[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 127 (Monday, July 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37967-37971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10338]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54043; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-26]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change and 
Amendment No. 1 Thereto Relating to the Trading of Shares of Six 
Currency Trusts Pursuant to Unlisted Trading Privileges

June 26, 2006.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby 
given that, on June 6, 2006, the NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), through 
its wholly owned subsidiary NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE Arca 
Equities'' or ``Corporation''), the proposed rule change as described 
in Items I and II below, which items have been substantially prepared 
by the Exchange. On June 23, 2006, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 
to the proposed rule change.\3\ The Commission is publishing this 
notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, 
from interested persons, and is granting accelerated approval to the 
proposed rule change, as amended.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Partial Amendment No. 1.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202, which governs the 
trading of Currency Trust Shares,\4\ the Exchange proposes to trade 
pursuant to unlisted trading privileges (``UTP'') shares (``Shares'') 
of the following six trusts: CurrencyShares\TM\ Australian Dollar 
Trust, which issues Australian Dollar Shares; CurrencyShares\TM\) 
British Pound Sterling Trust, which issues British Pound Sterling 
Shares; CurrencyShares\TM\ Canadian Dollar Trust, which issues Canadian 
Dollar Shares; CurrencyShares\TM\ Mexican Peso Trust, which issues 
Mexican Peso Shares; CurrencyShares\TM\ Swedish Krona Trust, which 
issues Swedish Krona Shares; and CurrencyShares\TM\ Swiss Franc Trust, 
which issues Swiss Franc Shares (collectively, the ``Trusts'').
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    \4\ Currency Trust Shares are securities issued by a trust that 
represent investors' discrete identifiable and undivided beneficial 
ownership interest in the non-U.S. currency deposited into the 
trust. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 and Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 53253 (February 8, 2006), 71 FR 8029 (February 15, 2006) 
(SR-PCX-2005-123) (order granting accelerated approval for the 
Exchange to adopt generic listing and trading standards for Currency 
Trust Shares and approving the UTP trading of shares of the Euro 
Currency Trust).
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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, the Exchange 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 III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, substantially 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 mentioned above, the Exchange proposes to trade, pursuant to UTP 
and NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202, the Shares. Each Share represents a 
proportional interest, based on the total number of Shares outstanding, 
in the applicable foreign currency owned by the specific Trust, less 
the estimated accrued but unpaid expenses (both asset-based and non-
asset based) of such Trust. On June 20, 2006, the Commission approved a 
rule proposal by the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'') to permit 
the original listing and trading of the Shares by and on the NYSE.\5\
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    \5\ See File No. SR-NYSE-2006-35, as amended (``NYSE 
Proposal''), and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54020 (``NYSE 
Order'').
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    Rydex Specialized Products LLC is the sponsor of the Trusts 
(``Sponsor''),\6\ the Bank of New York is the trustee of the Trusts 
(``Trustee''), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., London Branch, is the 
depository for the Trusts (``Depository''), and Rydex Distributors, 
Inc. is the distributor for the Trusts (``Distributor''). The Sponsor, 
Trustee, Depository, and Distributor are not affiliated with the 
Exchange or one another, with the exception that the Sponsor and 
Distributor are affiliated. The Exchange currently trades pursuant to 
UTP the shares of the Euro Currency Trust, which has the same Sponsor, 
Trustee, Depository and Distributor as the Trusts.\7\
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    \6\ The Sponsor, on behalf of the Trusts, filed a Form S-1 for 
each Trust on March 10, 2006 (collectively, ``Registration 
Statements''). See Registration No. 333-132362 for the 
CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust, Registration No. 333-132361 
for the CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, Registration 
No. 333-132363 for the CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust, 
Registration No. 333-132367 for the CurrencyShares Mexican Peso 
Trust, Registration No. 333-132366 for the CurrencyShares Swedish 
Krona Trust, and Registration No. 333-132364 for the Swiss Franc 
Trust.
    \7\  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53253, supra note 
4.
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    According to the Exchange, the investment objective of each Trust 
is for the Shares issued by the Trust to reflect the price of its 
particular currency,\8\ less the expenses of the Trust. Each Trust's 
assets will consist only of foreign currency on demand deposit in a 
foreign currency-denominated, interest-bearing account at the 
Depository. The Sponsor expects that the price of a Share will 
fluctuate in response to fluctuations in the price of the applicable 
foreign currency and that the price of a Share will reflect accumulated 
interest as well as the estimated accrued but unpaid expenses of the 
specific Trust.
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    \8\ The CurrencySharesTM Australian Dollar Trust 
holds the Australian Dollar; the CurrencySharesTM British 
Pound Sterling Trust holds the British Pound Sterling; the 
CurrencySharesTM Canadian Dollar Trust holds the Canadian 
Dollar; the CurrencySharesTM Mexican Peso Trust holds the 
Mexican Peso; the CurrencySharesTM Swedish Krona Trust 
holds the Swedish Krona; and the CurrencySharesTM Swiss 
Franc Trust holds the Swiss Franc.
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a. The Shares
    A description of the currencies underlying each of the Trusts, the 
foreign exchange industry, foreign currency regulation, operation of 
the Trusts, and the Shares is set forth in the NYSE Proposal and the 
NYSE Order. To summarize, issuances of Shares will be made only in 
baskets of 50,000 Shares or multiples thereof (``Baskets''). The Trusts 
will issue and redeem the Shares on a continuous basis, by or through 
participants that have entered into participant agreements 
(``Authorized Participants'') \9\ with the Trustee. The

