Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Amex LLC Amending Rule 935NY-Order Exposure Requirements, 20771-20773 [E9-10287]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 5, 2009 / Notices
Number SR–NYSEArca–2009–36 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–NYSEArca–2009–36. 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 (https://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 the 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–
NYSEArca–2009–36 and should be
submitted on or before May 26, 2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–10288 Filed 5–4–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–59825; File No. SR–
NYSEAmex–2009–15]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by
NYSE Amex LLC Amending Rule
935NY—Order Exposure Requirements
April 27, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on April 21,
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 and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the self-regulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
rules governing order exposure
requirements on the NYSE Amex
System. This proposal will revise Rule
935NY. The text 4 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
https://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.
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
4 The Exchange requested that the Commission
correct a typographical error in this sentence.
Telephone conversation between Glenn Gsell,
Managing Director, NYSE Amex, and Kristie
Diemer, Special Counsel, Commission, on April 27,
2009.
2 15
12 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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23:12 May 04, 2009
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20771
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed rule
change is to reduce the exposure period
contained in Rule 935NY—Order
Exposure Requirements, from three
seconds to one second.
Rule 935NY provides that with
respect to orders routed to the NYSE
Amex System, Users may not execute as
principal orders they represent as agent
unless (i) agency orders are first exposed
on the Exchange for at least three (3)
seconds or (ii) the User has been
bidding or offering on the Exchange for
at least three (3) seconds prior to
receiving an agency order that is
executable against such bid or offer.
Specifically, order entry firms may
not execute as principal, orders they
represent as agent unless; [sic] (i) the
agency order has first exposed on the
NYSE Amex System for at least three
seconds; [sic] (ii) the order entry firm
has been bidding or offering for at least
three seconds prior to receiving the
agency order that is executable against
such bid or offer. During this threesecond exposure period, other market
participants may enter orders to trade
against the exposed order. Under this
proposal, the exposure periods
contained in Rule 935NY would be
reduced to one second.
The Exchange notes that the existing
three-second order exposure period
contained in Rule 935NY, is not
necessarily long enough to allow human
interaction with the exposed orders.
Rather, market participants on NYSE
Amex are sufficiently automated that
they can react to these orders
electronically. In this context, NYSE
Amex believes it would be in all market
participants’ best interest to minimize
the exposure period to a time frame that
continues to allow adequate time for
market participants to electronically
respond, while at the same time
reducing any market risk associated
with the longer exposure period. In this
respect, the Exchange states that its
experience with the three-second
exposure time period indicates that one
second would provide an adequate
response time.5 Accordingly, the
Exchange does not believe it is
necessary or beneficial to the orders
being exposed to continue to subject
5 There are numerous market participants on
NYSE Amex that have the capability and already
opt to respond within the first one second of the
present three-second exposure period, currently in
force for the NYSE Amex System.
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
20772
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 5, 2009 / Notices
them to market risk for a full three
seconds.
Since NYSE Amex market
participants have the ability [sic] react
to these orders electronically, and
regularly do so in less than one second,
the Exchange believes that reducing the
time period to one second will continue
to afford sufficient time to ensure
effective interaction with orders. At the
same time, NYSE Amex believes that
reducing the time period to one second
will allow it to provide investors and
other market participants with more
timely executions, thereby reducing
market risk.
A shortened exposure period would
be fully consistent with the electronic
nature of the NYSE Amex System. In
order to substantiate that market
participants on NYSE Amex would not
be disadvantaged by a reduced exposure
period, the Exchange conducted a
survey of Amex Trading Permit Holders
(‘‘ATP Holders’’) to find out whether
they had the systems capability
available that would allow them to
respond in a meaningful way within the
proposed timeframe.6 The Exchange
surveyed 48 member firms, representing
132 ATP Holders, all of whom regularly
access the Exchange on an electronic
basis,7 regarding the proposed change to
Rule 935NY, specifically the Exchange
asked; 1. ‘‘What is the approximate
turnaround time for your firm to take in,
process and respond to trading interest
posted on NYSE Amex Options?’’ and 2.
‘‘Do you foresee any problems if NYSE
Amex Options reduces the exposure
time from three seconds to one second?’’
Of the 6 different member firms that
responded to the Exchange’s survey,
four indicated that their response time
was less than one second, one declined
to comment as to their response time
while the sixth said that they were not
exactly sure of their response time.
