Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Repeal Incorporated NYSE Rule 2A (Jurisdiction), 68240-68242 [2011-28512]
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68240
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices
2. Statutory Basis
The proposed rule change is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 9
in general and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 10 in particular
in that it should promote just and
equitable principles of trade, serve to
remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system, and
protect investors and the public interest.
In particular, the Exchange believes that
reorganizing and amending the rules in
the manner proposed should make it
easier to read and understand the FLEX
Options provisions. The Exchange also
believes that it should provide
additional clarity and avoid any
confusion on the applicability of the
new series add provision to any and all
FLEX Options in a manner that is
consistent with the existing provision
for FLEX Equity Options.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
CBOE 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.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposal.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing rule does not (i)
Significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest; (ii)
impose any significant burden on
competition; and (iii) become operative
for 30 days from the date on which it
was filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate if consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest, provided that the selfregulatory organization has given the
Commission written notice of its intent
to file the proposed rule change at least
five business days prior to the date of
filing of the proposed rule change or
such shorter time as designated by the
Commission, the proposed rule change
has become effective pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 11 and
Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.12 At any
time within 60 days of the filing of such
proposed rule change, the Commission
9 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
11 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
12 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
10 15
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summarily may temporarily suspend
such rule change if it appears to the
Commission that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public
interest, for the protection of investors,
or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
2011–098 and should be submitted on
or before November 25, 2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.13
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
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:
[FR Doc. 2011–28513 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am]
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–CBOE–2011–098 on the
subject line.
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change To Repeal
Incorporated NYSE Rule 2A
(Jurisdiction)
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–CBOE–2011–098. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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 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–CBOE–
PO 00000
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BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–65656; File No. SR–FINRA–
2011–062]
October 28, 2011.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’
or ‘‘Exchange Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
on October 20, 2011, Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)
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 FINRA. 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
FINRA is proposing to repeal
Incorporated NYSE Rule 2A
(Jurisdiction) as part of the process of
developing a consolidated FINRA
rulebook.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on FINRA’s Web site at
https://www.finra.org, at the principal
office of FINRA and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission,
FINRA 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. FINRA has prepared
13 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices
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
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
As part of the process of developing
a new consolidated rulebook
(‘‘Consolidated FINRA Rulebook’’),3 the
proposed rule change would repeal
NYSE Rule 2A (Jurisdiction) from the
FINRA rulebook as described below.
NYSE Rule 2A generally addresses
jurisdictional authority with respect to,
among other things, rulemaking,
examinations, disciplinary actions, and
listing applications. NYSE Rule 2A was
adopted in 2006 as part of the merger
between the New York Stock Exchange
LLC (‘‘NYSE’’) and Archipelago
Holdings, Inc. in light of the fact that the
NYSE Constitution, which contained
the jurisdiction provisions for the
NYSE, was eliminated in the merger.4
The FINRA By-Laws, as approved by
the membership and the SEC in 2007,
address the powers and authority of the
FINRA Board of Governors (‘‘Board’’)
and, together with the Exchange Act, set
forth FINRA’s authority and
responsibilities as a registered securities
association. As outlined below, those
matters addressed by NYSE Rule 2A
that are relevant to a registered
securities association are currently
addressed by the FINRA By-Laws and
Exchange Act, including jurisdictional
authority with respect to:
• Rulemaking; 5
• General supervisory powers over
members, member organizations (and
any other broker-dealer that chooses to
be regulated by the NYSE) and their
offices, partnership and corporate
arrangements, their principal
executives, employees and approved
3 The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1)
FINRA Rules; (2) NASD Rules; and (3) rules
incorporated from NYSE (‘‘Incorporated NYSE
Rules’’) (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated
NYSE Rules are referred to as the ‘‘Transitional
Rulebook’’). While the NASD Rules generally apply
to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that
are also members of the NYSE (‘‘Dual Members’’).
The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members,
unless such rules have a more limited application
by their terms. For more information about the
rulebook consolidation process, see Information
Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook Consolidation
Process). For convenience, the Incorporated NYSE
Rules are referred to as the NYSE Rules.
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53382
(February 27, 2006), 71 FR 11251 (March 6, 2006)
(Order Approving File No. SR–NYSE–2005–77).
5 See, e.g., FINRA By-Laws, Article III, Section 2,
Article VII, Section 1 and Exchange Act Section
15A.