[[Page 37968]]

creation and redemption of Baskets requires the delivery to the Trusts 
or the distribution by the Trusts of the amount of foreign currency 
represented by the Baskets being created or redeemed. This amount is 
based on the combined net asset value (``NAV'') per Share of the number 
of Shares included in the Baskets being created or redeemed, determined 
on the day the order to create or redeem Baskets is properly received.
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    \9\ An ``Authorized Participant'' is a person, who at the time 
of submitting to the Trustee an order to create or redeem one or 
more Baskets, is a Depository Trust Company Participant that is a 
registered broker-dealer or other securities market participant such 
as a bank or other financial institution that is not required to 
register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities transactions and 
has entered into a Participant Agreement with the Sponsor and the 
Trustee.
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    The Trustee will calculate, and the Sponsor will publish, each 
Trust's NAV each business day.\10\ To calculate the NAV for a Trust, 
the Trustee will subtract the Sponsor's accrued fee for the current day 
from the foreign currency held by the Trust (including all unpaid 
interest accrued through the immediately preceding day) and calculate 
the value the foreign currency held by a Trust in dollars on the basis 
of the day's announced Noon Buying Rate as determined by the Federal 
Reserve Bank of New York.\11\ If the Noon Buying Rate is not announced 
by 2 p.m. Eastern time (``ET''), the Trustee will use the most recently 
announced Noon Buying Rate, unless the Trustee, in consultation with 
the Sponsor, determines to apply an alternative basis for evaluation as 
a result of extraordinary circumstances. The Trustee also determines 
the NAV per Share, which equals the NAV of the Trusts divided by the 
number of outstanding Shares. The calculation methodology for the NAV 
is described in more detail in the NYSE Proposal and the NYSE Order.
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    \10\ For purposes of processing purchase and redemption orders, 
a ``business day'' means any day other than a day when the NYSE is 
closed for regular trading.
    \11\ According to the NYSE Proposal, the NAV will be posted on 
the Trusts' Web site as soon as the valuation of the foreign 
currency held by a Trust is complete (ordinarily by 2 p.m. ET). 
Ordinarily, the NAV will be posted no more than 30 minutes after the 
Noon Buying Rate is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New 
York. The NYSE represented in the NYSE Proposal that all market 
participants will have access to this data at the same time and, 
therefore, no market participant will have a time advantage in using 
such data.
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    The total deposit required to create each Basket, called the 
``Basket Amount,'' is an amount of foreign currency bearing the same 
proportion to the number of Baskets to be created as the total assets 
of a Trust (net of estimated accrued but unpaid expenses) bears to the 
total number of Baskets outstanding on the date that the order to 
purchase is properly received. The amount of the required deposit is 
determined by dividing the number of units of foreign currency (e.g. 
Australian Dollars) held by a Trust (net of estimated accrued but 
unpaid expenses) by the number of Baskets outstanding. The Basket 
Amount and NAV will be determined by the Trustee ``as promptly as 
practicable'' after the Federal Reserve announces the Noon Buying Rate 
and will be published on the Trusts' Web site on each business day.\12\ 
Authorized Participants that wish to purchase a Basket must transfer 
the Basket Amount to a Trust in exchange for a Basket.\13\ Baskets are 
then separable upon issuance into the Shares that will be traded on the 
NYSE Arca Marketplace on a UTP basis.\14\
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    \12\ Ordinarily no later than 2 p.m. (ET). According to the NYSE 
Proposal, the Basket Amount will be published simultaneously with 
the NAV. See NYSE Proposal and NYSE Order, supra note 5.
    \13\ Before the delivery of Baskets for a purchase order or the 
delivery of the redemption distribution for a redemption order, the 
Authorized Participant must also have wired to the Trustee a non-
refundable transaction fee due for the order.
    \14\ Shares are separate and distinct from the underlying 
foreign currency comprising the portfolio of a Trust. The Exchange 
