E7-13066. Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify the Fees Charged to Member Organizations for Transactions in Equity Securities  

  • Start Preamble June 29, 2007.

    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 29, 2007, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Exchange” or “Amex”) 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 substantially 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 its Equity Fee Schedule to revise various transaction fees. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.amex.com), at the Exchange'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 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 proposes to revise certain fees it charges to members for transactions in customer accounts.[3] Currently, Amex does not assess transaction charges for equities priced under $1.00. Additionally, for orders routed to another market center, Amex charges clearing fees and passes through to its customers the access charges it incurs for such orders. In order to provide members with consistent and transparent fees, the Exchange now proposes to: (1) Establish a flat rate of $0.0007 per share (or seven cents per 100 shares) for clearing charges for orders routed to and executed at another market center; (2) establish a flat rate of $0.0030 per share for orders routed to and executed at another market center; [4] and (3) establish a fee of 0.3% of the total dollar value of the transaction for equities trading with a share price of less than $1. All other aspects of the existing fee schedule will remain unchanged, including fee caps and waivers for small transactions.

    The revisions to the Equity Fee Schedule will be implemented beginning July 1, 2007.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [5] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act [6] in particular, in that 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. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to establish and revise various fees for transactions in its equity securities in order to collect revenue for transactions in equities with a share price of less than $1.00 and to provide consistency and clarity in the fees charged for orders routed to and executed on another market center.

    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 solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change has been designated by the Exchange as one that establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange, it has become effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder.[8] 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

    Paper Comments

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

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2007-69. This file number should be included on the Start Printed Page 37062subject 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Amex. 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-Amex-2007-69 and should be submitted on or before July 27, 2007.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[9]

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  Customer accounts are defined for purposes of the fee schedule to include accounts for all market participants except specialists and registered traders. Therefore, customer accounts (and the fees charged to them) include members' off-floor proprietary accounts, competing market makers on another exchange, and other member and non-member broker-dealers.

    Back to Citation

    4.  Orders routed to and executed on another exchange are charged this fee in lieu of the Amex transaction charge.

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E7-13066 Filed 7-5-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
07/06/2007
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E7-13066
Pages:
37061-37062 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-55986, File No. SR-Amex-2007-69
EOCitation:
of 2007-06-29
PDF File:
e7-13066.pdf