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persons in connection with their
conduct of the business of member
organizations; 6
• jurisdiction to discipline members,
member organizations (and any other
broker-dealer that chooses to be
regulated by the NYSE), principal
executives, employees and approved
persons in connection with their
conduct of the business of member
organizations; and 7
• Jurisdiction over any and all other
functions of members, member
organizations (and any other brokerdealer that chooses to be regulated by
the NYSE), principal executives,
employees and approved persons in
connection with the conduct of the
business of member organizations in
order for the NYSE to comply with its
statutory obligation as a self-regulatory
organization.8
FINRA further notes that other
matters addressed by NYSE Rule 2A are
not applicable to the operations of a
registered securities association that
does not operate a listing market or are
otherwise unique to the NYSE,
including:
• Approving applications for the
listing and admission of securities to
dealings on the NYSE, as well as
suspending dealings in and removing
securities from listing;
• Supervising all matters relating to
the collection, dissemination and use of
quotations and of reports of prices on
the NYSE;
• The power to approve or
disapprove any connection or means of
communication with the floor and
requiring the discontinuance of any
such connection or means of
communication; and
6 See, e.g., supra note 5 and FINRA By-Laws,
Article VI, Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and
Delegation of Functions by FINRA to Subsidiaries,
Article II, Section A. In contrast to the NYSE’s
jurisdictional provisions, which extend to
‘‘approved persons,’’ as defined in NYSE Rule 2(c),
FINRA regulates its members and ‘‘persons
associated with a member,’’ as defined in FINRA
By-Laws, Article 1 (rr). With respect to the ability
to obtain information regarding members’ affiliates,
FINRA is addressing such authority as part of a
separate proposal. See Regulatory Notice 10–01
(January 2010).
7 See, e.g., supra note 5, and FINRA By-Laws,
Article VI, Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and
Delegation of Functions by FINRA to Subsidiaries,
Article II, Section A. Based on earlier Board
authority, FINRA repealed NYSE Rule 477
(Retention of Jurisdiction) and continues to use
FINRA’s retention of jurisdiction provisions in the
FINRA By-laws. See Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 58643 (September 25, 2008), 73 FR
57174 (October 1, 2008) (Order Approving File No.
SR–FINRA–2008–029).
8 See, e.g., supra note 5, and FINRA By-Laws,
Article VI, Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and
Delegation of Functions by FINRA to Subsidiaries,
Article II, Section A.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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68241
• Disapproving any member acting as
a Designated Market Maker or odd-lot
dealer on the NYSE.
Therefore, FINRA considers the
transfer of NYSE Rule 2A to the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook to be
unnecessary and proposes that it be
eliminated.9
FINRA will announce the
implementation date of the proposed
rule change in a Regulatory Notice to be
published no later than 90 days
following Commission approval. The
effective date will be no later than 150
days following Commission approval.
2. Statutory Basis
FINRA believes that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the provisions
of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,10 which
requires, among other things, that
FINRA rules must be designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest. FINRA believes that the
proposed rule change will streamline
and improve FINRA’s rulebook by
eliminating a rule that is not necessary
or appropriate for the Consolidated
FINRA Rulebook. As further discussed
above, the FINRA By-Laws address the
powers and authority of the Board and,
together with the Exchange Act, set
forth FINRA’s authority and
responsibilities as a registered securities
association.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
FINRA does not believe that the
proposed rule change will result in any
burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 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
9 FINRA anticipates that the NYSE will retain a
version of NYSE Rule 2A.
10 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6).
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68242
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 213 / Thursday, November 3, 2011 / Notices
organization consents, the Commission
will:
(A) by order approve or disapprove
such 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:
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–FINRA–2011–062 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–FINRA–2011–062. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email 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 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 such filing
also will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of
FINRA. 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–FINRA–2011–062 and
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16:50 Nov 02, 2011
Jkt 226001
should be submitted on or before
November 25, 2011.
American Investment Grade Index
Series 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.4
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
III. Discussion
Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act directs
the Commission to approve a proposed
rule change of a self-regulatory
organization if it finds that such
proposed rule change is consistent with
the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder
applicable to such organization.5 In
particular, Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the
Act 6 requires, among other things, that
the rules of a clearing agency be
designed to promote the prompt and
accurate clearance and settlement of
securities transactions and, to the extent
applicable, derivative agreements,
contracts and transactions, and to assure
the safeguarding of securities and funds
which are in the custody or control of
such clearing agency or for which it is
responsible.
