2010-11133. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Add 75 Classes to the Penny Pilot Program  

  • Start Preamble May 5, 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 27, 2010, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “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 self-regulatory organization. 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 OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange”) proposes to designate 75 options classes to be added to the Penny Pilot Program, as referenced in Chapter V, Section 33 of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”). Start Printed Page 26314The Exchange intends to notify BOX Options Participants of the classes to be added to the Penny Pilot Program via Regulatory Circular. The text of the proposed Regulatory Circular is attached as Exhibit 2.[3]

    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 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

    On October 19, 2009 the Exchange submitted a proposed rule change [4] with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) to, among other things, expand the number of classes included in the Penny Pilot Program over four successive quarters, with 75 classes added in each of November 2009, February 2010, May 2010, and August 2010.[5] Options classes with high premiums will be excluded for the quarterly additions.[6]

    Based on trading activity for the six months ending March 31, 2010, the Exchange proposes to add the following 75 classes to the Penny Pilot Program on May 3, 2010:

    SymbolCompany nameSymbolCompany name
    XLVHealth Care Select Sector SPDR Fund.JCPJC Penney Co Inc.
    CIENCiena Corp.ACLAlcon Inc.
    AMLNAmylin Pharmaceuticals Inc.STPSuntech Power Holdings Co Ltd.
    CTIC*Cell Therapeutics Inc.TLBTalbots Inc.
    MDTMedtronic Inc.SYMCSymantec Corp.
    TIVOTiVo Inc.AMEDAmedisys Inc.
    MNKD*MannKind Corp.TMToyota Motor Corp.
    MDVNMedivation Inc.HKPetrohawk Energy Corp.
    BRKBBerkshire Hathaway Inc.ENEREnergy Conversion Devices Inc.
    APOLApollo Group Inc.STTState Street Corp.
    BSXBoston Scientific Corp.BHPBHP Billiton Ltd.
    XLYConsumer Discretionary Sel. Sec. SPDR Fund.NFLXNetFlix Inc.
    CLFCliffs Natural Resources Inc.LDKLDK Solar Co Ltd.
    ZIONZions Bancorporation.SPGSimon Property Group Inc.
    IOCInterOil Corp.TIFTiffany & Co.
    ITMNInterMune Inc.BUCYBucyrus International Inc.
    GMEGameStop Corp.WAGWalgreen Co.
    XLKTechnology Select Sector SPDR Fund.IPInternational Paper Co.
    AKSAK Steel Holding Corp.XMESPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF.
    GRMNGarmin Ltd.KGCKinross Gold Corp.
    MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd.EPEl Paso Corp.
    XLPConsumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund.SEEDOrigin Agritech Ltd.
    UNPUnion Pacific Corp.WINWindstream Corp.
    DTVDIRECTV.DHIDR Horton Inc.
    WMBWilliams Cos Inc/The.ADBEAdobe Systems Inc.
    MEEMassey Energy Co.PCXPatriot Coal Corp.
    CELGCelgene Corp.SPWRASunPower Corp.
    GMCRGreen Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.LCCUS Airways Group Inc.
    WDCWestern Digital Corp.PRUPrudential Financial Inc.
    DALDelta Air Lines Inc.LENLennar Corp.
    FXECurrencyShares Euro Trust.EWTiShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund.
    COSTCostco Wholesale Corp.KBHKB Home.
    MJNMead Johnson Nutrition Co.CREECree Inc.
    ALLAllstate Corp/The.SIRI 7Sirius XM Radio Inc.
    SIISmith International Inc.MMRMcMoRan Exploration Co.
    RTNRaytheon Co.CENXCentury Aluminum Co.
    DVNDevon Energy Corp.GFIGold Fields Ltd.
    MTArcelorMittal.
    Start Printed Page 26315

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,[8] in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[9] in particular, in that it is designed 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 for a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, by identifying the options classes added to the Penny Pilot Program in a manner consistent with prior rule changes.

    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 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 neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

    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)(A)(i) of the Exchange Act [10] and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder,[11] because it constitutes a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing BOX rule. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate the rule change if it appears to the Commission that the action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or would otherwise further 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-BX-2010-032. 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 No. SR-BX-2010-032 and should be submitted on or before June 1, 2010.

    Start Signature

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

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  The Commission notes that the text of the proposed Regulatory Circular is attached at Exhibit 2 to the Form 19b-4, but is not attached to this Notice.

    Back to Citation

    4.  See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 60886 (October 27, 2009), 74 FR 56897 (November 3, 2009) (SR-BX-2009-067). This proposal was effective immediately upon filing.

    Back to Citation

    5.  The quarterly additions will be effective on November 2, 2009, February 1, 2010, May 3, 2010 and August 2, 2010, respectively. For purposes of identifying the classes to be added per quarter, the Exchange shall use data from the prior six calendar months preceding the implementation month, except that the month immediately preceding their addition to the Pilot would not be utilized for purposes of the six month analysis. For example, the quarterly additions to be added on May 3, 2010 shall be determined using data from the six month period ending March 31, 2010. The Exchange has filed two (2) previous proposals similar to the present proposal, for the November 2, 2009 and February 1, 2010 expansions of 75 classes, respectively. See Securities and Exchange Act Release Nos. 60950 (November 6, 2009), 74 FR 58666 (November 6, 2009) (SR-BX-2009-069) and 61456 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR 6235 (February 8, 2010) (SR-BX-2010-011). These proposals were effective immediately upon filing.

    Back to Citation

    6.  The threshold for designation as “high priced” at the time of selection of new classes to be included in the Penny Pilot Program is $200 per share or a calculated index value of 200. The determination of whether a security is trading above $200 or above a calculated index value of 200 shall be based on the price at the close of trading on the Expiration Friday prior to being added to the Penny Pilot Program.

    Back to Citation

    7.  Please note that the class is presently not listed for trading on BOX. If the class is listed for trading on BOX at a later date it will be subject to the applicable minimum trading increments as set forth in Chapter V, Section 6(b) of the BOX Rules.

    8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2010-11133 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
05/11/2010
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2010-11133
Pages:
26313-26315 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-62039, File No. SR-BX-2010-032
EOCitation:
of 2010-05-05
PDF File:
2010-11133.pdf