None of the responding ATP Firms
anticipated any problems related to
order processing if the Exchange was to
reduce the exposure period to one
second. In addition, none of the
responding ATP Holders indicated to
6 NYSE Amex introduced a new trading system
on March 1, 2009. In order to allow sufficient time
for ATP Holders to evaluate the new system, the
Exchange requested ATP Holders respond to the
survey by April 1, 2009.
7 Collectively, these 132 ATP Holders
participated in excess of 90% of all electronic
orders executed on the NYSE Amex System during
the month of March 2009. The remaining 10% of
transactions generally consisted of customer orders
executed against other customer orders, or orders
executed by non-ATP Holder Broker Dealers. The
Exchange did not survey ATP Holders who act as
Floor Brokers and transact business strictly on a
manual basis.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
23:12 May 04, 2009
Jkt 217001
the Exchange that they were opposed to
the reduced exposure period.8
Based on the findings of the survey,
the Exchange believes that the proposed
exposure period will continue to
provide sufficient time for market
participants to respond, and compete for
orders, while also reducing some of the
risks associated with a prolonged
exposure period.
2. Statutory Basis
NYSE Amex believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act 9 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act 10 in particular, because it is
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
facilitating transactions in securities,
and to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system. In particular, the Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change
will provide investors with more timely
execution of their options orders, while
ensuring that there is an adequate
exposure of all orders on NYSE Amex.
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
Within 35 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period (i)
as the Commission may designate up to
90 days of such date if it finds such
longer period to be appropriate and
publishes its reasons for so finding or
(ii) as to which the self-regulatory
organization consents, the Commission
will:
8 One respondent did indicate that it ‘‘might be
hard to respond that rapidly’’ when asked about the
proposed one-second exposure period, but then
went on to state that they felt the Exchange should
make the change in order to match other options
Exchanges (rules).
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
PO 00000
Frm 00102
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(A) By order approve the proposed
rule change, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
The Exchange has requested
accelerated approval of this proposed
rule change prior to the 30th day after
the date of publication of the notice in
the Federal Register. The Commission
is considering granting accelerated
approval of the proposed rule change at
the end of a 15-day comment period.
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 (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NYSEAmex–2009–15 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–2009–15. 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 (https://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
Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20549–1090 on official business
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and
3 p.m. Copies of the filing will also be
available for inspection and copying at
NYSE Amex’s principal office. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 85 / Tuesday, May 5, 2009 / Notices
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–2009–15 and
should be submitted on or before May
20, 2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–10287 Filed 5–4–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–59819; File No. SR–SCCP–
2009–02]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Stock
Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia;
Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule
Change To Amend the Certificate of
Incorporation of The NASDAQ OMX
Group, Inc.
April 23, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 notice is hereby given that on
April 2, 2009, Stock Clearing
Corporation of Philadelphia (‘‘SCCP’’)
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 prepared primarily by SCCP.
SCCP filed the proposed rule change
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of
the Act 2 and Rule 19b–4(f)(3) 3
thereunder so that the proposal was
effective upon filing with the
Commission. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
SCCP is filing this proposed rule
change with regard to proposed changes
to the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (‘‘Certificate’’) of its
parent corporation, The NASDAQ OMX
Group, Inc. (‘‘NASDAQ OMX’’). The
proposed rule change will be
implemented as soon as practicable
following filing with the Commission.
The text of the proposed rule change is
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78s–1(b)(3)(A)(iii).
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(3).
VerDate Nov<24>2008
23:12 May 04, 2009
Jkt 217001
available at https://
www.nasdaqtrader.com/
Trader.aspx?id=SCCPApprovedRules, at
SCCP’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,
SCCP 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. SCCP has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B),
and (C) below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.4
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
NASDAQ OMX is proposing to make
amendments to its Certificate. As
provided in Articles XI and XII of the
NASDAQ OMX By-Laws, proposed
amendments to the Certificate are to be
reviewed by the Board of Directors of
each self-regulatory subsidiary of
NASDAQ OMX, and if any such
proposed amendment must under
Section 19 of the Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder be filed with or
filed with and approved by the
Commission before such amendment
may be effective, then such amendment
shall not be effective until filed with or
filed with and approved by the
Commission as the case may be. The
governing boards of NASDAQ OMX BX,
Inc. (‘‘BX’’), NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc.
