Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Extension of the Exchange's Penny Pilot Program and Replacement of Penny Pilot Issues That Have Been Delisted, 31151-31153 [2014-12524]

Download as PDF 31151 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 2014 / Notices of the purposes of the Act, as amended.18 Currently, PSX has minimal market share, and the Exchange believes that the proposal may enhance its competitiveness by offering a unique market model not currently offered by other national securities exchanges trading cash equities. Since use of PSX is entirely voluntary and numerous competitive alternatives exist, the change will not impose any burden on competition. Moreover, the Exchange’s prior experience with use of a pro rata algorithm on PSX leads it to believe that although the market model may not draw significant volume of order flow away from other trading venues, nevertheless the model is attractive to some market participants and therefore is likely to enhance PSX’s competitiveness. 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 Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Exchange consents, the Commission shall: (a) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or (b) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as amended, is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION All submissions should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–2014–24. 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 printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will 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–Phlx– 2014–24, and should be submitted on or before June 20, 2014. [Release No. 34–72244; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2014–056] For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.19 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–12527 Filed 5–29–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Extension of the Exchange’s Penny Pilot Program and Replacement of Penny Pilot Issues That Have Been Delisted May 23, 2014. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 2 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on May 20, 2014, 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 NASDAQ. 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 filing with the Commission a proposal to amend Chapter VI, Section 5 (Minimum Increments) of the rules of the NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’) to extend through December 31, 2014, the Penny Pilot Program in options classes in certain issues (‘‘Penny Pilot’’ or ‘‘Pilot’’), and to change the date when delisted classes may be replaced in the Penny Pilot.3 The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay period to the extent needed for timely industry-wide implementation of the proposal. The text of the amended Exchange rule is set forth immediately below. Proposed new language is underlined and proposed deleted language is [bracketed]. NASDAQ Stock Market Rules mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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– Phlx–2014–24 on the subject line. Options Rules * VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:23 May 29, 2014 19 17 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 * * U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 3 The Penny Pilot was established in March 2008 and was last extended in December 2013. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57579 (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR– NASDAQ–2008–026) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness establishing Penny Pilot); and 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530 (December 23, 2013) (SR–NASDAQ–2013–154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through June 30, 2014). 2 17 • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). * 1 15 Paper Comments 18 15 * E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM 30MYN1 31152 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 2014 / Notices A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change Chapter VI Trading Systems * * Sec. 5 * * * Minimum Increments (a) The Board may establish minimum quoting increments for options contracts traded on NOM. Such minimum increments established by the Board will be designated as a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the administration of this Section within the meaning of Section 19 of the Exchange Act and will be filed with the SEC as a rule change for effectiveness upon filing. Until such time as the Board makes a change in the increments, the following principles shall apply: (1)–(2) No Change. (3) For a pilot period scheduled to expire on [June 30, 2014]December 31, 2014, if the options series is trading pursuant to the Penny Pilot program one (1) cent if the options series is trading at less than $3.00, five (5) cents if the options series is trading at $3.00 or higher, unless for QQQQs, SPY and IWM where the minimum quoting increment will be one cent for all series regardless of price. A list of such options shall be communicated to membership via an Options Trader Alert (‘‘OTA’’) posted on the Exchange’s Web site. The Exchange may replace any pilot issues that have been delisted with the next most actively traded multiply listed options classes that are not yet included in the pilot, based on trading activity in the previous six months. The replacement issues may be added to the pilot on the second trading day following [January 1, 2014]July 1, 2014. (4) No Change. (b) No Change. * * * * * 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:23 May 29, 2014 Jkt 232001 1. Purpose The purpose of this filing is to amend Chapter VI, Section 5 to extend the Penny Pilot through December 31, 2014, and to change the date when delisted classes may be replaced in the Penny Pilot. Under the Penny Pilot, the minimum price variation for all participating options classes, except for the Nasdaq100 Index Tracking Stock (‘‘QQQQ’’), the SPDR S&P 500 Exchange Traded Fund (‘‘SPY’’) and the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (‘‘IWM’’), is $0.01 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at less than $3 per contract and $0.05 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at $3 per contract or greater. QQQQ, SPY and IWM are quoted in $0.01 increments for all options series. The Penny Pilot is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2014. The Exchange proposes to extend the time period of the Penny Pilot through December 31, 2014, and to provide revised dates for adding replacement issues to the Penny Pilot. The Exchange proposes that any Penny Pilot Program issues that have been delisted may be replaced on the second trading day following July 1, 2014. The replacement issues will be selected based on trading activity in the previous six months.4 This filing does not propose any substantive changes to the Penny Pilot Program; all classes currently participating in the Penny Pilot will remain the same and all minimum increments will remain unchanged. The Exchange believes the benefits to public customers and other market participants who will be able to express their true prices to buy and sell options have been demonstrated to outweigh the potential increase in quote traffic. