Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-60758; File No. SR-NYSEAmex-2009-65]

                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) [1]                                          of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) [2]                                          and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[3]                                          notice is hereby given that, on September 30, 2009, NYSE Amex LLC (the “Exchange” or “NYSE Amex”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have                           ( print page 51640)                        been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. 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 extend the operation of its New Market Model Pilot until the earlier of Securities and Exchange Commission approval to make such pilots [                    *sic*] permanent or November 30, 2009. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and                     *http://www.nyse.com.*

## 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 self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts 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 extend the operation of its New Market Model Pilot (“NMM Pilot”) that was adopted pursuant to its merger with the New York Stock Exchange LLC.[4]                                          The NMM Pilot was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) to operate until October 1, 2009. The Exchange seeks to extend the operation of the NMM Pilot from October 1, 2009, until the earlier of Securities and Exchange Commission approval to make such pilot permanent or November 30, 2009.                

                    The Exchange notes that parallel changes are proposed to be made to the rules of New York Stock Exchange LLC.[5] 

###                     Background [6] 

In December 2008, NYSE Amex implemented significant changes to its market rules, execution technology and the rights and obligations of its market participants all of which were designed to improve execution quality on the Exchange. These changes are all elements of the Exchange's enhanced market model that it implemented through the NMM Pilot.

                    As part of the NMM Pilot, NYSE Amex eliminated the function of specialists on the Exchange creating a new category of market participant, the Designated Market Maker or DMM.[7]                                          The DMMs, like specialists, have affirmative obligations to make an orderly market, including continuous quoting requirements and obligations to re-enter the market when reaching across to execute against trading interest. Unlike specialists, DMMs have a minimum quoting requirement [8]                                          in their assigned securities and no longer have a negative obligation. DMMs are also no longer agents for public customer orders.[9] 

                    In addition, the Exchange implemented a system change that allowed DMMs to create a schedule of additional non-displayed liquidity at various price points where the DMM is willing to interact with interest and provide price improvement to orders in the Exchange's system. This schedule is known as the DMM Capital Commitment Schedule (“CCS”).[10]                                          CCS provides the Display Book® [11]                                          with the amount of shares that the DMM is willing to trade at price points outside, at and inside the Exchange BBO. CCS interest is separate and distinct from other DMM interest in that it serves as the interest of last resort.                

                    The NMM Pilot further modified the logic for allocating executed shares among market participants having trading interest at a price point upon execution of incoming orders. The modified logic rewards displayed orders that establish the Exchange's best bid or Exchange's best offer. During the operation of the NMM Pilot orders or portions thereof that establish prio rity [12]                                          retain that priority until the portion of the order that established priority is exhausted. Where no one order has established priority, shares are distributed among all market participants on parity.                

The NMM Pilot is scheduled to end operation on October 1, 2009, or such earlier time as the Commission may determine to make the rules permanent. The Exchange is currently preparing a rule filing seeking permission to make the above described changes permanent but does not expect that filing to be completed and approved by the Commission before October 1, 2009.

### Proposal To Extend the Operation of the NMM Pilot

NYSE Amex established the NMM Pilot to provide incentives for quoting, to enhance competition among the existing group of liquidity providers and add a new competitive market participant. The Exchange believes that the NMM Pilot allows the Exchange to provide its market participants with a trading venue that utilizes an enhanced market structure to encourage the addition of liquidity, facilitate the trading of larger orders more efficiently and operates to reward aggressive liquidity providers. As such, the Exchange believes that rules governing the NMM Pilot should be made permanent. Through this filing the Exchange seeks to extend the current operation of the NMM Pilot until November 30, 2009, in order to allow the Exchange to formally submit a filing to the Commission to convert the pilot rules to permanent rules.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The basis under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(5) that an exchange have rules that are designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the                           ( print page 51641)                        mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that the instant filing is consistent with these principles because the NMM Pilot provides its market participants with a trading venue that utilizes an enhanced market structure to encourage the addition of liquidity, facilitate the trading of larger orders more efficiently and operates to reward aggressive liquidity providers. Moreover, the instant filing requesting an extension of the NMM Pilot will permit adequate time for: (i) The Exchange to prepare and submit a filing to make the rules governing the NMM Pilot permanent rules; (ii) public notice and comment; and (iii) completion of the 19b-4 approval process.                

### 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 solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

                    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act[13]                                                               and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[14]                                          Because the 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 prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.[15] 

                    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [16]                                          normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),[17]                                          the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing.                

                    The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Commission notes that because the pilot program will expire on October 1, 2009, waiver of the operative delay is necessary so that no interruption of the pilot program will occur. In addition, the Commission notes that the Exchange has requested extensions of the pilot to allow the Exchange time to formally request permanent approval for the pilot. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposal operative upon filing.[18] 

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-NYSEAmex-2009-65 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-NYSEAmex-2009-65. 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 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 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-NYSEAmex-2009-65 and should be submitted on or before October 28, 2009.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[19] 

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
        Back to Citation      

2.                             15 U.S.C. 78a.                    
        Back to Citation      

3.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
        Back to Citation      

4.                             NYSE Euronext acquired The Amex Membership Corporation (“AMC”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 17, 2008 (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, the Exchange's predecessor, the American Stock Exchange LLC (“Amex”), a subsidiary of AMC, became a subsidiary of NYSE Euronext called NYSE Alternext US LLC. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58673 (September 29, 2008), 73 FR 57707 (October 3, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-60 and SR-Amex-2008-62) (approving the Merger). Subsequently NYSE Alternext US LLC was renamed NYSE Amex LLC and continues to operate as a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”). NYSE Alternext US LLC was subsequently renamed NYSE Amex LLC.                         *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59575 (March 13, 2009), 74 FR 11803 (March 19, 2009) (SR-NYSEALTR-2009-24).                    
        Back to Citation      

5.                                                     *See*                         SR-NYSE-2009-100.                    
        Back to Citation      

6.                             The information contained herein is a summary of the NMM Pilot. For a fuller description of the pilot                         *see*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58845 (October 24, 2008), 73 FR 64379 (October 29, 2008) (SR-NYSE-2008-46).                    
        Back to Citation      

7.                                                     *See*                         NYSE Amex Equities Rule 103.                    
        Back to Citation      

8.                                                     *See*                         NYSE Amex Equities Rule 104.                    
        Back to Citation      

9.                                                     *See*                         NYSE Amex Equities Rule 60;                         *See also*                         104 and 1000.                    
        Back to Citation      

10.                                                     *See*                         NYSE Amex Equities Rule 1000.                    
        Back to Citation      

11.                             The Display Book ® system is an order management and execution facility. The Display Book system receives and displays orders to the DMMs, contains the order information, and provides a mechanism to execute and report transactions and publish the results to the Consolidated Tape. The Display Book system is connected to a number of other Exchange systems for the purposes of comparison, surveillance, and reporting information to customers and other market data and national market systems.                    
        Back to Citation      

12.                                                     *See*                         NYSE Amex Equities Rule 72(a)(ii).                    
        Back to Citation      

13.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                    
        Back to Citation      

14.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

15.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the self-regulatory organization to submit to the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.                    
        Back to Citation      

16.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

17.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                    
        Back to Citation      

18.                             For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.                         *See*15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
        Back to Citation      

19.                             17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. E9-24084 Filed 10-6-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P