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 November 16, 2006, 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 below, which Items have been prepared by the CHX. The Exchange has filed this proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 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.
17 CFR 240.19b-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 Credits (the “Fee Schedule”) to include a fee for receiving orders routed through the CHX communications or routing functionality. The text of this proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site ( http://www.chx.com/rules/proposed_rules.htm ) at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 Changes
1. Purpose
As part of the Exchange's new trading model, the Exchange proposes to operate a neutral communications service that allows its participants to route orders to any destination connected to the CHX's network. This service would allow participants to route orders to market makers or other broker-dealers connected to the CHX's network, which provide order handling and execution services in the over-the-counter market; and to other destinations (including order-routing vendors) that are connected to the CHX's network. (To the extent that this service routes orders to destinations other than the Exchange and its institutional brokers, it is called the Exchange's “wide area network” or “WAN”). The WAN would not effect trade executions and would not report trades to “the tape.” The WAN would be a facility of the Exchange.
Participants would also use this communications service to route orders to the Exchange's matching System and to its institutional brokers.
This proposal would establish a $5,000 monthly fee for any participant that receives orders through the WAN. The monthly fee would be prorated in the month that a participant first begins using the service, based on the participant's first date of use. The fee would not be assessed until January 1, 2007, to allow the full implementation of the Exchange's new trading model to be completed before the fee is put into effect.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members who might seek to receive orders using the WAN service.
15 U.S.C. 78(f)(b)(4).
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
No written comments were either solicited or received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Changes and Timing for Commission Action
Because the foregoing rule change establishes or changes a due, fee or other charge applicable only to a member, it therefore has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder. 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.
Under Article I, Rule 1(t) of the Exchange's rules, an Exchange “ participant” is considered a “member” for all purposes under the Act.
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 proposal 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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-CHX-2006-36 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File No. SR-CHX-2006-36. 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 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 office of the CHX. 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 No. SR-CHX-2006-36 and should be submitted on or before January 10, 2007.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-21655 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P