2010-25820. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Rule 1015  

  • Start Preamble October 7, 2010.

    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 September 30, 2010, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 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

    The Exchange proposes to delete Rule 1015, Execution Guarantees (with the exception of subparagraph (a)(vi)), which is outdated and should have been deleted previously. The Exchange also proposes to delete Options Floor Procedure Advice (“Advice”) A-11, which contains corresponding language. The Exchange proposes to move subparagraph (a)(vi) of both Rule 1015 and Advice A-11 to Rule 1063.02, which governs floor broker activity.

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/​micro.aspx?​id=​PHLXfilings,, at the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

    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    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to update and correct the rules by deleting two outdated rules. Generally, the execution of orders is now governed by Rules 1080 and 1082, among others. Rule 1015 refers to execution guarantees, disseminated size and “trade or fade” provisions that together have become obsolete due to the combination of the adoption of firm quote obligations in options and increased automation; specifically, the disseminated size is no longer an artificial size that requires this rule to apportion responsibility to “floor traders” to reach that minimum size. With the advent of an actual size in options along with automatic execution at the displayed size, these provisions became outdated.

    With respect to Advice A-11, it tracks the language of Rule 1015. Historically, Advices replicated the provisions of the Exchange's rules that were most pertinent for the trading floor community to keep handy, in lieu of the large, unwieldy rulebook; the Exchange adopted, for many years, both rules and advices that contained nearly identical language where the advice was the subject of a fine schedule under the Exchange's minor rule plan in order for the trading floor to have easy access to these provisions (which the Exchange printed and distributed) and in order for those persons who administered fines to have easy access to consult the applicable fine schedules.[3]

    The Exchange proposes to move Rule 1015(a)(vi) to Rule 1063.02 because it governs floor broker behavior and continues to be relevant.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [4] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act [5] in particular, in that it is designed 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 protect investors and the public interest, by deleting obsolete provisions and generally providing clarity to the rules.

    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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, 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 [6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[7]

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    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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

    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

    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-Phlx-2010-136. 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 No. SR-Phlx-2010-136 and should be submitted on or before November 4, 2010.

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    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[8]

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  Advices are administered as part of the Exchange's minor rule plan; the Exchange proposes to remove Advice A-11 from the minor rule plan.

    Back to Citation

    7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 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 of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. Phlx has satisfied this requirement.

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2010-25820 Filed 10-13-10; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
10/14/2010
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2010-25820
Pages:
63231-63232 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-63064, File No. SR-Phlx-2010-136
EOCitation:
of 2010-10-07
PDF File:
2010-25820.pdf