E9-17010. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Article 20, Rule 1 Relating to the Declaration of Trading Halts on the Exchange  

  • Start Preamble July 10, 2009.

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) [1] , and Rule 19b-4 [2] thereunder, notice is hereby given that on July 7, 2009, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (“CHX” or the “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 prepared by the CHX. CHX has filed this proposal pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 19b-4 (f)(6) [3] and requests that the Commission waive the 30-day pre-operative waiting period contained in Exchange Act Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii).[4] If such waiver is granted by the Commission, this rule proposal, which is effective upon filing with the Commission, shall become immediately operative.

    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    CHX proposes to amend Article 20, Rule 1 relating to the declaration of Trading Halts on the Exchange. The text of this proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at (http://www.chx.com) and in 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 CHX included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule changes and discussed any comments it received regarding the proposal. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The CHX 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 is proposing to modify its rules relating to the declaration of Trading Halts on the Exchange. Currently, Article 20, Rule 1 requires two Senior Officers of the Exchange to agree to suspend or restart trading. “Senior Officers” has traditionally been defined by the Exchange as a person with the title of Senior Vice President or above. To ensure that it has proper coverage at all times, the Exchange proposes to increase the pool of persons with authority to declare or lift a trading halt to all officers of the Exchange designated by the CEO to have such authority. This action would provide sufficient flexibility to ensure that the Exchange always has adequate personnel available to suspend or reinstate trading on the Exchange when necessary. The requirement that the CEO designate the officers with such authority provides assurance that those officers have sufficient experience, judgment and knowledge to make those decisions.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general,[5] and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) in particular,[6] in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transaction in securities, to remove impediments and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest by allowing CHX to amend Article 20, Rule 1 relating to the declaration of Trading Halts on the Exchange to ensure that the Exchange always has adequate personnel available to suspend or reinstate trading on the Exchange when necessary.

    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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

    III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) 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 [7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[8]

    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.[9] However, Rule 19b-Start Printed Page 348374(f)(6) [10] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. CHX has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change is substantially similar to a rule change proposed by NYSE Arca, Inc.[11] The Exchange also believes that it is important to implement this rule change as soon as practicable to ensure that the Exchange has adequate personnel available to suspend or reinstate trading on the Exchange when necessary. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it should further the Exchange's ability to suspend or reinstate trading on the Exchange when necessary in the public interest. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposal to be operative upon filing with the Commission.[12]

    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 the 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-CHX-2009-05. 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 CHX. 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-CHX-2009-05 and should be submitted on or before August 7, 2009.

    Start Signature

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

    Elizabeth M. Murphy,

    Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    8.  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 Exchange met this requirement.

    Back to Citation

    11.  See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.13; see also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 44983 (October 25, 2001), 66 FR 55225 (November 1, 2001) (SR-PCX-00-25).

    Back to Citation

    12.  For the purposes only of waiving the operative date 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).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E9-17010 Filed 7-16-09; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
07/17/2009
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E9-17010
Pages:
34836-34837 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-60284, File No. SR-CHX-2009-05
EOCitation:
of 2009-07-10
PDF File:
e9-17010.pdf