The SEC announced the roundtable will focus on facilitating competition in quote-driven markets, evaluating customer experience, and identifying growth opportunities and challenges in the listed options space. The event will be held at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., with live streaming available on SEC.gov for remote participants.
The initiative comes as the U.S. options market has experienced significant expansion, particularly among retail investors who have increasingly turned to derivatives trading. The roundtable represents the agency's effort to balance celebrating market achievements while identifying areas requiring regulatory attention or reform.
"The U.S.-listed options market has seen remarkable growth, particularly among retail investors," said SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce. "The roundtable will offer the Commission a valuable opportunity to foster public dialogue that celebrates the market's achievements while also considering areas for further reflection, ultimately supporting ongoing growth and expanding opportunities for all investors."
The SEC is soliciting public comments on listed options market structure through File Number 4-887, with submissions becoming part of the public record. Comments can be submitted electronically through the agency's online portal or by email to rule-comments@sec.gov, or sent via paper to Secretary Vanessa Countryman at SEC headquarters.
Details regarding the roundtable's specific agenda and speaker lineup will be announced closer to the event date. In-person attendance may be limited due to capacity constraints, and all visitors will be subject to standard security screening procedures at the federal building.
The roundtable reflects broader SEC scrutiny of market structure issues across various asset classes, as the agency continues examining how technological changes and retail investor participation are reshaping traditional trading dynamics in derivatives markets.