Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Routing to an Affiliated Exchange, 51861-51863 [2010-20820]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Notices
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 No.
SR–NASDAQ–2010–101. 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 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
NASDAQ. 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 No. SR–NASDAQ–
2010–101 and should be submitted on
or before September 13, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.6
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–20818 Filed 8–20–10; 8:45 am]
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–62736; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2010–100]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change
Regarding Routing to an Affiliated
Exchange
August 17, 2010.
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 August 6,
2010, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
(‘‘NASDAQ’’ 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 Exchange. 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
NASDAQ is proposing a rule change
to amend Rule 4751 to modify the
restriction on routing of Directed Orders
to a facility of an exchange that is an
affiliate of NASDAQ. The text of the
proposed rule change is available from
NASDAQ’s Web site at https://
nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
NASDAQ’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,
NASDAQ included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for,
the proposed rule change. The text of
these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item III below,
and is set forth in Sections A, B, and C
below.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
(‘‘NASDAQ OMX’’), a Delaware
corporation, owns three U.S. registered
securities exchanges—NASDAQ,
NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (‘‘PHLX’’)
and NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’). In
addition, NASDAQ OMX currently
1 15
6 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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2 17
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
Frm 00114
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51861
indirectly owns Nasdaq Execution
Services, LLC (‘‘NES’’), a registered
broker-dealer and a member of PHLX.
Thus, NES is an affiliate of each of
NASDAQ, PHLX and BX.
PHLX has proposed to launch
NASDAQ OMX PSX (‘‘PSX’’) 3 as a new
platform for trading NMS stocks (as
defined in Rule 600 under Regulation
NMS).4 Although PSX will not route to
other market centers, PSX will receive
orders routed to it by other market
centers, including NASDAQ. In this
respect, PSX will be similar to the
NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System,
which does not currently route orders to
other venues.
NES is the approved outbound
routing facility of NASDAQ for cash
equities, providing outbound routing
from NASDAQ to other market centers.
NES does not provide inbound routing
to NASDAQ. The acquisition of NES by
NASDAQ OMX was approved by the
Commission in 2004 and 2005 5 and the
rules under which NES currently routes
orders from NASDAQ to other market
centers were approved initially by the
Commission in 2006 and have been
amended on numerous occasions since
then.6 Rules 4751 and 4758 establish the
conditions under which NASDAQ is
permitted to own and operate NES in its
3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62519 (July
16, 2010), 75 FR 43497 (July 26, 2010) (SR–PHLX–
2010–79) (‘‘PSX Proposal’’).
4 17 CFR 242.600.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 50311
(September 3, 2004), 69 FR 54818 (September 10,
2004) (Order Granting Application for a Temporary
Conditional Exemption Pursuant To Section 36(a)
of the Exchange Act by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Relating to the Acquisition
of an ECN by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.) and
52902 (December 7, 2005), 70 FR 73810 (December
13, 2005) (SR–NASD–2005–128) (Order Approving
a Proposed Rule Change To Establish Rules
Governing the Operation of the INET System).
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 61682
(March 10, 2010), 75 FR 12592 (March 16, 2010)
(SR–NASDAQ–2010–030); 61460 (February 1, 2010,
75 FR 6077 (February 5, 2010) (SR–NASDAQ–
2010–018); 60570 (August 26, 2009), 74 FR 45504
(September 2, 2009) (SR–NASDAQ–2009–079);
60039 (June 3, 2009), 74 FR 27365 (June 9, 2009)
(SR–NASDAQ–2009–050); 59875 (May 6, 2009), 74
FR 22794 (May 14, 2009) (SR–NASDAQ–2009–043);
59807 (April 21, 2009), 74 FR 19251 (April 28,
2009) (SR–NASDAQ–2009–036); 59153 (December
23, 2008), 73 FR 80485 (December 31, 2008) (SR–
NASDAQ–2008–098); 58752 (October 8, 2008), 73
FR 61181 (October 15, 2008) (SR–NASDAQ–2008–
079); 58135 (July 10, 2008), 73 FR 40898 (July 16,
2008) (SR–NASDAQ–2008–061); 58069 (June 30,
2008), 73 FR 39360 (July 9, 2008) (SR–NASDAQ–
2008–054); 56708 (October 26, 2007), 72 FR 61925
(November 1, 2007) (SR–NASDAQ–2007–078);
56867 (November 29, 2007), 72 FR 69263
(December 7, 2007) (SR–NASDAQ–2007–065);
55335 (February 23, 2007), 72 FR 9369 (March 1,
2007) (SR–NASDAQ–2007–005); 54613 (October 17,
2006), 71 FR 62325 (October 24, 2006) (SR–
NASDAQ 2006–043); 54271 (August 3, 2006), 71 FR
45876 (August 10, 2006) (SR–NASDAQ–2006–027);
and 54155 (July 14, 2006), 71 FR 41291 (July 20,
2006) (SR–NASDAQ–2006–001).
