E6-13004. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Modify the Date for Compliance With Regulation NMS  

  • Start Preamble August 3, 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 August 2, 2006, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) 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 Nasdaq. Nasdaq has filed the proposal 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

    Nasdaq proposes to modify the date upon which its execution systems would be in compliance with Regulation NMS under the Act (“Regulation NMS”). The text of the proposed rule change is available on Nasdaq's Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com, at the principal office of Nasdaq, 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, Nasdaq 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. Nasdaq has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. Start Printed Page 45877

    A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    Nasdaq proposes to modify certain of its rules that become effective upon the compliance date for Regulation NMS. In a previous proposal, Nasdaq had listed the compliance date as May 21, 2007,[5] the date established by the Commission for full industry compliance.[6] The Commission has established February 5, 2007, as the date of compliance for all automated trading centers such as Nasdaq. Accordingly, Nasdaq is proposing to modify its approved rules to demonstrate compliance with Regulation NMS by February 5, 2007, to conform with the Commission's scheduled compliance date.

    2. Statutory Basis

    Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,[7] in general, and with Sections 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. Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change clarifies certain terms in Nasdaq's rules.

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

    Nasdaq 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.

    C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    The foregoing proposed rule change is subject to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act [9] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder [10] because the proposal: (i) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest; provided that Nasdaq has given the Commission notice of its 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.

    Nasdaq has requested that the Commission waive the five-day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day pre-operative delay. Nasdaq believes that the filing may appropriately be designated as “non-controversial” because the filing would conform certain of Nasdaq's rules to changes made in Regulation NMS. Accordingly, Nasdaq believes that its proposal should become immediately effective and the Commission should grant Nasdaq's request to waive the 5-day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day pre-operative waiting period. The Commission believes that waiving the five-day pre-filing requirement and the 30-day pre-operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver would permit Nasdaq to clarify the proposed rule change prior to the launch of Nasdaq's new integrated system, Single Book. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.[11]

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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-NASDAQ-2006-027. 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 the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of Nasdaq. 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-NASDAQ-2006-027 and should be submitted on or before August 31, 2006.

    Start Signature
    Start Printed Page 45878

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[12]

    Nancy M. Morris,

    Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54155 (July 14, 2006), 71 FR 41291 (July 20, 2006).

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    6.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53829 (May 18, 2006), 71 FR 30038 (May 24, 2006).

    Back to Citation

    11.  For the purposes only of waiving the 30-day pre-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. E6-13004 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8010-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
08/10/2006
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E6-13004
Pages:
45876-45878 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-54271, File No. SR-NASDAQ-2006-027
EOCitation:
of 2006-08-03
PDF File:
E6-13004.Pdf