2011-8624. Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend EDGA Rule 11.14 To Extend the Operation of the Single Stock Circuit Breaker Pilot Program

April 6, 2011

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 April 5, 2011, the EDGA Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or the “EDGA”) 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. 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 EDGA Rule 11.14 to extend the operation of the single stock circuit breaker pilot program pursuant to the Rule until the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up/limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies. The text of the proposed rule change is attached as Exhibit 5 and is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.directedge.com,, at the Exchange's principal office, and at the Public Reference Room of the Commission.

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 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

The Exchange proposes to amend EDGA Rule 11.14 to extend the operation of a pilot that allows the Exchange to provide for uniform market-wide trading pause standards for individual securities in the S&P 500 Index, securities included in the Russell 1000 ® Index (“Russell 1000”), and specified Exchange Traded Products (“ETP”) that experience rapid price movement (collectively known as “Circuit Breaker Securities”) through the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up/limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies.

Background

Pursuant to Rule 11.14, the Exchange is allowed to pause trading in any Circuit Breaker Securities when the primary listing market for such stock issues a trading pause in any Circuit Breaker Securities.

EDGA Rule 11.14 was approved by the Commission on June 10, 2010 on a pilot basis to end on December 10, 2010.^[3] The pilot was subsequently extended until April 11, 2011.^[4] As the Exchange noted in its filing to adopt EDGA Rule 11.14, during the pilot period, the Exchange would continue to assess whether additional securities need to be added and whether the parameters of the rule would need to be modified to accommodate trading characteristics of different securities. The original pilot list of securities was all securities included in the S&P 500 ® Index (“S&P 500”). As noted in comment letters to the original filing to adopt EDGA Rule 11.14, concerns were raised that including only securities in the S&P 500 in the pilot rule was too narrow. In particular, commenters noted that securities that experienced volatility on May 6, 2010, including ETFs, should be included in the pilot.

In response to these concerns, various exchanges and national securities associations collectively determined to expand the list of pilot securities to include securities in the Russell 1000 and specified ETPs to the pilot beginning in September 2010.^[5] The Exchange believed that adding these securities would address concerns that the scope of the pilot may be too narrow, while at the same time recognizing that during the pilot period, the markets will continue to review whether and when to add additional securities to the pilot and whether the parameters of the rule should be adjusted for different securities.

As noted above, during the pilot, the Exchange continued to re-assess, in consultation with other markets whether: (i) Specific ETPs should be added or removed from the pilot list; (ii) the parameters for invoking a trading pause continue to be the appropriate standard; and (iii) the parameters should be modified.

The Exchange believes that an extension of the pilot would continue to promote uniformity regarding decisions to pause trading and continue to reduce the negative impacts of sudden, unanticipated price movements in Circuit Breaker Securities. The Exchange believes that the pilot is working well, that it has been infrequently invoked during the past four months, and that the Exchange will be in a better position to determine the efficacy of providing any additional functionality or changes to the pilot by continuing to assess its operation in consultation with other exchange and national securities associations. Therefore, the Exchange requests an extension of the pilot through the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up/limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies.

2. Statutory Basis

The statutory basis for the proposed rule change is Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[6] which requires the rules of an exchange 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 also is designed to support the principles of Section 11A(a)(1) ^[7] of the Act in that it seeks to assure fair competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange markets. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule meets these requirements in that it promotes uniformity across markets concerning decisions to pause trading in a security when there are significant price movements. Specifically, an extension will allow the Exchange additional time to determine the efficacy of providing any additional changes to the pilot.

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

The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition that is 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 not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

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 if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[8] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[9]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing.^[10] However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[11] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay.

The Commission has considered the Exchange's request to waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding the investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in the pilot program.^[12] For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.

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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.

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-EDGA-2011-11 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-EDGA-2011-11. 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 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-EDGA-2011-11, and should be submitted on or before May 3, 2011.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[13]

Cathy H. Ahn,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62252 (June 10, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-01), 75 FR 34186 (June 16, 2010).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63514 (December 9, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-23), 75 FR 78783 (December 16, 2010).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62884 (September 10, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-05), 75 FR 56618 (September 16, 2010).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). When filing a proposed rule change pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act, an exchange is required to give 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 this requirement.

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

11.  Id.

12.  For the purposes only of waiving the operative delay of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

13.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).