expects that the number of outstanding Shares will increase and 
decrease as a result of in-kind deposits and withdrawals of the 
underlying foreign currency.
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    The Shares will not be individually redeemable but will only be 
redeemable in Baskets. To redeem, an Authorized Participant will be 
required to accumulate enough Shares to constitute a Basket (i.e., 
50,000 Shares). Authorized Participants that wish to redeem a Basket 
will receive the Basket Amount in exchange for each Basket surrendered. 
The operation of the Trusts and the creation and redemption process is 
described in more detail in the NYSE Proposal and the NYSE Order.
b. Dissemination of Information About the Shares and the Underlying 
Foreign Currencies
    Currently, the Consolidated Tape Plan does not provide for 
dissemination of the spot price of a foreign currency over the 
Consolidated Tape. However, there will be disseminated over the 
Consolidated Tape the last sale price for the Shares, as is the case 
for all equity securities traded on the Exchange (including exchange-
traded funds). In addition, there is a considerable amount of foreign 
currency price and market information available on public Web sites and 
through professional and subscription services. As is the case with 
equity securities generally and exchange-traded funds specifically, in 
most instances, real-time information is only available for a fee, and 
information available free of charge is subject to delay (typically, 20 
minutes).
    Investors may obtain on a 24-hour basis foreign currency pricing 
information based on the foreign currency spot price of each applicable 
foreign currency from various financial information service providers. 
Complete real-time data for foreign currency futures \15\ and options 
prices traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (``CME'') and the 
Philadelphia Stock Exchange (``Phlx'') are also available by 
subscription from information service providers.\16\ The CME and Phlx 
also provide delayed futures and options information on current and 
past trading sessions and market news free of charge on their 
respective Web sites.
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    \15\ See telephone conversation between Kimberly Loies, 
attorney, Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP, counsel for the Exchange, 
Geoffrey Pemble, Special Counsel, Commission, and Christopher Chow, 
Special Counsel, Commission, on June 26, 2006 (``June 26 Telephone 
Conversation'').
    \16\ See infra note 29.
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    There are a variety of other public Web sites available at no 
charge that provide information on the currencies underlying the Shares 
that are the subject of this filing, which service providers include 
Bloomberg, (http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/currencies/fxc.html), 
CBS Market Watch (http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/stockresearch/globalmarkets stockresearch/
globalmarkets), Yahoo! Finance (http://www.finance.yahoo.com/currency currency), moneycentral.com, cnnfn.com and reuters.com, which provide 
spot price or currency conversion information about each of the 
currencies that underlie the Shares that are the subject of this 
filing. Many of these sites offer price quotations drawn from other 
published sources, and as the information is supplied free of charge, 
it generally is subject to time delays.\17\ In addition, major market 
data vendors regularly report current currency exchange pricing for a 
fee for the currencies underlying the Shares that are the subject of 
this proposal.
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    \17\ There may be incremental differences in the foreign 
currency spot price among the various information service sources. 
While the Exchange believes the differences in the foreign currency 
spot price may be relevant to those entities engaging in arbitrage 
or in the active daily trading of the applicable foreign currency or 
foreign currency derivatives, the Exchange believes such differences 
are likely of less concern to individual investors intending to hold 
the Shares as part of a long-term investment strategy.
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    In addition, the Trusts' Web site (http://www.currencyshares.com), 
which is publicly accessible at no charge, will provide the following 
information: (1) The spot price for each applicable foreign 
currency,\18\ including

