Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto by the American Stock Exchange LLC Relating to an Obvious Error Rule for Trades on the Exchange in Equity Securities, 10436-10439 [E5-845]
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10436
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–Amex–2005–11. 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 (https://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
Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of Amex. 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–Amex–
2005–11 and should be submitted on or
before March 24, 2005.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.20
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–844 Filed 3–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–51248; File No. SR–Amex–
2004–11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of Proposed
Rule Change and Amendment Nos. 1
and 2 Thereto by the American Stock
Exchange LLC Relating to an Obvious
Error Rule for Trades on the Exchange
in Equity Securities
February 24, 2005.
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 February
20 17
CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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3, 2004, the American Stock Exchange
LLC (‘‘Amex’’ 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. On May
21, 2004 and February 18, 2005, Amex
submitted Amendment Numbers 1 3 and
2,4 respectively, to the proposed rule
change. The Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change, as amended, from
interested persons and is approving the
proposal, as amended, on an accelerated
basis.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
Amex proposes to adopt an obvious
error rule for transactions on the
Exchange in equity securities other than
Nasdaq National Market securities
admitted to dealings on an unlisted
basis.5 The text of the proposed rule
change follows. New text is italicized
and deleted text is bracketed.
Cancellations of, and Revisions in,
Transactions Where Both the Buying
and Selling Members Agree to the
Cancellation or Revision
Rule 135. (a) A member or member
organization effecting a transaction on
the Exchange shall not cancel or revise
such transaction unless it was made in
error or the cancellation or revision is
for other proper reason, and unless in
each case both buying and selling
members agree to the cancellation or
revision and prior approval of the
cancellation or revision is obtained from
a Floor Official.
(b) Rule 390 shall not preclude a
member, member organization, allied
member, registered representative, or
officer from sharing or agreeing to share
in any losses in any customer’s account
with respect to securities admitted to
3 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange, among
other things, revised the proposed rule text to state
expressly that it would not apply to listed options
and to more closely mirror the Exchange’s existing
rule concerning clearly erroneous transactions in
Nasdaq National Market Securities. See letter from
Bill Floyd-Jones, Associate General Counsel, Amex,
to Nancy J. Sanow, Assistant Director, Division of
Market Regulation (‘‘Division’’), Commission, dated
May 20, 2004 (‘‘Amendment No. 1’’) (replacing the
original Form 19b–4 filing in its entirety).
4 In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange, among
other things, made technical corrections to its
proposed rule text and requested accelerated
approval of the proposed rule change. Amendment
No. 2 superceded and replaced Amendment No. 1
in its entirety.
5 Telephone conversation between William
Floyd-Jones, Associate General Counsel, Amex, and
Terri L. Evans, Senior Special Counsel, Division,
Commission, on February 22, 2005 (clarifying that
the proposed rule change does not apply to Nasdaq
National Market securities).
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dealings on the Exchange after the
member organization has established
that the loss was caused in whole or in
part by the action or inaction of such
member, member organization, allied
member, registered representative or
officer, provided, however, that this
provision shall not permit a member,
member organization, allied member,
registered representative or officer to
guarantee any customer against loss in
his or her account.
* * * Commentary
.01 A change or correction in a
transaction which previously appeared
on the tape, or the cancellation of a
transaction which previously appeared
on the tape and was properly rescinded,
or the occurrence of a transaction which
had been omitted from the tape, is to be
published on the tape on the day of the
transaction after approval of such
publication is obtained from a Floor
Official. If not published on such day,
the same is to be published at a later
date in the Exchange’s Sales and Quotes
Report with the approval of a Floor
Official.
.02 Rescinded [Where a transaction
is not cancelled but the member or
member organization intends to assume
for his or its own account the contract
made for a customer, the provisions of
Rule 390 apply, and any required
consent of the Exchange under that rule
is to be obtained from the Compliance
and Surveillance Division.]
Cancellations of, and Revisions in,
Transactions Where Both the Buying
and Selling Members Do Not Agree to
the Cancellation or Revision
Rule 135A (a) A Floor Official shall,
pursuant to the procedures set forth
below, have the authority to review any
transaction in a security admitted to
dealings on the Exchange that is
claimed to be clearly erroneous arising
out of the use or operation of any
facility of the Exchange, provided,
however, that the procedures for
reviewing transactions in Nasdaq
National Market securities admitted to
dealings on the Exchange are separately
set forth in Rule 118 and provided
further that these procedures do not
apply to listed options.
