Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE Amex LLC Deleting Rule 446-NYSE Amex Equities and Adopting New Rule 4370-NYSE Amex Equities To Correspond With Rule Changes Filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., 14648-14650 [2010-6678]
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14648
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices
this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 35 days of the date of
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 such proposed
rule change, or
(b) Institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, 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–ISE–
2010–19 and should be submitted on or
before April 16, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–6677 Filed 3–25–10; 8:45 am]
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–ISE–2010–19 on the subject
line.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
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:
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by
NYSE Amex LLC Deleting Rule 446—
NYSE Amex Equities and Adopting
New Rule 4370—NYSE Amex Equities
To Correspond With Rule Changes
Filed by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc.
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–ISE–2010–19. 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
March 19, 2010.
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15:23 Mar 25, 2010
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BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61744; File No. SR–
NYSEAMEX–2010–26]
19(b)(1) 1
Pursuant to Section
of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on March
11, 2010, NYSE Amex LLC (‘‘NYSE
Amex’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ‘‘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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to delete Rule
446—NYSE Amex Equities and adopt
new Rule 4370—NYSE Amex Equities
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to correspond with rule changes filed by
the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’) and approved
by the Commission.4 The text of the
proposed rule change is available at the
Exchange, the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, and https://
www.nyse.com.
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 purpose of the proposed rule
changes is to delete Rule 446—NYSE
Amex Equities (Business Continuity and
Contingency Plans) and adopt new Rule
4370—NYSE Amex Equities (Business
Continuity Plans and Emergency
Contact Information) to correspond with
rule changes filed by FINRA and
approved by the Commission.
Background
On July 30, 2007, FINRA’s
predecessor, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (‘‘NASD’’), and
NYSE Regulation, Inc. (‘‘NYSER’’)
consolidated their member firm
regulation operations into a combined
organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule
17d–2 under the Act, the New York
Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’), NYSER
and FINRA entered into an agreement
(the ‘‘Agreement’’) to reduce regulatory
duplication for their members by
allocating to FINRA certain regulatory
responsibilities for certain NYSE rules
and rule interpretations (‘‘FINRA
Incorporated NYSE Rules’’). The
Exchange became a party to the
Agreement effective December 15,
2008.5
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60534
(August 19, 2009), 74 FR 44410 (August 28, 2009)
(order approving SR–FINRA–2009–036).
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148
(July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42146 (August 1, 2007) (order
approving the Agreement); 56147 (July 26, 2007), 72
FR 42166 (August 1, 2007) (SR–NASD–2007–054)
(order approving the incorporation of certain NYSE
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices
As part of its effort to reduce
regulatory duplication and relieve firms
that are members of FINRA, NYSE and
NYSE Amex of conflicting or
unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA
is now engaged in the process of
reviewing and amending the NASD and
FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in
order to create a consolidated FINRA
rulebook.6
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Proposed Conforming Amendments to
NYSE Amex Equities Rules
In 2008, FINRA deleted FINRA
Incorporated NYSE Rule 446 (Business
Continuity and Contingency Plans) as
substantively duplicative of NASD
Rules 3510 (Business Continuity Plans)
and 3520 (Emergency Contact
Information).7 Correspondingly, the
Exchange amended Rule 446—NYSE
Amex Equities (Business Continuity and
Contingency Plans) to remove the
existing text and incorporate NASD
Rules 3510 and 3520 by reference.8
Subsequently, FINRA adopted, subject
to certain amendments, NASD Rules
3510 and 3520 as consolidated FINRA
Rule 4370 (Business Continuity Plans
and Emergency Contact Information).9
In order to harmonize the NYSE
Amex Equities Rules with the approved
consolidated FINRA Rules, the
Exchange correspondingly proposes to
delete Rule 446—NYSE Amex Equities
and replace it with proposed Rule
4370—NYSE Amex Equities, which is
substantially similar to the new FINRA
Rule.10 As proposed, Rule 4370—NYSE
Amex Equities adopts the same
language as FINRA Rule 4370, except
for substituting for or adding to, as
needed, the term ‘‘member organization’’
for the term ‘‘member’’, and making
corresponding technical changes that
Rules as ‘‘Common Rules’’); and 60409 (July 30,
2009), 74 FR 39353 (August 6, 2009) (order
approving the amended and restated Agreement,
adding NYSE Amex LLC as a party). Paragraph 2(b)
of the Agreement sets forth procedures regarding
proposed changes by FINRA, NYSE or NYSE Amex
to the substance of any of the Common Rules.
6 FINRA’s rulebook currently has three sets of
rules: (1) NASD Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated
NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA Rules.
