Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify Pricing for BX Members Using the NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System, 26588-26590 [2012-10752]
Download as PDF
26588
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
PNC Alternative Strategies TEDI Fund
LLC [File No. 811–21817]
PNC Absolute Return TEDI Fund LLC
[File No. 811–21815]
PNC Long-Short TEDI Fund LLC [File
No. 811–21819]
Summary: Each applicant, a closedend investment company, seeks an
order declaring that it has ceased to be
an investment company. On December
23, 2011, December 27, 2011, and
December 28, 2011, respectively, each
applicant made a liquidating
distribution to its shareholders, based
on net asset value. Each applicant
incurred approximately $4,867, $4,740
and $4,470, respectively, in expenses in
connection with its liquidation.
Filing Dates: The applications were
filed on March 5, 2012, and amended on
April 19, 2012.
Applicants’ Address: Two Hopkins
Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201.
investment company. On November 15,
2011, applicant made a liquidating
distribution to its shareholders, based
on net asset value. Expenses of
approximately $5,135 incurred in
connection with the liquidation were
paid by Riazzi Asset Management, LLC,
applicant’s investment adviser.
Filing Date: The application was filed
on April 4, 2012.
Applicant’s Address: Riazzi Asset
Management, LLC, 2331 Far Hills Ave.,
Suite 200, Dayton, OH 45419.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–66881; File No. SR–BX–
2012–028]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Modify
Pricing for BX Members Using the
NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System
April 30, 2012.
American Beacon Master Trust [File
No. 811–9098]
[File No. 500–1]
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 April 26,
2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) 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 BX. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
Summary: Each applicant seeks an
order declaring that it has ceased to be
an investment company. On September
30, 2011, each applicant made a
liquidating distribution to its
shareholders, based on net asset value.
Expenses of approximately $5,767 and
$1,585, respectively, incurred in
connection with the liquidations were
paid by the applicants and American
Beacon Advisors, Inc., applicants’
investment adviser.
Filing Date: The applications were
filed on March 26, 2012.
Applicants’ Address: 4151 Amon
Carter Blvd., MD 2450, Fort Worth, TX
76155.
In the Matter of Recycle Tech, Inc.;
Order of Suspension of Trading
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
American Beacon Mileage Funds [File
No. 811–9018]
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Old Mutual Funds III [File No. 811–
22149]
Summary: Applicant seeks an order
declaring that it has ceased to be an
investment company. On December 7,
2009, applicant made a liquidating
distribution to its shareholders, based
on net asset value. Expenses of $23,000
incurred in connection with the
liquidation were paid by applicant, with
all legal expenses being incurred by Old
Mutual Capital, applicant’s investment
adviser.
Filing Date: The application was filed
on March 27, 2012.
Applicant’s Address: 4643 South
Ulster St., Suite 800, Denver, CO 80237.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, pursuant to
delegated authority.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10757 Filed 5–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
May 2, 2012.
It appears to the Securities and
Exchange Commission that there is a
lack of current and accurate information
concerning the securities of Recycle
Tech, Inc. (‘‘Recycle Tech’’) because it
has not filed a periodic report since its
10–Q for the quarterly period ending
November 30, 2009, filed on January 13,
2010.
The Commission is of the opinion that
the public interest and the protection of
investors require a suspension of trading
in the securities of Recycle Tech.
Therefore, it is ordered, pursuant to
Section 12(k) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, that trading in the
securities of Recycle Tech is suspended
for the period from 9:30 a.m. EDT on
May 2, 2012, through 11:59 p.m. EDT on
May 15, 2012.
By the Commission.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10916 Filed 5–2–12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Jkt 226001
In its filing with the Commission, BX
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. BX has prepared
summaries, set forth in Sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Changes
BX is proposing to modify its rebate
schedule with respect to orders that
Summary: Applicant seeks an order
declaring that it has ceased to be an
15:20 May 03, 2012
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
RAM Funds [File No. 811–22162]
VerDate Mar<15>2010
BX proposes to modify pricing for BX
members using the NASDAQ OMX BX
Equities System. BX will implement the
proposed change on May 1, 2012. The
text of the proposed rule change is
available at https://
nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com, at
BX’s principal office, and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
1 15
2 17
PO 00000
Frm 00102
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
access liquidity at BX.3 Currently, BX
pays a rebate of $0.0014 per share
executed with respect to:
• An order entered by a member
through a BX Equities System Market
Participant Identifier (‘‘MPID’’) through
which the member (i) accesses an
average daily volume of 3.5 million or
more shares of liquidity, or (ii) provides
an average daily volume of 25,000 or
more shares of liquidity during the
month; or
• A BSTG, BSCN, BMOP, BTFY or
BCRT order that accesses liquidity in
the NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System.
