[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54701-54702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15404]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54423; File No. SR-Phlx-2006-54]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc., 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Amending the Broker/Dealer (Non-AUTOM-Delivered) Equity Option 
Transaction Charge

September 11, 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 August 31, 2006, 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 the Phlx. 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.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Phlx proposes to amend the broker/dealer equity option (non-
AUTOM-delivered) \3\ transaction charge from a tiered fee schedule 
based on the number of contracts to a flat fee of $0.25 per contract. 
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web 
site at http://www.Phlx.com, at the Phlx's Office of the Secretary, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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    \3\ AUTOM is the Exchange's electronic order delivery, routing, 
execution and reporting system, which provides for the automatic 
entry and routing of equity option and index option orders to the 
Exchange trading floor. See Exchange Rules 1014(b)(ii) and 1080).
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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

[[Page 54702]]

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 Phlx proposes to amend the broker/dealer equity option (non-
AUTOM-delivered) transaction charge from a tiered fee schedule based on 
the number of contracts to a flat fee of $0.25 per contract. The 
proposed $0.25 per contract charge replaces the three-tiered charges of 
$0.35, $0.25 or $0.20 per contract, depending on the volume. The $0.45 
per contract charge for broker/dealer (AUTOM-delivered) transactions 
remains unchanged. This proposal is scheduled to become effective for 
trades settling on or after September 1, 2006. The purpose of this 
proposal is to remain competitive with other exchanges \4\ and to 
attract additional broker/dealer (non-AUTOM-delivered) business to the 
Exchange.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53485 (March 14, 
2006), 71 FR 14564 (March 22, 2006) (SR-PCX-2006-15).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its schedule of 
fees is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \5\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \6\ in 
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees 
and other charges among Exchange members.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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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

    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 \7\ and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 \8\ 
thereunder. 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.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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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:

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-Phlx-2006-54 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-Phlx-2006-54. 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. Copies of the 
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of the 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-2006-54 and should be submitted on or before 
October 10, 2006.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-15404 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P