71 FR 24 pgs. 6116-6117 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Modify the Hours of Operation of Nasdaq's Brut System
Type: NOTICEVolume: 71Number: 24Pages: 6116 - 6117
Docket number: [Release No. 34-53187; File No. SR-NASD-2006-006]
FR document: [FR Doc. E6-1537 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-53187; File No. SR-NASD-2006-006]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Modify the Hours of Operation of Nasdaq's Brut System
January 30, 2006.
Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act")1and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2notice is hereby given that on January 20, 2006, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.("NASD"), through its subsidiary, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq"), submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by Nasdaq. Nasdaq filed the proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act3which renders it effective upon filing with the Commission. On January 25, 2006, the Amex filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.4The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
Footnotes:
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
4 Amendment No. 1 clarified that the filing was made pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
Nasdaq proposes to amend NASD Rule 4912. The text of the proposed rule change is below. Additions are italicized; deletions are [bracketed].5
Footnotes:
5 Changes are marked to the rule text that appears in the electronic NASD Manual found at http://www.nasd.com. Prior to the date when The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ LLC") commences operations, NASDAQ LLC will file a conforming change to the rules of NASDAQ LLC approved in Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53128 (January 13, 2006).
4912. Normal Business Hours
The Brut System operates from [6:30] 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on each business day.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. Nasdaq has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Nasdaq proposes to modify the starting time for the Brut ECN hours of operation, order acceptance time, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). This change will standardize the system start times of the Nasdaq Market Center and Nasdaq's Brut Facility.
The current configuration allows connectivity and order entry from the time the System is brought online beginning at 6:30 a.m., which allows orders and executions to begin at 6:30 a.m.6
Footnotes:
6 Phone call from Jonathan Cayne, Associate General Counsel, Nasdaq, to Angela R. Muehr, Attorney, Commission, on January 27, 2006.
The proposed amendment would:
(1) Allow client connection from System up time, scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. (this process takes 10-15 minutes);
(2) Reject orders entered prior to 7:30 a.m.;
(3) Allow orders and executions beginning at 7:30 a.m.
2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with section 15A of the Act,7in general, and furthers the objectives of section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,8in particular, in that it is designed to protect investors and the public interest.
Footnotes:
7 7 15 U.S.C. 78o-3.
8 8 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(6).
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others
Written comments on the proposed rule change were neither solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
Nasdaq has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act9and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.10Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), Nasdaq provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to filing the proposal with the Commission or such shorter period as designated by the Commission.
Footnotes:
9 9 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
10 10 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.11
Footnotes:
11 The effective date of the original proposed rule change is January 20, 2006 and the effective date of Amendment No. 1 is January 25, 2006. The proposed rule change does not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing. For purposes of calculating the 60-day period within which the Commission may summarily abrogate the proposed rule change, as amended, under section 19(b)(3)(C) of the Act, the Commission considers the period to commence on January 25, 2006, the date on which Nasdaq submitted Amendment No. 1. See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
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 ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/ sro.shtml ); or
• Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NASD-2006-006 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2006-006. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of Nasdaq. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2006-006 and should be submitted on or before February 27, 2006.
For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.12
Footnotes:
12 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-1537 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P