Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Delay Implementation of Certain Fee Changes

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Federal RegisterJan 29, 2008
73 Fed. Reg. 5249 (Jan. 29, 2008)
January 22, 2008.

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 January 17, 2008, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) 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 substantially by Nasdaq. Nasdaq has designated this proposal as constituting a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder, 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.

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

Nasdaq proposes to delay the implementation date of certain pricing changes made by SR-NASDAQ-2008-001 that were effective upon filing. There is no text to the proposed rule change. Nasdaq will implement this rule change immediately.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57147 (January 14, 2008), 73 FR 3788 (January 22, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-001).

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

In SR-NASDAQ-2008-001, Nasdaq made a number of changes to its pricing schedule for transaction execution and routing. In that filing, which was effective upon filing, all of the pricing changes were designated to take effect on January 2, 2008. Based on member requests to provide additional time to adjust to one aspect of the pricing change, Nasdaq is delaying implementation of the $0.0001 reduction in the liquidity provider rebate applicable to quotes/orders that are designated for posting to the Nasdaq book without being displayed to other market participants. Thus, for the month of January, the liquidity provider credit for Nasdaq-listed securities priced at $1 or more will be $0.0025 per share executed for members with an average daily volume through the Nasdaq Market Center in all securities during the month of more than 35 million shares of liquidity provided; $0.0022 per share executed for members with an average daily volume of more than 20 million shares of liquidity provided; and $0.002 per share executed for other members. The liquidity provider credit for securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) priced at $1 or more per share will be $0.0027 per share executed for members with an average daily volume through the Nasdaq Market Center in all securities during the month of more than 35 million shares of liquidity provided; $0.0023 per share executed for members with an average daily volume of more than 20 million shares of liquidity provided; and $0.002 per share executed for other members. For securities listed on exchanges other than NYSE and Nasdaq, the rebate will be $0.004 per share executed for all members trading certain designated “Low-Volume Securities.” For other securities listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq and NYSE, the rebate will be $0.0025 per share executed for members with an average daily volume of more than 35 million shares of liquidity provided; $0.0022 per executed for members with an average daily volume of more than 20 million shares of liquidity provided; and $0.002 per share executed for other members. Effective February 1, 2008, the reduction of each of these amounts by $0.0001 per share executed for quotes/orders that do not display liquidity will be implemented. All other changes made by SR-NASDAQ-2008-001 have been implemented effective January 2, 2008. Because Nasdaq prepares bills for order execution and routing at the end of a month, the delayed implementation will be fully reflected in the bills for January 2008.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act, in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act, 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 Nasdaq operates or controls. The changes will delay a decrease in liquidity provider rebates during the month of January 2008 for all members that provide liquidity through non-displayed quotes/orders.

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

Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.

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

The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(1) thereunder, because it constitutes a stated policy, practice, or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate 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-NASDAQ-2008-007 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2008-007. 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 inspection and copying 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 such 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2008-007 and should be submitted on or before February 19, 2008.

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

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. E8-1464 Filed 1-28-08; 8:45 am]

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