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Notices
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capacity as a facility of NASDAQ that
routes orders from NASDAQ to other
market centers. The conditions include
requirements that: (1) NES is operated
as a facility of NASDAQ; (2) NES will
not engage in any business other than:
(i) as an outbound router for NASDAQ
and (ii) any other activities it may
engage in as approved by the
Commission; (3) for purposes of
Commission Rule 17d–1, the designated
examining authority of NES is a selfregulatory organization unaffiliated with
NASDAQ; (4) use of NES to route orders
to other market centers is optional; 7 and
(5) NASDAQ will not route orders to an
affiliated exchange, such as PHLX,
unless they check the NASDAQ book
prior to routing.
The Commission has approved NES’s
affiliation with PHLX subject to the
conditions that: (1) NES remains a
facility of NASDAQ; (2) use of NES’s
routing function by NASDAQ members
continues to be optional; (3) NES does
not provide routing of orders to PHLX
or any trading facilities thereof, unless
such orders first attempt to access any
liquidity on the NASDAQ book; and (4)
for purposes of Commission Rule 17d–
1, the designated examining authority of
NES is a self-regulatory organization
unaffiliated with NASDAQ.8
NASDAQ is proposing that, upon the
resumption of cash equity trading by
PHLX, NES, in its operation as a facility
of NASDAQ, be permitted to route all
orders, including Directed Orders, to
PSX without checking the NASDAQ
book prior to routing. Directed Orders
are orders that route directly to other
exchanges on an immediate-or-cancel
basis without first checking the
NASDAQ book for liquidity.9 In order to
modify the conditions regarding the
operation of NES and allow NES to
route Directed Orders to PSX, NASDAQ
is proposing to modify the restriction in
Rule 4751(f)(9) that prohibits the routing
of Directed Orders to a facility of an
exchange that is an affiliate of
NASDAQ. Under the proposed rule
change, inbound routing of Directed
7 Because only NASDAQ members may enter
orders into NASDAQ, it also follows that routing by
NES is available only to NASDAQ members.
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58179
(July 17, 2008), 73 FR 42874 (July 23, 2008) (SR–
Phlx–2008–31).
9 Rules 4751 and 4755 provide for routing of
‘‘directed orders’’ to automated market centers other
than NASDAQ on an ‘‘immediate-or-cancel’’ basis.
Such directed orders may be designated as
intermarket sweep orders (‘‘ISOs’’), which may be
executed by the receiving venue based on the
representation of the market participant that it has
routed to all superior protected quotations, or not
so designated, in which case the orders will execute
only if their execution would not result in a tradethrough.
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15:31 Aug 20, 2010
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Orders to the NASDAQ OMX PSX
facility of PHLX would be permitted.
The Commission has previously noted
concerns about potential informational
advantages and conflicts of interest
between an exchange’s self-regulatory
obligations and its commercial interest
when the exchange is affiliated with one
of its members.10 In order to address the
concerns identified by the Commission
regarding the potential for informational
`
advantages favoring NES vis-a-vis other
non-affiliated members of BX, NASDAQ
previously adopted Rule 4758(b)(8) to
provide that NES shall establish and
maintain procedures and internal
controls reasonably designed to
adequately restrict the flow of
confidential and proprietary
information between NASDAQ and its
facilities (including NES) and any other
entity (including PHLX).11
In connection with the proposed
launch of PSX, PHLX has proposed a
new rule and made certain undertakings
intended to manage the flow of
confidential and proprietary
information between NES and PHLX
and to minimize potential conflicts of
interest.12 PHLX’s proposed Rule
985(c)(2) will provide:
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., which
owns Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC and
the Exchange, shall establish and maintain
procedures and internal controls reasonably
designed to ensure that Nasdaq Execution
Services, LLC does not develop or implement
changes to its system on the basis of nonpublic information regarding planned
changes to the Exchange’s systems, obtained
as a result of its affiliation with the Exchange,
until such information is available generally
to similarly situated exchange members in
connection with the provision of inbound
routing to the Exchange.