In reviewing a trade that is claimed to
be clearly erroneous, a Floor Official
shall review the transaction with a view
toward maintaining a fair and orderly
market and the protection of investors
and the public interest. Based upon this
review, the Floor Official shall decline
to ‘‘break’’ a disputed transaction if the
Floor Official believes that the
transaction under dispute is not clearly
erroneous. If the Floor Official
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
determines the transaction in dispute is
clearly erroneous, however, he or she
shall declare that the transaction is null
and void or modify one or more terms
of the transaction. When adjusting the
terms of a transaction, the Floor Official
shall seek to adjust the price and/or size
of the transaction to achieve an
equitable rectification of the error that
would place the parties to a transaction
in the same position, or as close as
possible to the same position, as they
would have been in had the error not
occurred. For the purposes of this Rule,
the terms of a transaction are clearly
erroneous when there is an obvious
error in any term, such as price, number
of shares or other unit of trading, or
identification of the security.
(b) Any member who seeks to have
one or more transactions reviewed
pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall
submit the matter to a Floor Official and
deliver a written complaint to the
Service Desk and the other member(s)
who were part of the trade within 30
minutes of the transaction. Once a
complaint has been received, the
complainant shall have up to 30
minutes, or such longer period as the
Floor Official may specify, to submit
any supporting written information
concerning the complaint necessary for
a review of the transaction. The other
member(s) that were part of the trade
shall have up to thirty minutes after
being notified of the complaint, or such
longer period as specified by the Floor
Official, to submit any supporting
written information concerning the
complaint necessary for a review of the
transaction. Any member on a disputed
trade may request the written
information provided by the other
members pursuant to this
subparagraph. Once a member
communicates that he or she does not
intend to submit any further
information concerning a complaint, the
member may not thereafter provide
additional information unless requested
to do so by the Floor Official. If the
members involved in a disputed trade
indicate that they have no further
information to provide concerning the
complaint before their thirty-minute
information submission periods have
elapsed, then the matter may be
immediately considered by a Floor
Official. Members or persons associated
with members and member
organizations involved in the
transaction shall provide the Floor
Official with any information that he or
she requests in order to resolve the
matter on a timely basis
notwithstanding the time parameters set
forth above. Once a member has applied
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to a Floor Official for a ruling, the Floor
Official shall review the transaction and
make a ruling unless all members on the
transaction agree to withdraw the
application for review prior to the time
that the Floor Official makes the ruling.
A member may seek review of a Floor
Official’s ruling pursuant to the
procedures described in Rule 22(d) and
Commentary .02 to Rule 22.
(c) In the event of (1) a disruption or
malfunction in the use or operation of
any facility of the Exchange or (2)
extraordinary market conditions or
other circumstances in which the
nullification or modification of
transactions executed on the Exchange
may be necessary for the maintenance
of a fair and orderly market or the
protection of investors and the public
interest, a Floor Governor may review
any transactions arising out of or
reported through any facility of the
Exchange (other than transactions in
Nasdaq National Market securities
which are covered by Rule 118 or
transactions in listed options). A Floor
Governor acting pursuant to this
paragraph may declare any Amex
transaction null and void or modify the
terms of any such transactions if the
Floor Governor determines that (1) the
transaction is clearly erroneous, or (2)
such actions are necessary for the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market or the protection of investors
and the public interest; provided,
however, that, in the absence of
extraordinary circumstances, the Floor
Governor shall take action pursuant to
this subsection within 30 minutes of
detection of the transaction, but in no
event later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Time, on the next trading day following
the date of the trades at issue. A
member may seek review of a Floor
Governor’s ruling from a three-Governor
Panel as described in Rule 22(d) and
Commentary .02 to Rule 22 without first
seeking review of the ruling from a Floor
Official or Exchange Official.
(d) Rule 390 shall not preclude a
member, member organization, allied
member, registered representative, or
officer from sharing or agreeing to share
in any losses in any customer’s account
with respect to securities admitted to
dealings on the Exchange after the
member organization has established
that the loss was caused in whole or in
part by the action or inaction of such
member, member organization, allied
member, registered representative or
officer, provided, however, that this
provision shall not permit a member,
member organization, allied member,
registered representative or officer to
guarantee any customer against loss in
his or her account.
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10437
* * * Commentary
.01 A change or correction in a
transaction which previously appeared
on the tape, or the cancellation of a
transaction which previously appeared
on the tape and was properly rescinded,
or the occurrence of a transaction which
had been omitted from the tape, is to be
published on the tape on the day of the
transaction after approval of such
publication is obtained from a Floor
Official. If not published on such day,
the same is to be published at a later
date in the Exchange’s Sales and Quotes
Report with the approval of a Floor
Official.
