[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33325-33326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8877]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-53931; File No. SR-NASD-2006-061]


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 Establish Pricing for the 
Nasdaq IPO/Halt Cross

June 1, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on May 12, 2006, 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'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by Nasdaq. On May 15, 
2006, Nasdaq filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\3\ 
Nasdaq has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, 
fee, or other charge imposed by a self-regulatory organization pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act,\4\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) 
thereunder,\5\ which renders the proposal effective upon filing with 
the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, Nasdaq made non-substantive changes to 
the text of the proposed rule change and made clarifying changes to 
the statutory basis section.
    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \5\ CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Nasdaq proposes to establish the execution fees for quotes and 
orders executed in the Nasdaq IPO/Halt Cross set forth in NASD Rule 
4703. At the time Nasdaq filed the proposed rule change, it stated that 
the proposed rule change would be implemented on May 16, 2006. Nasdaq 
subsequently indicated that it intends to implement the change on July 
1, 2006.\6\ The text of the proposed rule change is available on NASD's 
Web site, http://www.nasd.com, at NASD's Office of the Secretary, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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    \6\ See e-mail message from Jeffrey S. Davis, Associate General 
Counsel, Nasdaq, to Katherine A. England, Assistant Director, 
Division of Market Regulation, Commission, dated May 31, 2006.
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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 has determined to set the pricing for the Nasdaq IPO/Halt 
Cross described in NASD Rule 4703 at $0.0005 per share executed during 
the Nasdaq IPO/Halt Cross. This fee is consistent with the fees 
assessed for executions in the Nasdaq Opening and Closing Crosses. 
Nasdaq intends to implement the fee on July 1, 2006.
2. Statutory Basis
    Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 15A of the Act,\7\ in general, and Section 15A(b)(5) \8\ of the 
Act, in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among members and issuers and 
other persons using any facility or system which the NASD operates or 
controls. The proposed fees for the execution of quotes and orders in 
the IPO/Halt Cross is consistent with the statute in that it is 
designed to result in an execution charge approximating the execution 
charge for quotes and orders entered and executed in the Nasdaq Market 
Center Opening and Closing Crosses.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3.
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    Nasdaq 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

    Nasdaq has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed 
rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \9\ and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 
thereunder \10\ in that it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by Nasdaq for the Nasdaq IPO/Halt Cross. Nasdaq intends

[[Page 33326]]

to make this rule change effective on July 1, 2006. 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\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
    \11\ The effective date of the original proposed rule change is 
May 12, 2006, and the effective date of Amendment No. 1 is May 15, 
2006. 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 May 15, 2006, the date on which 
Nasdaq submitted Amendment No. 1. See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).
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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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NASD-2006-061 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-2006-061. 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 the filing 
also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal 
offices of the NASD. 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-2006-061 and should be submitted on or before June 29, 2006.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\12\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-8877 Filed 6-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P