Pursuant to the new rule, PHLX has
proposed to allow PSX to receive
inbound routed orders for a twelvemonth pilot period.
2. Statutory Basis
NASDAQ believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
provisions of Section 6 of the Act,13 in
general, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,14 in particular, in that the proposal
is designed to prevent fraudulent and
10 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
59153 (December 23, 2008), 73 FR 80485 (December
31, 2008) (SR–NASDAQ–2008–098) (‘‘BX Order’’);
58681 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 58285 (October
6, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca-2008–90) (‘‘NYSE Arca
Order’’); 58680 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 58283
(October 6, 2008) (SR–NYSE–2008–76) (‘‘NYSE
Order’’); 58673 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 57707
(October 3, 2008) (SR–Amex–2008–62) (‘‘NYSE
Alternext US Order’’).
11 BX Order, supra n. 10.
12 PSX Proposal, supra n. 3.
13 15 U.S.C. 78f.
14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
PO 00000
Frm 00115
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manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, 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. The proposed rule
change would permit inbound routing
of Directed Orders and other orders to
PHLX from its affiliate NES while
minimizing the potential for conflicts of
interest and informational advantages
involved where a member firm is
affiliated with an exchange to which it
is routing orders.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
NASDAQ 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
Written comments were neither
solicited nor 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 Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 15 and Rule
19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.16
At any time within the 60-day period
beginning on the date 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.
15 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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. The Exchange has satisfied this
requirement.
16 17
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Notices
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
51863
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.17
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
(‘‘Index’’). The Index is designed to
represent micro-sized companies and is
Interested persons are invited to
a subset of the Wilshire 5000 Total
submit written data, views, and
Market IndexSM (the ‘‘Wilshire 5000’’).
arguments concerning the foregoing,
The Index represents a float-adjusted,
including whether the proposed rule
market capitalization-weighted index of
[FR Doc. 2010–20820 Filed 8–20–10; 8:45 am]
change is consistent with the Act.
the issues ranked below 2500 by market
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
Comments may be submitted by any of
capitalization of the Wilshire 5000. As
the following methods:
of March 31, 2010, the Index was
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
comprised of approximately 1,564
Electronic Comments
COMMISSION
securities of micro-capitalization
companies.
• Use the Commission’s Internet
[Release No. 34–62737; File No. SR–
The Exchange represents that: (i)
NYSEArca–2010–64]
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
Except for Commentaries .01(a)(A)(1) 6
rules/sro.shtml); or
and .01(a)(A)(5) 7 to NYSE Arca Equities
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
• Send an e-mail to ruleRule 5.2(j)(3), the Shares of the Fund
Arca, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed
comments@sec.gov. Please include File
currently satisfy all of the other generic
Rule Change Relating to Listing of the
Number SR–NASDAQ–2010–100 on the Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF
listing standards under NYSE Arca
subject line.
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3); (ii) the continued
August 17, 2010.
listing standards under NYSE Arca
Paper Comments
Equities Rules 5.2(j)(3) and 5.5(g)(2)
I. Introduction
applicable to Units shall apply to the
• Send paper comments in triplicate
On July 1, 2010, NYSE Arca, Inc.
Shares; and (iii) the Trust is required to
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
(‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
comply with Rule 10A–3 8 under the
Securities and Exchange Commission,
the Securities and Exchange
Act for the initial and continued listing
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) pursuant
of the Shares. Additionally, the
20549–1090.