(‘‘PHLX’’), The NASDAQ Stock Market
LLC (‘‘NASDAQ Exchange’’), Boston
Stock Exchange Clearing Corporation
(‘‘BSECC’’), and SCCP have each
reviewed the proposed change and
determined that it should be filed with
the Commission.5 The changes to the
Certificate are limited in scope, and
under Delaware law, they do not require
approval by the stockholders of
NASDAQ OMX.
Specifically, NASDAQ OMX is
proposing to restate without amendment
its Certificate. The Certificate is
composed of a previous Restated
Certificate of Incorporation adopted in
4 The Commission has modified parts of these
statements.
5 The NASDAQ Exchange, PHLX, BX, BSECC,
and SCCP are each submitting this filing pursuant
to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act, 15 U.S.C.
78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
PO 00000
Frm 00103
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20773
2003 and numerous subsequent
amendments, which under Delaware
law are adopted as freestanding
documents. However, Delaware law
allows the various documents
comprising a certificate of incorporation
to be consolidated into a single restated
certificate upon approval of a
corporation’s board of directors. The
change will assist interested persons,
including NASDAQ OMX stockholders
and Commission staff, in reading the
Certificate without having to review
multiple documents. The restated
Certificate reflects the deletion of both
the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights of Series D
Preferred Stock, and the Certificate of
Elimination that was recently filed with
respect to it.6 Since the latter
component of the Certificate cancels the
former, they are both deleted from the
restated Certificate.
2. Statutory Basis
SCCP believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with provisions of
Section 17A of the Act,7 in general, and
with Section 17A(b)(3)(A) of the Act 8 in
particular in that it is designed to ensure
that SCCP is so organized and has the
capacity to be able to facilitate the
prompt and accurate clearance and
settlement of securities transactions.
The proposed change will enhance the
clarity of NASDAQ OMX’s governance
documents by restating the various
documents comprising the Certificate as
a single document.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
SCCP does not believe that the
proposed rule change will result in any
burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act, as amended.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
6 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59460
(February 26, 2009), 74 FR 9841 (March 6, 2009)
(SR–NASDAQ–2009–010, SR–BX–2009–009, SR–
Phlx–2009–14); Securities Exchange Act Release
No. 59496 (March 3, 2009), 74 FR 10626 (March 11,
2009) (SR–BSECC–2009–01); Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 59494 (March 3, 2009), 74 FR
10642 (March 11, 2009) (SR–SCCP–2009–01).
7 15 U.S.C. 78q–1.
8 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(A).
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20771-20773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10287]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-59825; File No. SR-NYSEAmex-2009-15]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change by NYSE Amex LLC Amending Rule 935NY--Order Exposure
Requirements
April 27, 2009.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that, on April 21, 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 and II
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its rules governing order exposure
requirements on the NYSE Amex System. This proposal will revise Rule
935NY. The text \4\ 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 https://www.nyse.com, at the Exchange's principal
office and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Exchange requested that the Commission correct a
typographical error in this sentence. Telephone conversation between
Glenn Gsell, Managing Director, NYSE Amex, and Kristie Diemer,
Special Counsel, Commission, on April 27, 2009.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 the proposed rule change is to reduce the exposure
period contained in Rule 935NY--Order Exposure Requirements, from three
seconds to one second.
Rule 935NY provides that with respect to orders routed to the NYSE
Amex System, Users may not execute as principal orders they represent
as agent unless (i) agency orders are first exposed on the Exchange for
at least three (3) seconds or (ii) the User has been bidding or
offering on the Exchange for at least three (3) seconds prior to
receiving an agency order that is executable against such bid or offer.
Specifically, order entry firms may not execute as principal,
orders they represent as agent unless; [sic] (i) the agency order has
first exposed on the NYSE Amex System for at least three seconds; [sic]
(ii) the order entry firm has been bidding or offering for at least
three seconds prior to receiving the agency order that is executable
against such bid or offer. During this three-second exposure period,
other market participants may enter orders to trade against the exposed
order. Under this proposal, the exposure periods contained in Rule
935NY would be reduced to one second.
