[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 2010)] [Notices] [Pages 12326-12328] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2010-5532] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-61671; File No. SR-CHX-2010-05] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Increase the Provide Credit for Transactions Involving Issues Priced Less Than One Dollar March 8, 2010. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on March 3, 2010, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III [[Page 12327]] below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. CHX filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b- 4(f)(2) thereunder,\4\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The CHX proposes to amend its Schedule of Participant Fees and Assessments (the ``Fee Schedule''), effective March 3, 2010, to change its transaction fees and rebates to Exchange Participants for transactions involving issues priced less than one dollar that occur within the Exchange's Matching System. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.chx.com/rules/proposed_rules.htm, on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, at CHX, 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 CHX included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule changes and discussed any comments it received regarding the proposal. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The CHX 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 Through this filing, the Exchange would amend its Fee Schedule to increase the provide credit to Exchange Participants for transactions involving issues priced less than one dollar that occur within the Exchange's Matching System. The Exchange proposes to increase the provide credit in the transactions described above from 0.15% to 0.25% of the trade value.\5\ Due to this increased provide credit and the fact that tiered pricing does not apply to transactions in issues priced under $1, the Exchange proposes to exclude transactions in issues priced under $1 from the calculation of a Participant's average daily volume (``ADV'') for monthly tiered pricing purposes. The Exchange believes that the increased rebate will help attract additional orders to be displayed and executed on our trading facilities. The Exchange notes that some of our competitors have recently raised their provide rebates for securities priced under $1, and that our proposed increase will help us remain competitive with these entities.\6\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ ``Trade value'' is defined in our Fee Schedule as ``a dollar amount equal to the price per share multiplied by the number of shares executed.'' \6\ The National Stock Exchange raised its provide credit to 0.25% for transactions under $1 in Tape A, B and C securities beginning in the month of February 2010. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \7\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \8\ in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members. Among other things, the change to the fee schedule would provide incentives to Participants to increase the amount of liquidity provided on our trading facilities for securities priced less than $1, which may contribute to an increase in trading volume on the Exchange and in the income derived therefrom. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f. \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 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 \9\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder \10\ because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge applicable only to a member imposed by the self-regulatory organization. Accordingly, the proposal is effective upon Commission receipt of the filing. At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 purpose of the Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please include File Number SR-CHX-2010-05 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-CHX-2010-05. 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 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing will also 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 [[Page 12328]] available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CHX- 2010-05 and should be submitted on or before April 5, 2010. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\11\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010-5532 Filed 3-12-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P