[[Page 37969]]

the bid and offer and the midpoint between the bid and offer for the 
foreign currency spot price, updated at least every 15 seconds; \19\ 
(2) an IIV per Share calculated by multiplying the indicative spot 
price of the applicable foreign currency by the quantity of foreign 
currency backing each Share, updated at least every 15 seconds; (3) an 
indicative value (subject to a 20-minute delay), which is used for 
calculating premium/discount information; (4) premium/discount 
information, calculated on a 20-minute delayed basis; (5) the NAV of 
each Trust as calculated each business day by the Trustee; (6) accrued 
interest per Share; (7) the daily Federal Reserve Bank of New York Noon 
Buying Rate; (8) the Basket Amount for each applicable foreign 
currency; and (9) the last sale price of the Shares as traded in the 
U.S. market, subject to a 20-minute delay, as it is provided free of 
charge.\20\ On the Trusts' Web site, the foreign currency spot prices 
will be available and disseminated at least every 15 seconds and the 
IIV per Share will be calculated and disseminated at least every 15 
seconds during NYSE Arca Marketplace's opening and late trading 
sessions, as well as during its core trading session.\21\ The Exchange 
will provide on its own public Web site (http://www.nysearca.com) a 
link to the Trusts' Web site.
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    \18\ The Trusts' Web site's foreign currency spot price will be 
provided by FactSet Research Systems (http://www.factset.com). 
FactSet Research Systems is not affiliated with the Trusts, Trustee, 
Sponsor, Depository, Distributor, or the Exchange. In the event that 
the Trusts' Web site should cease to provide this foreign currency 
spot price information from an unaffiliated source and the intraday 
indicative value (``IIV'') of the Shares, the NYSE will commence 
delisting proceedings for the Shares. The NYSE also will halt 
trading in an issue of Shares for which the IIV is no longer 
calculated or disseminated. See NYSE Proposal and NYSE Order.
    \19\ The midpoint will be calculated by the Sponsor. The 
midpoint is used for purposes of calculating the premium or discount 
of the Shares. For example, assuming a British Pound spot bid of 
$1.7473 and an offer of $1.7474, the mid point would be calculated 
as follows: (British Pound spot bid plus ((spot offer minus spot 
bid) divided by 2)) or ($1.7473 + ($1.7474-$1.7473)/2)) + $1.74735. 
The Sponsor has represented to the Exchange that the IIV will be 
available during the Exchange's early, core and late trading 
sessions (4 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET).
    \20\ The last sale price of the Shares in the secondary market 
is available on a real-time basis for a fee from regular data 
vendors.
    \21\ Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a), the NYSE Arca 
Marketplace trading hours for exchange-traded funds are as follows: 
(1) Opening trading session--4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET; (2) core 
trading session--9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
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c. UTP Trading Criteria
    The Exchange will cease trading in the Shares during the listing 
market's trading hours if: (a) The listing market stops trading the 
Shares because of a regulatory halt similar to a halt based on NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 7.12 and/or a halt because the IIV and/or the 
underlying value (spot price) \22\ of the applicable foreign currency 
is no longer calculated or disseminated; \23\ or (b) the listing market 
delists the Shares. Additionally, the Exchange may cease trading the 
Shares if such other event shall occur or condition exists which in the 
opinion of the Exchange makes further dealings on the Exchange 
inadvisable.
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    \22\ For purposes of trading the Shares pursuant to UTP, the 
applicable value would be the applicable foreign currency spot price 
on the Trusts' Web site (to which the Exchange will hyperlink), 
which is currently provided by FactSet Research Systems (http://www.factset.com).
    \23\ June 26 Telephone Conversation, supra note 15.
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    Because NYSE Arca Marketplace will be trading the Shares during its 
opening and late trading sessions, when the listing market is closed, 
the Exchange will take reasonable steps designed to ensure that the 
applicable foreign currency spot price and IIV are disseminated during 
