Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Establish the PHLX Depth of Market Data Product

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Federal RegisterMay 17, 2012
77 Fed. Reg. 29440 (May. 17, 2012)
May 11, 2012.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) , and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on May 1, 2012, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (“Phlx” 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.

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 establish a direct market data product, PHLX Depth of Market. PHLX Depth of Market is a data feed that will include full depth of quotes and orders, imbalance information and last sale data for options listed on PHLX.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/micro.aspx?id=PHLXRulefilings,, 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

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

The purpose of the proposed rule change is to establish the PHLX Depth of Market data product. PHLX Depth of Market is a data product that provides: (i) Order and quotation information for individual quotes and orders on the PHLX book; (ii) last sale information for trades executed on PHLX; and (iii) an Imbalance Message, as described below.

The Imbalance Message includes the symbol, side of the market, size of matched contracts, size of the imbalance, and price of the affected series. The Imbalance Message should enable PHLX Depth of Market subscribers to participate effectively in the PHLX Opening Process by providing them with information during the Opening Process when there is an opening imbalance.

See Exchange Rule 1017(l)(vi)(A).

For a description of the Opening Process, see Exchange Rule 1017(l).

An opening “imbalance” occurs where there is unexecutable trading interest at a certain price. See Exchange Rule 1017(l)(ii)(A).

PHLX Depth of Market is the equivalent of, and is based on, the NASDAQ ITCH to Trade Options or “ITTO” data feed that NASDAQ offers under NASDAQ Options Market (“NOM”) Rules, Chapter VI, Section 1(a)(3)(A). As with ITTO, subscribers would use PHLX Depth of Market to “build” their view of the PHLX book by adding individual orders that appear on the feed, and subtracting individual orders that are executed.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63983 (February 25, 2011), 76 FR 12178 (March 4, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-032).

The Exchange will establish monthly fees for the PHLX Depth of Market data product by way of a separate proposed rule change, which the Exchange will submit after the PHLX Depth of Market product is established.

PHLX Depth of Market provides data that should enhance the ability to analyze market conditions, and to create and test trading models and analytical strategies. The Exchange believes that PHLX Depth of Market is a valuable tool that can be used to gain comprehensive insight into the trading activity in a particular option series.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act, in general and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, by establishing a market data product that enhances subscribers' ability to make decisions on trading strategy, and by providing data to facilitate such decisions in a timely manner.

15 U.S.C. 78f.

The Exchange represents that it will make the PHLX Depth of Market data product equally available to any market participant that wishes to subscribe to it.

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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Commission notes that the Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

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 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File No. SR-Phlx-2012-60 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-Phlx-2012-60. 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 ( 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 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such 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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-60 and should be submitted on or before June 7, 2012.

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

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2012-11915 Filed 5-16-12; 8:45 am]

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