[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 42 (Monday, March 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11454-11456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3962]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-57382; File No. SR-BSE-2008-11]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, 
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Substitution of a Term in the 
Rules of the Boston Options Exchange

February 26, 2008.
    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 21, 2008, the Boston Stock Exchange, Incorporated 
(``Exchange'' or ``BSE'') 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 substantially 
prepared by the BSE. The BSE has designated this proposal as one that 
neither significantly affects the protection of investors or the public 
interest nor imposes any significant burden on competition, under 
Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal 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)(ii).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

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[[Page 11455]]

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The BSE proposes to amend Section 4 (Appointment of Market Makers) 
of Chapter VI of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange (``BOX'') to 
substitute the term ``issue'' for ``class.'' The text of the proposed 
rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site http://www.bostonstock.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, 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 BSE 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 BSE 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 is proposing to amend the BOX Rules applicable to the 
appointment of Market Makers on BOX. The Exchange is proposing to 
replace the term ``issue'' in Section 4(f) of Chapter VI of the BOX 
Rules with the term ``class.'' As the BOX Rules currently read, this is 
the only instance in which the term ``issue'' is used as a noun to 
convey this particular meaning. The proposed rule change substitutes 
the use of the term ``class'' and its meaning with one that is more 
consistent with the terms used throughout the BOX Rules.
    The BOX Rules define the term ``class of options'' to mean all 
options contracts of the same type and style covering the same 
underlying security. This is the precise meaning that this instance of 
the term ``issue'' is meant to convey. The terms ``class of options'' 
and ``option class'' are also used throughout the BOX Rules to convey 
this same meaning. This current use of the term ``issue'' is unclear 
and inconsistent with references used throughout the BOX Rules.
    Therefore, the removal of the term ``issue'' and replacement with 
the term ``class'' in its place will create greater consistency within 
the BOX Rules. Such a substitution will also clarify the intended 
meaning of this particular subsection of the BOX Rules by using a term 
with an accepted definition that more closely conforms to the concept 
being discussed.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\5\ in general, and 
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\6\ in particular, in that 
it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts, 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.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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

    Because the foregoing 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission 
with 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 Exchange has fulfilled this requirement.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 [email protected]. Please include 
File No. SR-BSE-2008-11 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-BSE-2008-11. 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 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 
the BSE. 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-BSE-
2008-11 and should be submitted on or before March 24, 2008.


[[Page 11456]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-3962 Filed 2-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P