these trading sessions. In addition, the Exchange will cease trading 
the Shares if: (1) The value of the foreign currency is not calculated 
and available on at least a 15-second delayed basis from a source 
unaffiliated with the Sponsor, the Trust, the Trustee, or the Exchange 
and the Exchange is not providing a hyperlink on the Exchange's Web 
site to any such unaffiliated foreign currency value; or \24\ (2) the 
IIV is not made available on at least a 15-second delayed basis.\25\
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    \24\ Id.
    \25\ In such case, the Exchange would immediately contact the 
Commission's staff. See Amendment No. 1.
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d. Trading Rules
    The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus 
rendering trading in the Shares subject to the Exchange's existing 
rules governing the trading of equity securities.\26\ Trading in the 
Shares on the Exchange will occur in accordance with NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 7.34(a).\27\ The Exchange represents that it has appropriate rules 
to facilitate transactions in the Shares during all trading sessions. 
The minimum trading increment for Shares on the Exchange will be $0.01.
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    \26\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(b).
    \27\ See supra note 21.
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    NYSE Arca Equities Rules 8.202(g)-(i) set forth certain 
restrictions on ETP Holders acting as registered Market Makers in the 
Shares to facilitate surveillance. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(h) 
requires that the ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the 
Shares provide the Exchange with information relating to its trading in 
the applicable foreign currency, options, futures or options on futures 
on such currency, or any other derivatives based on such currency. NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 8.202(i) prohibits the ETP Holder acting as a 
registered Market Maker in the Shares from using any material nonpublic 
information received from any person associated with an ETP Holder or 
employee of such person regarding trading by such person or employee in 
the applicable foreign currency, options, futures or options on futures 
on such currency, or any other derivatives based on such currency 
(including the Shares). In addition, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(g) 
prohibits the ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the 
Shares from being affiliated with a market maker in the applicable 
foreign currency, options, futures or options on futures on such 
currency, or any other derivatives based on such currency, unless 
adequate information barriers are in place, as provided in NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.26.
    With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all 
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend 
trading in the Shares. Trading on the Exchange in the Shares may be 
halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of 
the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may 
include: (1) The extent to which trading is not occurring in the 
applicable foreign currency, or (2) whether other unusual conditions or 
circumstances detrimental to the maintenance of a fair and orderly 
market are present. In addition, trading in the Shares will be subject 
to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to 
the Exchange's ``circuit breaker'' rule.\28\ See ``UTP Trading 
Criteria'' section above for specific instances when the Exchange will 
cease trading in the Shares.
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    \28\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
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    The Shares will be deemed ``Eligible Listed Securities,'' as 
defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.55, for purposes of the 
Intermarket Trading System (``ITS'') Plan and therefore will be subject 
to the trade through provisions of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.56, which 
require that ETP Holders avoid initiating trade-throughs for ITS 
securities.
e. Surveillance
    The Exchange intends to utilize its existing surveillance 
procedures applicable to derivative products, shares of the 
streetTRACKS Gold Trust, and shares of the Euro Currency Trust to 
monitor trading in the Shares. The Exchange represents that these 
procedures are adequate to properly

