2010-7104. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 3121 To Reflect Changes to Corresponding FINRA Rule

March 24, 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 March 19, 2010, The NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “BX”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange 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

The Exchange is filing this proposed rule change to amend BX Rule 3121 to reflect recent changes to a corresponding rule of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Exchange will implement the proposed rule change thirty days after the date of the filing. Proposed new language is in italics and proposed deletions are in brackets.

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[ 3121]4570. Custodian of [the]Books and Record s

A member who files a [Securities and Exchange Commission] Form BDW shall designate on the Form BDW, as the custodian of the member's books and record s, a person associated with the member at the time that the Form BDW is filed.

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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

Many of BX's rules are based on rules of FINRA (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”)). During 2008, FINRA embarked on an extended process of moving rules formerly designated as “NASD Rules” into a consolidated FINRA rulebook. In most cases, FINRA has renumbered these rules, and in some cases has substantively amended them. Accordingly, BX also proposes to initiate a process of modifying its rulebook to ensure that BX rules corresponding to FINRA rules continue to mirror them as closely as practicable. In some cases, it will not be possible for the rule numbers of BX rules to mirror corresponding FINRA rule numbers, because existing or planned BX rules make use of those numbers. However, wherever possible, BX plans to update its rules to reflect changes to corresponding FINRA rules.

This filing addresses BX Rule 3121, which formerly corresponded to NASD 3121. In SR-FINRA-2009-080,^[4] FINRA redesignated NASD Rule 3121 as FINRA Rule 4570 with minor technical changes. FINRA Rule 4570 requires a member to designate, as the custodian of its required books and records on Form BDW, a person who is associated with the firm at the time Form BDW is filed. The rule is intended to enhance the SRO's ability to obtain required books and records from firms that are no longer conducting business and to ensure that the custodian of the books and records has been subject to certain background checks. The FINRA Rule 4570 text makes minor technical changes by adopting terminology consistent with that used in Form BDW.

BX is adopting the new FINRA rule in full, and redesignating BX Rule 3121 to be BX Rule 4570, so as to correspond to the new FINRA rule number.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[5] in general, and with Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[6] in particular, in that the proposal is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, 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 changes will conform BX Rule 3121 to recent changes made to a corresponding FINRA rule, to promote application of consistent regulatory standards.

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 purposes of the Act, as amended.

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

The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[8] thereunder in that it effects a change that: (i) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.

In its guidance on the proposed rules of Self-Regulatory Organizations (“SROs”),^[9] the Commission concluded that filings based on the rules of another SRO already approved by the Commission are eligible for immediate effectiveness under Rule 19b-4(f)(6).^[10] The Commission noted that “a proposed rule change appropriately may be filed as an immediately effective rule so long as it is based on and similar to another SRO's rule and each policy issue raised by the proposed rule (i) has been considered previously by the Commission when the Commission approved another exchange's rule (that was subject to notice and comment), and (ii) the rule change resolves such policy issue in a manner consistent with such prior approval.”^[11] The Exchange notes that the change is identical to a change by FINRA approved by the Commission.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as amended, 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-2010-020 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-2010-020. 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 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-BX-2010-020 and should be submitted on or before April 21, 2010.

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.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61332 (January 12, 2010), 75 F.R. 3270 (January 20, 2010) (SR-FINRA-2009-080).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory organization submit to the Commission written notice of its 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 Commission notes that the Exchange has satisfied the five-day pre-filing notice requirement.

9.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58092 (July 3, 2008), 73 FR 40144 (July 11, 2008).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

11.  See supra note 9 at 40149.

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).