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange represents that the Shares will
1 and Rule
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’)
All submissions should refer to File
comply with all other requirements
2 a proposed rule
19b–4 thereunder,
Number SR–NASDAQ–2010–100. This
applicable to Units including, but not
change to list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’)
file number should be included on the
limited to, requirements relating to the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the of the Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF. The
dissemination of key information such
proposed rule change was published for
Commission process and review your
as the value of the Index and Intraday
comment in the Federal Register on July
comments more efficiently, please use
Indicative Value, rules governing the
3 The Commission received no
15, 2010.
trading of equity securities, trading
only one method. The Commission will
comment letters on the proposed rule
hours, trading halts, surveillance, and
post all comments on the Commission’s
change. This order approves the
Information Bulletin to ETP Holders, as
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
proposed rule change.
set forth in Exchange rules applicable to
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
Units and prior Commission orders
II. Description of the Proposed Rule
submission, all subsequent
approving the generic listing rules
Change
amendments, all written statements
applicable to the listing and trading of
with respect to the proposed rule
The Exchange proposes to list and
Units.9
change that are filed with the
trade the Shares of the Wilshire Micro4 under NYSE
Commission, and all written
Cap ETF (the ‘‘Fund’’)
6 Commentary .01(a)(A)(1) to NYSE Arca Equities
communications relating to the
Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3), the
Rule 5.2(j)(3) provides that component stocks
Exchange’s listing standards for
proposed rule change between the
(excluding Units and securities defined in Section
Commission and any person, other than Investment Company Units (‘‘Units’’).5
2 of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8, collectively,
‘‘Derivative Securities Products’’) that in the
The Fund is a series of the Claymore
those that may be withheld from the
aggregate account for at least 90% of the weight of
Exchange-Traded Fund Trust.
public in accordance with the
the index or portfolio (excluding such Derivative
The Fund seeks investment results
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
Securities Products) each shall have a minimum
that correspond generally to the
market value of at least $75 million. The Exchange
available for Web site viewing and
has represented that, as of April 21, 2010, 76.93%
performance, before fees and expenses,
printing in the Commission’s Public
of the weight of the Index components had a market
of the Wilshire US Micro-Cap Index SM
Reference Room, on official business
capitalization greater than $75 million.
7 Commentary .01(a)(A)(5) to NYSE Arca Equities
days between the hours of 10 a.m. and
17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Rule 5.2(j)(3) provides that all securities in the
3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
index or portfolio shall be US Component Stocks
available for inspection and copying at
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
listed on a national securities exchange and shall
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62471
the principal office of the Exchange. All
be NMS Stocks as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation
(July 8, 2010), 75 FR 41252 (‘‘Notice’’).
NMS under the Act. The Exchange has represented
comments received will be posted
4 See the Claymore Exchange-Traded Fund
that, as of April 21, 2010, 201 of approximately
without change; the Commission does
1,564 components in the Index, accounting for
Trust’s registration statement on Form N–1A, dated
not edit personal identifying
approximately 12.8% of the total stocks in the
May 18, 2010 (File Nos. 333–134551; 811–21906)
Index and approximately 3.7% of the Index weight,
information from submissions. You
(‘‘Registration Statement’’).
were non-NMS stocks that trade either on the OTC
5 An Investment Company Unit is a security that
should submit only information that
Bulletin Board or the Pink OTC Markets.
you wish to make available publicly. All represents an interest in a registered investment
8 17 CFR 240.10A–3.
company that holds securities comprising, or
submissions should refer to File
9 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
otherwise based on or representing an interest in,
Number SR–NASDAQ–2010–100 and
44551 (July 12, 2001), 66 FR 37716 (July 19, 2001)
an index or portfolio of securities (or holds
(SR–PCX–2001–14) (order approving generic listing
securities in another registered investment
should be submitted on or before
standards for Units and Portfolio Depositary
company that holds securities comprising, or
September 13, 2010.
Receipts); and 41983 (October 6, 1999), 64 FR 56008
otherwise based on or representing an interest in,
an index or portfolio of securities). See NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3)(A).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:31 Aug 20, 2010
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Sfmt 4703
(October 15, 1999) (SR–PCX–98–29) (order
approving rules for listing and trading of Units).
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51861-51863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20820]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-62736; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2010-100]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC;
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Routing to an
Affiliated Exchange
August 17, 2010.
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 August 6, 2010, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'' 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 Exchange. 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\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
NASDAQ is proposing a rule change to amend Rule 4751 to modify the
restriction on routing of Directed Orders to a facility of an exchange
that is an affiliate of NASDAQ. The text of the proposed rule change is
available from NASDAQ's Web site at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
NASDAQ'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, NASDAQ included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item III below, and is set forth in Sections A, B, and C below.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (``NASDAQ OMX''), a Delaware
corporation, owns three U.S. registered securities exchanges--NASDAQ,
NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. (``PHLX'') and NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``BX''). In
addition, NASDAQ OMX currently indirectly owns Nasdaq Execution
Services, LLC (``NES''), a registered broker-dealer and a member of
PHLX. Thus, NES is an affiliate of each of NASDAQ, PHLX and BX.
