[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69156-69161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20215]



[[Page 69156]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54798; File No. SR-NASD-2006-104]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Association of Securities 
Dealers, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 
Thereto and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval to 
Amendment No. 2 Thereto To Reflect Nasdaq's Complete Separation From 
the NASD Upon the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC's Operation as a National 
Securities Exchange for Non-Nasdaq Exchange-Listed Securities

November 21, 2006.

I. Introduction

    On September 5, 2006, the National Association of Securities 
Dealers, Inc. (``NASD'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to amend various NASD rules to 
reflect the complete separation of the NASD from The Nasdaq Stock 
Market, Inc. (``Nasdaq''), which would permit the Nasdaq Stock Market 
LLC (``Nasdaq Exchange'') to begin operations as a national securities 
exchange for securities reported to the Consolidated Transaction 
Association Plan (``CTA Plan Securities''). NASD also proposes to amend 
its NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility (``TRF'') rules to allow 
members to report over-the-counter (``OTC'') trades in CTA Plan 
Securities. On September 14, 2006, the NASD submitted Amendment No. 1 
to the proposed rule change.\3\ The proposed rule change, as amended, 
was published for comment in the Federal Register on September 21, 
2006.\4\ The Commission received no comments on the proposed rule 
change. On November 3, 2006, the NASD submitted Amendment No. 2 to the 
proposed rule change.\5\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, NASD clarified that (1) The effective 
date of the proposed rule change would be the date upon which the 
Nasdaq Exchange commences operation as an exchange for CTA Plan 
Securities; (2) the NASD's Market Regulation Committee would perform 
substantially the same functions as performed by the Nasdaq's 
Quality of Markets Committee; and (3) the proposed rule change would 
reflect NASD's continued participation in the Intermarket Trading 
System (``ITS'') Plan.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54451 (September 15, 
2006), 71 FR 55243.
    \5\ In Amendment No. 2, the NASD (i) Amended the definition of 
Consolidated Quotation Service in NASD Rule 6320 to clarify that CQS 
Market Makers will send their quotations to the ITS/CAES System; 
(ii) conformed NASD Rule 6420(d)(3)(B), which relates to riskless 
principal transactions in the proposed ITS/CAES System to NASD Rule 
4632(d)(3)(B), which relates to the same transactions in the NASD/
Nasdaq TRF; and (iii) amended NASD Rule 11890(b)(2) to provide that 
an officers designated by an Executive Vice President of NASD's 
Market Regulation Committee or NASD's Transparency Services 
Department could also take action under that rule.
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II. Background

    Prior to 2000, Nasdaq was wholly-owned by the NASD. The NASD and 
Nasdaq began restructuring their relationship in 2000 with the goal of 
completely separating Nasdaq from the NASD. As part of this 
restructuring, Nasdaq filed with the Commission an application to 
register one of its subsidiaries, the Nasdaq Exchange, as a national 
securities exchange.\6\ The Commission approved the Nasdaq Exchange's 
registration as a national securities exchange on January 13, 2006.\7\
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    \6\ In connection with the Nasdaq Exchange registration, Nasdaq 
became a holding company with the Nasdaq Exchange as its wholly-
owned subsidiary.
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53128, 71 FR 3350 
(January 23, 2006) (``Nasdaq Exchange Order'').
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    In the Nasdaq Exchange Order, the Commission conditioned the Nasdaq 
Exchange's operation as a national securities exchange on the 
satisfaction of certain enumerated requirements. The Nasdaq Exchange 
Order and the conditions therein reflected the Nasdaq Exchange's 
original intent to begin trading at the same time CTA Plan Securities 
and Nasdaq securities reported to the Joint Self-Regulatory 
Organization Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation and 
Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction Information for Nasdaq-
Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges 
Basis (``Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities''). In March 2006, however, the 
Nasdaq Exchange requested that the Commission modify the conditions in 
the Nasdaq Exchange Order so that it could begin operations as a 
national securities exchange for Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities before all 
the conditions were satisfied. In response to the request, this 
Commission modified the conditions in the Nasdaq Exchange Order.\8\ All 
conditions for the Nasdaq Exchange to begin trading Nasdaq UTP Plan 
Securities were fulfilled,\9\ and the Nasdaq Exchange commenced 
operations with respect to these securities on August 1, 2006.\10\
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54085 (June 30, 
2006), 71 FR 38910 (July 10, 2006) (``Order Modifying Nasdaq 
Exchange Conditions'').
    \9\ See e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54084 (June 
30, 2006), 71 FR 38935 (July 10, 2006) (File No. SR-NASD-2005-087) 
(amending the Delegation Plan to eliminate Nasdaq's authority over 
NASD members' over-the-counter (``OTC'') activities in Nasdaq UTP 
Plan Securities). The NASD also established the NASD/Nasdaq Trade 
Reporting Facility.
    \10\ Id.
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    The condition remaining to be satisfied before the Nasdaq Exchange 
may commence trading CTA Plan Securities is that ``the NASD must 
represent to the Commission that control of Nasdaq through the 
Preferred D share is no longer necessary because the NASD can fulfill 
through other means its obligations with respect to securities reported 
to the CTA Plan under Section 15A(b)(11) of the Exchange Act, Rules 602 
and 603 of Regulation NMS, and the national market system plans in 
which the NASD participates.'' NASD currently has delegated to Nasdaq 
authority to perform obligations under the Plan of Allocation and 
Delegation of Functions by NASD to Subsidiaries (the ``Delegation 
Plan'') with respect to NASD members' OTC activities, including 
quoting, trading, and trade reporting of CTA Plan Securities. Because 
Nasdaq continues to operate pursuant to the Delegation Plan, the NASD 
retains control of Nasdaq through the outstanding share of Nasdaq 
Series D preferred stock.\11\ In this proposed rule change, the NASD 
proposes to complete its separation from Nasdaq by, among other things, 
amending its Delegation Plan to completely eliminate its delegation of 
authority to Nasdaq.
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    \11\ The share of Series D preferred stock gives the NASD the 
right to cast one vote more than one-half of all votes entitled to 
be cast at an election by all holders of capital stock of Nasdaq. 
The voting right of the NASD immediately terminates upon the date on 
which Nasdaq no longer operates pursuant to authority delegated by 
NASD under the NASD's Delegation Plan. See Nasdaq Certificate of 
Incorporation, Certificate of Designation of Series D Preferred 
Stock of Nasdaq, Section 4.
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    In addition to amending the Delegation Plan, the NASD proposes to: 
(1) Delete the By-laws of Nasdaq and amend the By-laws of the NASD, 
NASD Regulation, Inc. (``NASDR''), and NASD Dispute Resolution, Inc. to 
reflect that Nasdaq will no longer be a subsidiary of the NASD; (2) 
delete NASD rules that are specific to Nasdaq and its operating systems 
and amend NASD rules to reflect Nasdaq's complete separation from the 
NASD; (3) modify certain NASD rules to clarify the NASD's continued 
regulation of the OTC market in CTA Plan Securities and to reflect the

