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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-66754; File No. SR-Phlx-2012-41]

      ( print page 22040)    
                    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 March 27, 2012, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (“Phlx” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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 Exchange Rule 1080(m), Order Routing, to expand the routing capabilities of certain options orders that are eligible for electronic routing to other market centers by the Exchange's fully automated options trading system, PHLX XL.®[3]                                          Under the proposal, non-customer FIND orders (as defined below) that are received during open trading will now be eligible for routing to other market centers for execution.                

                    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at                     *http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/​micro.aspx?​id=​PHLXRulefilings,*                     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 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

The purpose of the proposed rule change is to expand the routing capabilities of option orders that are eligible for routing to other market centers when the Exchange cannot execute such orders at the National Best Bid or Offer (“NBBO”), by making non-customer FIND orders eligible for routing during open trading. In addition, the Exchange is revising the definition of the term “SRCH order” to be clear that only customer SRCH orders will continue to be eligible for routing.

#### Current Rule

                    Currently, Rule 1080(m) states that the PHLX XL system will route only customer [4]                                          FIND [5]                                          and SRCH [6]                                          orders to away markets. For purposes of this rule, the term “customer” includes a “professional” customer as defined in Exchange Rule 1000(b)(14).[7]                                          FIND and SRCH Orders designated as available for routing are first checked by the PHLX XL system for available contracts for potential execution on the Exchange. After checking the PHLX XL system for available contracts, orders are sent to other available market centers for potential execution. When checking the book, the PHLX XL system seeks to execute at the price at which it would send the order to a destination market center. In situations where the Exchange's disseminated bid or offer is inferior to the NBBO price, the PHLX XL system will contemporaneously route an order marked as an Intermarket Sweep Order (“ISO”) [8]                                          to each away market disseminating prices better than the Exchange's price, for the lesser of: (a) The disseminated size of such away markets, or (b) the order size and, if order size remains after such routing, trade at the Exchange's disseminated bid or offer up to its disseminated size. If contracts still remain unexecuted after routing, they are posted on the Exchange's limit order book. Whether and under what circumstances such unexecuted contracts are re-routed depends upon the order's status as a FIND or SRCH order, as defined above.[9] 

#### The Proposal

                    The Exchange is proposing to add non-customer FIND orders as a new category of orders that are eligible for routing. Non-customer FIND orders would be eligible for routing only during open trading, and not during the Opening Process.[10]                                          Customer FIND and SRCH orders received prior to the opening would continue to be treated as they are currently under the rule,                     *i.e.,*                     both are eligible for routing during the Opening Process.                

                    Under the current rule and practice, a customer FIND order received during open trading that is not marketable against the PHLX Best Bid or Offer (“PBBO”) or the Away Best Bid or Offer (“ABBO”) is entered into the limit order book at its limit price. If the FIND order is marketable against the ABBO, it is routed to markets disseminating the ABBO. If the order still has remaining                           ( print page 22041)                        size after routing, it will be entered into the limit order book. Such FIND order, or its remainder, is not eligible for routing again until the next time the affected option series is subject to a new Opening Process. Under the proposal, non-customer FIND orders would be treated in the same manner as customer FIND orders, except that non-customer FIND orders would not be eligible for routing during the Opening Process. The Exchange is proposing to route only customer FIND orders during the opening process to ensure that customers retain priority respecting all liquidity available as part of the Opening Process whether that liquidity is on PHLX or on another exchange. During open trading this is not an issue because two FIND orders will not be received at precisely the same time; generally, a customer FIND order would always have priority over a non-customer FIND order.                

Unlike the treatment of FIND orders, the treatment of SRCH orders is not subject to change under the proposal. Currently, Exchange Rule 1080(m) states that the PHLX XL system will route only customer FIND and SRCH orders. While the proposed rule change would expand routable FIND orders to include non-customer FIND orders, the proposal would re-define a SRCH order as a customer order that is routable at any time. The purpose of this change is to ensure that only customer SRCH orders continue to be eligible for routing. Just as today, non-customer SRCH orders will not be eligible for routing. Non-customer orders received that are designated as SRCH orders will be placed on the limit order book if not executed on the Exchange upon receipt.

