Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Routing Fees to C2, 70782-70784 [2011-29441]

Download as PDF 70782 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 15, 2011 / Notices companies and initial public offerings and securities regulation involving smaller public companies. Members of the public may attend the forum without charge. The Commissioner remarks and panel discussions will be webcast from the SEC’s Web site. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Visitors will be subject to security checks. For further information, please contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 551–5400. Dated: November 10, 2011. Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–29622 Filed 11–10–11; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that the Securities and Exchange Commission will hold a Closed Meeting on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 2 p.m. Commissioners, Counsel to the Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, and recording secretaries will attend the Closed Meeting. Certain staff members who have an interest in the matters also may be present. The General Counsel of the Commission, or his designee, has certified that, in his opinion, one or more of the exemptions set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), (9)(B) and (10) and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (5), (7), (9)(ii) and (10) permit consideration of the scheduled matters at the Closed Meeting. Commissioner Walter, as duty officer, voted to consider the items listed for the Closed Meeting in a closed session. The subject matter of the Closed Meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 17, 2011 will be: Institution and settlement of injunctive actions; Institution and settlement of administrative proceedings; An adjucatory matter; and Other matters relating to enforcement proceedings. At times, changes in Commission priorities require alterations in the scheduling of meeting items. For further information and to ascertain what, if any, matters have been added, deleted or postponed, please contact: The Office of the Secretary at (202) 551–5400. Dated: November 10, 2011. Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–29623 Filed 11–10–11; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P [Release No. 34–65711; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2011–148] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Routing Fees to C2 November 8, 2011. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 The Exchange proposes to modify Rule 7050 governing pricing for NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), NASDAQ’s facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index options. The text of the proposed rule change is set forth below. Proposed new text is in italics and deleted text is in [brackets]. * * * * * The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution and routing services of the NASDAQ Options Market for all securities. * * * * * (4) Fees for routing contracts to markets other than the NASDAQ Options Market shall be assessed as provided below. The current fees and a historical record of applicable fees shall be posted on the NasdaqTrader.com Web site. Customer BATS ................................................................................................................................ BOX ................................................................................................................................. CBOE ............................................................................................................................... CBOE orders greater than 99 contracts in NDX, MNX ETFs, ETNs & HOLDRs ........... C2 .................................................................................................................................... ISE ................................................................................................................................... ISE Select Symbols * ....................................................................................................... NYSE Arca Penny Pilot ................................................................................................... NYSE Arca Non Penny Pilot ........................................................................................... NYSE AMEX .................................................................................................................... PHLX (for all options other than PHLX Select Symbols) ................................................ PHLX Select Symbols ** .................................................................................................. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change 7050. NASDAQ Options Market SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Exchange (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on November 1, 2011, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. $0.36 $0.06 $0.06 $0.24 $0.[31]50 $0.06 $0.18 $0.50 $0.06 $0.06 $0.06 $0.30 Firm $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 MM $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 $0.55 Professional $0.36 $0.06 $0.26 $0.26 $0.[46]51 $0.24 $0.34 $0.50 $0.06 $0.26 $0.26 $0.46 * These fees are applicable to orders routed to ISE that are subject to Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols. See ISE’s Schedule of Fees for the complete list of symbols that are subject to these fees. ** These fees are applicable to orders routed to PHLX that are subject to Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols. See PHLX’s Fee Schedule for the complete list of symbols that are subject to these fees. * * 1 15 * * * The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:06 Nov 14, 2011 2 17 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 at https://www.nasdaq.cchwall street.com, at the principal office of the CFR 240.19b–4. Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15NON1.SGM 15NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 15, 2011 / Notices 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 these 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 aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1. Purpose NASDAQ is proposing to modify Rule 7050 governing fees assessed for option orders entered into NOM but routed to and executed on away markets (‘‘Routing Fees’’). Specifically, NASDAQ is proposing to amend Customer and Professional Routing Fees for orders routed to the C2 Options Exchange, Inc. (‘‘C2’’). The Exchange currently assesses the following Routing Fees to route orders to C2: A Customer is assessed $0.31 per contract; a Firm is assessed $0.55 per contract; a Market Maker is assessed $0.55 per contract; and a Professional is assessed $0.46 per contract. The Exchange is proposing to amend the Customer Routing Fee to C2 from $0.31 per contract to $0.50 per contract and the Professional Routing Fee from $.33 [sic] to $.45 [sic] per contract. The other C2 Routing Fees for Firms and Market Makers would remain the same. C2 recently amended its Fees Schedule to increase its public customer taker fee from $.25 per contract to $.44 per contract and to increase its professional taker fee from $.33 per contract to $.45 per contract.3 The Exchange is proposing to amend its Customer and Professional Routing Fees to C2 to account for this increase. In addition, NASDAQ Options Services LLC (‘‘NOS’’), a member of the Exchange, is the Exchange’s exclusive order router. Each time NOS routes to away markets NOS is charged a $0.06 clearing fee and, in the case of certain exchanges, a transaction fee is also charged in certain symbols, which are passed through to the Exchange. The 3 See SR–C2–2011–032. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:06 Nov 14, 2011 Jkt 226001 Exchange is proposing this amendment in order to recoup Customer 4 and Professional 5 clearing and transaction charges incurred by the Exchange when orders are routed to C2. 