The proposed rule change would
make additional CDS contracts eligible
for central clearing at CME and thus
would facilitate the prompt and
accurate clearance and settlement of
derivative agreements, contracts and
transactions. CME’s rules and
procedures for clearing CDS contracts
referencing broad-based securities
indices, particularly those pertaining to
its risk management operations and
financial safeguards systems, are also
designed to limit the risk of financial
loss to CME and its members as a result
of these additional CDS contracts. Thus,
the proposed rule change to permit CME
to clear and settle CDS contracts
referencing the Markit CDX North
American High Yield Index Series 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 is consistent
with the requirement that CME assure
the safeguarding of securities and funds
which are in its custody or control or for
which it is responsible.7
[FR Doc. 2011–28512 Filed 11–2–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–65655; File No. SR–CME–
2011–07]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.;
Order Approving Proposed Rule
Change To Accept Additional Credit
Default Index Swaps for Clearing
October 28, 2011.
I. Introduction
On September 9, 2011, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange Inc. (‘‘CME’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change SR–CME–2011–07
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder.2
The proposed rule change was
published for comment in the Federal
Register on September 28, 2011.3 The
Commission received no comment
letters regarding the proposal. For the
reasons discussed below, the
Commission is granting approval of the
proposed rule change.
II. Description
The rule change will permit CME to
expand its ability to clear credit default
swap (‘‘CDS’’) contracts referencing
broad-based securities indices by
permitting CME to clear CDS contracts
referencing the Markit CDX North
American High Yield Index Series 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, in each case
solely with respect to contracts
referencing the applicable index with an
original tenor of five years. As of the
date that it filed this rule change, CME
offered for clearing CDS contracts
referencing the Markit CDX North
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–65378
(September 22, 2011), 76 FR 60110 (September 28,
2011). In its filing with the Commission, CME
included statements concerning the purpose of and
basis for the proposed rule change. The text of these
statements are incorporated into the discussion of
the proposed rule change in Section II below.
1 15
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4 CME subsequently filed a rule change pursuant
to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b–
4(f)(4)(i) thereunder to allow it to clear CDS
contracts referencing the Markit CDX North
American Investment Grade Index Series 9. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–65489
(October 5, 2011), 76 FR 63339 (October 12, 2011).
For CDS contracts referencing the Markit CDX
North American Investment Grade Index Series 9
and 10, CME’s rule permit the clearing of contracts
referencing the applicable index with an original
tenor of five, seven or ten years. For CDS contracts
referencing the Markit CDX North American
Investment Grade Index Series 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16 and 17, CME’s rule permit the clearing of
contracts referencing the applicable index with an
original tenor of three, five, seven or ten years.
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
6 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
7 Moreover, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 was passed
by Congress and signed into law by the President
to, among other things, ensure that, wherever
possible and appropriate, derivatives contracts
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 213 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68240-68242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28512]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-65656; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-062]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Repeal
Incorporated NYSE Rule 2A (Jurisdiction)
October 28, 2011.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice
is hereby given that on October 20, 2011, Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') 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 FINRA. 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\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
FINRA is proposing to repeal Incorporated NYSE Rule 2A
(Jurisdiction) as part of the process of developing a consolidated
FINRA rulebook.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web
site at https://www.finra.org, at the principal office of FINRA and at
the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, FINRA 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. FINRA has prepared
[[Page 68241]]
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
As part of the process of developing a new consolidated rulebook
(``Consolidated FINRA Rulebook''),\3\ the proposed rule change would
repeal NYSE Rule 2A (Jurisdiction) from the FINRA rulebook as described
below. NYSE Rule 2A generally addresses jurisdictional authority with
respect to, among other things, rulemaking, examinations, disciplinary
actions, and listing applications. NYSE Rule 2A was adopted in 2006 as
part of the merger between the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'')
and Archipelago Holdings, Inc. in light of the fact that the NYSE
Constitution, which contained the jurisdiction provisions for the NYSE,
was eliminated in the merger.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2)
NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (``Incorporated
NYSE Rules'') (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules
are referred to as the ``Transitional Rulebook''). While the NASD
Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of
the NYSE (``Dual Members''). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA
members, unless such rules have a more limited application by their
terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation
process, see Information Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook
Consolidation Process). For convenience, the Incorporated NYSE Rules
are referred to as the NYSE Rules.
