[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46267-46269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23318]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-40360; File No. SR-NASD-98-61]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Relating
to Reporting Transactions in Exchange-Listed Securities
August 25, 1998.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Exchange Act'' or ``Act''),\1\ notice is hereby given that on August
12, 1998, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(``NASD'' or ``Association''), through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (``Nasdaq''), filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (``SEC'') or ``Commission'') the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have
been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
Nasdaq is proposing to amend a rule of the NASD, to eliminate an
unnecessary provision relating to the reporting of transactions in
exchange-listed securities traded in the third market. Below is the
text of the proposed rule change. Proposed deletions are in [brackets].
* * * * *
6420. Transaction Reporting
(a) through (c) No Change
(d) Procedures for Reporting Price and Volume
Members which are required to report pursuant to paragraph (b)
above shall transmit last sale reports for all
[[Page 46268]]
purchases and sales in eligible securities in the following manner:
(1) through (2) No Change
(3)(A) For principal transactions, except as provided below, report
each purchase and sale transaction separately and report the number of
shares and the price. For principal transactions which are executed at
a price which includes a mark-up, mark-down or service charge, the
prices reported shall exclude the mark-up, mark-down or service charge.
[Such reported price shall be reasonably related to the prevailing
market, taking into consideration all relevant circumstances including,
but not limited to, market conditions with respect to the security, the
number of shares involved in the transaction, the published bids and
offers with size at the time of the execution (including the reporting
firm's own quotation), accessibility to market centers publishing bids
and offers with size, the cost of execution and the expenses involved
in clearing the transaction.]
* * * * *
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 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
The NASD is proposing to eliminate an unnecessary provision of the
rules applicable to the reporting of transactions in exchange-listed
securities. Specifically, NASD Rule 6420(d)(3)(A), which is the general
rule requiring NASD members to report all principal transactions in
exchange-listed securities in the third market, contains language
requiring members to report transactions in a manner ``reasonably
related to the prevailing market taking into consideration all relevant
circumstances. * * *'' While this provision accompanied a change to the
trade reporting rules approved in 1980 (which was intended to make
comparable the reporting of third market trades with exchange
transactions by requiring third market trades to be reported on a
``gross'' basis, exclusive of any mark-up or mark-down charged to the
customer),\2\ Nasdaq believes that this particular language is
superfluous in the context of exchange-listed securities and does not
serve any meaningful purpose with respect to the trade reporting for
these securities.
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\2\ See Exchange Act Release No. 16960 (July 7, 1980), 45 FR
47291 (July 14, 1980) (approving SR-NASD-80-03).
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Indeed, Nasdaq believes that the language has served only to
promote the misperception that the rule provides flexibility in the
manner in which NASD members may report third market transactions. It
is argued that this has led to inaccurate trade reporting, and has been
used as a basis for not extending the NASD's ITS/CAES link to all
exchange-listed securities. As recognized by the Commission in its
recent proposal to expand ITS/CAES to all listed securities, however,
the Commission believes that any issues concerning timely and accurate
trade reporting have already been addressed for the most part.\3\ In
particular, while the Commission appears to concur that the rules could
be clarified in this fashion, the rules are nonetheless the same for
the reporting of both 19c-3 securities, and non-19c-3 securities, and
thus Nasdaq agrees that there is no basis for not extending the ITS/
CAES linkage to all exchange-listed securities. Nasdaq believes that
other NASD rules and procedures, along with a member's best execution
obligations, provide the necessary protections to ensure accurate and
appropriate trade reporting in exchange-listed securities. As the
Commission has indicated on several occasions, an effective
surveillance program, along with the requirements of Exchange Act Rule
10b-10 (the confirmation rule), ensure compliance with trade reporting
obligations and the proper disclosure of any mark-up or mark-down.\4\
Accordingly, Nasdaq believes that the best practice would be to remove
the less-than-clear language from the rule.
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\3\ See Exchange Act Release No. 40260 (July 24, 1998), 63 FR
40748 (July 30, 1998), n.67 and accompanying text (proposed
amendments to National Market System plan).
\4\ See e.g., id, at nn. 63, 67; Exchange Act Release No. 18713
(May 6, 1982), 47 FR 20413 (May 12, 1982), n.13 (adoption of final
amendments to National Market System plan).
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2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act \5\ in that the proposed
rule change facilitates the accurate reporting of transactions in the
third market. Section 15A(b)(6) requires that the rules of a registered
national securities association are 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, and are not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or
dealers.
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\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Association does not believe that the proposed rule change 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.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing
for Commission Action
Within 35 days of the 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 self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:.
(A) By order approve the proposal 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 is consistent with the Act. Persons making written submissions
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
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
[[Page 46269]]
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 at the Commission's Public Reference Room, located at the above
address. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection
and copying at the principal office of the NASD. All submissions should
refer to File No. SR-NASD-98-61 and should be submitted by September
21, 1998.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation,
pursuant to delegated authority.\6\
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\6\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-23318 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M
