[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13939-13940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5098]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-57459; File No. SR-BSE-2008-13]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to the Fee Schedule of the Boston Options Exchange

March 10, 2008.
    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 March 7, 2008, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (``BSE'' 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 substantially prepared by the BSE. 
The BSE has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a 
stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, 
administration, or enforcement of an existing rule of the self-
regulatory organization pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act 
\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) 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)(i).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is proposing to amend the Fee Schedule of the Boston 
Options Exchange (``BOX''). The proposed rule change will more clearly 
set forth the fees that are presently already charged for trading 
options contracts on BOX. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available on BSE's Web site at http://www.bostonoptions.com, at BSE's 
principal office, 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 proposes to amend the BOX Fee Schedule. The proposed 
change will more clearly set forth the fees that are applicable to 
Public Customer and Broker Dealer account types. The proposed change 
will not modify the level of fees that are charged for the trading of 
options contracts on BOX, nor will it change to whom the fees are 
charged.
    The Exchange currently applies an alternative pricing structure for 
certain classes of options contracts traded on BOX, the Liquidity Make 
or Take pricing structure (``Make or Take''). Make or Take fees and 
credits apply to transactions for all account types (e.g., Public 
Customer, Broker Dealer or Market Maker) as set forth in Section 7 of 
the BOX Fee Schedule. Specific references to the Liquidity Make or Take 
pricing structure and the fees and credits associated therewith are not 
currently included within the sections of fees applicable to Public 
Customer accounts as well as Broker Dealer proprietary accounts. 
However, particular reference to Make or Take is made within the 
section of fees

[[Page 13940]]

applicable to Market Makers. As previously stated, Make or Take is 
applicable to all three account types.\5\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56371 (September 7, 
2007), 72 FR 52401 (September 13, 2007).
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    This proposed rule change will specifically include this reference 
to Make or Take within the Public Customer and Broker Dealer portions 
of the BOX Fee Schedule. Again, this proposal will not modify the fees 
that are currently charged for the trading of options contracts on BOX, 
nor will it change to whom the fees are charged.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\6\ in general, and Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\7\ in particular, in that it clarifies existing 
rule text and 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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    \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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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)(i) of the Act \8\ and subparagraph (f)(1) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder.\9\ The proposed rule change is a stated policy, practice or 
interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration or 
enforcement of an existing rule of the Exchange.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).
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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.

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-BSE-2008-13 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-2008-13. 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 such filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of 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-2008-13 and should be 
submitted on or before April 4, 2008.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-5098 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P