2010-19716. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Routing Fees

August 3, 2010.

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 21, 2010, NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the 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 Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend its fees governing pricing for Exchange members using the Phlx XL II system,^[3] for routing standardized equity and index option customer and professional orders to away markets for execution.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/​micro.aspx?​id=​PHLXRulefilings,, at the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to recoup costs that the Exchange incurs for routing and executing customer and professional orders in equity and index options to away markets.

In May 2009, the Exchange adopted Rule 1080(m)(iii)(A) to establish Nasdaq Options Services LLC (“NOS”), a member of the Exchange, as the Exchange's exclusive order router.^[4] NOS is utilized by the Phlx XL II system solely to route orders in options listed and open for trading on the Phlx XL II system to destination markets.

Currently, the Exchange's Fee Schedule includes Routing Fees for both customer and professional orders. The Exchange proposes to assess a Routing Fee of $.26 per contract in customer option orders that are routed to the International Securities Exchange LLC (“ISE”) and subject to the ISE's Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols to apply only for orders of 100 contracts or more. The Exchange proposes to assess a Routing Fee of $.31 per contract in professional option orders that are routed to the International Securities Exchange LLC (“ISE”) and subject to the ISE's Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols.

The Exchange would continue to assess $.06 for all other customer orders routed to ISE and $0.24 per contract for all other professional orders routed to ISE, where those orders are not subject to the ISE's Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols or the customer orders are for less than 100 contracts. The Exchange is proposing to name these proposed fees “ISE Select Symbols.” The Exchange also proposes to add a note to the Fee Schedule to indicate that the fee for customer orders in ISE Select Symbols applies to orders of 100 or more contracts. The Exchange is proposing this amendment in order to recoup clearing and transaction charges incurred by the Exchange when orders are routed to ISE in the ISE Select Symbols, and in the case of customer orders for 100 or more contracts. Each destination market's transaction charge varies and there is a standard clearing charge for each transaction incurred by the Exchange. The Exchange proposes this fee change to account for an increase in cost for routing to ISE relative to the fees in the ISE Select Symbols.^[5]

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Fee Schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act ^[6] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act ^[7] in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among Exchange members. The Exchange believes that this fee is reasonable because it seeks to recoup costs that are incurred by the Exchange when routing customer and professional orders to ISE in the select symbols, and for customer orders when the orders are for 100 or more contracts, on behalf of its members. The Exchange also believes that the proposed fee change to both customers and professionals is equitable because it will be uniformly applied to all customers and professionals.

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 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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[8] and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 ^[9] thereunder. 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 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-Phlx-2010-102 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-Phlx-2010-102. 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 Web site viewing and printing 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 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 No. SR-Phlx-2010-102 and should be submitted on or before August 31, 2010.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[10]

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  For a complete description of Phlx XL II, see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59995 (May 28, 2009), 74 FR 26750 (June 3, 2009) (SR-Phlx-2009-32). The instant proposed fees will apply only to option orders entered into, and routed by, the Phlx XL II system.

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59995 (May 28, 2009), 74 FR 26750 (June 3, 2009) (SR-Phlx-2009-32).

5.  ISE assesses a taker fee of $0.20 for priority customer orders of 100 or more contracts and taker fee of $.25 for Customer (Professional) orders in its rebates and fees for adding and removing liquidity in select symbols. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61869 (April 7, 2010), 75 FR 19449 (April 14, 2010) (SR-ISE-2010-25).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

8.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

10.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).