2. Statutory Basis NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,6 in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,7 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which NASDAQ operates or controls. The Exchange believes that these fees are reasonable because they seek to recoup costs that are incurred by the Exchange when routing Customer and Professional orders to C2 on behalf of its members. Each destination market’s transaction charge varies and there is a standard clearing charge for each transaction incurred by the Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed Routing Fees will enable the Exchange to recover the public customer and professional transaction fees assessed by C2, plus clearing fees for the execution of Customer and Professional orders. The Exchange also believes that the proposed Routing Fees are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because they will be uniformly applied to all Customers and Professionals. NASDAQ is one of nine options market in the national market system for standardized options. Joining NASDAQ and electing to trade options is entirely voluntary. Under these circumstances, NASDAQ’s fees must be competitive and low in order for NASDAQ to attract order flow, execute orders, and grow as a market. NASDAQ thus believes that its fees are fair and reasonable and consistent with the Exchange Act. 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. 4 The Exchange is proposing to recoup the $.44 per contract public customer transaction fee for orders routed to C2 along with the $0.06 clearing fee which is incurred by the Exchange, as explained above. See C2 Fees Schedule. 5 The Exchange is proposing to recoup the $.45 per contract professional transaction fee for orders routed to C2 along with the $0.06 clearing fee which is incurred by the Exchange, as explained above. See C2 Fees Schedule. 6 15 U.S.C. 78f. 7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70783 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 The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act 8 and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 9 thereunder. 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 (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–NASDAQ–2011–148 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–2011–148. This file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 8 15 9 17 E:\FR\FM\15NON1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2). 15NON1 70784 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 15, 2011 / Notices 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 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–2011–148 and should be submitted on or before December 6, 2011. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.10 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–29441 Filed 11–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify NASDAQ’s Investor Support Program, Offer an Additional Liquidity Provider Credit Through a Pre-Market Investor Program, and Make Other Changes to Pricing for Members Using the NASDAQ Market Center mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES November 9, 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 November 1, 2011, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’) 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 by NASDAQ. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:06 Nov 14, 2011 Jkt 226001 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 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. NASDAQ 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change [Release No. 34–65717; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2011–150] 10 17 I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change NASDAQ proposes to modify its Investor Support Program, offer an additional liquidity provider credit through a pre-market investor program, and make other changes to pricing for NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Market Center. NASDAQ will implement the proposed change on November 1, 2011. The text of the proposed rule change is available at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/, at NASDAQ’s principal office, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 1. Purpose The Investor Support Program The Exchange is proposing changes to the credit provisions of Rule 7014 to modify the structure of its Investor Support Program. The ISP enables NASDAQ members to earn a monthly fee credit for providing additional liquidity to NASDAQ and increasing the NASDAQ-traded volume of what are generally considered to be retail and institutional investor orders in exchange-traded securities (‘‘targeted liquidity’’).3 The goal of the ISP is to incentivize members to provide such 3 For a detailed description of the Investor Support Program as originally implemented, see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63270 (November 8, 2010), 75 FR 69489 (November 12, 2010) (NASDAQ–2010–141) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness) (the ‘‘ISP Filing’’). See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 63414 (December 2, 2010), 75 FR 76505 (December 8, 2010) (NASDAQ–2010–153) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); 63628 (January 3, 2011), 76 FR 1201 (January 7, 2011) (NASDAQ–2010–154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); 63891 (February 11, 2011), 76 FR 9384 (February 17, 2011) (NASDAQ–2011–022) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); and 64050 (March 8, 2011), 76 FR 13694 (March 14, 2011) (SR– NASDAQ–2011–034). PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 targeted liquidity to the NASDAQ Market Center.4 The Exchange noted in the ISP Filing that maintaining and increasing the proportion of orders in exchange-listed securities executed on a registered exchange (rather than relying on any of the available off-exchange execution methods) would help raise investors’ confidence in the fairness of their transactions and would benefit all investors by deepening NASDAQ’s liquidity pool, supporting the quality of price discovery, promoting market transparency and improving investor protection. The Exchange now proposes modifications to the ISP designed to broaden participation by members with targeted liquidity and create a clearer incentive structure. First, NASDAQ is modifying the definition of ‘‘Baseline Participation Ratio’’ to allow a greater number of members to participate in the program. In general terms, the Baseline Participation Ratio is the ratio of shares of liquidity provided by the member in NASDAQ for the month of August 2010 to the total consolidated volume for that month. To the extent that a member’s participation in NASDAQ exceeds its Baseline Participation Ratio (i.e., to the extent that the member increases its participation in NASDAQ above August 2010 levels), the member may be eligible for the program.5 The current definition of Baseline Participation Ratio is ‘‘with respect to a member, such member’s Participation Ratio 6 for the 4 The Commission has recently expressed its concern that a significant percentage of the orders of individual investors are executed at over the counter (‘‘OTC’’) markets, that is, at off-exchange markets; and that a significant percentage of the orders of institutional investors are executed in dark pools. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61358 (January 14, 2010), 75 FR 3594 (January 21, 2010) (Concept Release on Equity Market Structure, ‘‘Concept Release’’). In the Concept Release, the Commission has recognized the strong policy preference under the Act in favor of price transparency and displayed markets. The Commission published the Concept Release to invite public comment on a wide range of market structure issues, including high frequency trading and un-displayed, or ‘‘dark,’’ liquidity. See also Mary L. Schapiro, Strengthening Our Equity Market Structure (Speech at the Economic Club of New York, Sept. 7, 2010) (‘‘Schapiro Speech,’’ available on the Commission Web site) (comments of Commission Chairman on what she viewed as a troubling trend of reduced participation in the equity markets by individual investors, and that nearly 30 percent of volume in U.S.-listed equities is executed in venues that do not display their liquidity or make it generally available to the public). 5 As discussed below, the ISP is being modified such that participation must equal or exceed past levels. 6 The term ‘‘Participation Ratio’’ is defined as: ‘‘for a given member in a given month, the ratio of (A) The number of shares of liquidity provided in orders entered by the member through any of its Nasdaq ports and executed in the Nasdaq Market Center during such month to (B) the Consolidated E:\FR\FM\15NON1.SGM 15NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70782-70784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29441]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-65711; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2011-148]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Routing Fees to C2

