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 14, 2013, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (“Phlx” or the “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. 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 Rule 3100 to adopt a modification in the process for initiating trading of a security that is the subject of a trading halt or pause on NASDAQ OMX PSX (“PSX”). The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/​nasdaqomxphlx/​phlx/​, 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 ( printed page 38778) 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

In 2012, The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) modified its process for commencing trading of a security that is the subject of an initial public offering (an “IPO”) on NASDAQ by allowing market participants to enter orders to be held in an undisplayed state until the commencement of the Display-Only Period that occurs prior to the IPO.^[3] NASDAQ recently proposed a similar change with regard to entering orders prior to the end of other trading halts or pauses on NASDAQ.^[4] The Exchange is proposing to make a similar change with regard to entering orders prior to the end of trading halts or pauses on PSX. Rule 3100(a) describes the circumstances under which the Exchange has the authority to initiate a trading halt. As detailed in Rule 3100(a), the specific bases for a halt include the following:

• A halt to permit the dissemination of material news with respect to a security listed on another national securities exchange (Rule 3100(a)(1)(A));
• a halt due to an order imbalance or influx (Rule 3100(a)(1)(B));
• a halt with respect to an index warrant when deemed appropriate in the interests of a fair and orderly market and to protect investors (Rule 3100(a)(2));
• a halt in a Derivative Securities Product (as defined in Rule 3100(b)(4)(A)) for which a net asset value (“NAV”) or a Disclosed Portfolio is disseminated if the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV or Disclosed Portfolio is not being disseminated to all market participants at the same time (Rule 3100(a)(3));
• a trading pause with respect to stocks that are not subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan ^[5] and for which the primary listing market has issued an individual stock trading pause (Rule 3100(a)(4)); and

• a trading halt in a Derivative Security Product traded pursuant to unlisted trading privileges for which a “Required Value,” such as an intraday indicative value or disclosed portfolio, is not being disseminated, under the conditions described in Rule 3100(b).

Under the current process, quotes and orders in a halted security may not be entered until the resumption of trading. However, the Exchange believes that the quality of its process for commencing trading in the halted security would be enhanced by allowing market participants to enter orders to be held but not displayed until the resumption of trading. Specifically, the Exchange believes that this change will provide for a greater number of orders being entered prior to commencement of trading, resulting in a higher level of order interaction at the resumption of trading.

Orders entered in this manner will be held in a suspended state until the resumption of trading, at which time they will be entered into the system. Market participants may cancel orders entered in this manner in the same way they would cancel any other order. Orders entered prior to the resumption of trading will be rejected unless they are designated for holding. Specifically, the orders will be entered into the continuous market once trading resumes.^[6]

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[7] in general, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[8] in particular, in that the proposal is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 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. Specifically, the Exchange believes that the change to allow entry of quotes and orders for holding during a trading halt will provide for a greater number of orders being entered prior to commencement of trading, resulting in a higher level of order interaction in the re-opening process. Thus, the Exchange believes that the change will remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended. Specifically, the Exchange believes that this change will provide for a greater number of orders being entered prior to commencement of trading, resulting in a higher level of order interaction. The Exchange believes that this change will promote competition by enhancing the attractiveness of PSX as a trading venue through higher order fill rates and more complete price discovery. Moreover, because the change will not affect the availability or price of goods or services offered by PSX or others, it will not impose any burden on competition.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act ^[9] and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.^[10]

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: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) 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 torule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-Phlx-2013-66 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.

June 21, 2013. ( printed page 38779)

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2013-66. 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 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2013-66 and should be submitted on or before July 18, 2013.