E9-4958. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC To Eliminate the $3 Price Requirement for Continued Approval for an Underlying Security and Listing ...

March 2, 2009.

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 February 27, 2009, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq” or “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 prepared by the Exchange. Nasdaq has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a non-controversial rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,^[3] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. 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

Nasdaq proposes for NOM to modify Chapter IV, Section 4 (Securities Traded on NOM) of its options rules to eliminate the $3 market price per share requirement for continued approval for an underlying security. Nasdaq also proposes to modify Section 4 by eliminating the prohibition against listing additional series of options on an underlying security at any time when the price per share of such underlying security is less than $3.

The text of the proposed rule change is available from Nasdaq's website at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com,, at Nasdaq'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, Nasdaq 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. Nasdaq 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 this proposed rule change is to eliminate the $3 market price per share requirement for continued approval for an underlying security from Chapter IV, Section 4 of NOM options rules. This proposed rule change also eliminates the prohibition against listing additional series or options on an underlying security at any time when the price per share of such underlying security is less than $3.

NOM's rules require that the market price for a security be at least $3 on the previous trading day for the continued listing of options on that underlying security. If the price of an underlying security falls below $3, Nasdaq can continue to trade then-listed series on that underlying security, but is unable to list new series of options. Nasdaq believes that the current $3 market price per share requirement could have a negative effect on investors. For example, in the current volatile market environment in which the market price for a large number of securities has fallen below $3, Nasdaq is currently unable to list new series on underlying securities trading below $3. If there is market demand for series below $3, Nasdaq would be unable to accommodate such requests and investors would be unable to hedge their positions with options series with strikes below $3.

Nasdaq believes that the $3 market price per share requirement is no longer necessary or appropriate, and therefore proposes that underlying securities meeting the remaining continued listing criteria set forth in Chapter IV, Section 4 will be eligible for continued listing and the listing of additional options series.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[4] in general and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[5] in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 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. In particular, the proposed rule change will permit Nasdaq to make options on underlying securities available even if the price of the underlying security is less than $3 thus providing investors additional opportunities to hedge their positions.

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

Nasdaq 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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

Because the foregoing 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[6] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[7]

A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act ^[8] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[9] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Nasdaq requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission notes that this proposed rule change is substantially identical to a proposed rule change that was approved by the Commission after an opportunity for public comment,^[10] and does not raise any new substantive issues. The Exchange believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay would advance similar rules for listing similar products on options exchanges and is essential for competitive purposes. For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay ^[11] is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and designates the proposal operative upon filing.

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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-Nasdaq-2009-016 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-Nasdaq-2009-016. 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 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 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Nasdaq-2009-016 and should be submitted on or before March 31, 2009.

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

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

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) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file 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 Commission has determined to waive the five-day pre-filing period in this case.

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

10.  Nasdaq's proposed rule change is substantially identical to a proposed rule change by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) recently approved by the Commission. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59336 (February 2, 2009) (SR-CBOE-2008-127).

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).