[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 240 (Thursday, December 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 75284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21278]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54899; File No. SR-FICC-2006-11]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; 
Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Establishing New 
Reporting Processes To Support the Bilateral Comparison of Pool Details 
Associated With Specified Pool Trade Activity

December 8, 2006.
    On June 15, 2006, the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (``FICC'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 
proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \1\ and on June 30, 2006, amended the 
proposed rule change. Notice of the proposed rule change was published 
in the Federal Register on October 24, 2006.\2\ No comment letters were 
received. For the reasons discussed below, the Commission is approving 
the proposed rule change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54609 (Oct. 16, 2006), 
71 FR 62324.
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I. Description

    The proposed rule change will add new rules to FICC's Mortgage 
Backed Securities Division (``MBSD'') Rulebook to establish new 
reporting processes to support the bilateral comparison of pool details 
associated with specified pool trade (``SPT'') activity. Specifically, 
FICC will enable MBSD members to submit the pool number and original 
face value for all SPT activity through its real time trade matching 
(``RTTM'') service. This rule filing will not change how MBSD currently 
manages risk for these trades at the TBA level in that MBSD's rules 
will continue to stipulate that SPT's may be treated as TBA's in 
instances of member insolvency.
    In conjunction with establishing this new service, FICC will make 
two new reports available to members: The RTTM Purchase and Sale Report 
and the RTTM Open Commitment Report.\3\ These reports will reflect the 
submission of pool number and original face value \4\ as matching 
criteria submitted by members. Finally, FICC will include new fees for 
the submission of SPTs to the Schedule of Charges in the MBSD Rulebook.
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    \3\ These reports will not replace MBSD's Purchase and Sale 
Report or Open Commitment Report, which will continue to reflect 
specified pool trades as TBA trades.
    \4\ In addition to pool number and original face value, existing 
matching fields (such as TBA CUSIP and price) will continue to be 
populated by members.
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II. Discussion

    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act \5\ requires that the rules of a 
clearing agency be designed to promote the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions. The Commission 
finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with this requirement 
because it will provide a more efficient process for MBSD members to 
report and compare SPT transaction information and thereby should 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of such 
transactions.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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III. Conclusion

    On the basis of the foregoing, the Commission finds that the 
proposal is consistent with the requirements of the Act and in 
particular with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act \6\ and the 
rules and regulations thereunder.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1.
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    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-FICC-2006-11) be, and hereby 
is, approved.\7\
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    \7\ 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.\8\
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    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-21278 Filed 12-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P