November 8, 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 November 1, 2011, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the 
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments 
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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

    The Exchange proposes to modify Rule 7050 governing pricing for 
NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Options Market (``NOM''), NASDAQ's 
facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index 
options.
    The text of the proposed rule change is set forth below. Proposed 
new text is in italics and deleted text is in [brackets].
* * * * *
7050. NASDAQ Options Market
    The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution 
and routing services of the NASDAQ Options Market for all securities.
* * * * *
    (4) Fees for routing contracts to markets other than the NASDAQ 
Options Market shall be assessed as provided below. The current fees 
and a historical record of applicable fees shall be posted on the 
NasdaqTrader.com Web site.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Exchange                             Customer       Firm          MM      Professional
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BATS.......................................................        $0.36        $0.55        $0.55         $0.36
BOX........................................................        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.06
CBOE.......................................................        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.26
CBOE orders greater than 99 contracts in NDX, MNX ETFs,            $0.24        $0.55        $0.55         $0.26
 ETNs & HOLDRs.............................................
C2.........................................................    $0.[31]50        $0.55        $0.55     $0.[46]51
ISE........................................................        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.24
ISE Select Symbols *.......................................        $0.18        $0.55        $0.55         $0.34
NYSE Arca Penny Pilot......................................        $0.50        $0.55        $0.55         $0.50
NYSE Arca Non Penny Pilot..................................        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.06
NYSE AMEX..................................................        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.26
PHLX (for all options other than PHLX Select Symbols)......        $0.06        $0.55        $0.55         $0.26
PHLX Select Symbols **.....................................        $0.30        $0.55        $0.55         $0.46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These fees are applicable to orders routed to ISE that are subject to Rebates and Fees for Adding and Removing
  Liquidity in Select Symbols. See ISE's Schedule of Fees for the complete list of symbols that are subject to
  these fees.
** These fees are applicable to orders routed to PHLX that are subject to Rebates and Fees for Adding and
  Removing Liquidity in Select Symbols. See PHLX's Fee Schedule for the complete list of symbols that are
  subject to these fees.

