Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Delete and Replace the Current Rules on Arbitration

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 August 9, 2018, 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 the Exchange. 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

The Exchange proposes to delete the current rules on arbitration (“Current Arbitration Rules”), currently under the 10000 Series (Rules 10001 through 10102), and adopt the Nasdaq ISE, LLC (“ISE”) rules on arbitration in Chapter 18 of the ISE's rulebook (“Proposed Arbitration Rules”) into General 6 in the Exchange's rulebook's (“Rulebook”) shell structure.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://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 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 Exchange proposes to delete the rules on arbitration, currently under the 10000 Series (Rules 10001 through 10102), and adopt the ISE rules on arbitration in Chapter 18 of the ISE's rulebook into General 6 in the Exchange's Rulebook.

The Exchange adopted the Current Arbitration Rules to ensure a fair and efficient manner in which to handle any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of, or in connection with, the business of any Member of the Exchange. To help administer the process of dispute resolution, the Exchange and FINRA are parties to a Regulatory Contract, pursuant to which FINRA has agreed to perform certain functions and provide access to certain services, including: member regulation and registration; non-real time market surveillance; examinations and investigations; and dispute resolution. FINRA currently operates the largest securities dispute resolution forum in the United States, and has given the Exchange access to these services. Under the Current Arbitration Rules, Members and associated persons of a Member are subject to the FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure.

Because the Affiliated Exchanges are also parties to similar Regulatory Contracts with FINRA that make their members and associated persons of such members subject to the FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure, the Exchange believes it is pertinent that a common set of rules on arbitration be included in the General section of the Rulebook's shell. These rules will, pursuant to subsequent filings, then replace the existing arbitration rules for each of the Affiliated Exchanges.

As part of the process of harmonizing these rules, staff evaluated the corresponding rules on arbitration at each of the Affiliated Exchanges. Staff have determined that the Proposed Arbitration Rules are the easiest to read and the most accessible, and do not detract from, or omit, any of the substance of the Current Arbitration Rules.

Therefore, the Exchange will adopt the Proposed Arbitration Rules and place them under the “General 6 Arbitration” of the shell's “General Equity and Options Rules” section. As mentioned, these rules are already in place on ISE, and also apply to Nasdaq GEMX, LLC and Nasdaq MRX, LLC, which incorporate Chapter 18 of the ISE Rules by reference. Subsequently, the other Affiliated Exchanges plan to adopt these rules also.

The relocation and harmonization of the arbitration rules is part of the Exchange's continued effort to promote efficiency and conformity of its processes with those of its Affiliated Exchanges. The Exchange believes that the adoption and placement of the Proposed Arbitration Rules to their new location in the shell will facilitate the use of the Rulebook by Members of the Exchange who are members of other Affiliated Exchanges. Moreover, the proposed changes are of a conforming nature and will not amend the substance of the adopted rules other than to update the language to that of the Proposed Arbitration Rules, and to make conforming cross-reference changes.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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 promoting efficiency and conformity of the Exchange's processes with those of the Affiliated Exchanges and to make the Exchange's Rulebook easier to read and more accessible to its Members. The Exchange believes that the adoption and harmonization of the arbitration rules and cross-reference updates are of a non-substantive nature.

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. The proposed changes do not impose a burden on competition because, as previously stated, they are (i) of a non-substantive nature, (ii) intended to harmonize the Exchange's rules with those of its Affiliated Exchanges, and (iii) intended to organize the Rulebook in a way that it will ease the Members' navigation and reading of the rules across the Affiliated Exchanges.

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

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 from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.

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: (i) necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) 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-2018-067 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2018-067. 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 wedbsite ( 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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2018-067 and should be submitted on or before September 7, 2018.