E7-24801. Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Include Volume Executed by Remote Quoting Towards the Earning of Remote Quoting Rights  

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    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 November 30, 2007, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. On December 13, 2007, Amex filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

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

    The Exchange, proposes to include the volume executed by specialists and registered options traders (“ROTs”) as a result of remote quoting towards the earning of remote quoting rights in the Exchange's remote registered options trader (“RROT”) program (the “RROT Program”).

    The text of the proposed rule change is available at http://www.amex.com,, at the Exchange's principal office, 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 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 is proposing to include the volume executed by specialists and ROTs as a result of remote quoting, towards the earning of remote quoting rights in the Exchange's RROT Program.

    The Exchange's RROT Program currently allows members or member organizations designated by the Exchange to be awarded remote quoting rights to enter bids and offers electronically from locations other than the trading crowd where the applicable options class is traded on the Exchange's physical trading floor.[3] ROTs and specialists are currently awarded remote quoting rights based on quantitative criteria set forth in Amex Rule 994-ANTE. Specifically, specialists are awarded remote quoting rights based on Exchange floor volume executed, and their percentage of industry market share in the options which they specialize. ROTs are awarded remote quoting rights based solely on floor volume executed.

    Currently, volume executed as a result of quoting remotely is not included in the calculation of remote quoting rights in Rule 994-ANTE. However, since the implementation of the RROT Program in May of 2006, volume is increasingly executed as a result of remote quotes entered by ROTs and specialists. The Exchange believes it is appropriate to reward those ROTs and specialists for the volume they execute as a result of quoting remotely, by including such volume towards the earning of additional remote quoting rights.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act,[4] in general, and section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[5] in particular, in that it is designed 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 protect investors and the public interest.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purpose 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 written comments on the proposed rule change.

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

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding, or (ii) as to which Amex consents, the Commission will:

    A. By order approve such proposed rule change; or

    B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disproved.

    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 Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2007-132. 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 Start Printed Page 72804communications 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 inspection and copying 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 offices 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-Amex-2007-132 and should be submitted on or before January 11, 2008.

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    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[6]

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

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    Footnotes

    3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53652 (April 13, 2006), 71 FR 20422 (April 20, 2006) (approving the Exchange's RROT Program).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E7-24801 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
12/21/2007
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E7-24801
Pages:
72803-72804 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-56974, File No. SR-Amex-2007-132
PDF File:
e7-24801.pdf