2013-03275. Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Cease Operating New York Block Exchange and Contemporaneously Delete the Text of Rule 1600, Which Governs ...

February 7, 2013.

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 February 5, 2013, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or 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 contemporaneously delete the text of Rule 1600, which governs NYBX functionality. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.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 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 those 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The Exchange intends to cease operating New York Block Exchange (“NYBX”), effective February 28, 2013, and as such, proposes to contemporaneously delete the text of Rule 1600, which governs NYBX's functionality.^[3] NYBX is an electronic exchange facility that provides for the continuous matching and execution of all non-displayed NYBX orders with the aggregate of liquidity in the NYBX Facility, the NYSE Display Book® and considers the protected quotations of all automated trading centers for securities listed on the NYSE. The Exchange is ceasing operations of NYBX Facility because after years of operations the facility has not garnered enough volume to achieve critical mass and does not have strong support customers [sic]. The Exchange will provide advance notice to its members and member organizations of the discontinuation of this functionality.

The Exchange also proposes to make conforming changes to remove references to Rule 1600 and NYBX from the following other Exchange rules: Rule 13, Rule 15, Supplementary Materials .15 and .20 to Rule 79A, Rule 80C, Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 104, Supplementary Material .10, .12, and .13 to Rule 104T, Supplementary Material .40 to Rule 116, Rule 123B, Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 123C, Supplementary Material .25 to Rule 123D, and Supplementary Material .11 to Rule 1000.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (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 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. The proposed rule change, in conjunction with a related communication to members and member organizations, will provide advance notice to NYSE members and member organizations that the Exchange will cease operation of NYBX.

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 that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed changes are being made to remove references for NYBX from the Exchange Rules to correspond with the Exchange ceasing operations of NYBX facility. The Exchange is ceasing operations of NYBX Facility because after years of operations the facility has not garnered enough volume to achieve critical mass and does not have strong support customers [sic]. The Exchange is ceasing operations of NYBX because the facility was not competitive, therefore ceasing operations should not have any burden on competition.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to 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 ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[7] 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 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[8]

The Exchange has requested a waiver of the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange can cease operations of the NYBX Facility by February 28, 2013. The Exchange notes that NYBX has not achieved significant volume during its operations and does not believe that ceasing its operation will significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest. The Exchange further notes that discontinuing operations of NYBX at month end will coincide with the Exchange's billing cycle and avoid the expense and inconvenience of extending operations into a partial month. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver would allow the Exchange to cease operations of NYBX without incurring the expense of extending operations into a partial month. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as operative as of February 28, 2013.^[9]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 Number SR-NYSE-2013-12 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.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2013-12. 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 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 Number SR-NYSE-2013-12 and should be submitted on or before March 6, 2013.

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

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  In 2011, the Exchange filed a similar filing to cease operations of NYSE Matchpoint and delete Rules related the exchange facility. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63898 (February 11, 2011), 76 FR 9616 (February 18, 2011) (SR-NYSE-2011-03).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

7.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19-b-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.

9.  For the 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).