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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-66116; File No. SR-BX-2012-001]

                    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 January 5, 2012, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Exchange filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [3]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 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.                

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

                    The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter XIV (Index Rules) of the Rules of the Boston Options Exchange Group, LLC (“BOX”) to remove references to the Russell® 2000 Index (RUT). The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's Internet Web site at                     *http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com/​NASDAQOMXBX/​Filings/​.*

## 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 these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 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

Options on the Russell® 2000 Index (RUT) are no longer listed or traded on BOX, and as such, the Exchange proposes to remove the references to RUT cited below from Chapter XIV (Index Rules) of the BOX Trading Rules.

Supplementary Material .01 to Section 2 of the Index Rules identifies the reporting authorities designated in respect of each underlying index for options traded on BOX, including the Frank Russell Company for RUT.

Section 5 of the Index Rules specifies position limits for certain broad-based index options, including RUT, and the Russell 2000 Value Index and Russell 2000 Growth Index. Neither of these indexes is traded on BOX so the Exchange proposes to delete these references as well.

Section 7 of the Index Rules provides certain exemptions from position limits, and provides a specific exemption related to RUT or the Nasdaq 100 Index. The Exchange proposes to delete the reference to RUT as inapplicable.

Section 10 of the Index Rules permits the Exchange to list up to seven expiration months at any one time for certain broad-based index options, including RUT. Additionally, Section 10(a)(4) specifically references options on RUT as one of the European-style index options approved for trading on BOX, Section 10(a)(5)(ii) references options on RUT as A.M.-settled index options approved for trading on BOX and Section 10 (c) references RUT in its “Procedures for Adding and Deleting Strike Prices.” These references will now be inapplicable as RUT will no longer be traded on BOX. As such, the Exchange proposes to delete them.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,[5]                                          in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[6]                                          in particular, 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. In particular, this proposed change removes from the BOX Trading Rules references to RUT that are no longer applicable because options on RUT have been delisted and are no longer traded on BOX.                

### 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*

                    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.                          ( print page 1969)    

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

                    Because the foregoing proposed rule does not (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 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, provided that the self-regulatory organization has given the Commission written notice of its intent to file 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,[7]                                          the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [8]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[9] 

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-2012-001 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.

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2012-001. 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, 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 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-BX-2012-001 and should be submitted on or before February 2, 2012.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[10] 

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.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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4.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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5.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                    
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6.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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7.                             The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.                    
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8.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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9.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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10.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 2012-481 Filed 1-11-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P