Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc., Relating to the Expansion of the $5 Bid-Ask Differential Pilot Program

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on February 20, 2004, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (“CBOE” 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 CBOE has submitted the proposed rule change under section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder, which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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

In January 2004, the CBOE implemented a six-month pilot program (“Pilot Program”), which expires on June 29, 2004, that permits quote spread parameters of up to $5, regardless of the price of the bid, for up to 200 option classes traded on the CBOE's Hybrid Trading System (“Hybrid”). The CBOE proposes to amend its rules to expand the Pilot Program to include all option classes traded on Hybrid.

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 Pilot Program, which expires on June 29, 2004, permits quote spread parameters of up to $5, regardless of the price of the bid, for up to 200 option classes traded on Hybrid. The purpose of the proposed rule change is to expand the Pilot Program to include all option classes traded on Hybrid. As a condition to the effectiveness of the Pilot Program, the CBOE committed to monitor the quotation quality of all classes in the Pilot Program and, based on the results, recommend either relaxing the spread requirements for all Hybrid classes, ending the Pilot Program, or adjusting the spread requirements for all Hybrid classes. To this end, the CBOE committed to prepare and submit to the Commission a report assessing the operation of the Pilot Program and, in particular, the quality of the quotations for the Pilot Program options.

The CBOE proposes to expand the number of option classes included in the Pilot Program from 200 classes to all classes trading on Hybrid. As proposed, any class trading on Hybrid would be eligible for inclusion in the Pilot Program, which means that when the proposal becomes operative, the permissible bid-ask differential for all Hybrid series will be $5, regardless of the price at which they trade.

As described above, the CBOE previously committed to prepare and submit to the Commission a report assessing the operation of the Pilot Program. The CBOE further commits to expand the scope of this report to include the top 550 Hybrid classes. The report will analyze the AQWA scores for the Pilot Program options and will include data from the date of inclusion in the Pilot Program through June 1, 2004.

The CBOE believes that it is reasonable to expand the Pilot Program to include all Hybrid classes. In this regard, the CBOE notes that the Hybrid market structure creates strong incentives for competing market makers and other market participants to disseminate competitive prices. In Hybrid, each market maker quotes independently and customers and broker-dealers can enter limit orders in the limit order book at prices better than those posted by market makers. The Exchange automatically collects this trading interest information, calculates the CBOE best bid and offer, and disseminates that value to the Options Price Reporting Authority. Accordingly, the CBOE believes that the CBOE Hybrid market is competitive, accessible and transparent.

The CBOE notes that market participants in Hybrid have strong incentives to quote competitively. The CBOE allocates incoming orders based on the price and size of orders and quotes resting in the book. Under the CBOE's Ultimate Matching Algorithm, the larger the size of a market maker's quote at the best price, the greater the size of the allocation he or she receives. Conversely, if a market participant does not quote at the best price, the market participant will not participate in any electronic trade allocations. The CBOE believes, moreover, that given NBBO protections in place at each exchange as well as through the Options Market Linkage plan, market participants have even stronger incentives to quote at the best price, lest incoming orders be filled away. Thus, the CBOE believes that inter- and intra-market competitive forces provide strong incentives for market participants to quote competitively and enter quotes and orders that improve the price and depth of the market.

For these reasons, the CBOE believes that it is reasonable to expand the Pilot Program to include all Hybrid classes.

2. Statutory Basis

The CBOE believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act applicable to a national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act. Specifically, the CBOE believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the section 6(b)(5) requirements that the rules of an exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The CBOE 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 Act.

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

No written comments were solicited or received.

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

The CBOE has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder. 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, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, and the CBOE provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the filing date, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The CBOE has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay to allow the CBOE to expand the Pilot Program to include all Hybrid classes without delay. The CBOE notes that its Pilot Program is similar to a pilot program adopted by the International Securities Exchange, Inc. (“ISE”).

The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Specifically, the Commission believes that allowing the CBOE to expand its Pilot Program to include all option classes trading on Hybrid will permit a larger number of option classes to be included in the Pilot Program, thereby helping the CBOE to assess the effects of the $5 spreads permitted under the Pilot Program. In this regard, the Commission notes that the CBOE's report concerning the Pilot Program will include data from 550 option classes traded on Hybrid. The Commission believes that the CBOE's proposal raises no new issues or regulatory concerns that the Commission did not consider in approving the ISE's quote spread pilot program or in permitting the CBOE to implement its Pilot Program. For these reasons, the Commission designates that the proposal become operative immediately.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Comments may also be submitted electronically at the following e-mail address: rule-comments@sec.gov. All comment letters should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2004-10. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, your comments should be sent in hardcopy or by e-mail but not by both methods.

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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CBOE. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CBOE-2004-10 and should be submitted by March 24, 2004.