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 III below. The
Exchange 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
According to the Exchange, trades
may occur at clearly erroneous prices,
sizes, securities, and so forth, due to
human or system errors. The Exchange,
accordingly, is proposing to adapt the
‘‘obvious error’’ rule that was adopted
for Nasdaq securities traded at the
Exchange 6 to other Amex securities
traded under the Exchange’s equity
trading rules. Listed options are not
affected by the proposed rule change.7
The proposed Amex obvious error rule
would allow the Exchange to break or
revise single or multiple trades that are
obviously erroneous where the parties
to the trades do not agree that the trades
should be cancelled or revised. Under
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49941
(June 29, 2004), 69 FR 40992 (July 7, 2004)
(approving Amex–2003–39). Telephone
conversation between William Floyd-Jones,
Associate General Counsel, Amex, and Terri L.
Evans, Senior Special Counsel, Division,
Commission, on February 22, 2005.
7 The Exchange has submitted a separate rule
filing regarding obvious errors involving options
transactions. See Amex–2005–11. Telephone
conversation between William Floyd-Jones,
Associate General Counsel, Amex, and Terri L.
Evans, Senior Special Counsel, Division,
Commission, on February 22, 2005.
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the proposed rule, a member may
request an Amex Floor Official to
review one or more transactions that are
claimed to be clearly erroneous. Once a
ruling is requested, a Floor Official must
review the trade unless both parties
agree to withdraw the application before
the Floor Official makes a ruling.
The proposed rule would require a
Floor Official to review a transaction or
series of transactions with a view
toward maintaining a fair and orderly
market and the protection of investors
and the public interest. Based upon this
review, the Floor Official would decline
to ‘‘break’’ a disputed transaction if the
Floor Official believes that the
transaction under dispute is not clearly
erroneous. If the Floor Official
determines the transaction in dispute is
clearly erroneous, however, the Floor
Official may declare the transaction null
and void or modify one or more terms
of the transaction. When adjusting the
terms of a transaction, the Floor Official
would seek to adjust the price and/or
size of the transaction to achieve an
equitable rectification of the error that
would place the parties to a transaction
in the same position, or as close as
possible to the same position, as they
would have been in had the error not
occurred.
The proposed rule establishes
deadlines and procedures for Floor
Official review of a disputed
transaction. The procedures require any
member who seeks to have a transaction
or series of transactions reviewed to
submit the matter to a Floor Official and
deliver a written complaint to the
Service Desk and other members who
were part of the trade within 30 minutes
of the transaction. Once a complaint has
been received, the complainant has up
to 30 minutes, or such longer period as
the Floor Official may specify, to submit
any supporting written information
concerning the complaint necessary for
a review of the transaction. The other
members involved on the trade have up
to 30 minutes after being notified of the
complaint, or such longer period as
specified by the Floor Official, to submit
any supporting written information
concerning the complaint necessary for
a review of the transaction. The
members involved in a disputed trade
may request the written information
provided by the other members. Once a
member involved in a disputed trade
communicates that he or she does not
intend to submit any further
information concerning a complaint, the
member may not thereafter provide
additional information unless requested
to do so by the Floor Official. If all
members involved in a disputed trade
indicate that they have no further
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16:38 Mar 02, 2005
Jkt 205001
information to provide concerning the
complaint before their respective 30
minute information submission periods
have elapsed, then the matter may be
immediately considered by a Floor
Official. Members or persons associated
with members and member
organizations involved in the
transaction are required to provide the
Floor Official with any information that
he or she requests in order to resolve the
matter on a timely basis.
The proposed rule change also
provides that a Floor Governor may
review any transactions arising out of or
reported through any facility of the
Exchange and cancel or revise these
transactions in the event of: (1) A
disruption or malfunction in the use or
operation of any facility of the
Exchange; or (2) extraordinary market
conditions or other circumstances in
which the nullification or modification
of transactions may be necessary for the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market or the protection of investors
and the public interest. A Floor
Governor acting pursuant to this
subsection may declare any Amex
transactions null and void or modify the
terms of any such transactions if the
Floor Governor determines that: (1) The
transaction(s) is/are clearly erroneous;
or (2) such actions are necessary for the
maintenance of a fair and orderly
market or the protection of investors
and the public interest; provided,
however, that, in the absence of
extraordinary circumstances, the Floor
Governor must take action pursuant to
this subsection within 30 minutes
following detection of the transactions,
but in no event later than 3 p.m., eastern
time, on the next trading day following
the date of the trades at issue.