PHLX has proposed to launch NASDAQ OMX PSX (``PSX'') \3\ as a new
platform for trading NMS stocks (as defined in Rule 600 under
Regulation NMS).\4\ Although PSX will not route to other market
centers, PSX will receive orders routed to it by other market centers,
including NASDAQ. In this respect, PSX will be similar to the NASDAQ
OMX BX Equities System, which does not currently route orders to other
venues.
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\3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62519 (July 16, 2010),
75 FR 43497 (July 26, 2010) (SR-PHLX-2010-79) (``PSX Proposal'').
\4\ 17 CFR 242.600.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NES is the approved outbound routing facility of NASDAQ for cash
equities, providing outbound routing from NASDAQ to other market
centers. NES does not provide inbound routing to NASDAQ. The
acquisition of NES by NASDAQ OMX was approved by the Commission in 2004
and 2005 \5\ and the rules under which NES currently routes orders from
NASDAQ to other market centers were approved initially by the
Commission in 2006 and have been amended on numerous occasions since
then.\6\ Rules 4751 and 4758 establish the conditions under which
NASDAQ is permitted to own and operate NES in its
[[Page 51862]]
capacity as a facility of NASDAQ that routes orders from NASDAQ to
other market centers. The conditions include requirements that: (1) NES
is operated as a facility of NASDAQ; (2) NES will not engage in any
business other than: (i) as an outbound router for NASDAQ and (ii) any
other activities it may engage in as approved by the Commission; (3)
for purposes of Commission Rule 17d-1, the designated examining
authority of NES is a self-regulatory organization unaffiliated with
NASDAQ; (4) use of NES to route orders to other market centers is
optional; \7\ and (5) NASDAQ will not route orders to an affiliated
exchange, such as PHLX, unless they check the NASDAQ book prior to
routing.
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\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 50311 (September 3,
2004), 69 FR 54818 (September 10, 2004) (Order Granting Application
for a Temporary Conditional Exemption Pursuant To Section 36(a) of
the Exchange Act by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Relating to the Acquisition of an ECN by The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc.) and 52902 (December 7, 2005), 70 FR 73810 (December
13, 2005) (SR-NASD-2005-128) (Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change
To Establish Rules Governing the Operation of the INET System).
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 61682 (March 10,
2010), 75 FR 12592 (March 16, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-030); 61460
(February 1, 2010, 75 FR 6077 (February 5, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-
018); 60570 (August 26, 2009), 74 FR 45504 (September 2, 2009) (SR-
NASDAQ-2009-079); 60039 (June 3, 2009), 74 FR 27365 (June 9, 2009)
(SR-NASDAQ-2009-050); 59875 (May 6, 2009), 74 FR 22794 (May 14,
2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-043); 59807 (April 21, 2009), 74 FR 19251
(April 28, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-036); 59153 (December 23, 2008), 73
FR 80485 (December 31, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-098); 58752 (October 8,
2008), 73 FR 61181 (October 15, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-079); 58135
(July 10, 2008), 73 FR 40898 (July 16, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-061);
58069 (June 30, 2008), 73 FR 39360 (July 9, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-
054); 56708 (October 26, 2007), 72 FR 61925 (November 1, 2007) (SR-
NASDAQ-2007-078); 56867 (November 29, 2007), 72 FR 69263 (December
7, 2007) (SR-NASDAQ-2007-065); 55335 (February 23, 2007), 72 FR 9369
(March 1, 2007) (SR-NASDAQ-2007-005); 54613 (October 17, 2006), 71
FR 62325 (October 24, 2006) (SR-NASDAQ 2006-043); 54271 (August 3,
2006), 71 FR 45876 (August 10, 2006) (SR-NASDAQ-2006-027); and 54155
(July 14, 2006), 71 FR 41291 (July 20, 2006) (SR-NASDAQ-2006-001).
\7\ Because only NASDAQ members may enter orders into NASDAQ, it
also follows that routing by NES is available only to NASDAQ
members.