BX pays a rebate of $0.0005 with respect
to all other liquidity-accessing orders.
BX is proposing to eliminate the rebate
with respect to all orders that access
liquidity provided by a midpoint pegged
order.4 Because such orders access
liquidity at the midpoint between the
best bid and offer, they receive price
improvement of at least $0.005 per
share. Accordingly, BX does not believe
that it is necessary also to pay a rebate
to encourage the submission of such
orders. Rather, the execution of such
orders will be free of charge.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
2. Statutory Basis
BX believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the provisions
of Section 6 of the Act,5 in general, and
with Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,6
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 BX operates or
controls, and is not designed to permit
unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
All similarly situated members are
subject to the same fee structure, and
access to BX is offered on fair and nondiscriminatory terms.
The elimination of the rebate for
orders that access liquidity provided by
3 The change applies to securities priced at $1 or
more per share. Fees and rebates for lower-priced
securities are unchanged.
4 ‘‘Pegged Orders’’ are orders that, after entry,
have their price automatically adjusted by the
System in response to changes in either the
NASDAQ OMX BX Equities Market inside bid or
offer or bids or offers in the national market system,
as appropriate. A Pegged Order can specify that its
price will equal the inside quote on the same side
of the market (‘‘Primary Peg’’), the opposite side of
the market (‘‘Market Peg’’), or the midpoint of the
national best bid and offer (‘‘Midpoint Peg’’). A
Midpoint Peg Order is priced based upon the
national best bid and offer, excluding the effect that
the Midpoint Peg Order itself has on the inside bid
or inside offer. Midpoint Pegged Orders will never
be displayed. A Midpoint Pegged Order may be
executed in sub-pennies if necessary to obtain a
midpoint price. A new timestamp is created for the
order each time it is automatically adjusted.
5 15 U.S.C. 78f.
6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
midpoint pegged orders is reasonable
because the execution of such orders is
free of charge. Moreover, the change is
consistent with an equitable allocation
of fees because such orders invariably
receive price improvement of at least
$0.005 per share, and therefore do not
need an additional rebate of $0.0005 to
$0.0014 to encourage their submission
to BX. Finally, BX believes that the
change is not unfairly discriminatory
because the price improvement
provided to these orders provides a
rational basis for treating them
differently from other orders that access
liquidity at BX.
Finally, BX notes that it operates in a
highly competitive market in which
market participants can readily favor
competing venues if they deem fee
levels at a particular venue to be
excessive. In such an environment, BX
must continually adjust its fees to
remain competitive with other
exchanges and with alternative trading
systems that have been exempted from
compliance with the statutory standards
applicable to exchanges. Because
numerous alternatives exist to the
execution and routing services offered
by BX, if BX increases its fees to an
excessive extent, it will lose customers
to its competitors. Accordingly, BX
believes that competitive market forces
help to ensure that the fees it charges for
execution and routing are reasonable,
equitably allocated, and nondiscriminatory.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of Burden on Competition
BX 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.
Because the market for order execution
and routing is extremely competitive,
members may readily opt to disfavor
BX’s execution and routing services if
they believe that alternatives offer them
better value. For these reasons and the
reasons discussed in connection with
the statutory basis for the proposed rule
change, BX does not believe that the
proposed changes will unfairly affect
the ability of members or competitors to
maintain their competitive standing in
the financial markets.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments Regarding the
Proposed Rule Changes Received From
Members, Participants or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
PO 00000
Frm 00103
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26589
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Changes and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.7 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. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall
institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule should be
approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposal 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–BX–2012–028 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 No.
SR–BX–2012–028. 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
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
7 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(ii).
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
26590
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room on official business
days between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing will
also be available for inspection and
copying at the principal offices 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–BX–
2012–028 and should be submitted on
or before May 25, 2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.8
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10752 Filed 5–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–66880; File No. SR–ISE–
2012–16]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
International Securities Exchange,
LLC; Order Approving a Proposed
Rule Change Relating to Procedures
for Executing the Stock Leg(s) of
Stock-Option Orders
April 30, 2012.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
I. Introduction
On February 29, 2012, the
International Securities Exchange, LLC
(‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘ISE’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
amend ISE Rule 722, ‘‘Complex
Orders,’’ to modify its procedures for
executing the stock leg(s) of stockoption orders. The proposed rule change
was published for comment in the
Federal Register on March 19, 2012.3
The Commission received no comment
letters regarding the proposed rule
change. This order approves the
proposed rule change.