[[Page 69157]]

NASD's continued participation in the ITS Plan; and (4) expand the 
scope of the NASD/Nasdaq TRF rules to allow NASD members to report OTC 
transactions in CTA Plan Securities.\12\
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    \12\ The proposed rule change also includes corrections of minor 
grammatical or typographical errors as well as the renaming and 
renumbering of certain rules, including redesignation of Commission 
rules adopted under Section 11A of the Exchange Act with the 
appropriate Regulation NMS references.
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III. Discussion

A. Condition With Regard to CTA Plan Securities

    As noted above, before the Nasdaq Exchange can commence operations 
as a national securities exchange for CTA Plan Securities, ``the NASD 
must represent to the Commission that control of Nasdaq through the 
Preferred D share is no longer necessary because the NASD can fulfill 
through other means its obligations with respect to securities reported 
to the CTA Plan under Section 15A(b)(11) of the Exchange Act, Rules 602 
and 603 of Regulation NMS, and the national market system plans in 
which the NASD participates.''
1. OTC Quotations and Transaction Reports
    Section 15A(b)(11) of the Exchange Act requires the NASD to have 
rules that govern the ``form and content of quotations relating to 
securities sold otherwise than on a national securities exchange * * 
*.'' \13\ These rules also must be designed to produce fair and 
informative quotations and to promote orderly procedures for 
collecting, distributing, and publishing quotations.\14\
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(11).
    \14\ Id.
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    Rule 602 of Regulation NMS also requires the NASD to collect bids, 
offers, quotation sizes, and aggregate quotation sizes from those 
members who are responsible broker or dealers.\15\ The NASD must then 
make available to vendors, at all times when last sale information is 
reported, information about the best bids, best offers, and quotation 
sizes communicated otherwise than on an exchange by its members that 
act as OTC market makers, and their identity.
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    \15\ 17 CFR 242.602.
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    The NASD has retained its rules that allow its members to register 
as CQS Market Makers \16\ and ITS/CAES Market Makers.\17\ These rules 
are essential to the NASD's ability to fulfill its statutory and 
regulatory obligations, and to NASD members' ability to fulfill their 
regulatory obligations to submit their OTC quotes to the NASD.\18\ 
These rules provide that members communicating quotations in CTA Plan 
Securities off an exchange must register as CQS Market Makers and ITS/
CAES Market Makers.
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    \16\ See NASD Rule 6300 Series. NASD members that submit quotes 
in CQS securities must be registered as CQS market makers. See NASD 
Rule 6320(a). CQS market makers must also register as ITS/CAES 
market makers. See NASD Rule 6320(e).
    \17\ See NASD Rule 5200 Series. NASD members that participate in 
ITS must register as ITS/CAES market makers. See NASD Rule 5220. 
ITS/CAES market makers must also register as CQS market makers. See 
NASD Rule 5220(a). See also NASD Rule 6320(e).
    \18\ See Rule 602(b) of Regulation NMS under the Exchange Act, 
17 CFR 242.602.
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    Rule 601 of Regulation NMS \19\ requires the NASD to file a 
transaction reporting plan regarding transactions in listed equity and 
Nasdaq securities that are executed by its members otherwise than on a 
national securities exchange.\20\ Under Rule 603 of Regulation NMS,\21\ 
national securities exchanges and national securities associations act 
jointly pursuant to an effective national market system plan to 
disseminate consolidated information, including a national best bid and 
offer, and quotations for and transactions in NMS stocks.
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    \19\ 17 CFR 242.601.
    \20\ Under Rule 601(b) of Regulation NMS, broker-dealers are 
prohibited from executing a transaction otherwise than on a national 
securities exchange unless there is an effective transaction 
reporting plan. NASD Rule 5000 requires NASD members to report 
transactions in exchange-listed securities effected otherwise than 
on an exchange to the NASD.
    \21\ 17 CFR 242.603.