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 5 in general, and furthers the 4 The replacement issues will be announced to the Exchange’s membership via an Options Trader Alert (OTA) posted on the Exchange’s Web site. The Exchange proposes in its Penny Pilot rule that replacement issues will be selected based on trading activity in the previous six months. The replacement issues would be identified based on The Option Clearing Corporation’s trading volume data from December 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014. The month immediately preceding the replacement issues’ addition to the Pilot Program (i.e. June) would not be used for purposes of the six-month analysis. 5 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 6 in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change, which extends the Penny Pilot for an additional six months through December 31, 2014 and changes the date for replacing Penny Pilot issues that were delisted to the second trading day following July 1, 2014, will enable public customers and other market participants to express their true prices to buy and sell options for the benefit of all market participants. This is consistent with the 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. To the contrary, this proposal is procompetitive because it allows Penny Pilot issues to continue trading on the Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Pilot and a determination of how the Pilot should be structured in the future; and will serve to promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the marketplace and facilitating investor protection. The Pilot is an industry wide initiative supported by all other option exchanges. The Exchange believes that extending the Pilot will allow for continued competition between market participants on the Exchange trading similar products as their counterparts on other exchanges, while at the same time allowing the Exchange to continue to compete for order flow with other exchanges in option issues trading as part of the Pilot. 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. 6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM 30MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 2014 / Notices 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) 7 of the Act and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.8 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: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) 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 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–2014–056 on the subject line. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NASDAQ–2014–056. 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 printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the 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 Number SR–NASDAQ–2014–056 and should be submitted on or before June 20, 2014. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.9 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange 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 IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. [FR Doc. 2014–12524 Filed 5–29–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–72238; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2014–055] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Routing Fees May 23, 2014. 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 May 15, 2014, 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 NASDAQ. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. 9 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 8 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:23 May 29, 2014 1 15 Jkt 232001 31153 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NASDAQ proposes to modify Chapter XV, entitled ‘‘Options Pricing,’’ at Section 2 governing pricing for NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), NASDAQ’s facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index options. Specifically, NOM proposes to amend its Routing Fees. While the changes proposed herein are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated that the amendments be operative on June 2, 2014. 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 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 A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The purpose of this filing is to amend the Routing Fees in Chapter XV, Section 2(3) to recoup costs incurred by the Exchange to route orders to away markets. Today, the Exchange assesses a NonCustomer a $0.95 per contract Routing Fee to any options exchange. The Customer 3 Routing Fee for option orders routed to NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (‘‘PHLX’’) is a $0.10 per contract Fixed Fee in addition to the actual transaction fee assessed. The Customer Routing Fee for option orders routed to NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX Options’’) is $0.10 per contract. The Customer Routing Fee for option orders routed to 3 The term ‘‘Customer’’ or (‘‘C’’) applies to any transaction that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer range at The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) which is not for the account of broker or dealer or for the account of a ‘‘Professional’’ (as that term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)). E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM 30MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31151-31153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12524]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-72244; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2014-056]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Extension of the Exchange's Penny Pilot Program and 
Replacement of Penny Pilot Issues That Have Been Delisted

