[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17733-17734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7398]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-64120; File No. SR-BX-2011-015]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend 
Chapter XI of the BOX Trading Rules To Harmonize Them With Rules of the 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and Other Options 
Exchanges

March 24, 2011.
    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 March 11, 2011, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``Self-Regulatory 
Organization'' or ``SRO'') 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 SRO. The SRO has designated the proposed rule change as 
constituting a ``non-controversial'' rule change under paragraph (f)(6) 
of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,\3\ which renders the proposal effective 
upon receipt of the filing. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 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

    The SRO proposes to amend Chapter XI of the Boston Options Exchange 
Group, LLC (``BOX'') Trading Rules to harmonize them with Rules of the 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') and other 
options exchanges. The text of the proposed rule change is available 
from the principal office of the SRO, at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room and also on the SRO's Internet Web site at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQOMXBX/Filings/.

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 SRO 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 SRO 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
    Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act, the Exchange, BATS Exchange, 
Inc., Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (``CBOE''), C2 Options 
Exchange, Incorporated, the International Securities Exchange, LLC, 
FINRA, New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE Amex LLC, NYSE Arca, Inc., The 
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, and NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (collectively the 
``Options Self Regulatory Council''), entered into an agreement, dated 
February 9, 2010, (the ``17d-2 Agreement'') to allocate regulatory 
responsibility for common rules. By this proposal, the SRO seeks to 
standardize certain rules with FINRA's rules pursuant to the terms of 
the 17d-2 Agreement.
    First, the SRO proposes to amend its confirmation rule, BOX Rule 
Chapter XI, Section 13, to add a requirement that confirmations 
disclose whether the transaction was an opening or closing transaction 
to harmonize the rule with FINRA Rule 2360(b)(12) and the rule of other 
options exchanges.\4\
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    \4\ As noted other options exchanges have similar rules, see 
e.g. CBOE Rule 9.11.
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    Second, in order to maintain substantial similarity with FINRA 
rules, the SRO proposes to amend BOX Rule Chapter XI, Section 20 to 
clarify that the prohibition against guarantees also applies to persons 
associated with a Participant and to delete the language of BOX Rule 
Chapter XI, Section 21 related to profit sharing of a customer account, 
and replace it with the language of FINRA Rule 2150(c),\5\ Sharing in 
Accounts; Extent Permissible. FINRA Rule 2150(c) contains the same 
prohibition against sharing in accounts as BOX Rule Chapter XI, Section 
21, but with additional limited exceptions. The general prohibition 
contained in BOX Rule Chapter XI, Section 21 against sharing in the 
profits or losses of a customer account is currently covered by the 
17d-2 Agreement. However, the limited exceptions of FINRA Rule 2150(c) 
are not covered by the 17d-2 Agreement. The Exchange proposes to add 
those limited exceptions to BOX Rule Chapter XI, Section 21 to 
harmonize its rule with the FINRA rule and add those limited exceptions

[[Page 17734]]

pursuant to the 17d-2 Agreement. The portion of the rule prohibiting 
the guarantee of a customer against loss is being amended to clarify 
that it applies not only to Order Flow Providers but also to persons 
associated with Participants.
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    \5\ Id. at Rule 9.18.
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    Third, the SRO proposes to amend its options communication rule, 
BOX Rule Chapter XI, Section 24, by deleting the term ``market 
letters'' in the definition of ``sales literature'' and adding the term 
``market letters'' to the definition of ``correspondence'' to harmonize 
the rule with FINRA Rule 2220 and NASD Rule 2210(a)(2).\6\
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    \6\ Id. at Rule 9.21.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The SRO believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\7\ in general, and Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\8\ in particular, in that it is designed to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, 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. Specifically, the proposed rule changes, by 
harmonizing BOX Trading Rules with FINRA Rules and the rules of other 
options exchanges, would provide Participants with a clearer regulatory 
scheme. The SRO further notes that the proposed rule changes are 
neither novel nor controversial and are modeled on existing rules.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The SRO does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose 
any burden on competition 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 SRO has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed 
rule change.

III. Basis for Summary Effectiveness Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3) or 
for Accelerated Effectiveness Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)

    This proposed rule change is filed pursuant to paragraph (A) of 
section 19(b)(3) of the Exchange Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\10\ This proposed rule change does not significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any 
significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become 
operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter 
time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest. Because the rule change is based 
upon rules in place at FINRA and other options exchanges, and does not 
present any novel issues, and is intended to maintain consistency among 
the exchanges, the SRO requests that the Commission waive the 30-day 
operative delay period for ``non-controversial'' proposals and make the 
proposed rule change effective and operative upon filing.\11\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \11\ As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange 
provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file 
the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the 
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.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that the action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
would otherwise further the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

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-BX-2011-015 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-BX-2011-015. 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 Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, on official 
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., located at 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 
SRO. 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-BX-2011-015 and 
should be submitted on or before April 20, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Cathy H. Ahn,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-7398 Filed 3-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P