2010-8540. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating To Amending the Direct Edge ECN Fee Schedule  

  • Start Preamble April 7, 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 April 5, 2010, International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE” or “Exchange”) 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 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 Direct Edge ECN's (“DECN”) fee schedule for ISE Members [3] to (i) eliminate a rebate on EDGX for securities priced less than $1; and (ii) to lower the removal rate on EDGX for securities priced less than $1. All of the changes described herein are applicable to ISE Members. The text of the proposed rule change is available on ISE's Web site at http://www.ise.com,, on Start Printed Page 19452the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, 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

    DECN, a facility of ISE, operates two trading platforms, EDGX and EDGA.[4]

    The Exchange is proposing to: (i) Eliminate the current rebate of 0.15% of the total dollar value of the transaction (number of shares multiplied by price) for securities priced less than $1.00; and (ii) lower the removal rate for securities priced less than $1 from .30% of the total dollar value of the transaction to 0.10% of the total dollar value of the transaction. This is being done because: (i) There was not an appropriate relationship between the size of the rebate offered and the minimum trading increment for securities priced less than $1; and (2) the Exchange is seeking to incentivize the removal of liquidity from EDGX in securities priced less than $1.00.

    The changes discussed in this filing will become operative on April 5, 2010.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,[5] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4),[6] in particular, as it is designed to provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members and other persons using its facilities. ISE notes that DECN operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily direct order flow to competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. The proposed rule change reflects a competitive pricing structure designed to incent market participants to direct their order flow to DECN. Finally, the Exchange believes that the proposed rates are equitable in that they apply uniformly to all Members and provide higher rebates for higher volume thresholds, resulting from lower administrative costs. ISE believes the fees and credits remain competitive with those charged by other venues and therefore continue to be reasonable and equitably allocated to those members that opt to direct orders to DECN rather than competing venues.

    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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) of the Act [7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) [8] thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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

    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-ISE-2010-29. 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,[9] 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 will also 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 No. SR-ISE-2010-29 and should be submitted on or before May 5, 2010.

    Start Signature

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

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  References to ISE Members in this filing refer to DECN Subscribers who are ISE Members.

    Back to Citation

    4.  This fee filing relates to the trading facility operated by ISE and not EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange, Inc. Direct Edge ECN LLC (EDGA and EDGX) will cease to operate in its capacity as an electronic communications network following the commencement of operations of EDGA Exchange, Inc. and EDGX Exchange, Inc. as national securities exchanges.

    Back to Citation

    9.  The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2010-8540 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
04/14/2010
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2010-8540
Pages:
19451-19452 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-61865, File No. SR-ISE-2010-29
EOCitation:
of 2010-04-07
PDF File:
2010-8540.pdf