The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to
those members of FINRA that are also members of
the NYSE, while the consolidated FINRA Rules
apply to all FINRA members. For more information
about the FINRA rulebook consolidation process,
see FINRA Information Notice, March 12, 2008.
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58533
(September 12, 2008), 73 FR 54652 (September 22,
2008) (order approving SR–FINRA–2008–036).
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59022
(November 26, 2008), 73 FR 73683 (December 3,
2008) (order approving SR–NYSEALTR–2008–10).
9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60534
(August 19, 2009), 74 FR 44410 (August 28, 2009).
10 New York Stock Exchange LLC has submitted
a companion rule filing amending its rules in
accordance with FINRA’s rule changes. See SR–
NYSE–2010–23.
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15:23 Mar 25, 2010
Jkt 220001
reflect the difference between NYSE
Amex’s and FINRA’s membership
structures. In addition, in paragraph
(f)(2) to proposed Rule 4370—NYSE
Amex Equities, the Exchange added a
cross-reference to Rule 416A—NYSE
Amex Equities to ensure that those
Exchange members and member
organizations that are not FINRA
members are required to update the
contact information for emergency
personnel in accordance with NYSE
Amex Equities Rules.
Finally, in order to ensure that both
proposed Rule 4370—NYSE Amex
Equities and FINRA Rule 4370 are fully
harmonized, the Exchange also proposes
to add Supplementary Material .01 to
Rule 4370—NYSE Amex Equities to
provide that, for the purposes of the
rule, the term ‘‘associated person’’ shall
have the same meaning as the terms
‘‘person associated with a member’’ or
‘‘associated person of a member’’ as
defined in Article I (rr) of the FINRA ByLaws.
In addition, the Exchange respectfully
requests that the effective date for the
proposed rule changes be retroactive to
December 14, 2009, the same effective
date for FINRA’s rule changes.11
Approval retroactively effective to
December 14, 2009, would ensure that
the proposed rule changes are operative
and effective at the same time as
FINRA’s rule changes, that there are no
regulatory gaps between the FINRA and
NYSE Amex Equities Rules and that, as
applicable, the NYSE Amex Equities
Rules maintain their status as Common
Rules under the 17d–2 Agreement.12
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule changes are consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,13 in
general, and further the objectives of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,14 in
particular, in that they are 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.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule changes support the
objectives of the Act by providing
greater harmonization between NYSE
11 See FINRA Regulatory Notice 09–60 (October
15, 2009).
12 As provided in paragraph 2(b) of the 17d–2
Agreement, FINRA and NYSE will amend the list
of Common Rules to conform to the rule changes
proposed herein.
13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
14649
Amex Equities Rules and FINRA Rules
of similar purpose, resulting in less
burdensome and more efficient
regulatory compliance for joint
members. To the extent the Exchange
has proposed changes that differ from
the FINRA version of the Rules, such
changes are technical in nature and do
not change the substance of the
proposed NYSE Amex Equities Rules.
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
Within 35 days of the date of
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 proposed
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.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
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–NYSEAMEX–2010–26 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.
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
14650
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 58 / Friday, March 26, 2010 / Notices
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSEAMEX–2010–26. 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,15 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 Section, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549–1090. Copies of
the filing will also be available for
inspection and copying at the NYSE’s
principal office and on its Internet Web
site at https://www.nyse.com. 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–NYSEAMEX–2010–26 and
should be submitted on or before April
16, 2010.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.16
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–6678 Filed 3–25–10; 8:45 am]
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–61743; File No. SR–NYSE–
2010–23]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing of Proposed Rule Change by
New York Stock Exchange LLC
Deleting NYSE Rule 446 and Adopting
New Rule 4370 To Correspond With
Rule Changes Filed by the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
March 19, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on March
11, 2010, New York Stock Exchange
LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in
Items I, II, and III below, which Items
have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
The Exchange proposes to delete
NYSE Rule 446 and adopt new Rule
4370 to correspond with rule changes
filed by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
and approved by the Commission.4 The
text of the proposed rule change is
available at the Exchange, the
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
and https://www.nyse.com.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
Proposed Conforming Amendments to
NYSE Rules
In 2008, FINRA deleted FINRA
Incorporated NYSE Rule 446 (Business
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
1 15
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15:23 Mar 25, 2010
Jkt 220001
1. Purpose
The purpose of the proposed rule
changes is to delete NYSE Rule 446
(Business Continuity and Contingency
Plans) and adopt new Rule 4370
(Business Continuity Plans and
Emergency Contact Information) to
correspond with rule changes filed by
FINRA and approved by the
Commission.