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    Currently, the NASD satisfies these requirements with regard to CTA 
Plan Securities by participating in the Consolidated Quotation System 
Plan (``CQ Plan'') and CTA Plan and by operating the SuperIntermarket 
\22\ pursuant to authority delegated to Nasdaq under the Delegation 
Plan.\23\
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    \22\ The SuperIntermarket is referred to as the ITS/CAES System 
under NASD rules. See NASD Rule 4700 Series.
    \23\ Through its delegation to Nasdaq, the NASD currently uses 
technology owned by Nasdaq, as its facility to collect quotes and 
transaction reports in CTA Plan Securities.
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    The NASD intends to continue to participate in the CQ Plan and CTA 
Plan. To satisfy its obligations under these plans, the NASD proposes 
to continue to use the ITS/CAES System for quote collection and trade 
reporting.\24\ Quotes that are submitted to the ITS/CAES System will 
continue to be reported to the CQ Plan for dissemination. Transactions 
that are effected in the ITS/CAES System would be locked in by the 
system and reported to the CTA Plan for dissemination.\25\ For 
transactions that are not effected in the ITS/CAES System, the NASD 
will allow members to report their trades to the ITS/CAES System for 
dissemination to the CTA Plan.\26\ The NASD proposes to amend its Rule 
4720 and Rule 6400 to provide that NASD members may report trades in 
CTA Plan Securities that are not effected in the ITS/CAES System to 
ITS/CAES System.
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    \24\ The NASD will contract with Nasdaq for the use of the ITS/
CAES System for these purposes. The ITS/CAES System will remain a 
facility of the NASD.
    \25\ The ITS/CAES System would also provide the necessary 
clearing information regarding the transaction to the National 
Securities Clearing Corporation.
    \26\ Non-ITS/CAES market makers that wish to use this trade 
reporting functionality must register as ``Trade Reporting Only 
Participants'' pursuant to proposed NASD Rule 4705(a).
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2. ITS Plan
    Rule 608 of Regulation NMS requires the NASD to comply with and 
enforce compliance with the terms of each national market system plan 
of which it is a sponsor or participant.\27\ In addition to the CQ Plan 
and CTA Plan, the NASD is a participant in the ITS Plan. The ITS Plan 
establishes the rules under which ITS Participants interact with regard 
to CTA Plan Securities and contains a trade-through rule. The NASD 
currently satisfies its obligations under the ITS Plan through the ITS/
CAES System, which, as noted above, is currently operated by Nasdaq 
pursuant to the Delegation Plan. The NASD also enforces compliance by 
its members with the terms of the ITS Plan. The NASD intends to remain 
a participant in the ITS Plan until the termination of the ITS Plan, 
which is expected to take place on the Trading Phase Date.\28\ 
Accordingly, it must comply with, and enforce compliance by its members 
with, the provisions of the ITS Plan.\29\
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    \27\ 17 CFR 242.608(c).
    \28\ The Trade Phase Date is the required date for full 
operation of Regulation NMS-compliant trading systems of all 
automated trading centers that intend to qualify their quotations 
for trade-through protection under Rule 611 of Regulation NMS. The 
Commission previously extended compliance dates for Rule 610 (Access 
Rule) and Rule 611 (The Order Protection Rule) of Regulation NMS. 
The Commission established the Trading Phase Date as February 5, 
2007. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-53829 (May 18, 
2006), 71 FR 30038 (May 24, 2006). The termination of the ITS Plan 
will be subject to a separate filing.
    \29\ On September 29, 2006, the Commission issued an exemption 
to the ITS Plan participants from certain provisions of the ITS 
Plan. Because the NASD is not participating in The Plan for the 
Purpose of Creating and Operating an Intermarket Communications 
Linkage Pursuant to Section 11A(a)(3)(B) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 (``Linkage Plan''), see Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 54551 (September 29, 2006), 71 FR 59148 (October 6, 2006), it 
was not granted the same exemptions as were granted to the Linkage 
Plan participants. See letter to Robert Hill, Chairman, ITS 
Operating Committee, from David Shillman, Associate Director, 
Division of Market Regulation, Commission, dated September 29, 2006 
(``ITS Exemption Letter'').