A member seeking a prompt review of
a Floor Official’s ruling under the
proposed rule would follow the
procedures outlined in Amex Rule
22(d), which provide possible appeals
first to an Exchange Official, next to a
Floor Governor, and finally to a three
Governor panel. The proposed rule
change also provides that a member
aggrieved by a Floor Governor’s ruling
under paragraph (c) of the proposed rule
may appeal the ruling to a three
Governor panel. Commentary .02 to
Amex Rule 22 requires Floor Officials to
prepare and submit a written record of
their decisions as soon as practical after
making a ruling. Floor Officials,
consequently, would have to prepare
and submit written decisions regarding
rulings on trades that may be clearly
erroneous. Since Exchange Officials and
Floor Governors are also Floor Officials,
they, too, would have to prepare and
submit a written record of their
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
decisions regarding rulings on trades
that may be clearly erroneous.
In conjunction with the revisions to
Rule 135 and 135A, the Exchange also
is proposing to eliminate Commentary
.02 to Rule 135 and replace it with new
paragraph (b) to Rule 135 and paragraph
(d) to Rule 135A. Commentary .02 to
Rule 135 currently states that members
must obtain consent from the
Exchange’s ‘‘Compliance and
Surveillance Division’’ if they assume a
trade made in error. The text of Rule
390, however, does not require any such
consent. The Exchange also believes
that the proposed new rule text more
accurately indicates that a member or
member organization does not
inappropriately share in the losses of a
customer account when it assumes a
trade made in error.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
section 6(b) of the Act,8 in general, and
further the objectives of section 6(b)(5),9
in particular, in that the proposed rule
change is designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, 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 is not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers and dealers.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change will impose no
burden on competition 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 with respect to
the proposed rule change.
III. 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. Comments may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
8 15
9 15
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
03MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism for a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.11 New
Amex Rule 135A will set forth formal
procedures to be followed by an
Paper Comments
Exchange member that seeks to have a
• Send paper comments in triplicate
trade nullified or revised when the
to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary,
parties to the trade have not agreed that
Securities and Exchange Commission,
the trade should be cancelled or revised,
450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC
or by an Amex Floor Governor who
20549–0609.
seeks to nullify or revise trades on his
All submissions should refer to File
or her own motion. The Commission
Number SR–Amex–2004–11. This file
believes that it is proper for trade
number should be included on the
nullification and revision procedures to
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the be codified and thus made transparent
Commission process and review your
to Amex members who are parties to
comments more efficiently, please use
trades that are deemed to be clearly
only one method. The Commission will
erroneous and to Amex Floor Officials
post all comments on the Commission’s
who are called upon to review such
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
trades. The new rule also sets forth the
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
procedure to be followed in the event of
submission, all subsequent
any appeal of a determination made by
amendments, all written statements
an Exchange Floor Official or Floor
with respect to the proposed rule
Governor pursuant to proposed Amex
change that are filed with the
Rule 135A. The Commission believes
Commission, and all written
that this procedure is designed to help
communications relating to the
ensure that Amex Rule 135A is
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than exercised in a fair and reasonable
manner. In addition, the Commission
those that may be withheld from the
believes that proposed Amex Rules
public in accordance with the
135(b) and 135A(d), which allow a
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
member to share in customer losses that
available for inspection and copying in
were caused in whole or in part by the
the Commission’s Public Reference
member’s action or inaction, are
Section, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,
consistent with the Act.
Washington, DC 20549. Copies of this
filing also will be available for
The Commission finds good cause for
inspection and copying at the principal
approving the proposed rule change
office of the Amex. All comments
prior to the 30th day after the date of
received will be posted without change; publication of the notice of filing thereof
the Commission does not edit personal
in the Federal Register. The
identifying information from
Commission notes that the proposed
submissions. You should submit only
rule change would provide members
information that you wish to make
trading non-Nasdaq equity securities
available publicly. All submissions
with essentially the same procedures
should refer to File Number SR–Amex–
recently approved by the Commission
2004–11 and should be submitted on or for the nullification or adjustment of
before March 24, 2005.
clearly erroneous transactions involving
Nasdaq National Market Securities.12
IV. Commission’s Findings and Order
The Commission believes that because
Granting Accelerated Approval of
the proposal raises no new issues of
Proposed Rule Change
regulatory concern, it is appropriate to
The Commission finds that the
proposed rule change is consistent with accelerate approval of the proposed rule
change so that members who trade any
the requirements of the Act and the
kind of equity securities that are
rules and regulations thereunder, that
admitted to dealings on the Exchange
are applicable to a national securities
exchange. In particular, the Commission will be afforded similar processes in the
event that a particular trade to which
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of
11 In approving this proposed rule change, the
section 6(b)(5) of the Act,10 which
requires that the rules of an exchange be Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
designed to prevent fraudulent and
and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–Amex–2004–11 on the
subject line.
