[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10620-10621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4648]



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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-35394; File No. SR-CHX-95-03]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule 
Change and Amendment No. 1 to Proposed Rule Change by Chicago Stock 
Exchange, Incorporated Relating to Reporting and Disclosure 
Requirements

February 17, 1995.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''), 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), notice is hereby given that on February 
8, 1995, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'' or 
``SEC'') the proposed rule change, and on February 16, 1995, filed 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change,\1\ 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\Amendment No. 1 made non-substantive, clarifying changes to 
the proposal. See Letter from Jay O. Wright, Esq., Foley & Lardner, 
to Elisa Metzger, Senior Counsel, SEC, dated February 14, 1995.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The CHX, pursuant to Rule 19b-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (``Act''), proposes to (1) amend Article VI, Rule 5 and add an 
interpretation thereto to require that members and member organizations 
maintain written procedures to ensure compliance with the securities 
laws (and SEC regulations promulgated thereunder) and the Rules of 
Exchange; (2) amend Article XI Rule 4 to provide the Exchange with the 
authority to require that a member or member organization have an 
accounting firm audit its books and to clarify that all members and 
member organizations are required to comply with the disclosure 
requirements of Rule 17a-5; and (3) add Article XI, Rule 9 to require 
that floor brokers who do not clear their own trades procure a letter 
of guarantee prior to trading.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at 
the placed specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 
has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the 
most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The CHX has two purposes for amending Article VI, Rule 5 to require 
that members and member organizations maintain written supervisory 
procedures: (1) Requiring written procedures allows the CHX to more 
easily verify the existence of procedures; and (2) such a requirement 
facilitates the CHX's verification of the content of the procedures. 
The visibility of such written procedures will remind members and 
member organizations of their obligations to comply with the securities 
laws, SEC rules, and the Exchange's rules, thus enhancing compliance.
    The CHX's purpose for adding Article XI, Rule 4(c) thereto is to 
clarify that all CHX members and member organizations are required to 
file monthly and quarterly Focus Reports with the CHX in accordance 
with SEC Rule 17a-5 unless the member or member organization is exempt.
    The CHX's purpose for adding Article XI, Rule 9 is to enhance the 
safety and soundness of the clearing system by ensuring that Floor 
Brokers have sufficient financial resources to stand behind their 
trades. As a result, fewer disruptions due to the financial distress of 
a floor broker are likely to occur. The reliability of the clearing 
system is thus augmented.
2. Statutory Basis
    The proposed rule changes are consistent with Sections 6(b)(1) and 
6(b)(5) of the Act in that the proposed rule changes will aid the 
Exchange in enforcing compliance by its members and member 
organizations with the securities laws and the Exchange's rules as well 
as aiding in preventing fraudulent or manipulative acts in the clearing 
of trades.

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. [[Page 10621]] 

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received from Members, Participants or Others

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on 
the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 35 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register or within such other 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. Persons making written submissions 
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies 
of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements 
with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the 
Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying at the 
Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of the CHX. All 
submissions should refer to File No. SR-CHX-95-03 and should be 
submitted by March 20, 1995.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-4648 Filed 2-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M