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[[Page 69158]]

    The NASD proposes to continue to use the ITS/CAES System to support 
its participation in the ITS Plan.\30\ Members, including electronic 
communication networks (``ECNs'') that wish to become ITS/CAES Market 
Makers, must register with the NASD.\31\ Registration and compliance 
requirements for NASD members continue to be provided in amended NASD 
Rules 4705, 5220, 6320, and 6330. All ITS/CAES Market Makers must 
continue to display and maintain continuous two-sided quotes.\32\
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    \30\ See supra note 24.
    \31\ See NASD Rule 5210(e).
    \32\ See NASD Rule 5220(e).
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    The rules that govern the ITS/CAES System are found in NASD Rule 
4700 and 5200 Series. The NASD proposes to amend its Rule 4700 Series 
to eliminate certain functionalities that are not necessary for 
compliance with the ITS Plan. For example, the NASD proposes to 
eliminate the automatic execution functionality of the ITS/CAES 
System.\33\ Therefore, all references to automatic executions and 
execution algorithms have been deleted. In addition, the NASD proposes 
to eliminate reserve size and certain order types such as 
``discretionary,'' ``non-directed,'' ``sweep,'' ``fill or return,'' 
``good-till-cancelled,'' and ``total good-till-canceled'' orders.\34\ 
The Commission finds that the deletion of these rules is consistent 
with the Exchange Act because they are not required for compliance with 
the ITS Plan.
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    \33\ The ITS/CAES System will be an order delivery system, which 
will require a market maker's response to execute an order delivered 
in response to its quote. See NASD Rule 4710(b)(1).
    \34\ NASD Rule 4701 (nn), (p), (rr), (ll), (ii) and (tt), 
respectively, have been deleted. Under the proposed ITS/CAES System, 
an order must be either a market or limit orders, must indicate 
whether it is a buy, short sale, short-sale exempt or long sale and 
may be designated ``immediate or cancel,'' ``day,'' ``total day,'' 
``total immediate or cancel'' or ``summary.'' See NASD Rule 
4706(a)(1).
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    In the proposed rule change, the NASD also proposes to delete NASD 
Rules 5240 and 5250 relating to the ITS Pre-Opening Application 
functionality. The Commission believes that eliminating these rules is 
consistent with the Exchange Act because the other ITS participants are 
exempt from Section 7 Pre-Opening Application and Exhibit A Pre-Opening 
Application Rule under the ITS Plan.\35\
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    \35\See ITS Exemption Letter, supra note 29.
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    ITS/CAES Market Markers will continue to access other ITS/CAES 
Market Makers' bids and offers by entering ``Preferenced Orders,'' \36\ 
but the proposed rule change requires that the Preferenced Order be 
entered using the immediate or cancel designation (i.e., IOC or 
IOX).\37\ Under the proposed rules, Preferenced Orders may only be sent 
to another ITS/CAES Market Maker when that ITS/CAES Market Maker is at 
the best bid/offer in the proposed ITS/CAES System and only in an 
amount equal to or less than the ITS/CAES Market Maker's displayed 
quote.\38\ The proposed system would reject a Preferenced Order sent to 
an ITS/CAES Market Maker that is not at the best bid/offer in the 
system, or where the execution of the Preferenced Order would result in 
the violation of the trade through rule set forth in NASD Rule 
5262.\39\
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    \36\ Preferenced Orders may be designated to be delivered to a 
particular ITS/CAES Market Maker or a particular ITS exchange. See 
NASD Rule 4701(aa).
    \37\ See NASD Rule 4701(aa).
    \38\ See NASD Rule 4710(b)(1)(B).
    \39\ Id.
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    ITS/CAES Market Makers may interact with other ITS exchanges' bids 
and offers via inbound and outbound ITS Commitments.\40\ Inbound ITS 
Commitments would have a uniform time-in-force (``TIF'') of 5 
seconds.\41\ Since the proposed ITS/CAES System would not provide 
automatic executions, ITS Commitments received by ITS/CAES Market 