12 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49941,
supra note 6.
10 Id.
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16:38 Mar 02, 2005
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10439
they are a party is claimed to be clearly
erroneous.
V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
section 19(b)(2) of the Act,13 that the
proposed rule change, as amended (SR–
Amex–2004–11), is hereby approved, on
an accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.14
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–845 Filed 3–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–51251; File No. SR–BSE–
2004–27]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of Proposed
Rule Change and Amendment No. 1
Thereto by the Boston Stock
Exchange, Inc., Relating to the
Reporting of Riskless Principal
Transactions
February 24, 2005.
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 December
3, 2004, the the Boston Stock Exchange,
Inc. (‘‘BSE’’ 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. On
December 23, 2004, the Exchange
submitted Amendment No. 1 to the
proposed rule change.3 The Commission
is publishing this notice and order to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change, as amended, from interested
persons and to grant accelerated
approval to the proposal.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
BSE is proposing to adopt a rule
pertaining to the reporting of riskless
principal transactions. Proposed new
language is italicized.
*
*
*
*
*
13 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
1 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 Amendment No.1 superseded and replaced the
original proposal in its entirety.
14 17
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 41 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10436-10439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-845]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-51248; File No. SR-Amex-2004-11]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Order
Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2 Thereto by the American Stock Exchange LLC Relating to an
Obvious Error Rule for Trades on the Exchange in Equity Securities
February 24, 2005.
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 February 3, 2004, the American Stock Exchange LLC (``Amex'' 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. On May 21,
2004 and February 18, 2005, Amex submitted Amendment Numbers 1 \3\ and
2,\4\ respectively, to the proposed rule change. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change,
as amended, from interested persons and is approving the proposal, as
amended, on an accelerated basis.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange, among other things,
revised the proposed rule text to state expressly that it would not
apply to listed options and to more closely mirror the Exchange's
existing rule concerning clearly erroneous transactions in Nasdaq
National Market Securities. See letter from Bill Floyd-Jones,
Associate General Counsel, Amex, to Nancy J. Sanow, Assistant
Director, Division of Market Regulation (``Division''), Commission,
dated May 20, 2004 (``Amendment No. 1'') (replacing the original
Form 19b-4 filing in its entirety).
\4\ In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange, among other things, made
technical corrections to its proposed rule text and requested
accelerated approval of the proposed rule change. Amendment No. 2
superceded and replaced Amendment No. 1 in its entirety.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
Amex proposes to adopt an obvious error rule for transactions on
the Exchange in equity securities other than Nasdaq National Market
securities admitted to dealings on an unlisted basis.\5\ The text of
the proposed rule change follows. New text is italicized and deleted
text is bracketed.
\5\ Telephone conversation between William Floyd-Jones,
Associate General Counsel, Amex, and Terri L. Evans, Senior Special
Counsel, Division, Commission, on February 22, 2005 (clarifying that
the proposed rule change does not apply to Nasdaq National Market
securities).
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Cancellations of, and Revisions in, Transactions Where Both the Buying
and Selling Members Agree to the Cancellation or Revision
Rule 135. (a) A member or member organization effecting a
transaction on the Exchange shall not cancel or revise such transaction
unless it was made in error or the cancellation or revision is for
other proper reason, and unless in each case both buying and selling
members agree to the cancellation or revision and prior approval of the
cancellation or revision is obtained from a Floor Official.
(b) Rule 390 shall not preclude a member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative, or officer from sharing or
agreeing to share in any losses in any customer's account with respect
to securities admitted to dealings on the Exchange after the member
organization has established that the loss was caused in whole or in
part by the action or inaction of such member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative or officer, provided, however,
that this provision shall not permit a member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative or officer to guarantee any
customer against loss in his or her account.
* * * Commentary
.01 A change or correction in a transaction which previously
appeared on the tape, or the cancellation of a transaction which
previously appeared on the tape and was properly rescinded, or the
occurrence of a transaction which had been omitted from the tape, is to
be published on the tape on the day of the transaction after approval
of such publication is obtained from a Floor Official. If not published
on such day, the same is to be published at a later date in the
Exchange's Sales and Quotes Report with the approval of a Floor
Official.
