Self-Regulatory Organizations; Proposed Rule Changes: Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.

Federal Register: July 14, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 133)

Notices

Page 34062-34063

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr14jy09-117

Page 34062

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Release No. 34-60259; File No. SR-CHX-2009-08

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.;

Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change

Relating to the Reallocation of Credits Paid to Institutional Brokers

July 7, 2009.

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 June 29, 2009, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX'' or

``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission

(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. CHX filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and

Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 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.

\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

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

    The CHX proposes to amend its Schedule of Participant Fees and

    Assessments (the ``Fee Schedule''), effective July 1, 2009, to change the manner in which CHX-registered Institutional Brokers are paid a credit based upon (1) Transaction Fees generated by Agency orders executed by them on the Exchange's trading facilities and (2) Trade

    Processing Fees generated by transactions executed on another trading center, but submitted to clearing via the Exchange's systems. The text of this proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.chx.com/rules/proposed_rules.htm and in the Commission's

    Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549.

  2. 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.

    1. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and

      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose

      Through this filing, the Exchange would amend its Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2009, to change the manner in which CHX-registered

      Institutional Brokers are paid credits based on both Transaction Fees generated by Agency orders executed by them on the Exchange's trading facilities and on Trade Processing Fees generated by orders executed on away markets, but submitted to clearing by them via the Exchange's systems.

      CHX-registered Institutional Brokers are paid a Credit which is based upon a percentage of the fees derived from transactions handled by them for other Exchange Participants.\5\ Pursuant to this filing, the Fee Schedule would be amended to reduce the overall Credit paid to

      Institutional Brokers (``Credit'') from 18% to 16% of the Fees charged to Participants in transactions in which the Institutional Brokers are involved in either the execution or clearance thereof. The amended Fee

      Schedule would also alter the manner in which such credits are distributed to Institutional Brokers involved in such transactions.

      Currently, the Institutional Broker representing the ultimate clearing participant in transactions executed on the Exchange receives the full

      Credit. For transactions executed on another trading center and reported to clearing via the Exchange's systems, however, the Credit is divided between the Originating Broker (defined as the Institutional

      Broker which executed the trade) and the Broker of Credit (defined as the Institutional Broker that acted as the broker for the ultimate

      Exchange clearing participant).

      \5\ These fees are set forth in Sections E.3. (Agency executions through an institutional broker) and E.7. (Trade Processing Fees) of the Fee Schedule.

      Under the proposed changes, the Fee Schedule would be modified to harmonize the allocation of Credits paid to Institutional Brokers derived from Transaction Fees with those paid based upon Trade

      Processing Fees. In each case, the Credits would be divided between the

      Originating Broker and the Broker of Credit and would be paid at the same rates.\6\ Pursuant to the revised Fee Schedule, the Broker of

      Credit would receive three-quarters (3/4) of the total Credit paid to

      Institutional Brokers in the relevant transactions, or 12%. The

      Originating Broker would receive the remaining 4% of the Credit for the initial execution of the trade, whether on our trading facilities or in an away market. An Institutional Broker could act as both the

      Originating Broker and the Broker of Credit in any given transaction, in which case it would earn Credits in both capacities.

      \6\ In order to accommodate this change, the definition of

      ``Originating Broker'' would be modified to delete the reference to executions ``on an away market.''

      The Exchange believes that the harmonization of the manner of payment and rates for Transaction Fee Credits with those for Trade

      Processing Fee Credits is sensible and will serve to eliminate potential confusion concerning the nature and amount of Credits paid in

      Institutional Broker-handled transactions. Moreover, the transactions handled by Institutional Brokers frequently are complicated and involve numerous counterparties. Originating Brokers typically retain additional clerical and operational staff to process and reconcile all of the terms of and parties to these transactions. The payment of a portion of the Credit to the Originating Broker recognizes the additional costs borne by them and the Exchange hopes that it will also incent Institutional Brokers to execute additional fee-generating orders. 2. Statutory Basis

      The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \7\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \8\ in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among its members. The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to the allocation of Institutional Broker credits is fair and reasonable in that it provides for additional compensation to

      Originating Brokers in circumstances where they did not previously receive any portion of the Credit. While the overall amount of Credits is being reduced for transactions consummated on our trading facilities, this reduction is offset by an increase in the amount of

      Credits paid based upon away market trades.

      \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.

      \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).

      Page 34063

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

  3. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for

    Commission Action

    The foregoing proposed rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder.\10\ 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.

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

  4. 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-CHX-2009-08 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-CHX-2009-08. 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 will also 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-CHX-2009-08 and should be submitted on or before August 4, 2009.

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

    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    Elizabeth M. Murphy,

    Secretary.

    FR Doc. E9-16582 Filed 7-13-09; 8:45 am

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

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