[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 46197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17492]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-50091; File No. SR-NASD-2004-091]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Approval of 
Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, 
Inc., To Discontinue the Use of the Nasdaq NEWS Feature of the Nasdaq 
Workstation II, and To Provide a Different Standard for the Beginning 
and End of a Trading Halt

July 27, 2004.
    On June 15, 2004, the National Association of Securities Dealers, 
Inc. (``NASD''), through its subsidiary, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. 
(``Nasdaq''), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'')\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to discontinue the use of the Nasdaq NEWS feature 
of the Nasdaq Workstation II, and to provide for a different standard 
for the beginning and end of a trading halt. The proposed rule change 
was published for notice and comment in the Federal Register on June 
25, 2004.\3\ The Commission received no comments on the proposal.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49898 (June 21, 
2004), 69 FR 35696.
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    The Commission has reviewed carefully the proposed rule change and 
finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements 
of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a 
national securities association \4\ and, in particular, the 
requirements of section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\5\ which requires, among 
other things, that NASD's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with 
persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing 
information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in 
securities, 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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    \4\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\6\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-2004-091) be, and it 
hereby is, approved. 
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-17492 Filed 7-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P