Self-Regulatory Organizations; the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to NASDAQ Options NOM Market Maker Rebates

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 February 3, 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 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 the NOM Market Maker Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://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

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.

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

1. Purpose

NASDAQ proposes to modify Chapter XV, entitled “Options Pricing,” at Section 2(1) governing the rebates and fees assessed for option orders entered into NOM. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend the NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity tiers. Today, the Exchange offers a five-tiered Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options as noted below:

The Exchange is proposing to amend the qualifications for NOM Market Maker Penny Pilot rebate Tiers 3 and 4 by lowering the quantity of contracts per day in a month that Participants must add to obtain the rebate. Specifically, the Tier 3 rebate tier would be lowered from adding NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 60,000 to 79,999 contracts per day in month to adding 60,000 to 69,999 contracts per day in a month. The Tier 4 rebate tier would be lowered from adding NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 80,000 or more contracts per day in a month to adding 70,000 or more contracts per day in a month. The Exchange anticipates that this amendment would provide an opportunity for Participants to qualify for higher rebate tiers for their NOM Market Maker liquidity.

2. Statutory Basis

NASDAQ believes that its proposal to amend its Pricing Schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) 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, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

The Exchange's proposal to amend NOM Market Maker Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options Tiers 3 and 4 volume requirements is reasonable because the Exchange is providing Participants with an opportunity to earn higher rebates in certain symbols. Today, a Participant that transacts 70,000 contracts per day in a month of NOM Market Maker liquidity in either Penny Pilot Options or Non-Penny Pilot Options would qualify for a Tier 3 rebate of $0.32 per contract. With this proposal, a Participant that transacts 70,000 contracts per day in a month of NOM Market Maker liquidity in either Penny Pilot Options or Non-Penny Pilot Options would qualify for a Tier 4 rebate of $0.32 per contractor $0.38 per contract in certain symbols. With this proposal, a Participant that transacts 70,000 contracts per day in a month of NOM Market Maker liquidity in either Penny Pilot Options or Non-Penny Pilot Options would earn a Tier 3 rebate. Incentivizing Participants to select the Exchange as a venue to post NOM Market Maker liquidity will benefit market participants through increased order interaction and additional liquidity.

The Exchange's proposal to amend NOM Market Maker Rebate to Add Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options Tiers 3 and 4 volume requirements is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because this amendment will be applied to all Participants in a uniform manner. In addition, Participants should continue to qualify for the rebates that they currently receive and may earn increased rebates by qualifying for a higher volume tier and transacting certain symbols, as a result of lowering the volume requirements in Tiers 3 and 4.

The proposal does not misalign the current rebate structure. NOM Market Makers are valuable market participants that provide liquidity in the marketplace and incur costs unlike other market participants. The Exchange believes that NOM Market Makers should be offered the opportunity to earn higher rebates as compared to Non-NOM Market Makers, Firms and Broker Dealers because NOM Market Makers add value through continuous quoting and the commitment of capital. NOM Market Makers provide a critical liquidity function across thousands of individual option puts and option calls, a function no other market participants are obligated to perform. The Exchange believes that encouraging NOM Market Makers to be more aggressive when posting liquidity benefits all market participants through increased liquidity and execution quality. The Exchange believes that continuing to offer NOM Market Makers the opportunity to receive higher rebates as compared to Firms, Non-NOM Market Makers and Broker-Dealers is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all Participants may qualify for the NOM Market Maker rebate tiers and every Participant is entitled to a rebate solely by adding one contract of NOM Market Maker liquidity on NOM. Also, NOM Market Makers would receive the same rebate in Tier 1 as compared to Customers and Professionals and a higher rebate in all other tiers as compared to a Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker or Broker-Dealer because of the obligations borne by NOM Market Makers as compared to other market participants. Encouraging NOM Market Makers to add greater liquidity benefits all Participants in the quality of order interaction and enhanced execution quality.

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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes that incentivizing NOM Market Makers to post liquidity on NOM benefits market participants through increased order interaction. Also, NOM Market Makers have obligations to the market which are not borne by other market participants and therefore the Exchange believes that NOM Market Makers are entitled to such higher rebates.

The proposed amendments do not misalign the current rebate structure because NOM Market Makers will continue to earn higher rebates as compared to Firms, Non-NOM Market Makers and Broker-Dealers and will earn the same or lower rebates as compared to Customers and Professionals. The Exchange believes the differing outcomes, rebates and fees created by the Exchange's proposed pricing incentives contributes to the overall health of the market place for the benefit of all Participants that willingly choose to transact options on NOM. In addition, NOM Market Makers will have the opportunity to earn even higher rebates. For the reasons specified herein, the Exchange does not believe this proposal creates an undue burden on competition.

The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market comprised of twelve U.S. options exchanges in which many sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or inadequate. These market forces support the Exchange's belief that the proposed rebate structure and tiers proposed herein are competitive with rebates and tiers in place on other exchanges. The Exchange believes that this competitive marketplace continues to impact the rebates present on the Exchange today and substantially influences the proposals set forth above.

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

No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act. 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 Number SR-NASDAQ-2014-016 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-NASDAQ-2014-016. 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 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-NASDAQ-2014-016, and should be submitted on or before March 13, 2014.