2012-16212. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify Its Excess Order Fee

June 27, 2012.

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 25, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (“BX” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) a 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 the Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

BX proposes to institute an excess order fee. [sic] BX will implement the proposed change on July 2, 2012. The text of the proposed rule change is available at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/​,, at BX's principal office, 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 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 those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

BX recently submitted a proposed rule change to introduce an Excess Order Fee,^[3] aimed at reducing inefficient order entry practices of certain market participants that place excessive burdens on the systems of BX and its members and that may negatively impact the usefulness and life cycle cost of market data. The fee is scheduled to be implemented on July 2, 2012. In general, the determination of whether to impose the fee on a particular market participant identifier (“MPID”) is made by calculating the ratio between (i) entered orders, weighted by the distance of the order from the national best bid or offer (“NBBO”), and (ii) orders that execute in whole or in part. The fee is imposed on MPIDs that have an “Order Entry Ratio” of more than 100.

Through this proposed rule change, the Exchange is modifying the parameters of the fee slightly to provide that all calculations under the rule establishing the fee will be based on orders received by BX during regular market hours (generally, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) ^[4] and will exclude orders received at other times, even if they execute during regular market hours. BX is making the change because the concerns about inefficient order entry practices that have prompted the fee are generally not present with regard to trading activity outside of regular market hours, when volumes are light. BX is also concerned that lower execution rates outside of regular market hours may skew calculations under the rule, such that an MPID that is considered acceptably efficient during regular market hours would be required to pay a fee under the rule due to its activity outside of regular market hours.

2. Statutory Basis

BX believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[5] in general, and with Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[6] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which BX operates or controls, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

As originally proposed and as modified by this proposed rule change, BX believes that the Order Entry Fee is reasonable because it is designed to achieve improvements in the quality of displayed liquidity and market data that will benefit all market participants. In addition, although the level of the fee may theoretically be very high, the fee is reasonable because market participants may readily avoid the fee by making improvements in their order entry practices that reduce the number of orders they enter, bring the prices of their orders closer to the NBBO, and/or increase the percentage of their orders that execute. The proposed change to the fee is reasonable because it will reduce the likelihood of the fee being imposed on an MPID that is considered acceptably efficient during regular market hours, when the impact of inefficient trading on BX and other market participants is highest.

For similar reasons, the fee is consistent with an equitable allocation of fees, because although the fee may apply to only a small number of market participants, the fee would be applied to them in order to encourage better order entry practices that will benefit all market participants. Ideally, the fee will be applied to no one, because market participants will adjust their behavior in order to avoid the fee. The proposed change will increase the likelihood that the fee will not be imposed in unwarranted circumstances. Finally, BX believes that the fee is not unfairly discriminatory. Although the fee may apply to only a small number of market participants, it will be imposed because of the negative externalities that such market participants impose on others through inefficient order entry practices. The proposed modification to the fee is not unfairly discriminatory because although it will lessen the potential impact of the fee on MPIDs that are active outside of regular market hours, this change is rationally related to the fee's purpose of promoting efficient trading practices in conditions where inefficiency may negatively impact BX and other market participants.

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

BX does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended. Specifically, BX believes that the fee will constrain market participants from pursuing certain inefficient and potentially abusive trading strategies. To the extent that this change may be construed as a burden on competition, BX believes that it is appropriate in order to further the purposes of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.^[7] The proposed change will lessen any burden on competition by removing from consideration orders entered outside of regular market hours, when concerns about the impact of inefficient trading on BX and other market participants are diminished.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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)(ii) of the Act.^[8] 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 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 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 email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-BX-2012-042 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-BX-2012-042. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 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-BX-2012-042, and should be submitted on or before July 24, 2012.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[9]

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67007 (May 17, 2012), 77 FR 30579 (May 23, 2012) (SR-BX-2012-033).

4.  Regular market hours may be different in some circumstances, such as on the day after Thanksgiving, when regular market hours on all exchanges traditionally end at 1 p.m.

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(ii). [sic]

9.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).