[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9844-9845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3326]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-57343; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2008-18]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating To Listing 
Standards for Index-Linked Exchangeable Notes in NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 5.2(j)(4)

February 15, 2008.
    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 February 8, 2008, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or ``Exchange''), 
through its wholly owned subsidiary, NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE 
Arca Equities''), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. 
NYSE Arca filed the proposal pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 
\3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders the proposal 
effective upon filing with the Commission. 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.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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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 its rules governing NYSE Arca, LLC 
(also referred to as the ``NYSE Arca Marketplace''), which is the 
equities trading facility of NYSE Arca Equities. The Exchange is 
proposing to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(4), the Exchange's 
initial listing standards for ``Index-Linked Exchangeable Notes.'' The 
text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, and http://www.nyse.com.

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 is proposing to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(4)(d), the Exchange's initial listing standards for ``Index-
Linked Exchangeable Notes,'' to correct certain cross-references to 
reflect the current numbering of NYSE Arca's Rules.\5\ More 
specifically, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(4)(d) is being updated to 
cross-reference provisions of NYSE Arca Rules 5.13(b) and (c), which 
govern the designation of and

[[Page 9845]]

maintenance criteria for narrow based indices upon which options may be 
based. The rule currently cross-references a rule no longer in 
existence, former Rule 7.3(b) and (c), which also governed the 
designation of and maintenance criteria for narrow based indices upon 
which options may be based.\6\
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    \5\ In 2004, in connection with its demutualization, the 
Exchange amended the numbering of the NYSE Arca Rules, but 
inadvertently failed to update the numbering of the NYSE Arca rule 
cross-references in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(4). See 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49718 (May 17, 2004), 69 FR 
29611 (May 24, 2004) (SR-PCX-2004-08).
    \6\ See e-mail from Tim Malinowski, Director, Exchange Traded 
Funds, NYSE Euronext, to Christopher Chow, Special Counsel, 
Commission, dated February 15, 2008 (``February 15 e-mail'').
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with section 6(b) of the Act,\7\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\8\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 
transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The 
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will clarify the rule 
cross-references and eliminate unnecessary confusion in its rule 
structure.
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(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 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 on the proposed rule 
change were neither solicited nor received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; 
and (3) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the 
date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may 
designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public 
interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to 
section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \9\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\10\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission 
with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, 
along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, 
at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the 
proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the 
Commission. The Exchange fulfilled this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, 
Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter 
time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. The Exchange requests that the Commission waive 
the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 
30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors 
and the public interest.\11\ The Exchange proposes only to correct 
outdated cross-references within NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
5.2(j)(4)(d),\12\ and there is no reason to delay bringing NYSE Arca's 
rulebook up to date.
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    \11\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
    \12\ In 2005, the Exchange amended NYSE Arca Rule 5.13(b)(6) by 
increasing the amount that no single security represents more than 
the weight of the index from 25% to 30% and that the five highest 
weighted components in the index was increased from 60% to 65% for 
indexes consisting of fewer than 25 components. See Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 52923 (December 7, 2005), 70 FR 74399 
(December 15, 2005) (SR-PCX-2005-79). Other than this amendment, 
current NYSE Arca Rules 5.13(b) and (c) are substantively identical 
to the previously cross-referenced rules. See February 15 Email, 
supra at n. 6.
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it 
appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate 
in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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-NYSEArca-2008-18 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-2008-18. 
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, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours 
of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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-2008-18 and should 
be submitted on or before March 14, 2008.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\13\
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    \13\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-3326 Filed 2-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P