E6-4057. Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Extension of the Pilot Until March 24, 2006 To Put Into Operation Phase 1 of the NYSE HYBRID ...  

  • Start Preamble March 15, 2006.

    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 13, 2006, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or “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 Exchange. NYSE filed the 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

    NYSE proposes to extend the pilot which put into operation Phase 1 of the NYSE HYBRID MARKET[SM] (“Hybrid Market”) initiative (“Pilot”) [5] proposed in SR-NYSE-2004-05 [6] and amendments thereto (“Hybrid Market 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 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 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

    On December 14, 2005, the Commission approved the Pilot to put into operation Phase 1 of the Hybrid Market initiative with respect to a group of securities, known as Phase 1 Pilot securities (“Pilot securities”).[7] The approval provided that the Pilot would terminate the earlier of: (1) March 14, 2006 or (2) Commission action on the Hybrid Market proposal.[8]

    The Exchange proposes to extend the Pilot through March 24, 2006, while the Commission continues to review the Hybrid Market filings.

    The Exchange believes that an extension of the Pilot through March 24, 2006 will allow the Exchange to continue to conduct real-time system and user testing of certain features of the Hybrid Market filings in order to be in a position to comply with the implementation of Regulation NMS.[9]

    The Exchange believes the Pilot has proven beneficial from both a technology and a training perspective. It has given the Exchange the opportunity to identify and address any system problems and to identify and incorporate beneficial system changes that become apparent as a result of usage in real time and under real market conditions. The ability to have such real time user interface is invaluable, as it is impossible to accurately anticipate behavioral changes in a development or mock-trading environment. In addition, the Pilot has allowed users to gain essential practical experience with the new systems and processes in a well-modulated way.

    The Pilot has operated with minimal problems given the amount and degree Start Printed Page 14279of testing and training that has occurred to date.[10]

    Therefore, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to extend the Pilot through March 24, 2006.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act [11] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act [12] in particular, 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. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is also designed to support the principles of Section 11A(a)(1) of the Act [13] in that it seeks to assure economically efficient execution of securities transactions, make it practicable for brokers to execute investors' orders in the best market, and provide an opportunity for investors' orders to be executed without the participation of a dealer.

    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 that is 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 written comments on the proposed rule change.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; does not impose any significant burden on competition; and by its terms, does not 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, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [14] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[15]

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) [16] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay and designate the proposed rule change immediately operative upon filing. The Commission believes that waiver of the five-day pre-filing notice requirement and the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because it would allow the Pilot to continue without interruption. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.[17]

    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.

    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

    Paper Comments

    • Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2006-21. 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. 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-NYSE-2006-21 and should be submitted on or before April 11, 2006.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[18]

    Nancy M. Morris,

    Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52954 (December 14, 2005), 70 FR 75519 (December 20, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2005-87). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53359 (February 24, 2006), 71 FR 10736 (March 2, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006-09) (amending the Pilot to provide for the automatic conversion of CAP-DI orders in certain situations).

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    6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 50173 (August 10, 2004), 69 FR 50407 (August 16, 2004); 50667 (November 15, 2004), 69 FR 67980 (November 22, 2004); and 51906 (June 22, 2005), 70 FR 37463 (June 29, 2005). See also Amendment No. 6, filed on September 16, 2005 and Amendment No. 7, filed on October 11, 2005.

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    7.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51906 (June 22, 2005), 70 FR 37463 (June 29, 2005) (Amendment No. 5 to SR-NYSE-2004-05); see also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52954 (December 14, 2005), 70 FR 75519 (December 20, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2005-87).

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    8.  See Telephone conversation between Jeffrey Rosenstrock, Principal Rule Counsel, NYSE, and Steve L. Kuan, Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on March 14, 2006.

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    9.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496 (June 29, 2005).

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    10.  See Telephone conversation between Jeffrey Rosenstrock, Principal Rule Counsel, NYSE, and Steve L. Kuan, Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, on March 14, 2006.

    Back to Citation

    17.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E6-4057 Filed 3-20-06; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Published:
03/21/2006
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E6-4057
Pages:
14278-14279 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-53487, File No. SR-NYSE-2006-21
EOCitation:
of 2006-03-15
PDF File:
e6-4057.pdf