Makers must be responded to or executed by an affirmative response 
within 5 seconds. If the ITS Commitment is not responded to within that 
time period, it would be returned to the sending exchange. Similarly, 
ITS/CAES Market Makers would be able to send outbound ITS Commitments 
to access quotes displayed by other ITS exchanges. All outbound ITS 
Commitments entered by ITS/CAES Market Makers would be treated as 
``immediate or cancel'' and would have a TIF of 5 seconds.\42\ Once an 
ITS Commitment is entered, it cannot be cancelled by the ITS/CAES 
Market Maker.\43\
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    \40\ See NASD Rule 5230 for requirements regarding ITS 
Commitments.
    \41\ See NASD Rule 4708(b)(3).
    \42\ The TIF would be 30 seconds in the limited circumstance 
where the ITS Commitment is sent to an ITS exchange that is unable 
to accept a TIF of 5 seconds. See NASD Rule 4708(c). See also NASD 
Rule 5230 (NASD Rule 4708 states that outbound ITS Commitments must 
be consistent with the applicable provisions of NASD Rule 5200 
Series and the ITS Plan).
    \43\ Id.
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    The proposed ITS/CAES System will reject all quotes that lock or 
cross the NASD best bid or offer (``BBO'') or the National BBO.\44\ 
Since the system will no longer permit ITS/CAES Market Makers to 
initiate a locking or crossing quote, the NASD is proposing to replace 
the current NASD Rule 5263, which provides procedures relating to 
locking and crossing markets, with a new NASD Rule 5263 that prohibits 
such quoting activities altogether.
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    \44\ See NASD Rule 4708(a)(2) and NASD Rule 4710(b)(1)(C)(2). In 
addition, market and limit orders designated as IOC and limit orders 
designated as ``total IOC,'' whose displayed price would lock or 
cross another quote/order if they were displayed shall be rejected. 
See NASD Rule 4706(a)(1)(E).
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    The Commission finds that the NASD's proposed changes to its ITS/
CAES System is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange 
Act.\45\ In addition, the Commission believes that it will allow the 
NASD to continue to fulfill its statutory and regulatory obligations 
and will enable NASD members to fulfill their regulatory obligation to 
submit their OTC quotations to the NASD and to continue to comply with 
the requirements of the ITS Plan. Further, the NASD's rules are 
designed to produce fair and informative quotations and promote orderly 
procedures for collecting, distributing and publishing quotations as 
required by Section 15A(b)(11) of the Exchange Act.\46\ The Commission 
finds that the modifications to the proposed ITS/CAES System are 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act and that under 
the proposed ITS/CAES System rules the NASD will be able to continue to 
satisfy its obligations under Rules 601, 602, and 603 of Regulation 
NMS.
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    \45\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
    \46\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(11).
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3. Changes to Governing Documents
    The NASD proposes to amend the Delegation Plan to eliminate its 
delegation of authority to Nasdaq. The removal of Nasdaq from the 
Delegation Plan terminates the NASD's control of Nasdaq pursuant to the 
share of Series D preferred stock. Specifically, the NASD will lose its 
voting right and Nasdaq will be able to redeem the share for $1.00.\47\ 
Because the NASD has represented that it is able to fulfill its 
obligations with regard to CTA Plan Securities, the Commission believes 
that it is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act to 
approve the NASD's proposal to eliminate its delegation of functions to 
Nasdaq from the NASD's Delegation Plan.
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    \47\See supra note 11.
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    Because the NASD proposes to eliminate the delegation to Nasdaq, 
the NASD also proposes to eliminate the Quality of Markets Committee, 
which was a committee appointed by the Nasdaq Board. The NASD 
represents that its existing Market Regulation

