHX defines ``ITS BBO'' as the best offer or best bid available among the following exchanges: American, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York, Pacific, Philadelphia or the Intermarket Trading System/Computer Assisted Execution System (``ITS/CAES''). See CHX Rule 37(a), Article XX. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will simplify the pricing algorithm used by Enhanced SuperMAX. Under the new algorithm, an agency market order eligible for Enhanced SuperMAX will continue to be ``stopped'' if executing the order at the ITS BBO would create a double up-tick (for a buy order) or a double down-tick (for a sell order) and the spread between the ITS Bid and ITS Offer is \1/4\ point or more. Under the proposal, once stopped, a buy order will be executed as follows: If the next primary market sale is equal to or greater than the primary market offer, the order will be executed at the stopped price. If there is no primary market sale within the time out period or the next primary market sale is less than the primary market offer, the order will be executed at one minimum variation better than the stopped price. Sell orders will receive price improvement in a similar manner. Specifically, sell orders will be executed at the stopped price if the next primary market sale is equal to or less than the primary market bid. Sell orders will be executed at one minimum variation better than the stopped price if the next primary market sale is greater than the primary market bid or if there is no primary market sale before the expiration of the time-out period. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \7\ in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments and to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose a burden on competition. [[Page 52368]] C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others No comments were solicited or received. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from September 16, 1997, the date on which it was filed, and the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five days prior to the filing date, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \8\ and rule 19b- 4(e)(6) \9\ thereunder. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \9\ 17 CFR 19b-4(e)(6). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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. Persons making written submission should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of the submissions, 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, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CHX. All submissions should refer to file number SR-CHX-97-23 and should be submitted by October 28, 1997. For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\10\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-26521 Filed 10-6-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8010-01-M