2011-892. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the BOX Trading Rules Regarding Voluntary Withdrawal From Trading Options Classes in Which They Are Appointed

January 11, 2011.

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 January 7, 2011, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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 from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter VI, Section 4 (Appointment of Market Makers) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”) to permit the Exchange and Market Makers greater flexibility in handling Market Makers' voluntary withdrawal from trading options classes in which they are appointed. 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://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/​NASDAQOMXBX/​Filings/​.

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 Exchange proposes to amend Chapter VI, Section 4(f) of the BOX Rules (Appointment of Market Makers) to eliminate the requirement that a Market Maker provide three business days' notice if they wish to withdraw from trading an options class in which they are appointed. The proposed rule change will provide that Boston Options Exchange Regulation, LLC (“BOXR”) (i) may determine an appropriate minimum amount of prior notice required for Market Makers to withdraw from trading; and (ii) has the authority to place other conditions on Market Maker withdrawal as may be appropriate in the interests of maintaining fair and orderly markets.

Chapter VI, Section 4(f) of the BOX Trading Rules currently provides that a Market Maker may voluntarily withdraw from trading an options class that is within their appointment by providing BOX with three business days' written notice of such withdrawal. The proposed rule change will eliminate this specific notice requirement and give BOXR the discretion to determine a minimum prior notice period required for a Market Maker's withdrawal. Additionally, the proposed rule change will permit BOXR to place other conditions on Market Maker withdrawal as may be appropriate in the interests of maintaining fair and orderly markets. BOX believes that removing the requirement of three business days' notice is appropriate because requests for withdrawal can generally be addressed within one business day. As such, three business days' notice is simply unnecessary for BOX to respond to such requests. Market Makers' requests for withdrawal from a class in which they are appointed will not be permitted intraday, but may be approved as soon as the opening of trading on the following business day.

Under the proposed rule change, BOXR will also have the authority to place conditions on Market Maker withdrawal as may be appropriate in the interests of maintaining fair and orderly markets. With this discretionary authority, BOXR can consider the impact of a Market Maker's withdrawal on the market's customers, participants, other Market Makers, and the overall marketplace, and place conditions on a Market Maker's withdrawal as appropriate and necessary. This authority allows BOXR to consider various factors, but BOXR will exercise its discretion to place conditions on Market Maker withdrawal in a non-discriminatory manner.

In particular, the proposed rule change will allow BOXR greater flexibility when addressing instances where the Market Maker requesting voluntary withdrawal is the only Market Maker appointed to such class. Chapter IV, Section 5(a) of the BOX Rules specifies that BOXR will open trading in a series of options in a class only if there is at least one Market Maker appointed for trading in that particular class. BOX believes that requiring at least one Market Maker to be appointed for trading a class provides BOX Options Participants with the greatest amount of potential liquidity. Generally, BOXR anticipates placing conditions on a Market Maker's request for withdrawal when the Market Maker is the only Market Maker appointed to a class. For example, the Market Maker may be required to continue trading in its appointed class until BOXR can appoint another Market Maker in such options class, or for one or more additional trading days, as BOXR deems appropriate in the interests of maintaining a fair and orderly market and so that BOX market participants may continue trading without interruption, if possible. If BOXR is unable to appoint another Market Maker in the options class, then BOXR may, in accordance with the proposed rule change and the BOX Rules, approve the Market Maker withdrawal, but then be unable to open trading in that class the following day.

BOX believes that this proposed rule change eliminating the specific notice requirement for Market Makers' voluntary withdrawal from trading will provide BOX and its Market Makers greater flexibility in modifying Market Maker appointments in options classes on BOX, while retaining BOXR's ability to act in the best interests of a fair and orderly market when a Market Maker requests voluntary withdrawal. BOX believes that all of its market participants benefit from continuous open trading on BOX, and Market Makers assist in the maintenance of fair and orderly markets and provide liquidity to BOX. BOX believes that providing potential BOX Market Makers greater flexibility in handling their class appointments for trading on BOX may encourage additional market participants to act as a Market Maker on BOX and allow Market Makers to better fulfill their role on BOX to the benefit of all BOX participants. BOX believes that additional Market Makers may add liquidity and result in better markets.

Finally, Chapter VI, Section 4(f) will continue to specify that Market Makers who fail to give the required advance written notice of withdrawal may be subject to formal disciplinary action by the Exchange. The Exchange believes that this continues to be appropriate so that regulatory action might be taken against any Market Maker that fails to comply with the notice requirement, or any other conditions that BOXR may place on the Market Maker, for withdrawal.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,^[3] in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[4] in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, facilitate transactions in securities, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the Exchange believes this proposal will enhance Market Maker flexibility in decision-making about the options classes in which they are appointed and trade and benefit BOX market participants by removing impediments to and perfecting the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system. Further, BOX believes that all of its market participants benefit from continuous open trading on BOX, and Market Makers assist in the maintenance of fair and orderly markets and provide liquidity to BOX. Moreover, BOX believes that providing potential BOX Market Makers greater flexibility in handling their class appointments for trading on BOX may encourage additional market participants to act as a Market Maker on BOX and allow Market Makers to better fulfill their role on BOX to the benefit of all BOX participants. BOX believes that additional Market Makers may add liquidity and result in better markets.

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 Act.

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

This Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is substantially similar to the rules of another self-regulatory organization that has previously been approved by the Commission.^[5] Accordingly, the Exchange has designated this rule filing as non-controversial under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Exchange Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[7] The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change should take effect immediately upon filing because it will effect a change that: (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 the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate. The Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.^[8]

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 Exchange 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. 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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-BX-2011-001 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-BX-2011-001. 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, 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, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 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-BX-2011-001 and should be submitted on or before February 8, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[9]

Elizabeth M. Murphy,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58644 (September 25, 2008), 73 FR 57172 (October 1, 2008) (BATS-2008-005) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Amend BATS Rulebook Chapter XI to Add Four New Rules Regarding the Registration and Obligations of Market Makers).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

9.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).