[[Page 69159]]

Committee will perform substantially the same functions as those 
performed by the Quality of Markets Committee.\48\
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    \48\ See In the Matter of National Association of Securities 
Dealers, Inc., Order Instituting Public Proceedings Pursuant to 
Section 19(h)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Making 
Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions, Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 37538 (August 8, 1996), Administrative Proceeding File 
No. 3[ndas<>h]9056.
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    Furthermore, the NASD proposes to delete references to the Market 
Operations Review Committee (``MORC''), which was appointed by the 
Nasdaq Board and which reviewed transactions under the clearly 
erroneous procedures of NASD Rule 11890 and related NASD Rule 5626.\49\ 
The NASD proposes to amend the Delegation Plan to reflect that the 
authority of the Uniform Practice Code (``UPC'') Committee has been 
expanded to enable it to the review appeals under NASD Rule 11890 of 
determinations relating to all transactions (including those in CTA 
Plan Securities), not only those involving Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities 
and OTC Equity Securities.\50\
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    \49\ See Delegation Plan, Section III.C.2.
    \50\ Id. See NASD Rule 6610(d) (defining OTC Equity Security).
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    In addition, the NASD proposes to remove all references in the 
Delegation Plan to Nasdaq as a subsidiary of the NASD. For example, the 
Delegation Plan has been amended to reflect that the NASDR will no 
longer, in conjunction with Nasdaq, develop and adopt rules to 
establish trading practices with respect to OTC Equity Securities, 
including OTC Bulletin Board securities.\51\ In the proposal, the NASD 
also revises the By-laws of the NASD, NASDR and NASD Dispute 
Resolution, Inc. to remove references to Nasdaq as a subsidiary of the 
NASD. In addition, the NASD proposes to delete the Nasdaq By-Laws.
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    \51\ See Delegation Plan, Section II.A.1(t).
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    The NASD also proposes to eliminate its delegation of authority to 
Stockwatch, which handles the trading halt functions for CTA Plan 
Securities traded in the OTC market because this function will now be 
performed by the NASD.\52\
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    \52\ See Delegation Plan, Sections II and IV.
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    The Commission finds that these changes to the NASD's governing 
documents are consistent with the Exchange Act because they will 
accurately reflect the complete separation of Nasdaq from the NASD once 
the Nasdaq Exchange begins to operate as a national securities exchange 
for CTA Plan Securities.
4. Other Deleted Rules To Reflect Nasdaq's Separation
    The NASD also proposes to delete several rules in their entirety 
because the NASD will no longer require these rules after the Nasdaq 
Exchange commences operations as a national securities exchange for CTA 
Plan Securities. For example, the NASD proposes to delete the rules 
that govern member activities in BRUT and the Inet. These trading 
systems are Nasdaq trading systems and when the Nasdaq Exchange begins 
operations as an exchange for CTA Plan Securities, they will be 
facilities of the Nasdaq Exchange.\53\ Because these systems will cease 
to be NASD facilities, the Commission finds that deletion of these 
rules is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act.\54\
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    \53\ BRUT and Inet are already facilities of the Nasdaq Exchange 
for the purposes of trading Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities. See also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54155 (July 14, 2006), 71 FR 
41291 (July 20, 2006).
    \54\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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    The NASD also proposes to delete NASD Rule 4400, which describes 
the treatment of securities that are dually-listed on the New York 
Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Nasdaq Exchange.\55\ These dually-listed 
securities are considered CTA Plan Securities, and thus are not 
currently trading on the Nasdaq Exchange. Upon approval of this 
proposed rule change, these dually-listed securities will be eligible 
to trade on the Nasdaq Exchange along with the other CTA Plan 
Securities, and thus NASD Rule 4400 will no longer be necessary. The 
Nasdaq Exchange currently has the same rule in its rules, which 
continues to describe these securities as CTA Plan Securities for 
purposes of quoting and trade reporting.\56\ Accordingly, the 
Commission finds the deletion of this rule to be consistent with 
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act.
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    \55\ Under current NASD Rule 4400, these securities are subject 
to the CTA and CQ Plans and are treated as CTA Plan Securities under 
the NASD rules.
    \56\ See Nasdaq Exchange Rule IM-4390. Like the NASD Rule 4400, 
Nasdaq Exchange Rule IM-4390 provides that the Nasdaq Exchange will 
send all quotes and trade reports in dually-listed securities to the 
processor of the CTA Plan. In addition, the Nasdaq Exchange Rule IM-
4390 states that market makers in the dually-listed securities will 
be subject to the obligations set forth in Nasdaq Exchange Rule 5200 
regarding quoting, trading, and transaction reporting of CTA Plan 
Securities and that the Nasdaq Exchange will honor the trade halt 
authority of the primary market under the CQ and CTA Plans.
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    In addition, the NASD proposes to delete NASD Rule 0140, which 
provides procedures for fingerprint-based background checks of Nasdaq 
employees and independent contractors for purposes of enhancing the 
physical security of Nasdaq facilities, systems and data. Once Nasdaq 
separates from the NASD, these procedures will no longer be governed by 
NASD rules.\57\ The Commission finds that the deletion of this rule is 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act because it 
relates solely to the operation of the Nasdaq Exchange.
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    \57\ The Nasdaq Exchange has a similar rule. See Nasdaq Exchange 
Rule 0140.
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B. Proposed Changes to NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility Rules

    Currently, the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility only accepts 
trade reports in Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities.\58\ The NASD proposes to 
redefine ``designated securities'' in NASD Rule 4100 to include any NMS 
stock as defined in Rule 600(b)(47) of Regulation NMS.\59\ This change 
will permit NASD members to report OTC transactions in CTA Plan 
Securities to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility.\60\ In 
addition, to accommodate transaction reports in CTA Plan Securities, 
the NASD proposes to incorporate the trade reporting requirements for 
CTA Plan Securities currently set forth in the NASD Rule 6400 Series 
into NASD Rules 4100, 4200, 4600, and 6100 Series, which are rules 
relating to the NASD/Nasdaq TRF. Specifically, the NASD proposes to 
incorporate the exclusions set forth in current NASD Rules 6420(e)(6) 
and (7) into proposed NASD Rule 4632(e). Current NASD Rules 6420(e)(6) 
and (7) provide that the following transactions are not to be reported 
to the NASD: (i) Acquisitions of securities by members as a principal 
in anticipation of making an immediate distribution or offering on an 
exchange; and (ii) purchase of securities off the floor of an exchange 
pursuant to a tender offer. These exclusions are specific to exchange 
trading and, therefore, did not apply to reporting of transactions in 
Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities. However, now that the NASD/Nasdaq Trade 
Reporting Facility will accept transaction reports in all exchange-
listed securities, the NASD proposes that these exclusions be applied 
to trade reporting to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility. The 
Commission finds that including these exclusions in NASD Rule 4632(e) 
is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act.
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    \58\ See supra note 9.
    \59\ 17 CFR 242.600(b)(47).
    \60\ See also proposed NASD Rule 4200(a)(2).
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    Members that report to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility 
currently can enter into ``give-up'' arrangements \61\ whereby one 
member

