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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-55773; File No. SR-BSE-2007-16] 

                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),[1]                                          and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2]                                          notice is hereby given that on April 17, 2007, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (“BSE” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the BSE. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act [3]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,[4]                                          which renders it effective upon filing with the Commission.[5]                                          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 BSE proposes amending Section 2 and 3 of Chapter XXXVII of the Rules of BSE (“BSE Rules”) to allow odd-lot and mixed-lot market or limit orders to be sent to the Boston Equities Exchange (“BeX”). The text of the proposed rule change is available at BSE, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and (                    *http://www.bostonstock.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 BSE 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 

#### 1. Purpose 

                    On June 13, 2006 the BSE filed Amendment No. 3 to File Number SR-BSE-2006-22 (the “BeX Facility Filing”), a rule filing submitted in connection with the implementation of the first of two phases of BeX, a fully automated electronic book for the                           ( print page 29021)                        display and execution of orders in securities. On August 25, 2006, File Number SR-BSE-2006-22 was approved by the Commission.[6]                                          On August 3, 2006, the BSE filed, in connection with the implementation of the second phase of BeX and in connection with satisfying the requirements of Regulation NMS, File Number SR-BSE-2006-30. On September 29, 2006 the Commission approved File Number SR-BSE-2006-30.[7] 

At the present time, all orders sent to BeX must be round-lot market or limit orders with the exception of orders for Nasdaq Global Market securities and Nasdaq Capital Market securities, which orders may be odd-lot or mixed-lot orders. The purpose of this proposed rule change is to amend BSE Rules to allow all orders sent to BeX to be odd-lot or mixed-lot market or limit orders, thereby removing the limitation that all orders sent to BeX must be round lot orders unless such orders are for Nasdaq Global Market securities or Nasdaq Capital Market securities. In other words, the proposed rule change would allow all orders sent to BeX to be round-lot, odd-lot or mixed-lot market or limit orders. For stocks, 100 shares shall constitute a “round lot,” any amount less than 100 shares shall constitute an “odd lot,” and any amount greater than 100 shares that is not a multiple of a round lot shall constitute a “mixed lot.” 

#### 2. Statutory Basis 

                    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,[8]                                          in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[9]                                          in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest in that it is designed to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.                 

### 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 

The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change. 

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

                    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for thirty 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [10]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [11]                                          thereunder.[12] 

                    A proposed rule change filed under Commission Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [13]                                          normally does not become operative prior to thirty days after the date of filing. The BSE requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay, as specified in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), and designate the proposed rule change to become operative immediately. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver will allow BSE to implement rules similar to those already in place at other exchanges and establish uniformity with respect to odd-lot and mixed-lot orders for all securities traded on BeX without needless delay. For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.[14] 

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 the 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-BSE-2007-16 on the subject line.                 

### Paper Comments 

    - Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BSE-2007-16. 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. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the BSE. 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-BSE-2007-16 and should be submitted on or before June 13, 2007.                 

      ( print page 29022)    
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[15] 

J. Lynn Taylor, 

Assistant Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                     
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2.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                     
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3.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                     
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4.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                     
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5.                             The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30- day operative delay required by Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                         *See*                         discussion                         *infra*                         Section III.                     
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6.                             Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54365 (August 25, 2006) 71 FR 52192 (September 1, 2006).                    
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7.                             Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54546 (September 29, 2006) 71 FR 59161 (October 6, 2006).                    
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8.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                     
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9.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                     
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10.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                     
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11.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                     
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12.                             Pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange has given 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 on which the Exchange filed the proposed rule change.                         *See*17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                    
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13.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                     
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14.                             For the purposes only of waiving the operative date of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.                         *See*15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
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15.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                         
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 [FR Doc. E7-9876 Filed 5-22-07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P