* * * * *
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at https://www.nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal 
office of the

[[Page 70783]]

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 these 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 aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    NASDAQ is proposing to modify Rule 7050 governing fees assessed for 
option orders entered into NOM but routed to and executed on away 
markets (``Routing Fees''). Specifically, NASDAQ is proposing to amend 
Customer and Professional Routing Fees for orders routed to the C2 
Options Exchange, Inc. (``C2'').
    The Exchange currently assesses the following Routing Fees to route 
orders to C2: A Customer is assessed $0.31 per contract; a Firm is 
assessed $0.55 per contract; a Market Maker is assessed $0.55 per 
contract; and a Professional is assessed $0.46 per contract. The 
Exchange is proposing to amend the Customer Routing Fee to C2 from 
$0.31 per contract to $0.50 per contract and the Professional Routing 
Fee from $.33 [sic] to $.45 [sic] per contract. The other C2 Routing 
Fees for Firms and Market Makers would remain the same.
    C2 recently amended its Fees Schedule to increase its public 
customer taker fee from $.25 per contract to $.44 per contract and to 
increase its professional taker fee from $.33 per contract to $.45 per 
contract.\3\ The Exchange is proposing to amend its Customer and 
Professional Routing Fees to C2 to account for this increase. In 
addition, NASDAQ Options Services LLC (``NOS''), a member of the 
Exchange, is the Exchange's exclusive order router. Each time NOS 
routes to away markets NOS is charged a $0.06 clearing fee and, in the 
case of certain exchanges, a transaction fee is also charged in certain 
symbols, which are passed through to the Exchange. The Exchange is 
proposing this amendment in order to recoup Customer \4\ and 
Professional \5\ clearing and transaction charges incurred by the 
Exchange when orders are routed to C2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See SR-C2-2011-032.
    \4\ The Exchange is proposing to recoup the $.44 per contract 
public customer transaction fee for orders routed to C2 along with 
the $0.06 clearing fee which is incurred by the Exchange, as 
explained above. See C2 Fees Schedule.
    \5\ The Exchange is proposing to recoup the $.45 per contract 
professional transaction fee for orders routed to C2 along with the 
$0.06 clearing fee which is incurred by the Exchange, as explained 
above. See C2 Fees Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent with 
the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\6\ in general, and with Section 
6(b)(4) of the Act,\7\ in particular, in that it provides for the 
equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among 
members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system 
which NASDAQ operates or controls.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that these fees are reasonable because they 
seek to recoup costs that are incurred by the Exchange when routing 
Customer and Professional orders to C2 on behalf of its members. Each 
destination market's transaction charge varies and there is a standard 
clearing charge for each transaction incurred by the Exchange. The 
Exchange believes that the proposed Routing Fees will enable the 
Exchange to recover the public customer and professional transaction 
fees assessed by C2, plus clearing fees for the execution of Customer 
and Professional orders. The Exchange also believes that the proposed 
Routing Fees are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because they 
will be uniformly applied to all Customers and Professionals.
    NASDAQ is one of nine options market in the national market system 
for standardized options. Joining NASDAQ and electing to trade options 
is entirely voluntary. Under these circumstances, NASDAQ's fees must be 
competitive and low in order for NASDAQ to attract order flow, execute 
orders, and grow as a market. NASDAQ thus believes that its fees are 
fair and reasonable and consistent with the Exchange Act.

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.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \8\ and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 \9\ 
thereunder. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NASDAQ-2011-148 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-2011-148. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email 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

[[Page 70784]]

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 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-2011-148 and should 
be submitted on or before December 6, 2011.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-29441 Filed 11-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.