E8-13499. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading on the Exchange of Options on the SPDR Gold Trust

June 10, 2008.

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 June 3, 2008, 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 substantially prepared by the Exchange. NASDAQ filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[4] 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 to amend certain NASDAQ Rules to enable the listing and trading on the Exchange of options on the SPDR Gold Trust. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://www.nasdaq.com.

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

The Exchange states that the purpose of the proposed rule change is to permit the listing and trading of options on the SPDR Gold Trust.

Currently, Chapter IV, Section 3(i) of the NASDAQ Options Rules permits only certain Fund Shares (also referred to herein as exchange traded funds (“ETFs”)) to underlie options traded on the Exchange. Specifically, to be eligible as an underlying security for options traded on the Exchange, an ETF must represent interests in registered investment companies (or series thereof) organized as open-end management investment companies, unit investment trusts or similar entities that are principally traded on a national securities exchange or through the facilities of a national securities association and reported as “national market” securities, and that hold portfolios of securities comprising or otherwise based on or representing investments in broad-based indexes or portfolios of securities (or that hold securities in one or more other registered investment companies that themselves hold such portfolios of securities). The proposed rule change would expand the types of ETFs that may be approved for options trading on the Exchange to include the SPDR Gold Trust.

The Exchange states that apart from allowing the SPDR Gold Trust to be an underlying for options traded on the Exchange as described above, the listing standards for ETFs would remain unchanged from those that apply under current Exchange rules. ETFs on which options may be listed and traded would still have to be listed and traded on a national securities exchange and satisfy the other listing standards set forth in Chapter IV, Section 3(i) of the NASDAQ Options Rules.

Specifically, in addition to satisfying the aforementioned listing requirements, Fund Shares would have to: (1) Meet the criteria and standards set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Chapter IV, Section 3; or (2) be available for creation or redemption each business day from or through the Fund in cash or in kind at a price related to net asset value, and the Fund is obligated to issue Fund Shares in a specified aggregate number even if some or all of the securities required to be deposited have not been received by the Fund, subject to the condition that the person obligated to deposit the securities has undertaken to deliver the securities as soon as possible and such undertaking is secured by the delivery and maintenance of collateral consisting of cash or cash equivalents satisfactory to the Fund, all as described in the Fund's prospectus.

The Exchange proposes that the current continued listing standards for options on ETFs would apply to options on the SPDR Gold Trust. Specifically, under Chapter IV, Section 4(h) of the NASDAQ Options Rules, options on Fund Shares may be subject to the suspension of opening transactions as follows: (1) Following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of the Fund Shares, there are fewer than 50 record and/or beneficial holders of the Fund Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of the index or portfolio of securities on which Fund Shares are based is no longer calculated or available; or (3) such other event occurs or condition exists that in the opinion of the Exchange makes further dealing on the Exchange inadvisable.

Additionally, the SPDR Gold Trust would not be deemed to meet the requirements for continued approval, and the Exchange would not open for trading any additional series of option contracts of the class covering the SPDR Gold Trust, if the SPDR Gold Trust ceases to be an “NMS stock” as provided for in paragraph (b)(v) of Chapter IV, Section 4 of the NASDAQ Options Rules or if the SPDR Gold Trust is halted from trading on its primary market. The Exchange believes that the addition of the SPDR Gold Trust to Chapter IV, Section 3(i) of the NASDAQ Options Rules would not have any effect on the rules pertaining to position and exercise limits ^[5] or margin.^[6]

The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures applicable to trading in options on the SPDR Gold Trust would be similar to those applicable to all other options on other ETFs currently traded on the Exchange. Also, the Exchange may obtain information from the New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (a member of the Intermarket Surveillance Group) related to any financial instrument traded there that is based, in whole or in part, upon an interest in, or performance of, gold.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that amending its rules to accommodate the listing and trading of options on the SPDR Gold Trust will benefit investors by providing them with valuable risk management tools. Accordingly, NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,^[7] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[8] in particular, in that it is designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market in a manner consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.

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 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 states that written comments on the proposed rule change 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: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[10]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange can list and trade the Shares immediately. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest to permit the listing and trading of options on the SPDR Gold Trust without further delay.^[11] The Commission notes the proposal is substantively identical to proposals that were recently approved by the Commission, and does not raise any new regulatory is sues.^[12] For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as 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-2008-051 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2008-051. 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 the 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-NASDAQ-2008-051 and should be submitted on or before July 8, 2008.

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

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

4.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

5.  See NASDAQ Options Rules, Chapter III, Sections 7, Position Limits, and 9, Exercise Limits.

6.  See NASDAQ Options Rule Chapter XIII, Section 3, Margin Requirements.

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

9.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission with 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 Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.

11.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

12.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57894 (May 30, 2008) (SR-Amex-2008-15; SR-CBOE-2005-11; SR-ISE-2008-12; SR-NYSEArca-2008-52; and SR-Phlx-2008-17) (approving the listing and trading of options on the SPDR Gold Trust).

13.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).