2010-10600. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Arca, Inc. To Make a Technical Adjustment to Its Rules To Allow Sub-Penny Quoting of Certain Securities
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April 29, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) [1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2] notice is hereby given that, on April 23, 2010, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 make a technical adjustment to its rules to allow sub-penny quoting of certain securities priced less than $1.00. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://www.nyse.com,, at the Exchange's principal office, on the Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov,, 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 self-regulatory organization 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 those 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 parts 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 Exchange proposes to make a technical adjustment its rules to allow sub-penny quoting of Investment Company Units, Portfolio Depositary Receipts, and Managed Fund Shares. Currently, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) Commentaries .01(e) and .02(e), NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.6 Commentary .03, Rule 8.100 Commentaries .01(e) and .02(e), and NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600 Commentary .03 restrict the minimum price variation for quoting and order entry to $0.01. Consistent with Regulation NMS Rule 612, the Exchange proposes to remove these provisions to allow these securities to be quoted in a minimum pricing increment of $0.0001 for securities priced less than $1.00. The Exchange notes that it has not had any of the aforementioned securities quote below a dollar nor does it anticipate such an occurrence in the reasonably foreseeable future. The Exchange simply seeks to harmonize the minimum price variation in the aforementioned products with all other equity securities traded on the Exchange.
Moreover, the Exchange notes that this approach is substantially similar to BATS Rule 11.11 and Nasdaq Rule 4613(a)(1)(B).
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) [3] of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) [4] in particular in that it 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 facilitating transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system. The Exchange believes that the proposed amendment is consistent with the goal of removing impediments to a free and open market because the changes proposed herein will substantially harmonize NYSE Arca's sub-penny quoting policy with Rule 612 of Regulation NMS which allows a minimum pricing increment of $0.0001 for securities priced less than $1.00.
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
No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Because the 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, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [5] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[6]
The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, because the proposal is consistent with Rule 612 of Regulation NMS and the rules of other self-regulatory organizations previously approved by the Commission.[7] For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposed rule change as operative upon filing.[8]
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 Start Printed Page 25020interest, 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
- 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-NYSEArca-2010-36 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-NYSEArca-2010-36. 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 Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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-NYSEArca-2010-36 and should be submitted on or before May 27, 2010.
Start SignatureFor the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[9]
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
Footnotes
6. 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied the pre-filing requirement.
Back to Citation7. See BATS Rule 11.11 and Nasdaq Rule 4613(a)(1)(B).
Back to Citation8. 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. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
Back to Citation[FR Doc. 2010-10600 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
Document Information
- Comments Received:
- 0 Comments
- Published:
- 05/06/2010
- Department:
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Entry Type:
- Notice
- Document Number:
- 2010-10600
- Pages:
- 25019-25020 (2 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- Release No. 34-62006, File No. SR-NYSEArca-2010-36
- EOCitation:
- of 2010-04-29
- PDF File:
- 2010-10600.pdf