[[Page 69160]]

reports transactions to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility on 
behalf of another member. Proposed NASD Rule 4632(h) codifies this 
process and provides that the member with the reporting obligation will 
remain responsible for the transaction report submitted on its behalf. 
Further, under the proposed rule, both the member with the reporting 
obligation and the member submitting the trade to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade 
Reporting Facility will be responsible for ensuring that the 
information submitted is in compliance with all applicable rules and 
regulations. The Commission finds that codifying this existing 
practice, which is currently being applied in the ITS/CAES System, is 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act since it should 
clarify the reporting obligations of market participants and promote 
coordination in trade reporting.
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    \61\ These arrangements are similar to those currently in place 
in the ITS/CAES System. See NASD Rule 4720.
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    The NASD also proposes to amend NASD Rule 4632(d)(3)(B) relating to 
requirements for reporting ``riskless principal'' transactions to the 
NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility.\62\ The proposed rule change will 
clarify that where the initial leg of a riskless principal transaction 
(media leg) has been reported to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting 
Facility, the second leg (non-media leg) must also be reported to the 
NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility. However, where the initial leg of 
the riskless principal transaction has been executed on an exchange and 
thus reported by the exchange, the NASD member will be permitted, but 
not required, to report the second leg to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade 
Reporting Facility. NASD members that choose to report such second leg 
transactions to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility must include 
all data required under NASD Rule 4632. NASD members should not submit 
the principal transaction (media leg) to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade 
Reporting Facility for a transaction that was executed on and reported 
by an exchange, because that would result in double reporting of the 
same transaction.\63\ The Commission finds that this proposed rule 
change is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act since 
it codifies an existing practice and clarifies the rules relating to 
riskless principal transaction reporting.
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    \62\ A riskless principal transaction is a transaction in which 
a member, after having received a customer order, executes an 
offsetting transaction, as principal, with another customer or 
broker-dealer to fill that customer order and both transactions are 
executed at the same price. Such transactions are reported to the 
NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility as one transaction in the same 
manner as an agency transaction (excluding the mark-up or mark-down, 
commission equivalent or other fee) or otherwise, as specified in 
NASD Rule 4632. See NASD 4632(d)(3)(B).
    \63\ See also NASD Rule 4632(e)(6). In the proposed rule change, 
the NASD proposes a similar amendment to NASD Rule 6420(d)(3)(B) 
with regard to riskless principal transactions in CTA Plan 
Securities reported to the NASD via the ITS/CAES System.
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    Finally, the NASD proposes to amend the definition of ``Reporting 
ECN'' in NASD Rule 6110(i) to clarify that the term includes 
alternative trading systems, as well as ECNs, as those terms are 
defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS, for purposes of reporting 
transactions to the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility.\64\ The 
Commission believes that this proposed change to NASD Rule 6110(i) is 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act because it will 
ensure that ECNs and ATSs are subject to the same clearing and 
comparison rules of the NASD and should promote consistency in the 
NASD's treatment of market participants.
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    \64\ The amended definition of ``Reporting ECN'' shall also 
apply to the trade reporting service of the ITS/CAES System. See 
NASD Rule 6110(m).
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    In its filing, the NASD represented that it will have an integrated 
audit trail of CTA Plan Securities transactions that are reported to 
the ITS/CAES System and the NASD/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility. The 
NASD also represented that it will have integrated surveillance 
capabilities. Until the implementation of a comprehensive automated 
audit trail and surveillance is complete, the NASD has represented that 
its staff will create an integrated audit trail on a manual basis as 
needed for regulatory purposes.\65\
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    \65\ In its filing, the NASD stated that it expects that an 
automated comprehensive audit trail and integrated surveillance will 
be completed by the end of fourth quarter 2006.
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C. Other Changes

