Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),^[1] notice is hereby given that on January 14, 2002, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” 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 Phlx. The Phlx submitted an amendment to the proposed rule change on March 8, 2002.^[2] The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend certain Phlx rules and Phlx Options Floor Procedure Advices and Order and Decorum Regulations (“Options Advices”), to remove references to fractional pricing. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Commission and the Phlx.

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 Phlx 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 Phlx 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

The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend certain existing Exchange rules and Options Advices to delete references to fractions and dual pricing in fractions and in decimals. Although references in Exchange rules to both fractional and decimal pricing were necessary during the phase-in period of decimalization since June of 2000, such references are no longer needed after full, industry-wide implementation of decimal pricing as a result of which all equity and option products are now quoted only in decimals.

In June 2000, the Commission reviewed the Decimals Implementation Plan (“Decimals Plan”) ^[3] submitted by the National Association of Securities Dealers and the national securities exchanges. The Decimals Plan proposed a Minimum Price Variation (“MPV”) of $.01 for equities, and an MPV of $.05 for options trading under $3.00 and $.10 for options trading at $3.00 or higher, which the Exchange implemented in Phlx Rules 125 and 1034 (“MPV rules”).^[4] Because decimals pricing was instituted in several phases in the years 2000 and 2001, during which time securities were quoted in both fractional and decimal prices, the Exchange modified its MPV rules and various other rules to include references to both fractional and decimal pricing. After the implementation of full, industry-wide decimalization such that all securities now quote in decimals, references to ( printed page 13399) fractions and dual pricing in fractions and in decimals are no longer necessary in Phlx rules.

The Exchange therefore proposes to delete references to fractions and dual pricing from the following Phlx Rules of the Board of Governors: ^[5] 125, Variations in Bids and Offers; 229, Philadelphia Stock Exchange Automated Communication and Execution System; 245, Terms of Offering on Tape; 307 “Part-Paid” Securities; and 803 Criteria for Listing—Tier I.

The Exchange proposes to delete references to fractions and dual pricing from the following Phlx options rules: 1014, Obligations and Restrictions Applicable to Specialists and Registered Options Traders; 1015 Quotation Guarantees; 1034 Minimum Trading Increments; 1079 FLEX Index and Equity Options; ^[6] 1080 Philadelphia Stock Exchange Automated Options Market (“AUTOM”) and Automatic Execution System (“AUTO-X”); ^[7] and 1033A, Meaning of Premium Bids and Offers.

The Exchange proposes to delete references to fractions and dual pricing from the following Options Advises: A-9, All-or-None Option Orders; A-11, Responsibility to Fill Customer Orders; and F-6, Option Quote Parameters.^[8]

An example of the non-substantive changes proposed is that the language of Exchange Rules 125 and 1034 will be modified to eliminate references to fractional increments so that the remaining language will refer only to quoting in decimals. A further example is that references to fractional pricing in Exchange Rule 1080(c)(i)(C) will be eliminated so that the example of a crossed trade in the rule that currently reflects fractional pricing (2 1/8 bid, 2 asked) would reflect only decimal pricing (2.10 bid, 2 asked).

According to the Exchange, the proposed amendments are non-substantive, technical changes for the purpose of conforming Exchange rules to the development of full decimalization in the securities industry.^[9]

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Act,^[10] in general, and with Section 6(b)(5),^[11] in particular, in that it promotes just and equitable principles of trade, fosters cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, removes impediments to and perfects the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, protects investors and the public interest.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule, as amended, will impose any inappropriate 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.

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

Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the Phlx consents, the Commission will:

(A) by order approve such proposed rule change, or,

(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be 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, as amended, is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Phlx. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-Phlx-2002-05 and should be submitted by April 12, 2002.