E8-17760. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to an Extension of Pilot Programs in Connection With Linkage P/A Orders

July 25, 2008.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on July 18, 2008, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) 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 prepared by Phlx. 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

The Phlx, pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Act ^[3] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[4] proposes to extend for a one-year period until July 31, 2009, its current pilot programs relating to: (1) An option transaction charge credit of $0.21 per contract for Exchange options specialist units ^[5] that incur Phlx option transaction charges when a customer order is delivered electronically via Phlx XL ^[6] or via the Exchange's Options Floor Broker Management Systems (“FBMS”),^[7] and is then executed via the Intermarket Option Linkage (“Linkage”) ^[8] as a Principal Acting as Agent Order (“P/A Order”); and (2) the Floor Broker Linkage P/A fee and Options Specialist Unit Credit, which charges floor brokers an amount equal to the transaction fee(s) assessed on options specialist units by another exchange in connection with customer orders that are delivered to the limit order book via FBMS and executed via Linkage as P/A Orders. The Exchange then provides to options specialist units a credit in an amount equal to the transaction fee(s) assessed on them by another exchange in connection with executing customer orders that are delivered to the limit order book via FBMS and executed via Linkage as P/A Orders. There are no substantive changes to the pilot programs as they currently operate, other than to extend their operation through July 31, 2009.^[9]

While changes to the fee schedule pursuant to this proposal are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated the changes to be in effect for transactions settling on or after July 31, 2008.^[10] The text of the proposed rule change is available at www.phlx.com, the Exchange, and 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 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 Phlx 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 currently provides for an option transaction charge credit of $0.21 per contract for Exchange options specialist units that incur Phlx option transaction charges when a customer order is delivered electronically via Phlx XL or via FBMS and then is executed via Linkage as a P/A Order. In addition, the Exchange charges floor brokers an amount equal to the transaction fee(s) assessed on options specialist units by another exchange in connection with customer orders that are delivered to the limit order book via FBMS and executed via Linkage as P/A Orders. Options specialist units are then credited an amount equal to the transaction fee(s) assessed on them by another exchange in connection with executing customer orders that are delivered to the limit order book via FBMS and executed via Linkage as a P/A Order.

The purpose of extending the current pilot programs discussed above is to encourage the use of Linkage, remain competitive with other exchanges with respect to the assessment of Linkage-related fees and to help alleviate the potential economic burden of multiple transaction charges imposed on Exchange specialist units in connection with routing these types of Linkage orders. Additionally, the purpose of assessing a fee on floor brokers who send customer orders that are delivered to the limit order book via FBMS and executed via Linkage as P/A Orders is to more equitably assess the applicable transaction fee(s) on the member originally entering the order to be executed. Floor brokers may choose to route these orders through other systems and not place these orders on the limit order book.

The above-referenced pilot programs are currently scheduled to expire on July 31, 2008.^[11] This proposal would extend the pilot programs for another year, through July 31, 2009.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its schedule of fees is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act ^[12] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act ^[13] in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among Exchange members. These pilot programs, in part, help alleviate the undue financial burden of multiple transaction charges that are incurred by specialist units in connection with P/A orders executed via Linkage. Assessing a fee on floor brokers and giving a corresponding credit to specialist units allows for the transaction fee(s) to be assessed on the member who submits the order and for the credit to be given to the specialist unit that routed the order to another exchange in order to obtain the National Best Bid or Offer.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act ^[14] and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[15] 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

• 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-2008-55 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Florence E. Harmon, Acting Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2008-55. 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of 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-2008-55, and should be submitted on or before August 25, 2008.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[16]

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

4.  7 CFR 240.19b-4.

5.  The Exchange uses the terms “specialists” and “specialist units” interchangeably herein.

6.  See Exchange Rule 1080.

7.  FBMS is designed to enable Floor Brokers and/or their employees to enter, route and report transactions stemming from options orders received on the Exchange. FBMS also is designed to establish an electronic audit trail for options orders represented and executed by Floor Brokers on the Exchange, such that the audit trail provides an accurate, time-sequenced record of electronic and other orders, quotations and transactions on the Exchange, beginning with the receipt of an order by the Exchange, and further documenting the life of the order through the process of execution, partial execution, or cancellation of that order. See Exchange Rule 1080, Commentary .06.

8.  Linkage is governed by the Options Linkage Authority under the conditions set forth under the Plan for the Purpose of Creating and Operating an Intermarket Option Linkage (the “Plan”) approved by the Commission. The registered U.S. options markets are linked together on a real-time basis through a network capable of transporting orders and messages to and from each market.

9.  See e-mail dated July 24, 2008 to the Commission from Cynthia Hoekstra, Vice President, Phlx.

10.  This proposal is scheduled to be in effect for the same time period as a pilot program relating to fees for Linkage Principal Orders and P/A Orders. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58144 (July 11, 2008), 73 FR 41394 (July 18, 2008) (SR-Phlx-2008-49).

11.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57608 (April 2, 2008), 73 FR 19128 (April 8, 2008) (SR-Phlx-2008-22); 57434 (March 5, 2008), 73 FR 13269 (March 12, 2008) (SR-Phlx-2008-19); and 56101 (July 19, 2007), 72 FR 40920 (July 25, 2007) (SR-Phlx-2007-50).

12.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

15.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

16.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).