[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9406-9407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2535]



[[Page 9406]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-53315; File No. SR-PCX-2006-09]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Pacific Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending 
the SizeQuote Mechanism Pilot Program for a Period of One Year

February 15, 2006.
    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 February 6, 2006, the Pacific Exchange, Inc. (``PCX'' 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 prepared by PCX. 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 renders it effective upon filing with the Commission. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \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).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    PCX proposes to amend its rules in order to extend the SizeQuote 
Mechanism Pilot Program (``Pilot Program'') contained in PCX Rule 
6.47(g), for a one-year period ending February 15, 2007. The text of 
the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site 
(http://www.pacificex.com), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary 
and at 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 PCX 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 this proposal is to extend for one year the 
Exchange's SizeQuote Mechanism Pilot Program (``Pilot Program''). The 
current Pilot Program, established when the PCX filed SR-PCX-2005-
35,\5\ was effective upon filing, and expires on February 15, 2006. At 
the time SR-PCX-2005-35 was filed, the Exchange represented that at the 
completion of the Pilot Program the PCX would provide to the Commission 
a report summarizing the effectiveness of the SizeQuote program. While 
the Exchange believes that the SizeQuote Mechanism can be an effective 
tool for Floor Brokers to use while executing large size orders in open 
outcry, the mechanism has not been used frequently enough to supply 
sufficient evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pilot Program. 
In order to allow for additional time to compile sufficient evidence as 
to the effectiveness of the Pilot Program, the PCX proposes to extend 
the Pilot Program for a one-year period ending February 15, 2007. At 
the end of the extended Pilot Program the PCX feels it will be able to 
supply the Commission with a report summarizing the effectiveness of 
the program.
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51576 (April 19, 
2005), 70 FR 21488 (April 26, 2005).
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2. Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with section 6(b) of the Act,\6\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\7\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to facilitate transactions in securities, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors and the 
public interest.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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

    Written comments on the proposed rule change were neither solicited 
nor received.

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

    Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was 
filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has 
become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act\8\ and Rule 
19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\9\ 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 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.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). Pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
under the Act, the Exchange is required to give the Commission 
written 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. 
The Commission notes that the Exchange provided notice of the filing 
at least five business days prior to the date of filing.
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    A proposed rule change filed under section 19b-4(f)(6) normally may 
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of its filing.\10\ 
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.\11\ PCX has requested that the Commission waive 
the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 
30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors 
and the public interest so that the Pilot Program may continue until 
February 15, 2007 without interruption.\12\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ 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. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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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:

[[Page 9407]]

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-PCX-2006-09 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-PCX-2006-09. 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 Section, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549. 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 Number SR-PCX-2006-09 and should be 
submitted on or before March 16, 2006. 

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-2535 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P