[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62492-62493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17836]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54618; File No. SR-Amex-2006-98]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Codification 
of Exchange Policy Regarding Specialist Commissions

October 18, 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 October 4, 2006, the American Stock Exchange LLC ( ``Amex'' or 
``Exchange'') 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 the Exchange. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Amex Rule 154 to codify policies 
regarding specialist commissions. The text of the proposed rule change 
is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.amex.com), at the 
Exchange's Office of the Secretary, and at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room.

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 IV below. The Exchange 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 Exchange has a long-standing business policy, which describes 
the circumstances under which specialists may charge members and member 
organizations a commission for executing orders. Until recently, this 
policy had been posted on the Exchange's Web site so that both members 
and the investing public could know the types of orders for which they 
could be charged a specialist commission. According to the Exchange, 
the policy has been removed from the Web site since as a business 
policy it was not enforceable as a rule of the Exchange, which caused 
confusion among members and the public. The Exchange therefore proposes 
to codify in Amex Rule 154 its policy regarding the types of equity 
orders for which specialists can charge a commission. The Exchange 
believes that codifying this business policy in a rule would allow the 
policy to be enforceable across all specialist firms; would provide 
consistency and clarity to all members and the public that orders sent 
to the Amex would not be subject to excessive or arbitrary costs; and 
would preserve the cost competitiveness of the Exchange. The proposed 
rule, as described more fully below, would apply to equity securities 
only.
    The Exchange proposes to codify in new subparagraph (b) to Amex 
Rule 154 its policies regarding situations where specialists may charge 
a commission for trades that are executed in whole or in part. Proposed 
Amex Rule 154(b) would prohibit specialists from charging a commission 
on off-floor orders that are electronically delivered to the specialist 
except in cases of orders that require special handling by the 
specialist or the specialist provides a service. The proposed rule 
would prohibit specialists from billing for electronically delivered 
orders that are executed automatically by the Exchange's order 
processing facilities upon receipt. Orders executed on an opening or 
reopening would not be ``billable.'' In addition, proposed Amex Rule 
154(b) would reference Amex Rule 152(c), which prohibits specialists 
from charging a commission where they act as principal in the execution 
of an order entrusted to them as agent. The proposed rule also would 
set forth the types of orders specialists would be allowed (but not 
required) to bill a commission.
    In general, ``routine'' orders are not subject to specialist 
commissions, while orders that require special handling or for which 
the specialist provides a service may be subject to a commission. Thus, 
proposed Amex Rule 154(b) would provide that specialists may (but are 
not required to) bill for limit orders that remain on the book for more 
than two minutes,\3\ market on close or limit on close orders, tick 
sensitive orders (e.g., an order to sell short in a security subject to 
the Commission's ``tick-test''), orders for non-regular way settlement, 
stop or stop limit orders, orders stopped at one price and executed at 
a better price, fill-or-kill, and immediate-or-cancel orders, and 
orders for the account of a competing market maker.
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    \3\ According to the Exchange, the NYSE's rules are similarto 
the Exchange's policy in this area. NYSE Rule 123B(b)(1) and 
Supplementary Material .10 generally prohibit NYSE specialists from 
charging a commission on orders sent to them electronically unless 
the order remains on the book for more than five minutes.
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    Specialist commissions increase the cost of doing business on the 
Exchange. The Exchange believes that these increased costs weaken the 
Exchange's competitive position relative to other markets as other 
markets do not need to compete as aggressively with the Exchange to cut 
their prices to investors. The Exchange consequently believes that the 
proposed rule would benefit investors if implemented and would 
strengthen the Exchange's competitive position.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act applicable to a 
national securities exchange and, in particular, the requirements of 
section 6(b) of the Act.\4\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \5\ that the rules of an exchange be designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to prevent fraudulent 
and manipulative acts and practices, and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest. In addition, the Exchange believes 
that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of 
section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\6\ which requires that the rules of an 
exchange provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, 
and other charges among its members and

[[Page 62493]]

issuers and other persons using its facilities.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange believes that the proposed fee change will not impose 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in the 
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 has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, 
comments regarding the proposed rule change. The Exchange has not 
received any unsolicited written comments from Exchange participants or 
other interested parties.

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

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer 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 Exchange consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve such 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, 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-Amex-2006-98 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2006-98. 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 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to 
File NumberSR-Amex-2006-98 and should be submitted on or before 
November 15, 2006.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
J. Lynn Taylor,
Assistant Secretary.
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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 [FR Doc. E6-17836 Filed 10-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P