.02 Rescinded [Where a transaction is not cancelled but the member
or member organization intends to assume for his or its own account the
contract made for a customer, the provisions of Rule 390 apply, and any
required consent of the Exchange under that rule is to be obtained from
the Compliance and Surveillance Division.]
Cancellations of, and Revisions in, Transactions Where Both the Buying
and Selling Members Do Not Agree to the Cancellation or Revision
Rule 135A (a) A Floor Official shall, pursuant to the procedures
set forth below, have the authority to review any transaction in a
security admitted to dealings on the Exchange that is claimed to be
clearly erroneous arising out of the use or operation of any facility
of the Exchange, provided, however, that the procedures for reviewing
transactions in Nasdaq National Market securities admitted to dealings
on the Exchange are separately set forth in Rule 118 and provided
further that these procedures do not apply to listed options.
In reviewing a trade that is claimed to be clearly erroneous, a
Floor Official shall review the transaction with a view toward
maintaining a fair and orderly market and the protection of investors
and the public interest. Based upon this review, the Floor Official
shall decline to ``break'' a disputed transaction if the Floor Official
believes that the transaction under dispute is not clearly erroneous.
If the Floor Official
[[Page 10437]]
determines the transaction in dispute is clearly erroneous, however, he
or she shall declare that the transaction is null and void or modify
one or more terms of the transaction. When adjusting the terms of a
transaction, the Floor Official shall seek to adjust the price and/or
size of the transaction to achieve an equitable rectification of the
error that would place the parties to a transaction in the same
position, or as close as possible to the same position, as they would
have been in had the error not occurred. For the purposes of this Rule,
the terms of a transaction are clearly erroneous when there is an
obvious error in any term, such as price, number of shares or other
unit of trading, or identification of the security.
(b) Any member who seeks to have one or more transactions reviewed
pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall submit the matter to a Floor
Official and deliver a written complaint to the Service Desk and the
other member(s) who were part of the trade within 30 minutes of the
transaction. Once a complaint has been received, the complainant shall
have up to 30 minutes, or such longer period as the Floor Official may
specify, to submit any supporting written information concerning the
complaint necessary for a review of the transaction. The other
member(s) that were part of the trade shall have up to thirty minutes
after being notified of the complaint, or such longer period as
specified by the Floor Official, to submit any supporting written
information concerning the complaint necessary for a review of the
transaction. Any member on a disputed trade may request the written
information provided by the other members pursuant to this
subparagraph. Once a member communicates that he or she does not intend
to submit any further information concerning a complaint, the member
may not thereafter provide additional information unless requested to
do so by the Floor Official. If the members involved in a disputed
trade indicate that they have no further information to provide
concerning the complaint before their thirty-minute information
submission periods have elapsed, then the matter may be immediately
considered by a Floor Official. Members or persons associated with
members and member organizations involved in the transaction shall
provide the Floor Official with any information that he or she requests
in order to resolve the matter on a timely basis notwithstanding the
time parameters set forth above. Once a member has applied to a Floor
Official for a ruling, the Floor Official shall review the transaction
and make a ruling unless all members on the transaction agree to
withdraw the application for review prior to the time that the Floor
Official makes the ruling. A member may seek review of a Floor
Official's ruling pursuant to the procedures described in Rule 22(d)
and Commentary .02 to Rule 22.
(c) In the event of (1) a disruption or malfunction in the use or
operation of any facility of the Exchange or (2) extraordinary market
conditions or other circumstances in which the nullification or
modification of transactions executed on the Exchange may be necessary
for the maintenance of a fair and orderly market or the protection of
investors and the public interest, a Floor Governor may review any
transactions arising out of or reported through any facility of the
Exchange (other than transactions in Nasdaq National Market securities
which are covered by Rule 118 or transactions in listed options). A
Floor Governor acting pursuant to this paragraph may declare any Amex
transaction null and void or modify the terms of any such transactions
if the Floor Governor determines that (1) the transaction is clearly
erroneous, or (2) such actions are necessary for the maintenance of a
fair and orderly market or the protection of investors and the public
interest; provided, however, that, in the absence of extraordinary
circumstances, the Floor Governor shall take action pursuant to this
subsection within 30 minutes of detection of the transaction, but in no
event later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the next trading day
following the date of the trades at issue. A member may seek review of
a Floor Governor's ruling from a three-Governor Panel as described in
Rule 22(d) and Commentary .02 to Rule 22 without first seeking review
of the ruling from a Floor Official or Exchange Official.