Background
On July 30, 2007, FINRA’s
predecessor, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (‘‘NASD’’), and
NYSE Regulation, Inc. (‘‘NYSER’’)
consolidated their member firm
regulation operations into a combined
organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule
17d–2 under the Act, NYSE, NYSER and
FINRA entered into an agreement (the
‘‘Agreement’’) to reduce regulatory
duplication for their members by
allocating to FINRA certain regulatory
responsibilities for certain NYSE rules
and rule interpretations (‘‘FINRA
Incorporated NYSE Rules’’). NYSE
Amex LLC (‘‘NYSE Amex’’) became a
party to the Agreement effective
December 15, 2008.5
As part of its effort to reduce
regulatory duplication and relieve firms
that are members of FINRA, NYSE and
NYSE Amex of conflicting or
unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA
is now engaged in the process of
reviewing and amending the NASD and
FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in
order to create a consolidated FINRA
rulebook.6
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.
15 The text of the proposed rule change is
available on the Commission’s Web site at https://
www.sec.gov/.
16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60534
(August 19, 2009), 74 FR 44410 (August 28, 2009)
(order approving SR–FINRA–2009–036).
2 15
PO 00000
Frm 00096
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148
(July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42146 (August 1, 2007) (order
approving the Agreement); 56147 (July 26, 2007), 72
FR 42166 (August 1, 2007) (SR–NASD–2007–054)
(order approving the incorporation of certain NYSE
Rules as ‘‘Common Rules’’); and 60409 (July 30,
2009), 74 FR 39353 (August 6, 2009) (order
approving the amended and restated Agreement,
adding NYSE Amex LLC as a party). Paragraph 2(b)
of the Agreement sets forth procedures regarding
proposed changes by FINRA, NYSE or NYSE Amex
to the substance of any of the Common Rules.
6 FINRA’s rulebook currently has three sets of
rules: (1) NASD Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated
NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA Rules.
The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to
those members of FINRA that are also members of
the NYSE (‘‘Dual Members’’), while the consolidated
FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members. For
more information about the FINRA rulebook
consolidation process, see FINRA Information
Notice, March 12, 2008.
E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM
26MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 58 (Friday, March 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14648-14650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6678]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-61744; File No. SR-NYSEAMEX-2010-26]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule
Change by NYSE Amex LLC Deleting Rule 446--NYSE Amex Equities and
Adopting New Rule 4370--NYSE Amex Equities To Correspond With Rule
Changes Filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
March 19, 2010.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that, on March 11, 2010, NYSE Amex LLC (``NYSE Amex'' or the
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to delete Rule 446--NYSE Amex Equities and
adopt new Rule 4370--NYSE Amex Equities to correspond with rule changes
filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'')
and approved by the Commission.\4\ The text of the proposed rule change
is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room,
and https://www.nyse.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60534 (August 19,
2009), 74 FR 44410 (August 28, 2009) (order approving SR-FINRA-2009-
036).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 purpose of the proposed rule changes is to delete Rule 446--
NYSE Amex Equities (Business Continuity and Contingency Plans) and
adopt new Rule 4370--NYSE Amex Equities (Business Continuity Plans and
Emergency Contact Information) to correspond with rule changes filed by
FINRA and approved by the Commission.
Background
On July 30, 2007, FINRA's predecessor, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (``NASD''), and NYSE Regulation, Inc.
(``NYSER'') consolidated their member firm regulation operations into a
combined organization, FINRA. Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Act, the
New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE''), NYSER and FINRA entered into an
agreement (the ``Agreement'') to reduce regulatory duplication for
their members by allocating to FINRA certain regulatory
responsibilities for certain NYSE rules and rule interpretations
(``FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules''). The Exchange became a party to the
Agreement effective December 15, 2008.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 56148 (July 26,
2007), 72 FR 42146 (August 1, 2007) (order approving the Agreement);
56147 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42166 (August 1, 2007) (SR-NASD-2007-
054) (order approving the incorporation of certain NYSE Rules as
``Common Rules''); and 60409 (July 30, 2009), 74 FR 39353 (August 6,
2009) (order approving the amended and restated Agreement, adding
NYSE Amex LLC as a party). Paragraph 2(b) of the Agreement sets
forth procedures regarding proposed changes by FINRA, NYSE or NYSE
Amex to the substance of any of the Common Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 14649]]
As part of its effort to reduce regulatory duplication and relieve
firms that are members of FINRA, NYSE and NYSE Amex of conflicting or
unnecessary regulatory burdens, FINRA is now engaged in the process of
reviewing and amending the NASD and FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules in
order to create a consolidated FINRA rulebook.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ FINRA's rulebook currently has three sets of rules: (1) NASD
Rules, (2) FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules, and (3) consolidated FINRA
Rules. The FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to those members
of FINRA that are also members of the NYSE, while the consolidated
FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members. For more information about
the FINRA rulebook consolidation process, see FINRA Information
Notice, March 12, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Conforming Amendments to NYSE Amex Equities Rules
In 2008, FINRA deleted FINRA Incorporated NYSE Rule 446 (Business
Continuity and Contingency Plans) as substantively duplicative of NASD
Rules 3510 (Business Continuity Plans) and 3520 (Emergency Contact
Information).\7\ Correspondingly, the Exchange amended Rule 446--NYSE
Amex Equities (Business Continuity and Contingency Plans) to remove the
existing text and incorporate NASD Rules 3510 and 3520 by reference.\8\
Subsequently, FINRA adopted, subject to certain amendments, NASD Rules
3510 and 3520 as consolidated FINRA Rule 4370 (Business Continuity
Plans and Emergency Contact Information).\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58533 (September 12,
2008), 73 FR 54652 (September 22, 2008) (order approving SR-FINRA-
2008-036).