The Exchange notes that very few customers use the SRCH order type. Additionally, the Exchange has noted that there is no demand for the use of SRCH orders on the part of non-customers, as these participants tend to be sensitive to, and prefer to control, the charges incurred when their order is routed. The Exchange believes, however, that non-customers submitting their orders to the Exchange will use FIND orders. FIND orders allow participants to access potential liquidity on away markets while enabling them to manage expectations of the number of times their orders are routed. This helps participants to plan for and ascertain the fees they would incur each time their order is routed. Thus, the Exchange believes that the expansion of the FIND order to non-customer participants is appropriate and useful in the processing of non-customer orders seeking the best execution in the marketplace as a whole.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,[11]                                          in general and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[12]                                          in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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 of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest; and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers, or to regulate by virtue of any authority conferred by the Act matters not related to the purposes of the Act or the administration of the Exchange.                

                    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is also consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act [13]                                          in that it does not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, the proposal would expand the routing capabilities of certain orders that are eligible for routing to other exchanges, despite the fact that such other exchanges are competitors of the Exchange. This benefits investors because the Exchange's system will route to away markets at better prices.                

The proposed rule change removes impediments to and perfects the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system by enabling non-customer orders to have access to liquidity on other exchanges each time they submit a FIND order to the Exchange, providing for best executions in the national market system.

The Exchange further believes that the proposed rule change does not permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. FIND orders submitted after the Opening Process, by either customers or non-customers, will be handled by the PHLX XL system in the same manner and will be provided with equal access to liquidity on other exchanges. This treatment of customer and non-customer FIND orders ensures that there is no unfair discrimination between customers and non-customers submitting such orders to the Exchange after the Opening 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 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

                    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.[14]                                          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. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.                

## 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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-41 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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-41. 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                           ( print page 22042)                        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 No. SR-Phlx-2012-41 and should be submitted on or before May 3, 2012.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[15] 

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.                             This proposal refers to “PHLX XL” as the Exchange's automated options trading system. In May 2009 the Exchange enhanced the system and adopted corresponding rules referring to the system as “Phlx XL II.”                         *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59995 (May 28, 2009), 74 FR 26750 (June 3, 2009) (SR-Phlx-2009-32). The Exchange intends to submit a separate technical proposed rule change that would change all references to the system from “Phlx XL II” to “PHLX XL” for branding purposes.                    
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4.                             For purposes of this proposal, the term “customer” means a person or entity that is neither a broker-dealer nor a direct or indirect affiliate of a broker-dealer.                    
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5.                             A FIND order is currently defined as an order that is routable upon receipt. A FIND order received during open trading that is not marketable against the PHLX best Bid/Offer “PBBO” or the Away Best Bid/Offer (“ABBO”) will be entered into the limit order book at its limit price. The FIND order will not be eligible for routing until the next time the option series is subject to a new Opening Process.                         *See*                         Exchange Rule 1080(m)(iv)(B).                    
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6.                             A SRCH order is an order that is routable at any time. A SRCH order received during open trading that is not marketable against the PBBO or the ABBO will be entered into the Phlx XLII book. Once on the book, the SRCH order is eligible for routing if it is locked or crossed by an away market.                         *See*                         Exchange Rule 1080(m)(iv)(C).                    
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7.                             The term “professional” means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). A professional will be treated in the same manner as an off-floor broker-dealer for purposes of Rules 1014(g)(except with respect to all-or-none orders, which will be treated like customer orders, except that orders submitted pursuant to Rule 1080(n) for the beneficial account(s) of professionals with an all-or-none designation will be treated in the same manner as off-floor broker-dealer orders), 1033(e), 1064.02 (except professional orders will be considered customer orders subject to facilitation), 1080(n) and 1080.08 as well as Options Floor Procedure Advices B-6, B-11 and F-5. Member organizations must indicate whether orders are for professionals.                         *See*                         Exchange Rule 1000(b)(14).                    
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8.                             An ISO is a limit order for an options series that is identified as an ISO when routed to an away market center and, simultaneously with the routing of the order, one or more additional ISOs, as necessary, are routed to execute against the full displayed size of any Protected Bid, in the case of a limit order to sell, or any Protected Offer, in the case of a limit order to buy, for the options series with a price that is superior to the limit price of the ISO, with such additional orders also marked as ISOs.                    
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9.                                                     *See supra*                         notes 5 and 6.                    
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10.                                                     *See*                         Exchange Rule 1017(l)(iii).                    
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11.                             15 U.S.C. 78f.                    
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12.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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13.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).                    
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14.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                    
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15.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 2012-8778 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P