[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44075-44076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18494]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-64900; File No. SR-Phlx-2011-99]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Amend 
Phlx Options Rule 1080(m)

 July 18, 2011.
    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 July 13, 2011, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes a rule change to amend PHLX Options Rule 
1080(m) to make certain changes consistent with the upcoming 
implementation of Rule 15c3-5 under the Act (the ``Market Access 
Rule'').\3\
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    \3\ 17 CFR 240.15c3-5.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQOMXPHLX/Filings/, 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 Exchange 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
    On November 3, 2010, the Commission adopted the Market Access 
Rule,\4\ pursuant to which, among other things, broker-dealers 
providing market access are required to implement certain pre-order 
entry checks in order to manage the financial, regulatory, and other 
risks associated with providing its customers with market access. In 
anticipation of the upcoming July 14, 2011 compliance date for the 
Market Access Rule, the Exchange is proposing to amend PHLX Options 
Rule 1080(m) to describe the manner in which the Exchange's affiliated 
routing broker-dealer, NASDAQ Options Services (``NOS'') will handle 
routable orders consistent with the Market Access Rule.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63241 (November 3, 
2010), 75 FR 69792 (November 15, 2010).
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    In order to comply with the Market Access Rule, NOS proposes to 
implement, as part of the procedures of NOS, certain tests, on both an 
order-by-order basis and over a short period of time, that are designed 
to limit the financial exposure that could arise as a result of market 
access and to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements that 
are applicable in connection with market access. Consistent with the 
requirements of the Market Access Rule, these tests are designed to 
reject orders that NOS deem to be erroneous or duplicative, would cause 
the entering Member's credit exposure to exceed a preset credit 
threshold, or are non-compliant with pre-trade regulatory requirements 
(as defined in the Market Access Rule). To the extent NOS determine, 
based on its procedures, that an order should be rejected, NOS may also 
seek to cancel orders that have already been routed away.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that 
are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, 
with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\5\ In particular, the 
proposed change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\6\ 
because it would promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, 
in general, protect investors and the public interest. The proposed 
rule is consistent with the requirements of the Act because the change 
is necessary for the Exchange's affiliated broker-dealer, NOS, to 
comply with the Market Access Rule. The Exchange also believes that the 
proposed changes will benefit Members of the Exchange because it 
provides clarity on the procedures employed by NOS consistent with the 
Market Access Rule.
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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 Exchange 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.

[[Page 44076]]

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change 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, it has become 
effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\8\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file 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. 
Phlx has satisfied this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \9\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\10\ the Commission 
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked 
the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal 
may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange notes that 
waiving the 30-day operative delay will permit the Exchange's 
affiliated broker-dealers, NOS, to comply with Rule 15c3-5 under the 
Act by July 14, 2011; \11\ the compliance date for Rule 15c3-5. For 
this reason, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative 
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public 
interest, and designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon 
filing with the Commission.\12\
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    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.15c3-5.
    \12\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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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 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-Phlx-2011-99 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-Phlx-2011-99. 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, 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 the Exchange. 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-2011-99 and should be 
submitted on or before August 12, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-18494 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P