2012-18601. Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend EDGA Rule 11.14 To Extend the Operation of the Single Stock Circuit Breaker Pilot Program Until February 4, ...

July 25, 2012.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on July 18, 2012, the EDGA Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or the “EDGA”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. 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 EDGA Rule 11.14 to extend the operation of the single stock circuit breaker pilot program (the “Pilot”) pursuant to the Rule until February 4, 2013. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.directedge.com,, at the Exchange's principal office, on the Commission's Web site at www.sec.gov,, and at the Public Reference Room of the Commission.

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 self-regulatory organization 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend EDGA Rule 11.14 to extend the operation of a Pilot that allows the Exchange to provide for uniform market-wide trading pause standards for NMS stocks through February 4, 2013.

Background

Pursuant to Rule 11.14, the Exchange is allowed to pause trading in any NMS stock when the primary listing market for such stock issues a trading pause in such NMS stock. The Exchange will pause trading in such security until trading has resumed on the primary listing market.

EDGA Rule 11.14 was approved by the Commission on June 10, 2010 on a Pilot basis to end on December 10, 2010.^[3] The Pilot was subsequently extended until April 11, 2011.^[4] The Pilot was then further extended through the earlier of August 11, 2011 or the date on which a limit up/limit down mechanism to address extraordinary market volatility, if adopted, applies.^[5] The Pilot was again extended through January 31, 2012,^[6] and then extended yet again through July 31, 2012.^[7]

In its initial filing to adopt EDGA Rule 11.14, the Exchange stated that the original Pilot list of securities was all securities included in the S&P 500® Index (“S&P 500”). The Exchange also noted in that filing that it would continue to assess whether additional securities needed to be added or removed from the Pilot list and whether the parameters of the rule needed to be modified to accommodate trading characteristics of different securities. As noted in comment letters to the initial filing to adopt EDGA Rule 11.14, concerns were raised that including only securities in the S&P 500 in the Pilot rule was too narrow. In particular, commenters noted that securities that experienced volatility on May 6, 2010, including ETFs, should be included in the Pilot.

In response to these concerns, various exchanges and national securities associations collectively determined to expand the list of Pilot securities to include securities in the Russell 1000 and specified ETPs to the Pilot beginning in September 2010.^[8] The Exchange believed that adding these securities would address concerns that the scope of the Pilot may be too narrow, while at the same time recognizing that during the Pilot period, the markets would continue to review whether and when to add additional securities to the Pilot and whether the parameters of the rule should be adjusted for different securities.

As a result of consulting with other markets and the staff of the Commission, the Exchange subsequently included all NMS stocks within the Pilot that were not already included therein.^[9] In particular, the additional stocks were those not included in the S&P 500, Russell 1000 Index, or specified ETPs, and therefore were more likely to be less liquid securities or securities with lower trading volumes. The Exchange stated that it would continue to assess whether the parameters for invoking a trading pause continued to be appropriate and whether the parameters should be modified.

The Exchange believes that an extension of the Pilot through February 4, 2013 would continue to promote uniformity regarding decisions to pause trading and continue to reduce the negative impacts of sudden, unanticipated price movements in NMS stocks. The Exchange believes that the Pilot is working well, that it has been infrequently invoked during the prior months, and that given the implementation of the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Limit Up-Limit Down Plan”) on February 4, 2013,^[10] the Exchange requests an extension of the Pilot through February 4, 2013. At that time, the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan will replace the Pilot.^[11]

2. Statutory Basis

The statutory basis for the proposed rule change is Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[12] which requires the rules of an exchange 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. The proposed rule change also is designed to support the principles of Section 11A(a)(1) ^[13] of the Act in that it seeks to assure fair competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange markets. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule meets these requirements in that it promotes uniformity across markets concerning decisions to pause trading in a security when there are significant price movements. The Exchange believes that the Pilot is working well, that it has been infrequently invoked during the previous months, and that the extension of the Pilot will allow the Exchange to further assess the effect of the Pilot on the market until the implementation of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan on February 4, 2013.

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

The proposed rule change does not 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

The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act ^[14] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.^[15] Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 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, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[16] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.^[17]

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[18] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) ^[19] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.

The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding the investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in the pilot program. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.^[20]

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.

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 No. SR-EDGA-2012-31 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 No. SR-EDGA-2012-31. 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, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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-EDGA-2012-31 and should be submitted on or before August 21, 2012.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[21]

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62252 (June 10, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-01), 75 FR 34186 (June 16, 2010).

4.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63514 (December 9, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-23), 75 FR 78783 (December 16, 2010).

5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64204 (April 6, 2011) (SR-EDGA-2011-11), 76 FR 20394 (April 12, 2011).

6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65091 (August 10, 2011) (SR-EDGA-2011-24), 76 FR 50788 (August 16, 2011).

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66227 (January 24, 2012) (SR-EDGA-2012-01), 77 FR 4608 (January 30, 2012).

8.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62884 (September 10, 2010) (SR-EDGA-2010-05), 75 FR 56618 (September 16, 2010).

9.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64375 (June 23, 2011) (SR-EDGA-2011-15), 76 FR 38243 (June 29, 2011).

10.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012).

11.  Id.

12.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1).

14.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

15.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

16.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

17.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's 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. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

18.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

19.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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

21.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).