[[Page 37970]]

monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions.
    The Exchange's current trading surveillance focuses on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns. When such situations 
are detected, surveillance analysis follows and investigations are 
opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of all relevant 
parties for all relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange is able to obtain information regarding trading in the 
Shares, foreign currency options, and foreign currency futures through 
ETP Holders, in connection with such ETP Holders' proprietary or 
customer trades which they effect on any relevant market. In addition, 
the Exchange may obtain trading information via the Intermarket 
Surveillance Group (``ISG'') from other exchanges who are members or 
affiliates of the ISG.\29\ Specifically, the Exchange can obtain 
information: (1) From the CME, an affiliate member of ISG, about the 
trading of the relevant foreign currency futures, and options on those 
futures, that trade on the CME; and (2) from the Phlx, a member of the 
ISG, about the trading of options on the relevant foreign currencies 
that trade on the Phlx.\30\
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    \29\ As noted in the NYSE Proposal, futures on the Australian 
Dollar, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso, Swedish Krona 
and Swiss Franc, as well as options on such futures (except for the 
Swedish Krona) are traded on the CME (both exchange pit trading and 
GLOBEX trading, except for Swedish Krona futures, which trade on 
GLOBEX only). Standardized options on the Australian Dollar, British 
Pound, Canadian Dollar and Swiss Franc trade on the Phlx. These U.S. 
markets are the primary trading markets in the world for exchange-
traded futures, options, and options or futures on these currencies. 
As noted in the NYSE Proposal, based on the NYSE's review of 
information supplied by major market data vendors, exchange-traded 
options are not traded on the Mexican Peso or the Swedish Krona.
    \30\ See supra note 29.
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f. Information Bulletin
    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics 
and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the 
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for 
purchases and redemptions of Shares in Baskets (and that Shares are not 
individually redeemable but are redeemable only in aggregations of at 
least 50,000 Shares); (2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a),\31\ which 
imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to learn the 
essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading the Shares; 
(3) how information regarding the IIV is disseminated; (4) the 
requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors 
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the 
confirmation of a transaction; and (5) trading information. For 
example, the Information Bulletin will advise ETP Holders, prior to the 
commencement of trading, of the prospectus delivery requirements 
applicable to the Shares. The Exchange notes that investors purchasing 
Shares directly from the Trusts (by delivery of the Basket Amount) will 
receive a prospectus. ETP Holders purchasing Shares from the Trusts for 
resale to investors will deliver a prospectus to such investors.
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    \31\ The Exchange has proposed to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
9.2(a) (``Diligence as to Accounts'') to provide that ETP Holders, 
before recommending a transaction, must have reasonable grounds to 
believe that the recommendation is suitable for the customer based 
on any facts disclosed by the customer as to his other security 
holdings and as to his financial situation and needs. Further, the 
proposed rule amendment provides that prior to the execution of a 
transaction recommended to a non-institutional customer, the ETP 
Holders should make reasonable efforts to obtain information 
concerning the customer's financial status, tax status, investment 
objectives, and any other information that they believe would be 
useful to make a recommendation. See Amendment No. 2 to SR-PCX-2005-
115 (May 5, 2006).
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    In addition, the Information Bulletin will reference that each 
Trust is subject to various fees and expenses described in the 
applicable Registration Statement, and that the number of units of 
foreign currency required to create a Basket or to be delivered upon a 
redemption of a Basket may gradually decrease over time in the event 
that a Trust is required to sell units of foreign currency to pay the 
Trust's expenses, and that if done at a time when the price of the 
applicable foreign currency is relatively low, it could adversely 
affect the value of the Shares. Finally, the Information Bulletin also 
will reference the fact that there is no regulated source of last sale 
information regarding foreign currency, and that the Commission has no 
jurisdiction over the trading of foreign currency.
    The Information Bulletin will also discuss any relief, if granted, 
by the Commission from any rules under the Exchange Act.\32\
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    \32\ The applicable rules are: Rule 10a-1; Rule 200(g) of 
Regulation SHO; Section 11(d)(1) and Rule 11d1-2; and Rules 101 and 
102 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange states that the proposed rule change, as amended, is 
consistent with section 6(b) of the Exchange Act \33\ in general and 
furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act \34\ in 
particular in that it is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with 
persons engaged in facilitating transaction in securities, to remove 
impediments and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
    \34\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(5).
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    In addition, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent 
with Rule 12f-5 under the Exchange Act \35\ because it deems the Shares 
to be equity securities, thus rendering the Shares subject to the 
Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of equity securities.
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    \35\ 17 CFR 240.12f-5.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change, as 
amended, 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

    The Exchange states that written comments were neither solicited 
nor received.

III. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, as amended, 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 No. SR-NYSEArca-2006-26 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-NYSEArca-2006-26. 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/

[[Page 37971]]

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 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-NYSEArca-2006-26 and should be submitted by July 24, 
2006.

