Notice to Members 06-09

Extension of Pilot Program Increasing Position and Exercise Limits for Stock Options

Published Date:

March 02, 2006

GUIDANCE

Options Position and Exercise Limits

SUGGESTED ROUTING	KEY TOPICS
Institutional Legal & Compliance Options Senior management Trading Training	Exercise Limits Options Position Limits Rule 2860

Executive Summary

On February 16, 2006, NASD filed for immediate effectiveness with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amendments to Rule 2860 extending until September 1, 2006, a pilot program increasing certain stock options position and exercise limits. The pilot program was scheduled to expire on March 3, 2006.

The rules, as amended, are set forth in Attachment A.

The amendments became effective February 16, 2006.

Questions/Further Information

Questions concerning this Notice may be directed to Gary L. Goldsholle, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel (OGC), Regulatory Policy and Oversight (RPO), at (202) 728-8104; or James L. Eastman, Assistant General Counsel, OGC, RPO, at (202) 728-6961.

Background and Discussion

On February 16, 2006, NASD filed for immediate effectiveness with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amendments to Rule 2860 extending until September 1, 2006, a pilot program increasing certain stock options position and exercise limits (Pilot Program).¹ The Pilot Program was scheduled to expire on March 3, 2006.² NASD extended the Pilot Program to allow it to continue without interruption.

NASD Rule 2860(b)(3)(A) imposes a ceiling or position limit on the number of conventional and standardized equity options contracts in each class on the same side of the market (i.e., aggregating long calls and short puts or long puts and short calls) that can be held or written by a member, a person associated with a member, a customer, or a group of customers acting in concert.³ The rule provides that the position limits for stock options are determined according to a five-tiered system in which more actively traded stocks with larger public floats are subject to higher position limits.

Pursuant to the Pilot Program, which began March 30, 2005, and now ends September 1, 2006, (unless extended) (Pilot Period), the limits for each of the tiers are as follows: (a) 13,500 contracts has been increased to 25,000 contracts, (b) 22,500 contracts has been increased to 50,000 contracts, (c) 31,500 contracts has been increased to 75,000 contracts, (d) 60,000 contracts has been increased to 200,000 contracts and (e) 75,000 contracts has been increased to 250,000 contracts. These tiers apply to both conventional and standardized options. Options exercise limits, which are set forth in Rule 2860(b)(4), and which incorporate by reference the position limits in Rule 2860(b)(3), also have been increased during the Pilot Period.

¹ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53346 (February 22, 2006), 71 FR 10580 (March 1, 2006) (SR-NASD-2006-025).

²See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52271 (August 16, 2005), 70 FR 49344 (August 23, 2005) (SR-NASD-2005-097) (extending Pilot Program); NASD Notice to Members 05-56 (August 2005). Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51520 (April 11, 2005), 70 FR 19977 (April 15, 2005) (SR-NASD-2005-040) (establishing Pilot Program); NASD Notice to Members 05-31 (April 2005).

³ A "standardized equity option" is an equity options contract issued, or subject to issuance, by The Options Clearing Corporation that is not a FLEX Equity Option. NASD Rule 2860(b)(2)(VV). A "conventional option" is an option contract not issued, or subject to issuance, by The Options Clearing Corporation. NASD Rule 2860(b)(2)(N). NASD's limits on standardized equity options are applicable only to those members that are not also members of the exchange on which the option is traded; the limits on conventional options are applicable to all NASD members. NASD Rule 2860(b)(1)(A).

ATTACHMENT A

New lanuage is underlined.

2800. SPECIAL PRODUCTS

2860. Options

(a) No Change.

(b) Requirements.

(1) and (2) No Change.

(3) Position Limits

(A) Stock Options-Except in highly unusual circumstances, and with the prior written approval of NASD pursuant to the Rule 9600 Series for good cause shown in each instance, no member shall effect for any account in which such member has an interest, or for the account of any partner, officer, director or employee thereof, or for the account of any customer, non-member broker, or non-member dealer, an opening transaction through Nasdaq, the over-the-counter market or on any exchange in a stock option contract of any class of stock options if the member has reason to believe that as a result of such transaction the member or partner, officer, director or employee thereof, or customer, non-member broker, or non-member dealer, would, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, hold or control or be obligated in respect of an aggregate equity options position in excess of:

(i) 13,500 (or 25,000 during the pilot period from March 30, 2005 through [March 3, 2006] September 1, 2006 ("Pilot Period")) option contracts of the put class and the call class on the same side of the market covering the same underlying security, combining for purposes of this position limit long positions in put options with short positions in call options, and short positions in put options with long positions in call options; or

(ii) through (viii) No Change.

(B) through (D) No Change.

(4) through (24) No Change.