Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Changes by the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. Relating to an Amendment to the Exchange's Payment for Order Flow Fee and a Rebate for Certain Fees Incurred

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) proposed rule changes SR-PHLX-00-88 and SR-PHLX-00-89 on October 2, 2000 and October 4, 2000, respectively, as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items the Phlx has prepared. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule changes from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Changes

In SR-PHLX-00-88, the Phlx proposes to amend its payment for order flow program that imposed a fee, effective August 1, 2000 of $1.00 per contract on transactions by Phlx specialists and Registered Options Traders (“ROTs”) in the Top 120 Options traded on the Phlx. The effect of the amendment would be to exclude from the program, as of October 1, 2000, any transaction between a Phlx specialist or a Phlx ROT and a broker-dealer order. The proposed amendment is effective as of October 1, 2000.

In SR-PHLX-00-89, the Phlx proposes to rebate the fees that the Phlx ROTs and Phlx specialists incurred during the period from August 1, 2000 through September 30, 2000, when they engaged in a transaction with a broker-dealer order, and not with the order of a customer. The text of these proposed rule changes is available at the principal offices of the Phlx.

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

In its filings with the Commission, the Phlx included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule changes and discussed any comments it received on them. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Phlx 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

The purpose of SR-PHLX-00-88 is to amend the Phlx's payment for order flow fee program such that, effective October 1, 2000, the Phlx would not assess the $1.00 per contract fee on transactions in which a Phlx specialist or Phlx ROT trades with a broker-dealer order. Moreover, in connection with SR-PHLX-00-89, the Phlx proposes to rebate the fees that Phlx specialists and ROTs incurred in executing such transactions with broker-dealers during the period from August 1, 2000 through September 30, 2000.

The purpose of the Phlx's payment for order flow program is to generate a source of revenue that specialists may use to attract order flow to the Phlx. The Phlx's payment for order flow program originally imposed a $1.00 fee on all transactions of specialists and ROTs in the Top 120 Options traded on the Phlx, other than ROT-to-ROT or specialist-to-ROT transactions. The Phlx believes that it was necessary for it to adopt this type of fee in order to maintain and enhance its competitive position.

Proposed rule change SR-PHLX-00-88 would now exempt from the fee all transactions between a specialist or an ROT and a broker-dealer order. The Phlx believes that it would not promote the goals of the payment for order flow program to collect the $1.00 fee from an ROT or a specialist that engages in a transaction with a broker-dealer order, and not the order of a customer. Therefore, any funds collected in connection with those trades would not be used to make payments to broker-dealers for their proprietary order flow, because those are not the kind of transactions that the fee is designed to attract. Indeed, because the primary focus of the program, as amended, is to attract order flow from customers, the $1.00 fee will apply to transactions between specialists or ROTs and customers. In SR-PHLX-00-89, the Phlx proposes to rebate to specialists and ROTs any fees that were imposed on them with respect to such transactions with broker-dealers during the period from August 1, 2000 through September 30, 2000.

In sum, the Phlx's payment for order flow program, as amended, would impose the $1.00 fee on all transactions by specialists and ROTs in the Top 120 Options, with the exception of: (1) Transactions between ROTs, (2) transactions between a specialist and an ROT; (3) transactions between a specialist or ROT and a Phlx member firm acting for its proprietary account and not on behalf of a customer, (4) transactions between a specialist and a broker-dealer order; and (5) transactions between an ROT and a broker-dealer order. The Exchange envisions that the persons who pay the fees will also participate in the order flow derived from the amended program. The Exchange believes that the program, amended as proposed, will provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable fees among the Exchange's members because the specialists and ROTs who pay the fee should also receive the benefits of increased order flow.

Moreover, the Exchange believes that the fee should promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market, and protect investors and the public interest by attracting more order flow to the Exchange. In the Exchange's view, this should result in increased liquidity, tighter markets, and more competition among exchange members. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that its proposals are consistent with and further the objectives of the Act, including Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) thereof.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Changes Received From Members, Participants or Others

The Phlx neither solicited nor received written comments with respect to the proposed rule changes.

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

Because the Phlx has designated the foregoing proposed rule changes as fee changes pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder, the proposals have taken effect upon filing with the Commission. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule changes, the Commission may summarily abrogate them 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

The Commission invites interested persons to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rules are consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Copies of the submissions, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule changes that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule changes 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 inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices of the Phlx. All submissions should refer to File Nos. SR-PHLX-00-88 and SR-PHLX-00-89 and should be submitted by November 24, 2000.