
[Federal Register: September 15, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 178)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56155-56156]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se10-125]                         


[[Page 56155]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-62869; File No. SR-BX-2010-062]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to 
Market Maker Obligations

September 8, 2010.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that, on September 7, 2010, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items 
have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange filed the proposed 
rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\3\ and Rule 
19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal effective upon 
filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter VI, Section 6 (Market Maker 
Quotations) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC 
(``BOX''). The text of the proposed rule change is available from the 
principal office of the Exchange, on the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.sec.gov, at the Commission's Public Reference Room, and also 
on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://
nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/NASDAQOMXBX/Filings/.

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 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this proposed rule change is to amend certain 
existing quoting obligations of Market Makers.
    Presently, a Market Maker must participate in the pre-opening phase 
and thereafter make markets consistent with the applicable quoting 
requirements specified in the BOX Rules, such that on a daily basis a 
Market Maker must post valid quotes at least sixty percent (60%) of the 
time that the class(es) are open for trading.\5\ Under the existing 
rules, any time a Market Maker's quote size falls below the ten (10) 
contract minimum size requirement, even after an execution which 
decrements the remaining size of the quote, the quote is deemed invalid 
for meeting the Market Maker's quoting obligations. The Exchange 
believes that its policy of the meaning of a ``valid'' quote should be 
updated to include an exception for quotes that have been depleted by 
executions below the ten (10) contract minimum size requirement. 
Modifying the quotations requirements in this manner will encourage 
more options trading firms to register as Market Makers on BOX and to 
provide more liquidity to BOX Options Participants.
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    \5\ See Chapter VI, Section 6(d) of the BOX Rules.
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    Under proposed Section 6, in order to be deemed ``valid'' a Market 
Maker's initial quoted size must be for at least ten (10) contracts. 
This initial minimum size shall apply regardless of whether a Market 
Maker receives an RFQ message, is called upon by an Options Official to 
post a quote, or otherwise. The initial size of the Market Maker's 
valid quote may subsequently be depleted in size below the minimum size 
due to executions with the quote and the quote shall remain valid as 
long as the Market Maker has not changed or updated the quote as to 
price or size. This depleted quote size shall remain valid until (1) 
the Market Maker's quoted size is completely exhausted, whereupon the 
Market Maker must once again post a valid quote with a valid initial 
size of ten (10) contracts, or (2) the Market Maker updates or changes 
the posted quote, whereupon such quote must meet the minimum initial 
size of ten (10) contracts in order to be deemed valid.\6\
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    \6\ For example, Market Maker A posts a valid bid with a size of 
15 contracts in a particular series. An order for 8 contracts 
executes against that bid and depletes the bid size to 7 contracts. 
Under the proposal the bid remains valid. Subsequently the Market 
Makers appointed to that class receive an RFQ message or are called 
upon by an Options Official to post a quote in that series. Market 
Maker A's bid of 7 contracts would be considered valid, and he does 
not need to respond. Market Maker B, who was not already posting a 
valid quote in that series, responds by posting an initial valid bid 
with a size of 10 contacts within 3 seconds of receiving the 
request. Then within the next 30 seconds an order for 10 contracts 
executes against all of Market Maker A's bid for 7 contracts. The 
remaining 3 contracts of the order execute against the bid of Market 
Maker B, depleting his bid size to 7 contracts. Since Market Maker A 
no longer has a bid and does not have a valid quote, he updates his 
quote for an initial bid of 10 contracts. Market Maker B's bid of 7 
contracts remains valid.
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    The Exchange notes that its minimum initial size of ten (10) 
contracts is ten times the market maker minimum quote size requirement 
(one contract) at some other options exchanges \7\ and that no changes 
are being proposed regarding Market Makers' obligations, including 
obligations to participate in the pre-opening phase. Furthermore, a 
Market Maker may continue to be called upon by an Options Official \8\ 
to submit a single valid two-sided quote in one or more of the series 
of an options class to which the Market Maker is appointed whenever, in 
the judgment of such official, it is necessary to do so in the interest 
of fair and orderly markets.\9\ Because the Market Makers' obligations, 
including those mentioned above, will continue, the Exchange believes 
this justifies any benefits they receive due to their appointment as 
Market Maker on BOX.
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    \7\ See Rule 6.37B (Market Maker Quotations-OX) of the Rules of 
NYSE Arca, Inc (``NYSE Arca'').
    \8\ The term ``Options Official'' means an officer of BOX 
Regulation vested by the BOX Regulation Board with certain authority 
to supervise option trading on BOX. See BOX Rules Chapter I, Section 
1(a)(44).
    \9\ See BOX Rules Chapter VI, Section 6(b)(iv).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\10\ in general, and Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\11\ in particular, in that it is designed to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, 
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and 
facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market 
system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. 
Modifying the quotations requirements in this manner will encourage 
more options trading firms to register as Market Makers on BOX and to 
provide more liquidity to BOX Options Participants. An overall

[[Page 56156]]

increase in liquidity will benefit investors and serve the public 
interest.
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition 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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    This proposed rule change does not significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any 
significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become 
operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter 
time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection 
of investors and the public interest.\12\
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    \12\ Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory 
organization to submit to the Commission written notice of its 
intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief 
description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five 
business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The 
Exchange has satisfied the five-day pre-filing requirement.
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    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 (http://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-BX-2010-062 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-BX-2010-062. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/
sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of 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-BX-2010-062 and should be 
submitted on or before October 6, 2010.
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-22946 Filed 9-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

