2010-31230. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish Strike Price Intervals and Trading Hours for Options on Index-Linked Securities

December 8, 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 December 2, 2010, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “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 amend the Supplementary Material to Chapter IV, Section 6 (Series of Options Contracts Open for Trading) and Chapter V, Section 3 (Days and Hours of Business) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”) to establish strike price intervals and trading hours for options on Index-Linked Securities. The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Exchange's 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

Prior to the commencement of trading options on Index-Linked Securities on BOX, the Exchange is proposing to establish strike price intervals and trading hours for these products.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) has approved BOX's and other option exchanges' proposals to enable the listing and trading of options on Index-Linked Securities.^[3] BOX has not commenced trading options on Index-Linked Securities to date. Trading in options on Index-Linked Securities has commenced on other exchanges following the Commission's approval of The Options Clearing Corporation's (“OCC”) May 2010 supplement to the Options Disclosure Document (“ODD”) that provides disclosure regarding options on Index-Linked Securities.^[4]

$1 Strikes for Options on Index-Linked Securities

Prior to the commencement of trading on BOX of options on Index-Linked Securities that satisfy the criteria set forth in Chapter IV, Section 3(k) of the BOX Rules, the Exchange is proposing to establish that strike price intervals of $1 will be permitted where the strike price is less than $200. Where the strike price is greater than $200, $5 strikes will be permitted. These proposed changes are reflected by the proposed addition of Supplementary Material .01(c) to Chapter IV, Section 6 of the BOX Rules.

Without discounting the differences between exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and Index-Linked Securities, BOX seeks to extend the trading conventions applicable to options on ETFs to options on Index-Linked Securities. BOX contends that the proposed strike price intervals for options on Index-Linked Securities are consistent with the strike price intervals currently permitted for options on ETFs. BOX believes that $1 strike price intervals for options on Index-Linked Securities will provide investors with greater flexibility by allowing them to establish positions that are better tailored to meet their investment objectives. BOX has analyzed its capacity and represents that it and the Options Price Reporting Authority have the necessary systems capacity to handle the additional traffic associated with the listing and trading of an expanded number of series as proposed by this filing.

Trading Hours for Options on Index-Linked Securities

Similar to the trading hours for ETF options, the Exchange proposes to amend Chapter V, Section 3(b) of the BOX Rules to provide that options on Index-Linked Securities may be traded on BOX until 4:15 p.m. each business day.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,^[5] in particular, that an exchange has rules that are designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to 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 the proposal will lessen investor confusion by having strike price intervals and trading hours established prior to the commencement of trading on BOX of options on Index-Linked Securities.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[7]

The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because the proposal is substantially similar to that of another exchange that has been approved by the Commission.^[8] Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing.^[9]

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 e-mail to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-BX-2010-085 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-2010-085. 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 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-BX-2010-085 and should be submitted on or before January 4, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58941 (Nov. 13, 2008), 73 FR 70392 (Nov. 20, 2008) (SR-BSE-2008-50); 58985 (Nov. 10, 2008), 73 FR 72538 (Nov. 28, 2008) (SR-ISE-2008-86); 58204 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43807 (July 28, 2008) (SR-CBOE-2008-64); and 58203 (July 22, 2008), 73 FR 43812 (July 28, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-57).

4.  OCC previously received Commission approval to clear options based on Index-Linked Securities. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60872 (Oct. 23, 2009), 74 FR 55878 (Oct. 29, 2009) (SR-OCC-2009-14).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

7.  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 the five-day pre-filing requirement.

8.  See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 61696 (March 12, 2010), 75 FR 13174 (March 18, 2010) (SR-CBOE-2010-005).

9.  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).

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).