E7-14844. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto Relating to the Extension of a Pilot Program to Quote and Trade ...

July 24, 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 July 24, 2007, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change asescribed in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Phlx. On July 25, 2007 the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposal. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[4] which rendered the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

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

The Exchange proposes to extend a pilot (the “Pilot”) that permits certain options series to be quoted and traded in increments of $0.01. The text of the proposed rule change is available at Phlx, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://www.phlx.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 Phlx 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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to continue to permit specified options series to be quoted and traded in increments of $0.01 by extending the Pilot through September 27, 2007.

The Pilot began on January 26, 2007.^[5] All series in options included in the Pilot (“Pilot Options,” listed below) trading at a price of less than $3.00 are currently quoted and traded in minimum increments of $0.01, and Pilot Options with a price of $3.00 or higher are currently quoted and traded in minimum increments of $0.05, except that options overlying the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (“QQQQ”) ^[6] are quoted and traded in minimum increments of $0.01 for all series regardless of the price. A list of all Pilot Options was communicated to membership via Exchange circular.

The options included in the Pilot are:

Symbol	Underlying security
IWM	Ishares Russell 2000.
QQQQ	QQQQ.
SMH	SemiConductor Holders.
GE	General Electric.
AMD	Advanced Micro Devices.
MSFT	Microsoft.
INTC	Intel.
CAT	Caterpillar.
WFMI	Whole Foods.
TXN	Texas Instruments.
A	Agilent Tech Inc.
FLEX	Flextronics International.
SUNW	Sun Micro.

Report to the Commission

Phlx Rule 1034(a)(i)(B)(2) required the Exchange to prepare and submit an analytical report (“Report”) to the Commission that addressed the impact of the first three months of the Pilot on the quality of the Exchange's markets and option quote traffic and capacity on or before the last day of the fourth month of the Pilot. The Exchange submitted the Report on May 31, 2007, within the timeframe specified in the rule. The Exchange proposes to delete Phlx Rule 1034(a)(i)(B)(2) because it is no longer applicable, and to make a technical numbering change to the rule.

The Exchange anticipates that it will submit further reports as the Pilot continues. The Exchange will amend its rules accordingly.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal 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 promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect 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

No written comments were either solicited or received by the Exchange.

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

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] because the foregoing proposed rule does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 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.

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.^[11] 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.^[12] The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 5-day notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 5-day notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver will ensure continuity of the Exchange's rules and will allow the Pilot to remain in effect without interruption. For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposal to be operative upon filing with the Commission.^[13]

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.^[14]

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-Phlx-2007-53 on the subject line.

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-Phlx-2007-53. 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 Phlx. 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-Phlx-2007-53 and should be submitted on or before August 22, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[15]

 

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy 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 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55153 (January 23, 2007), 72 FR 4553 (January 31, 2007) (SR-Phlx-2006-74). In that filing, the Exchange also made conforming amendments to various Exchange rules in order to be consistent with the pilot. These conforming changes were also approved on a six-month pilot basis. Therefore, the Exchange is proposing to extend the effective date for these rules through September 27, 2007.

6.  The Nasdaq-100®, Nasdaq-100 Index®, Nasdaq®, The Nasdaq Stock Market®, Nasdaq-100 Shares^SM, Nasdaq-100 Trust^SM, Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock^SM, and QQQ^SM are trademarks or service marks of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (Nasdaq) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange pursuant to a License Agreement with Nasdaq. The Nasdaq-100 Index® (the Index) is determined, composed, and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to the Licensee, the Nasdaq-100 Trust^SM, or the beneficial owners of Nasdaq-100 Shares^SM. Nasdaq has complete control and sole discretion in determining, comprising, or calculating the Index or in modifying in any way its method for determining, comprising, or calculating the Index in the future.

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).

11.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 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.

12.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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

14.  For purposes of calculating the 60-day period within which the Commission may summarily abrogate the proposed rule change under section 19(b)(3)(C) of the Act, the Commission considers the period to commence on July 25, 2007, the date on which Phlx submitted Amendment No. 1. See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).

15.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).