II. Description of the Proposal
Currently, ISE Rule 722,
Supplementary Material .02 allows ISE
members to elect to have ISE
8 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66582
(March 13, 2012), 77 FR 16106 (‘‘Notice’’).
1 15
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
electronically transmit the stock leg(s) of
a stock-option transaction to a
designated broker-dealer for execution.
To participate in this automated
process, ISE members must enter into a
brokerage agreement with the
designated broker-dealer.4 Members
must enter into a brokerage agreement
with ISE’s designated broker-dealer to
ensure that there is at least one common
available broker-dealer through which
the matched stock leg(s) of a stockoption transaction may be executed.5
The proposal would allow ISE
members to enter into brokerage
agreements with one or more additional
broker-dealers to which ISE will be able
to route stock orders.6 ISE will
automatically transmit the stock leg(s) of
a stock-option trade on behalf of a
member to one or more broker-dealer(s)
with which the member has an
agreement for execution, using routing
logic that considers objective factors
such as execution cost, speed of
execution, and fill rates.7 Members may
indicate preferred execution brokers,
and these preferences will determine
order routing priority whenever
possible.8 ISE will have no financial
arrangements with the brokers with
respect to routing stock orders to them,9
and ISE receives no fees related to the
stock portion of a stock-option trade.10
As is the case currently, after ISE
routes the stock leg(s) of a stock-option
trade to a broker-dealer for execution,
the broker-dealer will be responsible for
determining whether the orders may be
executed in accordance with applicable
rules, including the Regulation NMS
trade-through rules.11
The proposal eliminates the manual
process for executing the stock leg(s) of
stock-option orders. ISE believes that it
4 ISE members also may choose to execute the
stock leg(s) of a stock-option trade manually, by
transmitting the stock leg(s) to a non-ISE market for
execution.
5 See Notice, 77 FR at 16107. ISE is not able to
execute the stock leg(s) of a stock-option transaction
unless both members on the trade have a brokerage
agreement with the broker-dealer to which the stock
leg(s) are routed. See Notice, 77 FR at footnote 3.
6 See ISE Rule 722, Supplementary Material .02.
7 See id. ISE’s routing logic will route the stock
leg(s) only to a broker-dealer with which a member
has a brokerage agreement. See Notice, 77 FR at
16107.
8 See ISE Rule 722, Supplementary Material .02.
9 See id.
10 See Notice, 77 FR at 16107.
11 See Notice, 77 FR at 16107. See also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 49251 (February 13,
2004), 69 FR 8252 (February 23, 2004) (File No. SR–
ISE–2003–37) (stating that the designated brokerdealer will be responsible for determining whether
the stock leg(s) of a stock-option transaction may be
executed in accordance with all of the rules
applicable to the execution of equity orders,
including compliance with applicable short sale,
trade-through, and trade reporting rules).
PO 00000
Frm 00104
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
is fair, reasonable, and not
discriminatory to eliminate the manual
procedure for executing the stock leg(s)
of stock option orders because,
according to ISE, there is no demand
from ISE members for the manual
execution alternative.12
III. Discussion and Commission’s
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of the
Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.13 In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with Section
6(b)(5) of the Act,14 which requires,
among other things, that the rules of a
national securities exchange be
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, 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 Commission believes that the
proposal should enhance the processing
of stock-option orders by facilitating the
automated processing of the stock
component of a stock-option
transaction. In addition, the
Commission notes that other options
exchanges have adopted similar
requirements in connection with the
processing of stock-option orders.15
IV. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,16 that the
proposed rule change (SR–ISE–2012–16)
is approved.
12 See
Notice, 77 FR at 16107.
approving this proposed rule change, the
Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
15 See C2 Rule 6.13, Interpretation and Policy
.06(a) (requiring Permit Holders to enter into a
brokerage agreement with one or more designated
broker-dealers to participate in stock-option order
automated processing). See also CBOE Rule 6.53C,
Interpretation and Policy .06(a) (requiring Trading
Permit Holders to enter into a brokerage agreement
with one or more designated dealers to participate
in stock-option order automated processing); and
Phlx Rule 1080, Commentary .08(a)(i) (to trade
Complex Orders with a stock/ETF component,
members of FINRA or Nasdaq must have a Uniform
Service Bureau/Executing Broker Agreement with
Nasdaq Options Services LLC (‘‘NOS’’), the
exchange’s designated broker-dealer; firms that are
not members of FINRA or Nasdaq must have a
Qualified Special Representative arrangement with
NOS).