May 23, 2014.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
that on May 20, 2014, 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 NASDAQ. 
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 filing with the Commission a proposal to amend Chapter 
VI, Section 5 (Minimum Increments) of the rules of the NASDAQ Options 
Market (``NOM'') to extend through December 31, 2014, the Penny Pilot 
Program in options classes in certain issues (``Penny Pilot'' or 
``Pilot''), and to change the date when delisted classes may be 
replaced in the Penny Pilot.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Penny Pilot was established in March 2008 and was last 
extended in December 2013. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 
57579 (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-
026) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness establishing 
Penny Pilot); and 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530 (December 
23, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-154) (notice of filing and immediate 
effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through June 30, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange requests that the Commission waive the 30-day 
operative delay period to the extent needed for timely industry-wide 
implementation of the proposal.
    The text of the amended Exchange rule is set forth immediately 
below.
    Proposed new language is underlined and proposed deleted language 
is [bracketed].

NASDAQ Stock Market Rules

Options Rules

* * * * *

[[Page 31152]]

Chapter VI Trading Systems

* * * * *

Sec. 5 Minimum Increments

    (a) The Board may establish minimum quoting increments for options 
contracts traded on NOM. Such minimum increments established by the 
Board will be designated as a stated policy, practice, or 
interpretation with respect to the administration of this Section 
within the meaning of Section 19 of the Exchange Act and will be filed 
with the SEC as a rule change for effectiveness upon filing. Until such 
time as the Board makes a change in the increments, the following 
principles shall apply:
    (1)-(2) No Change.
    (3) For a pilot period scheduled to expire on [June 30, 
2014]December 31, 2014, if the options series is trading pursuant to 
the Penny Pilot program one (1) cent if the options series is trading 
at less than $3.00, five (5) cents if the options series is trading at 
$3.00 or higher, unless for QQQQs, SPY and IWM where the minimum 
quoting increment will be one cent for all series regardless of price. 
A list of such options shall be communicated to membership via an 
Options Trader Alert (``OTA'') posted on the Exchange's Web site. The 
Exchange may replace any pilot issues that have been delisted with the 
next most actively traded multiply listed options classes that are not 
yet included in the pilot, based on trading activity in the previous 
six months. The replacement issues may be added to the pilot on the 
second trading day following [January 1, 2014]July 1, 2014.
    (4) No Change.
    (b) No Change.
* * * * *
    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 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 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this filing is to amend Chapter VI, Section 5 to 
extend the Penny Pilot through December 31, 2014, and to change the 
date when delisted classes may be replaced in the Penny Pilot.
    Under the Penny Pilot, the minimum price variation for all 
participating options classes, except for the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking 
Stock (``QQQQ''), the SPDR S&P 500 Exchange Traded Fund (``SPY'') and 
the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (``IWM''), is $0.01 for all 
quotations in options series that are quoted at less than $3 per 
contract and $0.05 for all quotations in options series that are quoted 
at $3 per contract or greater. QQQQ, SPY and IWM are quoted in $0.01 
increments for all options series. The Penny Pilot is currently 
scheduled to expire on June 30, 2014.
    The Exchange proposes to extend the time period of the Penny Pilot 
through December 31, 2014, and to provide revised dates for adding 
replacement issues to the Penny Pilot. The Exchange proposes that any 
Penny Pilot Program issues that have been delisted may be replaced on 
the second trading day following July 1, 2014. The replacement issues 
will be selected based on trading activity in the previous six 
months.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The replacement issues will be announced to the Exchange's 
membership via an Options Trader Alert (OTA) posted on the 
Exchange's Web site. The Exchange proposes in its Penny Pilot rule 
that replacement issues will be selected based on trading activity 
in the previous six months. The replacement issues would be 
identified based on The Option Clearing Corporation's trading volume 
data from December 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014. The month 
immediately preceding the replacement issues' addition to the Pilot 
Program (i.e. June) would not be used for purposes of the six-month 
analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This filing does not propose any substantive changes to the Penny 
Pilot Program; all classes currently participating in the Penny Pilot 
will remain the same and all minimum increments will remain unchanged. 
The Exchange believes the benefits to public customers and other market 
participants who will be able to express their true prices to buy and 
sell options have been demonstrated to outweigh the potential increase 
in quote traffic.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \5\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \6\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In particular, the proposed rule change, which extends the Penny 
Pilot for an additional six months through December 31, 2014 and 
changes the date for replacing Penny Pilot issues that were delisted to 
the second trading day following July 1, 2014, will enable public 
customers and other market participants to express their true prices to 
buy and sell options for the benefit of all market participants. This 
is consistent with the 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. To the contrary, this proposal 
is pro-competitive because it allows Penny Pilot issues to continue 
trading on the Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Pilot and a 
determination of how the Pilot should be structured in the future; and 
will serve to promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby 
reducing burdens on the marketplace and facilitating investor 
protection. The Pilot is an industry wide initiative supported by all 
other option exchanges. The Exchange believes that extending the Pilot 
will allow for continued competition between market participants on the 
Exchange trading similar products as their counterparts on other 
exchanges, while at the same time allowing the Exchange to continue to 
compete for order flow with other exchanges in option issues trading as 
part of the Pilot.

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.

[[Page 31153]]

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) \7\ of the Act and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) 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 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-2014-056 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2014-056. 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 printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the 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 Number SR-NASDAQ-2014-056 and 
should be submitted on or before June 20, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-12524 Filed 5-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.