(d) Rule 390 shall not preclude a member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative, or officer from sharing or
agreeing to share in any losses in any customer's account with respect
to securities admitted to dealings on the Exchange after the member
organization has established that the loss was caused in whole or in
part by the action or inaction of such member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative or officer, provided, however,
that this provision shall not permit a member, member organization,
allied member, registered representative or officer to guarantee any
customer against loss in his or her account.
* * * Commentary
.01 A change or correction in a transaction which previously
appeared on the tape, or the cancellation of a transaction which
previously appeared on the tape and was properly rescinded, or the
occurrence of a transaction which had been omitted from the tape, is to
be published on the tape on the day of the transaction after approval
of such publication is obtained from a Floor Official. If not published
on such day, the same is to be published at a later date in the
Exchange's Sales and Quotes Report with the approval of a Floor
Official.
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 III below. The Exchange 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
According to the Exchange, trades may occur at clearly erroneous
prices, sizes, securities, and so forth, due to human or system errors.
The Exchange, accordingly, is proposing to adapt the ``obvious error''
rule that was adopted for Nasdaq securities traded at the Exchange \6\
to other Amex securities traded under the Exchange's equity trading
rules. Listed options are not affected by the proposed rule change.\7\
The proposed Amex obvious error rule would allow the Exchange to break
or revise single or multiple trades that are obviously erroneous where
the parties to the trades do not agree that the trades should be
cancelled or revised. Under
[[Page 10438]]
the proposed rule, a member may request an Amex Floor Official to
review one or more transactions that are claimed to be clearly
erroneous. Once a ruling is requested, a Floor Official must review the
trade unless both parties agree to withdraw the application before the
Floor Official makes a ruling.
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\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49941 (June 29,
2004), 69 FR 40992 (July 7, 2004) (approving Amex-2003-39).
Telephone conversation between William Floyd-Jones, Associate
General Counsel, Amex, and Terri L. Evans, Senior Special Counsel,
Division, Commission, on February 22, 2005.
\7\ The Exchange has submitted a separate rule filing regarding
obvious errors involving options transactions. See Amex-2005-11.
Telephone conversation between William Floyd-Jones, Associate
General Counsel, Amex, and Terri L. Evans, Senior Special Counsel,
Division, Commission, on February 22, 2005.
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The proposed rule would require a Floor Official to review a
transaction or series of transactions with a view toward maintaining a
fair and orderly market and the protection of investors and the public
interest. Based upon this review, the Floor Official would decline to
``break'' a disputed transaction if the Floor Official believes that
the transaction under dispute is not clearly erroneous. If the Floor
Official determines the transaction in dispute is clearly erroneous,
however, the Floor Official may declare the transaction null and void
or modify one or more terms of the transaction. When adjusting the
terms of a transaction, the Floor Official would seek to adjust the
price and/or size of the transaction to achieve an equitable
rectification of the error that would place the parties to a
transaction in the same position, or as close as possible to the same
position, as they would have been in had the error not occurred.
The proposed rule establishes deadlines and procedures for Floor
Official review of a disputed transaction. The procedures require any
member who seeks to have a transaction or series of transactions
reviewed to submit the matter to a Floor Official and deliver a written
complaint to the Service Desk and other members who were part of the
trade within 30 minutes of the transaction. Once a complaint has been
received, the complainant has up to 30 minutes, or such longer period
as the Floor Official may specify, to submit any supporting written
information concerning the complaint necessary for a review of the
transaction. The other members involved on the trade have up to 30
minutes after being notified of the complaint, or such longer period as
specified by the Floor Official, to submit any supporting written
information concerning the complaint necessary for a review of the
transaction. The members involved in a disputed trade may request the
written information provided by the other members. Once a member
involved in a disputed trade communicates that he or she does not
intend to submit any further information concerning a complaint, the
member may not thereafter provide additional information unless
requested to do so by the Floor Official. If all members involved in a
disputed trade indicate that they have no further information to
provide concerning the complaint before their respective 30 minute
information submission periods have elapsed, then the matter may be
immediately considered by a Floor Official. Members or persons
associated with members and member organizations involved in the
transaction are required to provide the Floor Official with any
information that he or she requests in order to resolve the matter on a
timely basis.