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59022 (November 26,
2008), 73 FR 73683 (December 3, 2008) (order approving SR-NYSEALTR-
2008-10).
\9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60534 (August 19,
2009), 74 FR 44410 (August 28, 2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In order to harmonize the NYSE Amex Equities Rules with the
approved consolidated FINRA Rules, the Exchange correspondingly
proposes to delete Rule 446--NYSE Amex Equities and replace it with
proposed Rule 4370--NYSE Amex Equities, which is substantially similar
to the new FINRA Rule.\10\ As proposed, Rule 4370--NYSE Amex Equities
adopts the same language as FINRA Rule 4370, except for substituting
for or adding to, as needed, the term ``member organization'' for the
term ``member'', and making corresponding technical changes that
reflect the difference between NYSE Amex's and FINRA's membership
structures. In addition, in paragraph (f)(2) to proposed Rule 4370--
NYSE Amex Equities, the Exchange added a cross-reference to Rule 416A--
NYSE Amex Equities to ensure that those Exchange members and member
organizations that are not FINRA members are required to update the
contact information for emergency personnel in accordance with NYSE
Amex Equities Rules.
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\10\ New York Stock Exchange LLC has submitted a companion rule
filing amending its rules in accordance with FINRA's rule changes.
See SR-NYSE-2010-23.
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Finally, in order to ensure that both proposed Rule 4370--NYSE Amex
Equities and FINRA Rule 4370 are fully harmonized, the Exchange also
proposes to add Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 4370--NYSE Amex
Equities to provide that, for the purposes of the rule, the term
``associated person'' shall have the same meaning as the terms ``person
associated with a member'' or ``associated person of a member'' as
defined in Article I (rr) of the FINRA By-Laws.
In addition, the Exchange respectfully requests that the effective
date for the proposed rule changes be retroactive to December 14, 2009,
the same effective date for FINRA's rule changes.\11\ Approval
retroactively effective to December 14, 2009, would ensure that the
proposed rule changes are operative and effective at the same time as
FINRA's rule changes, that there are no regulatory gaps between the
FINRA and NYSE Amex Equities Rules and that, as applicable, the NYSE
Amex Equities Rules maintain their status as Common Rules under the
17d-2 Agreement.\12\
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\11\ See FINRA Regulatory Notice 09-60 (October 15, 2009).
\12\ As provided in paragraph 2(b) of the 17d-2 Agreement, FINRA
and NYSE will amend the list of Common Rules to conform to the rule
changes proposed herein.
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\13\ in general, and further the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ in particular, in that
they are 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.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes support the
objectives of the Act by providing greater harmonization between NYSE
Amex Equities Rules and FINRA Rules of similar purpose, resulting in
less burdensome and more efficient regulatory compliance for joint
members. To the extent the Exchange has proposed changes that differ
from the FINRA version of the Rules, such changes are technical in
nature and do not change the substance of the proposed NYSE Amex
Equities Rules.
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
Within 35 days of the date of 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 proposed 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. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
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-NYSEAMEX-2010-26 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.
[[Page 14650]]
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMEX-2010-26. 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,\15\ 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 Section, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. Copies
of the filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the
NYSE's principal office and on its Internet Web site at https://www.nyse.com. 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-
NYSEAMEX-2010-26 and should be submitted on or before April 16, 2010.
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\15\ The text of the proposed rule change is available on the
Commission's Web site at https://www.sec.gov/.
\16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-6678 Filed 3-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P