16 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
13 In
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26588-26590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10752]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-66881; File No. SR-BX-2012-028]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify
Pricing for BX Members Using the NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System
April 30, 2012.
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 April 26, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') 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 BX. 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
BX proposes to modify pricing for BX members using the NASDAQ OMX
BX Equities System. BX will implement the proposed change on May 1,
2012. The text of the proposed rule change is available at https://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com, at BX'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, BX 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. BX has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Changes
1. Purpose
BX is proposing to modify its rebate schedule with respect to
orders that
[[Page 26589]]
access liquidity at BX.\3\ Currently, BX pays a rebate of $0.0014 per
share executed with respect to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The change applies to securities priced at $1 or more per
share. Fees and rebates for lower-priced securities are unchanged.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
An order entered by a member through a BX Equities System
Market Participant Identifier (``MPID'') through which the member (i)
accesses an average daily volume of 3.5 million or more shares of
liquidity, or (ii) provides an average daily volume of 25,000 or more
shares of liquidity during the month; or
A BSTG, BSCN, BMOP, BTFY or BCRT order that accesses
liquidity in the NASDAQ OMX BX Equities System.
BX pays a rebate of $0.0005 with respect to all other liquidity-
accessing orders. BX is proposing to eliminate the rebate with respect
to all orders that access liquidity provided by a midpoint pegged
order.\4\ Because such orders access liquidity at the midpoint between
the best bid and offer, they receive price improvement of at least
$0.005 per share. Accordingly, BX does not believe that it is necessary
also to pay a rebate to encourage the submission of such orders.
Rather, the execution of such orders will be free of charge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ ``Pegged Orders'' are orders that, after entry, have their
price automatically adjusted by the System in response to changes in
either the NASDAQ OMX BX Equities Market inside bid or offer or bids
or offers in the national market system, as appropriate. A Pegged
Order can specify that its price will equal the inside quote on the
same side of the market (``Primary Peg''), the opposite side of the
market (``Market Peg''), or the midpoint of the national best bid
and offer (``Midpoint Peg''). A Midpoint Peg Order is priced based
upon the national best bid and offer, excluding the effect that the
Midpoint Peg Order itself has on the inside bid or inside offer.
Midpoint Pegged Orders will never be displayed. A Midpoint Pegged
Order may be executed in sub-pennies if necessary to obtain a
midpoint price. A new timestamp is created for the order each time
it is automatically adjusted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
BX believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the
provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\5\ in general, and with Sections
6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\6\ 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 BX operates or controls, and is not designed to permit
unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
All similarly situated members are subject to the same fee structure,
and access to BX is offered on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The elimination of the rebate for orders that access liquidity
provided by midpoint pegged orders is reasonable because the execution
of such orders is free of charge. Moreover, the change is consistent
with an equitable allocation of fees because such orders invariably
receive price improvement of at least $0.005 per share, and therefore
do not need an additional rebate of $0.0005 to $0.0014 to encourage
their submission to BX. Finally, BX believes that the change is not
unfairly discriminatory because the price improvement provided to these
orders provides a rational basis for treating them differently from
other orders that access liquidity at BX.
Finally, BX notes that it operates in a highly competitive market
in which market participants can readily favor competing venues if they
deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. In such an
environment, BX must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive
with other exchanges and with alternative trading systems that have
been exempted from compliance with the statutory standards applicable
to exchanges. Because numerous alternatives exist to the execution and
routing services offered by BX, if BX increases its fees to an
excessive extent, it will lose customers to its competitors.
Accordingly, BX believes that competitive market forces help to ensure
that the fees it charges for execution and routing are reasonable,
equitably allocated, and non-discriminatory.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of Burden on Competition
BX 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. Because the market
for order execution and routing is extremely competitive, members may
readily opt to disfavor BX's execution and routing services if they
believe that alternatives offer them better value. For these reasons
and the reasons discussed in connection with the statutory basis for
the proposed rule change, BX does not believe that the proposed changes
will unfairly affect the ability of members or competitors to maintain
their competitive standing in the financial markets.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments Regarding the
Proposed Rule Changes Received From Members, Participants or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Changes and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\7\ 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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall
institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be
approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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-BX-2012-028 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 No. SR-BX-2012-028. 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 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
[[Page 26590]]
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room on official business
days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the
principal offices 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-BX-2012-028 and should be submitted on or before May 25,
2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-10752 Filed 5-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P