[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58670-58671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27257]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-60953; File No. SR-NYSEAmex-2009-75]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Amex LLC To Clarify 
Specialist Obligations

November 6, 2009.
    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 October 22, 2009, NYSE Amex LLC (``NYSE Amex'' or the ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'') 
the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, 
which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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 the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 927NY-Specialists by making 
technical changes designed to offer clarity to the rule. The text of 
the proposed rule change is attached as Exhibit 5 to the 19b-4 form. A 
copy of this filing is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nyse.com, at the Exchange'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 self-regulatory organization 
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 those 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 parts 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 filing by NYSE Amex is to revise the language 
in Rule 927NY-Specialists, in order to clarify certain provisions 
within the rule.
    Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 927NY(c)(3) by 
adding a reference Rule 925.1NY(b), in order to clarify Specialist 
obligations, as they pertain to continuous quoting. In its current 
form, Rule 927NY states that Specialists must provide continuous 
quotations in all appointed series. However, Rule 925.1NY(b) provides 
that Specialists must provide continuous quotations for 90% of the time 
the Exchange is open. To ensure that Specialist obligations contained 
in Rule 927NY are consistent with Rule 925.1NY, the Exchange proposes 
to add language to Rule 927NY(c)(3) in order to clarify that a 
Specialist needs to provide quotations in accordance with Rule 
925.1NY(b).
    The Exchange also proposes to delete Rule 927NY(c)(6). Under the 
structure of the Exchange's electronic trading systems, the automated 
execution system referenced in Rule 927NY(c)(6) is part of the overall 
NYSE Amex electronic trading system. Whenever a Specialist provides 
electronic quotations to NYSE Amex, the Specialist automatically 
participates in the automatic execution system. It is not possible for 
a Specialist to submit quotes to the Exchange without being subject to 
the automatic execution system, nor is it possible to participate in 
the automatic execution system without submitting electronic quotes. 
Because participation in the auto-execution system is not optional, it 
is not appropriate to designate participation in it as an obligation. 
The Exchange proposes to reserve Rule 927NY(c)(6) for future use.
    By clarifying its rules and abolishing out-dated language, the 
Exchange is not changing or altering any obligation, rights, policies 
or practices enumerated within its rules.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''),\3\ in 
general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\4\ 
in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, 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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    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \4\ 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

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

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

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \5\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\6\ 
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i)

[[Page 58671]]

Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative prior to 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, the proposed 
rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the 
Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\8\
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's 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 satisfied the pre-filing requirement.
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    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.

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-NYSEAmex-2009-75 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAmex-2009-75. 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 NYSE Amex. 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-NYSEAmex-2009-75 and should 
be submitted on or before December 4, 2009.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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[FR Doc. E9-27257 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P