IV. Commission Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change

    After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as amended, is consistent with the requirements of the 
Exchange Act \36\ and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable 
to a national securities exchange.\37\ In particular, the Commission 
finds that the proposed rule change, as amended, is consistent with the 
requirements of section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act,\38\ which requires 
that the an exchange have rules designed, among other things, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments 
and to 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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    \36\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \37\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission 
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \38\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    In addition, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent 
with section 12(f) of the Exchange Act,\39\ which permits an exchange 
to trade, pursuant to UTP, a security that is listed and registered on 
another exchange.\40\ The Commission notes that it previously approved 
the listing and trading of the Shares on the NYSE.\41\
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    \39\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(f).
    \40\ Section 12(a) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78l(a), generally 
prohibits a broker-dealer from trading a security on a national 
securities exchange unless the security is registered on that 
exchange pursuant to section 12 of the Act. Section 12(f) of the Act 
excludes from this restriction trading in any security to which an 
exchange ``extends UTP.'' When an exchange extends UTP to a 
security, it allows its members to trade the security as if it were 
listed and registered on the exchange even though it is not so 
listed and registered.
    \41\ See NYSE Order, supra note 5.
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    The Commission also finds that the proposal is consistent with Rule 
12f-5 under the Exchange Act,\42\ which provides that an exchange shall 
not extend UTP to a security unless it has in effect a rule or rules 
providing for transactions in a class or type of security to which the 
exchange extends UTP. NYSE Arca rules deem the Shares to be equity 
securities, thus trading in the Shares will be subject to the 
Exchange's existing rules governing the trading of equity 
securities.\43\
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    \42\ 17 CFR 240.12f-5.
    \43\ The Commission notes that any new listing or trading of an 
issue of Currency Trust Shares will be subject to approval of a 
proposed rule change by the Commission pursuant to section 19(b)(2) 
of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, 
17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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    The Commission further believes that the proposal is consistent 
with section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Exchange Act,\44\ which sets 
forth Congress' finding that it is in the public interest, and is 
appropriate for the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair 
and orderly markets, to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, 
and investors of information with respect to quotations for and 
transactions in securities.
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    \44\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
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    In support of the proposal, the Exchange has made the following 
representations: (1) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate 
transactions in this type of security in all trading sessions; (2) the 
Exchange's surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the 
trading of the Shares on the Exchange; (3) the Exchange will distribute 
an Information Bulletin to its members prior to the commencement of 
trading of the Shares on the Exchange that explains the special 
characteristics and risks of trading the Shares; (4) the Exchange will 
require a member with a customer who purchases newly issued Shares on 
the Exchange to provide that customer with a product prospectus and 
will note this prospectus delivery requirement in the Information 
Bulletin; (5) the Exchange will cease trading in the Shares if: (a) The 
listing market stops trading the Shares because of a regulatory halt 
similar to a halt based on NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12 and/or a halt 
because the IIV and/or the underlying value (spot price) of the 
applicable foreign currency is no longer calculated or disseminated; 
(b) the listing market delists the Shares; or (c) such other event 
occurs or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes 
further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable.\45\ This approval order 
is conditioned on the Exchange's adherence to these representations.
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    \45\ In addition, the Exchange will cease trading the Shares if: 
(1) The value of the foreign currency is not calculated and 
available on at least a 15-second delayed basis from a source 
unaffiliated with the Sponsor, the Trust, the Trustee, or the 
Exchange and the Exchange is not providing a hyperlink on the 
Exchange's Web site to any such unaffiliated foreign currency value; 
or (2) the IIV is not made available on at least a 15-second delayed 
basis.
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    The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule 
change, as amended, prior to the thirtieth day after publication of the 
notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission 
recently granted approval to the NYSE to list and trade the Shares.\46\ 
Accelerating approval of this proposed rule change should benefit 
investors by creating, without undue delay, additional competition in 
the market for the Shares.
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    \46\ See NYSE Order, supra note 5.
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V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act 
\47\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2006-26), as amended, 
is approved on an accelerated basis.
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    \47\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\48\
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    \48\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-10338 Filed 6-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P