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The Commission has approved NES's affiliation with PHLX subject to
the conditions that: (1) NES remains a facility of NASDAQ; (2) use of
NES's routing function by NASDAQ members continues to be optional; (3)
NES does not provide routing of orders to PHLX or any trading
facilities thereof, unless such orders first attempt to access any
liquidity on the NASDAQ book; and (4) for purposes of Commission Rule
17d-1, the designated examining authority of NES is a self-regulatory
organization unaffiliated with NASDAQ.\8\
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\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58179 (July 17,
2008), 73 FR 42874 (July 23, 2008) (SR-Phlx-2008-31).
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NASDAQ is proposing that, upon the resumption of cash equity
trading by PHLX, NES, in its operation as a facility of NASDAQ, be
permitted to route all orders, including Directed Orders, to PSX
without checking the NASDAQ book prior to routing. Directed Orders are
orders that route directly to other exchanges on an immediate-or-cancel
basis without first checking the NASDAQ book for liquidity.\9\ In order
to modify the conditions regarding the operation of NES and allow NES
to route Directed Orders to PSX, NASDAQ is proposing to modify the
restriction in Rule 4751(f)(9) that prohibits the routing of Directed
Orders to a facility of an exchange that is an affiliate of NASDAQ.
Under the proposed rule change, inbound routing of Directed Orders to
the NASDAQ OMX PSX facility of PHLX would be permitted.
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\9\ Rules 4751 and 4755 provide for routing of ``directed
orders'' to automated market centers other than NASDAQ on an
``immediate-or-cancel'' basis. Such directed orders may be
designated as intermarket sweep orders (``ISOs''), which may be
executed by the receiving venue based on the representation of the
market participant that it has routed to all superior protected
quotations, or not so designated, in which case the orders will
execute only if their execution would not result in a trade-through.
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The Commission has previously noted concerns about potential
informational advantages and conflicts of interest between an
exchange's self-regulatory obligations and its commercial interest when
the exchange is affiliated with one of its members.\10\ In order to
address the concerns identified by the Commission regarding the
potential for informational advantages favoring NES vis-[agrave]-vis
other non-affiliated members of BX, NASDAQ previously adopted Rule
4758(b)(8) to provide that NES shall establish and maintain procedures
and internal controls reasonably designed to adequately restrict the
flow of confidential and proprietary information between NASDAQ and its
facilities (including NES) and any other entity (including PHLX).\11\
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\10\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 59153
(December 23, 2008), 73 FR 80485 (December 31, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-
2008-098) (``BX Order''); 58681 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 58285
(October 6, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-90) (``NYSE Arca Order''); 58680
(September 29, 2008), 73 FR 58283 (October 6, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-
76) (``NYSE Order''); 58673 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 57707
(October 3, 2008) (SR-Amex-2008-62) (``NYSE Alternext US Order'').
\11\ BX Order, supra n. 10.
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In connection with the proposed launch of PSX, PHLX has proposed a
new rule and made certain undertakings intended to manage the flow of
confidential and proprietary information between NES and PHLX and to
minimize potential conflicts of interest.\12\ PHLX's proposed Rule
985(c)(2) will provide:
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\12\ PSX Proposal, supra n. 3.
The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., which owns Nasdaq Execution
Services, LLC and the Exchange, shall establish and maintain
procedures and internal controls reasonably designed to ensure that
Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC does not develop or implement changes
to its system on the basis of non-public information regarding
planned changes to the Exchange's systems, obtained as a result of
its affiliation with the Exchange, until such information is
available generally to similarly situated exchange members in
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connection with the provision of inbound routing to the Exchange.
Pursuant to the new rule, PHLX has proposed to allow PSX to receive
inbound routed orders for a twelve-month pilot period.
2. Statutory Basis
NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\13\ in general, and with
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ in particular, in that the proposal 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 regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating
transactions in securities, 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. The proposed
rule change would permit inbound routing of Directed Orders and other
orders to PHLX from its affiliate NES while minimizing the potential
for conflicts of interest and informational advantages involved where a
member firm is affiliated with an exchange to which it is routing
orders.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
NASDAQ 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
Written comments were neither solicited nor 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 Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \15\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\16\
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\16\ 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.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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At any time within the 60-day period beginning on the date 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.
[[Page 51863]]
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-NASDAQ-2010-100 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-NASDAQ-2010-100. 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 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. 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-NASDAQ-2010-100 and should be submitted on or before
September 13, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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\17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-20820 Filed 8-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P