2012-1978. Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend its Rules To Extend Pilot Program Regarding Trading Pauses in Individual Securities Due to ...

January 24, 2012.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on January 11, 2012, National Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “NSX”) 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 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

National Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NSX®” or “Exchange”) is proposing to amend its rules to extend a certain pilot program regarding trading pauses in individual securities due to extraordinary market volatility.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nsx.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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 parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

With this rule change, the Exchange is proposing to extend a pilot program currently in effect regarding trading pauses in individual securities due to extraordinary market volatility under NSX Rule 11.20B. Currently, unless otherwise extended or approved permanently, this pilot program will expire on January 31, 2012. The instant rule filing proposes an extension to the pilot program until July 31, 2012.

NSX Rule 11.20B (Trading Pauses in Individual Securities Due to Extraordinary Market Volatility) was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on June 10, 2010 on a pilot basis to end on December 10, 2010.^[3] The pilot program end date was subsequently extended until April 11, 2011.^[4] Similar rule changes were adopted by other markets in the national market system in a coordinated manner. As the Exchange noted in its filing to adopt NSX Rule 11.20B, during the pilot period, the Exchange, in conjunction with other markets in the national market system, would continue to assess whether additional securities need to be added and whether the parameters of the rule would need to be modified to accommodate trading characteristics of different securities. NSX Rule 11.20B was expanded to include additional exchange traded products on September 10, 2010.^[5] The pilot program end date was further extended to August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up/limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted applies.^[6] The pilot program was then again lengthened until January 31, 2012.^[7] The Exchange, in consultation with the Commission and other markets, is now proposing that this pilot program be extended until July 31, 2012. Accordingly, pursuant to the instant rule filing, the expiration date of the pilot program referenced in Commentary .05 to Rule 11.20B is proposed to be changed from “January 31, 2012” to “July 31, 2012.”

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6(b) and Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ^[8] (the “Act”), in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[9] in particular, in that it is designed, among other things, to promote clarity, transparency and full disclosure, in so doing, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to maintain fair and orderly markets and protect investors and the public interest. Moreover, the proposed rule change is not discriminatory in that it uniformly applies to all ETP Holders. The Exchange believes that the extension of the pilot program will promote uniformity among markets with respect to trading pauses.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any inappropriate burden on competition.

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 written comments on the proposed rule change.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[11] Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[12] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[13]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)^[14] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)^[15] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.

The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding the investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in the pilot program. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.^[16]

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 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 email to [e-mail]. Please include File No. SR-NSX-2012-01 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 No. SR-NSX-2012-01. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 No. SR-NSX-2012-01 and should be submitted on or before February 21, 2012.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[17]

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62252 (June 10, 2010), 75 FR 34186 (June 16, 2010) (SR-NSX-2010 05).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63512 (December 9, 2010), 75 FR 78786 (December 16, 2010) (SR-NSX-2010-17).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62884 (September 10, 2010), 75 FR 56618 (September 16, 2010) (SR-NSX-2010-08).

6.  See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 34-64213 (April 6, 2011), 76 FR 20409 (April 12, 2011) (SR-NSX-2011-04).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-65095 (August 10, 2011), 76 FR 50777 (August 16, 2011) (SR-NSX-2011-08).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b) and 15 U.S.C. 78k-1, respectively.

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

12.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

13.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's 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 of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

14.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

15.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

16.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

17.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).