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53382 (February 27,
2006), 71 FR 11251 (March 6, 2006) (Order Approving File No. SR-
NYSE-2005-77).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FINRA By-Laws, as approved by the membership and the SEC in
2007, address the powers and authority of the FINRA Board of Governors
(``Board'') and, together with the Exchange Act, set forth FINRA's
authority and responsibilities as a registered securities association.
As outlined below, those matters addressed by NYSE Rule 2A that are
relevant to a registered securities association are currently addressed
by the FINRA By-Laws and Exchange Act, including jurisdictional
authority with respect to:
Rulemaking; \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See, e.g., FINRA By-Laws, Article III, Section 2, Article
VII, Section 1 and Exchange Act Section 15A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
General supervisory powers over members, member
organizations (and any other broker-dealer that chooses to be regulated
by the NYSE) and their offices, partnership and corporate arrangements,
their principal executives, employees and approved persons in
connection with their conduct of the business of member organizations;
\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See, e.g., supra note 5 and FINRA By-Laws, Article VI,
Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and Delegation of Functions by
FINRA to Subsidiaries, Article II, Section A. In contrast to the
NYSE's jurisdictional provisions, which extend to ``approved
persons,'' as defined in NYSE Rule 2(c), FINRA regulates its members
and ``persons associated with a member,'' as defined in FINRA By-
Laws, Article 1 (rr). With respect to the ability to obtain
information regarding members' affiliates, FINRA is addressing such
authority as part of a separate proposal. See Regulatory Notice 10-
01 (January 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
jurisdiction to discipline members, member organizations
(and any other broker-dealer that chooses to be regulated by the NYSE),
principal executives, employees and approved persons in connection with
their conduct of the business of member organizations; and \7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See, e.g., supra note 5, and FINRA By-Laws, Article VI,
Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and Delegation of Functions by
FINRA to Subsidiaries, Article II, Section A. Based on earlier Board
authority, FINRA repealed NYSE Rule 477 (Retention of Jurisdiction)
and continues to use FINRA's retention of jurisdiction provisions in
the FINRA By-laws. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58643
(September 25, 2008), 73 FR 57174 (October 1, 2008) (Order Approving
File No. SR-FINRA-2008-029).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jurisdiction over any and all other functions of members,
member organizations (and any other broker-dealer that chooses to be
regulated by the NYSE), principal executives, employees and approved
persons in connection with the conduct of the business of member
organizations in order for the NYSE to comply with its statutory
obligation as a self-regulatory organization.\8\
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\8\ See, e.g., supra note 5, and FINRA By-Laws, Article VI,
Section 5 and Plan of Allocation and Delegation of Functions by
FINRA to Subsidiaries, Article II, Section A.
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FINRA further notes that other matters addressed by NYSE Rule 2A
are not applicable to the operations of a registered securities
association that does not operate a listing market or are otherwise
unique to the NYSE, including:
Approving applications for the listing and admission of
securities to dealings on the NYSE, as well as suspending dealings in
and removing securities from listing;
Supervising all matters relating to the collection,
dissemination and use of quotations and of reports of prices on the
NYSE;
The power to approve or disapprove any connection or means
of communication with the floor and requiring the discontinuance of any
such connection or means of communication; and
Disapproving any member acting as a Designated Market
Maker or odd-lot dealer on the NYSE.
Therefore, FINRA considers the transfer of NYSE Rule 2A to the
Consolidated FINRA Rulebook to be unnecessary and proposes that it be
eliminated.\9\
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\9\ FINRA anticipates that the NYSE will retain a version of
NYSE Rule 2A.
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FINRA will announce the implementation date of the proposed rule
change in a Regulatory Notice to be published no later than 90 days
following Commission approval. The effective date will be no later than
150 days following Commission approval.
2. Statutory Basis
FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\10\ which requires, among
other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to prevent fraudulent
and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest. FINRA believes that the proposed rule change will
streamline and improve FINRA's rulebook by eliminating a rule that is
not necessary or appropriate for the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. As
further discussed above, the FINRA By-Laws address the powers and
authority of the Board and, together with the Exchange Act, set forth
FINRA's authority and responsibilities as a registered securities
association.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 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
[[Page 68242]]
organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) by order approve or disapprove such 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 email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-FINRA-2011-062 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2011-062. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 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 such filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of FINRA. 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-FINRA-2011-062 and should be
submitted on or before November 25, 2011.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-28512 Filed 11-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P