    The NASD proposes to move certain trading practice requirements 
relating to exchange-listed securities currently found in NASD Rule 
6440 to NASD Rule 5120, thus making them applicable to OTC trading of 
all exchange-listed securities. Currently, NASD Rule 6440 only applies 
to CTA Plan Securities. The NASD proposes to extend these rules 
prohibiting certain manipulative practices with respect to Nasdaq UTP 
Plan Securities. The Commission believes that proposed NASD Rule 5120 
is consistent with the Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act because it 
extends the NASD's rules that prohibit manipulative trading practices 
to Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities. The Commission believes that this change 
will promote uniformity in NASD's rules.
    In addition, the NASD proposes to add a new NASD Rule 5130 to 
explicitly require that NASD members participating in any NASD system 
or facility must provide information to the staff of the NASD when the 
NASD staff requests information relating to a specific NASD rule, 
Commission rule, or provision of a joint industry plan (e.g., UTP, CTA, 
CQ and ITS). A failure to comply in a timely, truthful and/or complete 
manner with such request may be deemed conduct inconsistent with just 
and equitable principles of trade. This rule is substantially similar 
to former NASD Rule 4625, which imposed obligations on NASD members to 
respond to requests from the staff of Nasdaq MarketWatch and Nasdaq 
Market Operations and which was inadvertently deleted from NASD 
rules.\66\ The Commission finds that proposed NASD Rule 5130 is 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, and with Section 
15A(b)(2) of the Exchange Act because it is designed to allow the NASD 
to conduct more efficient surveillance and investigation of its 
members' activities for potential violations of NASD rules and the 
federal securities laws.
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    \66\ NASD Rule 4625 was inadvertently deleted as part of File 
No. SR-NASD-2005-087, supra note 9.
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    Finally, the NASD proposes to amend NASD Rule 11890 Series (Clearly 
Erroneous Transactions). Specifically, the NASD proposes to delete 
those provisions that provide Nasdaq with the authority to break trades 
as a result of a complaint. The proposed rule change also reallocates 
to the NASD authority previously allocated to Nasdaq to break trades in 
CTA Plan Securities on its own motion, which is consistent with the 
NASD's current authority with respect to Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities and 
OTC Equity Securities. The Commission finds that these changes are 
consistent with Section 15A of the Exchange Act because it updates the 
NASD's rules to reflect the separation of Nasdaq.
    The NASD also proposes to amend NASD Rule 11890(c) to delete 
references to the MORC, which currently reviews appeals of erroneous 
transactions in CTA Plan Securities. Instead, proposed NASD Rule 
11890(b) and (c) will provide that the NASD's UPC Committee will have 
its authority expanded so that it may review appeals relating to all 
transactions (including transactions in CTA Plan Securities), and not 
just transactions relating to Nasdaq UTP Plan Securities and OTC Equity 
Securities as provided in the

[[Page 69161]]

current rule.\67\ The Commission finds that these proposed changes are 
consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act as they 
adequately reflect the structure and obligations of the NASD's 
committee with respect to NASD Rule 11890 upon Nasdaq's complete 
separation from the NASD.
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    \67\ See supra notes 50-51 and accompanying text. In contrast to 
the MORC's decisions, decisions by UPC Committee may be submitted by 
the parties to arbitration. See NASD Rule 11890(c)
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    In Amendment No. 2, the NASD clarified that the Consolidated 
Quotation Service referred to in NASD Rule 6320 is the ITS/CAES System. 
The Commission finds that this proposed change is consistent with 
Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act \68\ because it clarifies NASD's 
rule and reflects the fact that CQS Market Makers, who are required to 
be registered as ITS/CAES Market Makers, will send their quotations to 
the ITS/CAES System. In Amendment No. 2, the NASD also amended NASD 
Rule 6420(d)(3)(B), which relates to riskless principal transactions in 
the proposed ITS/CAES System so that it would conform to NASD Rule 
4632(d)(3)(B), which relates to the same transactions in the NASD/
Nasdaq TRF. The NASD also amended NASD Rule 11890(b)(2), which relates 
to clearly erroneous transactions to provide that officers designated 
by an Executive Vice President of NASD's Market Regulation Committee or 
NASD's Transparency Services Department could also take action under 
that rule. The Commission finds that these proposed changes are 
consistent with the Section 15A(b)(6) of the Exchange Act since they 
clarify the NASD's rules and accurately reflect NASD's proposed ITS/
CAES System and its review of clearly erroneous transactions. For these 
reasons, the Commission finds good cause for approving Amendment No. 2 
to the proposal prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of 
filing thereof in the Federal Register. Accordingly, the Commission 
finds that it is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) and Rule 19(b)(2) of 
the Exchange Act \69\ to approve Amendment No. 2 on an accelerated 
basis.
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    \68\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
    \69\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6) and 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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D. Effective Date of Proposed Rule Change

    The NASD proposes that the changes to its governing documents, 
including the Delegation Plan, and its rules become effective on the 
date on which the Nasdaq Exchange commences operation as a national 
securities exchange for CTA Plan Securities. The Commission finds that 
this effective date is consistent with Section 15A of the Exchange Act 
because until the Nasdaq Exchange begins operations, the NASD must 
maintain its current rules to fulfill its statutory and regulatory 
obligations.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning Amendment No. 2, including whether Amendment No. 2 
is consistent with the Exchange 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-NASD-2006-104 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 No. SR-NASD-2006-104. 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 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to 
File No. SR-NASD-2006-104 and should be submitted on or before December 
20, 2006.

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-2006-104), as 
amended by Amendment No. 1, is approved and that Amendment No. 2 is 
approved on an accelerated basis.\70\
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    \70\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission 
considered the proposal's impact on efficiency, competition and 
capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\71\
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    \71\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-20215 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P