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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-66356; File No. SR-BX-2012-007]

                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) [1]                                         , and Rule 19b-4 [2]                                          thereunder, notice is hereby given that on January 26, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a non-controversial rule change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,[3]                                          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.                

## I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter V, Section 14(c) (Doing Business on BOX-Order Entry) and Supplementary Material .01 to Chapter V, Section 17 (Customer Orders), of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”) to permit Customer Cross Orders.

                    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at                     *http://nasdaqomxbx.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 the 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

#### 1. Purpose

Chapter V, Section 14(c) of the BOX Rules designates the order types that may be submitted to the Trading Host. The purpose of this proposal is to amend the definition of Order Entry to include Customer Cross Orders. In particular, the Exchange proposes to add the definition of a Customer Cross Order as new Section 14(c)(vii), specifying that a Customer Cross Order is comprised of a non-Professional, Public Customer Order to buy and a non-Professional, Public Customer Order to sell at the same price and for the same quantity. The Exchange also proposes to specify that Customer Cross Orders be automatically executed upon entry provided that the execution is between the best bid and offer on BOX (“BBO”) and will not trade-through the national best bid or offer (“NBBO”).

The proposed rule also specifies that Customer Cross Orders entered at a price that is outside the BBO or the NBBO will be automatically canceled, and that Customer Cross Orders may only be entered in the regular trading increments applicable to the options class under Chapter V, Section 6 of the BOX Rules.

Finally, the proposal specifies that Supplementary Material .01 to Chapter V, Section 17 of the BOX Rules, which prohibits an Options Participant from being a party to any arrangement designed to circumvent the requirements applicable to executing agency orders as principal, applies to the entry and execution of Customer Cross Orders. In this respect, the Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .01 to Chapter V, Section 17 to specifically reference affiliates of Options Participants, which is consistent with how BOX has interpreted the provision.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,[4]                                          in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[5]                                          in particular. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to facilitate 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. In particular, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change provides for the efficient entry and execution of Customer Cross Orders while also protecting orders at the best prices on the BOX Book.                

                    The Exchange notes that a similar filing proposed by the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”) became effective July 7, 2009.[6]                                          The Exchange would like to similarly offer BOX Options Participants the opportunities associated with Customer                           ( print page 8322)                        Cross Orders. BOX believes that this proposed rule change, which is essential for competitive purposes and to promote a free and open market for the benefit of investors, does not raise any new, unique or substantive issues from those raised in the effective ISE filing.                

### 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.

### 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

                    This proposed rule change is filed pursuant to paragraph (A) of section 19(b)(3) of the Exchange Act [7]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[8]                                          This proposed rule change does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest, does not impose any significant burden on competition, and, by its terms, does not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.[9] 

                    A similar filing proposed by the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“ISE”) became effective July 7, 2009.[10]                                          The Exchange would like to similarly offer BOX Options Participants the opportunities associated with Customer Cross Orders. BOX believes that this proposed rule change, which is essential for competitive purposes and to promote a free and open market for the benefit of investors, does not raise any new, unique or substantive issues from those raised in the effective ISE filing.                

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 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov.                      Please include File Number SR-BX-2012-007 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-BX-2012-007. 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 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 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal offices 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-BX-2012-007, and should be submitted on or before March 6, 2012.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[11] 

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy 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.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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4.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                    
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5.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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6.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60253 (July 7, 2009) 74 FR 34063 (July 14, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-34) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Customer Cross Orders).                    
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7.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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8.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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9.                             As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change along with a brief description and the 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.                    
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10.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60253 (July 7, 2009) 74 FR 34063 (July 14, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-34) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Regarding Customer Cross Orders).                    
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11.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 2012-3330 Filed 2-13-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P