The proposed rule change also provides that a Floor Governor may
review any transactions arising out of or reported through any facility
of the Exchange and cancel or revise these transactions in the event
of: (1) A disruption or malfunction in the use or operation of any
facility of the Exchange; or (2) extraordinary market conditions or
other circumstances in which the nullification or modification of
transactions may be necessary for the maintenance of a fair and orderly
market or the protection of investors and the public interest. A Floor
Governor acting pursuant to this subsection may declare any Amex
transactions null and void or modify the terms of any such transactions
if the Floor Governor determines that: (1) The transaction(s) is/are
clearly erroneous; or (2) such actions are necessary for the
maintenance of a fair and orderly market or the protection of investors
and the public interest; provided, however, that, in the absence of
extraordinary circumstances, the Floor Governor must take action
pursuant to this subsection within 30 minutes following detection of
the transactions, but in no event later than 3 p.m., eastern time, on
the next trading day following the date of the trades at issue.
A member seeking a prompt review of a Floor Official's ruling under
the proposed rule would follow the procedures outlined in Amex Rule
22(d), which provide possible appeals first to an Exchange Official,
next to a Floor Governor, and finally to a three Governor panel. The
proposed rule change also provides that a member aggrieved by a Floor
Governor's ruling under paragraph (c) of the proposed rule may appeal
the ruling to a three Governor panel. Commentary .02 to Amex Rule 22
requires Floor Officials to prepare and submit a written record of
their decisions as soon as practical after making a ruling. Floor
Officials, consequently, would have to prepare and submit written
decisions regarding rulings on trades that may be clearly erroneous.
Since Exchange Officials and Floor Governors are also Floor Officials,
they, too, would have to prepare and submit a written record of their
decisions regarding rulings on trades that may be clearly erroneous.
In conjunction with the revisions to Rule 135 and 135A, the
Exchange also is proposing to eliminate Commentary .02 to Rule 135 and
replace it with new paragraph (b) to Rule 135 and paragraph (d) to Rule
135A. Commentary .02 to Rule 135 currently states that members must
obtain consent from the Exchange's ``Compliance and Surveillance
Division'' if they assume a trade made in error. The text of Rule 390,
however, does not require any such consent. The Exchange also believes
that the proposed new rule text more accurately indicates that a member
or member organization does not inappropriately share in the losses of
a customer account when it assumes a trade made in error.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and further the objectives
of section 6(b)(5),\9\ in particular, in that the proposed rule change
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices,
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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 is not designed to permit unfair discrimination
between customers, issuers, brokers and dealers.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will impose no
burden on competition 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 with respect
to the proposed rule change.
III. 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. Comments may be
submitted by any of the following methods:
[[Page 10439]]
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-Amex-2004-11 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20549-0609.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2004-11. 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 (https://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 Section, 450 Fifth
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of this filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the
Amex. 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-
Amex-2004-11 and should be submitted on or before March 24, 2005.
IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of
Proposed Rule Change
The Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, that are applicable to a national securities exchange. In
particular, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\
which requires that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and,
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.\11\ New Amex
Rule 135A will set forth formal procedures to be followed by an
Exchange member that seeks to have a trade nullified or revised when
the parties to the trade have not agreed that the trade should be
cancelled or revised, or by an Amex Floor Governor who seeks to nullify
or revise trades on his or her own motion. The Commission believes that
it is proper for trade nullification and revision procedures to be
codified and thus made transparent to Amex members who are parties to
trades that are deemed to be clearly erroneous and to Amex Floor
Officials who are called upon to review such trades. The new rule also
sets forth the procedure to be followed in the event of any appeal of a
determination made by an Exchange Floor Official or Floor Governor
pursuant to proposed Amex Rule 135A. The Commission believes that this
procedure is designed to help ensure that Amex Rule 135A is exercised
in a fair and reasonable manner. In addition, the Commission believes
that proposed Amex Rules 135(b) and 135A(d), which allow a member to
share in customer losses that were caused in whole or in part by the
member's action or inaction, are consistent with the Act.
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\10\ Id.
\11\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule
change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of the
notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission notes
that the proposed rule change would provide members trading non-Nasdaq
equity securities with essentially the same procedures recently
approved by the Commission for the nullification or adjustment of
clearly erroneous transactions involving Nasdaq National Market
Securities.\12\ The Commission believes that because the proposal
raises no new issues of regulatory concern, it is appropriate to
accelerate approval of the proposed rule change so that members who
trade any kind of equity securities that are admitted to dealings on
the Exchange will be afforded similar processes in the event that a
particular trade to which they are a party is claimed to be clearly
erroneous.
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\12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49941, supra note
6.
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V. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\13\ that the proposed rule change, as amended (SR-Amex-2004-11),
is hereby approved, on an accelerated basis.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation,
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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\14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-845 Filed 3-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P