The Exchange notes that the existing three-second order exposure
period contained in Rule 935NY, is not necessarily long enough to allow
human interaction with the exposed orders. Rather, market participants
on NYSE Amex are sufficiently automated that they can react to these
orders electronically. In this context, NYSE Amex believes it would be
in all market participants' best interest to minimize the exposure
period to a time frame that continues to allow adequate time for market
participants to electronically respond, while at the same time reducing
any market risk associated with the longer exposure period. In this
respect, the Exchange states that its experience with the three-second
exposure time period indicates that one second would provide an
adequate response time.\5\ Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe
it is necessary or beneficial to the orders being exposed to continue
to subject
[[Page 20772]]
them to market risk for a full three seconds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ There are numerous market participants on NYSE Amex that
have the capability and already opt to respond within the first one
second of the present three-second exposure period, currently in
force for the NYSE Amex System.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since NYSE Amex market participants have the ability [sic] react to
these orders electronically, and regularly do so in less than one
second, the Exchange believes that reducing the time period to one
second will continue to afford sufficient time to ensure effective
interaction with orders. At the same time, NYSE Amex believes that
reducing the time period to one second will allow it to provide
investors and other market participants with more timely executions,
thereby reducing market risk.
A shortened exposure period would be fully consistent with the
electronic nature of the NYSE Amex System. In order to substantiate
that market participants on NYSE Amex would not be disadvantaged by a
reduced exposure period, the Exchange conducted a survey of Amex
Trading Permit Holders (``ATP Holders'') to find out whether they had
the systems capability available that would allow them to respond in a
meaningful way within the proposed timeframe.\6\ The Exchange surveyed
48 member firms, representing 132 ATP Holders, all of whom regularly
access the Exchange on an electronic basis,\7\ regarding the proposed
change to Rule 935NY, specifically the Exchange asked; 1. ``What is the
approximate turnaround time for your firm to take in, process and
respond to trading interest posted on NYSE Amex Options?'' and 2. ``Do
you foresee any problems if NYSE Amex Options reduces the exposure time
from three seconds to one second?'' Of the 6 different member firms
that responded to the Exchange's survey, four indicated that their
response time was less than one second, one declined to comment as to
their response time while the sixth said that they were not exactly
sure of their response time. None of the responding ATP Firms
anticipated any problems related to order processing if the Exchange
was to reduce the exposure period to one second. In addition, none of
the responding ATP Holders indicated to the Exchange that they were
opposed to the reduced exposure period.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ NYSE Amex introduced a new trading system on March 1, 2009.
In order to allow sufficient time for ATP Holders to evaluate the
new system, the Exchange requested ATP Holders respond to the survey
by April 1, 2009.
\7\ Collectively, these 132 ATP Holders participated in excess
of 90% of all electronic orders executed on the NYSE Amex System
during the month of March 2009. The remaining 10% of transactions
generally consisted of customer orders executed against other
customer orders, or orders executed by non-ATP Holder Broker
Dealers. The Exchange did not survey ATP Holders who act as Floor
Brokers and transact business strictly on a manual basis.
\8\ One respondent did indicate that it ``might be hard to
respond that rapidly'' when asked about the proposed one-second
exposure period, but then went on to state that they felt the
Exchange should make the change in order to match other options
Exchanges (rules).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on the findings of the survey, the Exchange believes that the
proposed exposure period will continue to provide sufficient time for
market participants to respond, and compete for orders, while also
reducing some of the risks associated with a prolonged exposure period.
2. Statutory Basis
NYSE Amex believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act \9\ in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \10\ in particular, because it is designed
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in
securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and a national market system. In particular, the
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will provide investors
with more timely execution of their options orders, while ensuring that
there is an adequate exposure of all orders on NYSE Amex.
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\10\ 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
Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve the proposed rule change, or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.
The Exchange has requested accelerated approval of this proposed
rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of the
notice in the Federal Register. The Commission is considering granting
accelerated approval of the proposed rule change at the end of a 15-day
comment period.
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 (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEAmex-2009-15 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-2009-15. 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 (https://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 Section, 100 F Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090 on official business days between the
hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing will also be available
for inspection and copying at NYSE Amex's principal office. All
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does
[[Page 20773]]
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-2009-15 and should
be submitted on or before May 20, 2009.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-10287 Filed 5-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P