E7-14991. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto Relating to NYSE Arca Rule 6.72 and the Penny Pilot for Options Trading

July 26, 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 18, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by NYSE Arca. On July 23, 2007, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.^[3] The Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposal on July 25, 2007. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[4] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[5] which rendered the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission.^[6] 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

NYSE Arca proposes to amend its option trading rules in order to extend the Penny Pilot in options classes in certain issues (“Pilot Program”) previously approved by the Commission through September 27, 2007. The text of the proposed rule change is available on NYSE Arca's Web site at http://www.nysearca.com,, at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 extend the time period of the Pilot Program ^[7] through September 27, 2007. The Exchange believes the benefits to public customers and other market participants who will be able to express their true prices to buy and sell options have been demonstrated to outweigh the increase in quote traffic. The Exchange previously filed with the Commission its economic and capacity analysis of the Pilot Program.^[8] The Exchange attached its report as Exhibit 3 to the proposed rule change. The report assessed, among other things, the impact of the Pilot Program upon quote rates, effective spreads, quoted spreads, available liquidity, data mitigation, and volume changes.

According to the Exchange, the results detailed in the report indicate that the pre-pilot capacity fears were unfounded and unrealized and the pre-pilot predictions of spread compression were justified—much to the benefit of investors. The Exchange believes that these results strongly support the extension of the Pilot Program.

The Exchange, pursuant to discussions with Commission staff, intends to file a separate request to further extend and expand the Pilot Program, prior to September 27, 2007.

The Exchange agrees to submit a report to the Commission that includes data and written analysis of information collected from May 1, 2007 through September 27, 2007. This report will include, but is not limited to: (1) Data and written analysis on the number of quotations generated for options selected for the Pilot Program; (2) an assessment of the quotation spreads for the options selected for the Pilot Program; (3) an assessment of the impact of the Pilot Program on the capacity of the NYSE Arca's automated systems; (4) any capacity problems or other problems that arose related to the operation of the Pilot Program and how the Exchange addressed them; and (5) an assessment of trade through complaints that were sent by the Exchange during the operation of the Pilot Program and how they were addressed.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act ^[9] in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[10] in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.

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

On July 20, 2007, Citadel submitted a comment letter to the Commission in response to the Exchange's original filing regarding the Penny Pilot (SR-NYSEArca-2007-56).^[11] No other written comments were 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 ^[12] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15] 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.^[16] The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 5-day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 5-day pre-filing 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 Penny Pilot Program to remain in effect without interruption. For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposal to be operative upon filing with the Commission.^[17]

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.^[18]

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as amended, 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-NYSEArca-2007-56 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-NYSEArca-2007-56. 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 NYSE Arca. 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-NYSEArca-2007-56 and should be submitted on or before August 23, 2007.

For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.^[19]

Nancy M. Morris,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  Amendment No. 1 superseded and replaced the original filing in its entirety.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

5.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

6.  See Amendment No. 1.

7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-55156 (January 23, 2007), 72 FR 4759 (February 1, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-73).

8.  See Exhibit 3 to proposed rule change, “Understanding Economic and Capacity Impacts of the Penny Pilot” previously submitted to the Commission by NYSE Arca on May 31, 2007.

9.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

10.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

11.  The Exchange subsequently filed Amendment No. 1, which superseded and replaced the original filing in its entirety. Amendment No. 1 changed the original scope of the proposed extension and expansion considerably. As a result, the Exchange believes that Citadel's comments are no longer applicable.

12.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

13.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

14.  The Commission notes that the effective date of the proposed rule change is July 23, 2007, the date on which Amendment No. 1 was filed.

15.  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.

16.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

17.  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).

18.  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 NYSE Arca submitted Amendment No. 2. See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).

19.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).