2014-24544. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Options Floor Procedure Advice F-27, Options Exchange Official Rulings

October 9, 2014.

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 October 2, 2014, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “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

The Exchange proposes to correct Options Floor Procedure Advice (“Advice”) F-27, Options Exchange Official Rulings, by updating an obsolete reference.

The text of the proposed rule change is below; proposed new language is in italics; proposed deletions are in brackets.

* * * * *

F-27 Options Exchange Official Rulings

Options Exchange Officials are empowered to render rulings on the trading floor to resolve trading disputes occurring on and respecting activities on the trading floor. All rulings rendered by Options Exchange Officials are effective immediately and must be complied with promptly. Failure to promptly comply with a ruling concerning a trading dispute may result in referral to the Business Conduct Committee. Failure to promptly comply with other rulings issued pursuant to Order and Decorum Regulations or Floor Procedure Advices and not concerning a trading dispute may result in an additional violation. Options Exchange Officials need not render decisions in any instance where the request for a ruling was not made within a reasonable period of time. An Options Exchange Official should not render a decision or authorize a citation where such Options Exchange Official was involved in or affected by the dispute, as well as in any situation where the Options Exchange Official is not able to objectively and fairly render a decision.

Options Exchange Officials shall endeavor to be prompt in rendering decisions. However, in any instance where an Options Exchange Official has determined that the benefits of further discovery as to the facts and circumstances of any matter under review outweigh the monetary risks of a delayed ruling, the Options Exchange Official may determine to delay rendering the ruling until such time as that further discovery is completed. In issuing decisions for the resolution of trading disputes, Options Exchange Officials shall institute the course of action deemed by the ruling Options Exchange Official to be more fair to all parties under the circumstances at the time. An Options Exchange Official may direct the execution of an order on the floor, or adjust the transaction terms or participants to an executed order on the floor. However, an Options Exchange Official may nullify a transaction if they determine the transaction to have been in violation of Rule Rules 1014 (Obligations and Restrictions Applicable to Specialists and Registered Options Traders), Rule 1017 (Openings In Options), Rule 1033 (Bids And Offers-Premium) or Rule 1080 (Phlx XL and Phlx XL II).

Exchange staff may determine that an Options Exchange Official is ineligible to participate in a particular ruling where it appears that such Options Exchange Official has a conflict of interest. For purposes of this Rule, and without limitation, a conflict of interest exists where an Options Exchange Official: (a) Is directly or indirectly affiliated with a party seeking an Options Exchange Official ruling; (b) is a participant or is directly or indirectly affiliated with a participant in a transaction that is the subject of an Options Exchange Official ruling; (c) is a debtor or creditor of a party seeking an Options Exchange Official ruling; or (d) is an immediate family member of a party seeking an Options Exchange Official ruling. Exchange staff may consider other circumstances, on a case-by-case basis, in determining the eligibility or ineligibility of a particular Options Exchange Official to participate in a particular ruling due to a conflict of interest.

All Options Exchange Official rulings concerning the adjustment and nullification of transactions are reviewable by the [Referee (as defined in Rule 124)] Market Operations Review Committee.

(i)-(v) No change.

FINE SCHEDULE

$250.00

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 proposal is to correct an Exchange provision respecting how disputes are settled. Advice F-27 generally parallels Rule 124 and governs how disputes are settled on the Exchange's options trading floor. Specifically, Advice F-27 (as well as Rule 124) provides that Options Exchange Officials are empowered to render rulings on the trading floor to resolve trading disputes occurring on and respecting activities on the trading floor. It also governs the process for rendering rulings and situations where the Options Exchange Official may have a conflict.

Some time ago, Options Exchange Official rulings were appealable to the Exchange Referee, an Exchange employee who was empowered to review Options Exchange Official rulings. In 2009,^[3] the Exchange replaced the Referee with a committee, the Market Operations Review Committee,^[4] and inadvertently left one reference to the Referee in Advice F-27. At this time, the Exchange proposes to delete that reference and replace it with reference to the Market Operations Review Committee. This change to Advice F-27 ensures that the terms used in the Advice and the Rule are consistent and up-to-date.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act ^[5] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act ^[6] in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, to protect investors and the public interest, by providing a clear rule on how rulings can be appealed.

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, because it merely corrects a reference.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[8] 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[9]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[10] 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. Specifically, the Commission believes that the proposal would eliminate confusion in the Exchange's rules and provide clarification to the public. Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.^[11]

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

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-Phlx-2014-64 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2014-64. 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 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the 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-Phlx-2014-64 and should be submitted on or before November 6, 2014.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[12]

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 60687 (September 18, 2009), 74 FR 49060 (September 25, 2009) (SR-Phlx-2009-59) (Replacing Referee with Options Trade Review Committee); and 64338 (April 25, 2011), 76 FR 24069 (April 29, 2011) (SR-Phlx-2011-13) (Renaming the Options Trade Review Committee as the Market Operations Review Committee).

4.  Options Exchange Official rulings (including those concerning the nullification or adjustment of transactions) may be sustained, overturned or modified by the Market Operations Review Committee. See Rule 124(d) and By-Law Article V, Section 5-3(d).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

9.  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.

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).