[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66952-66953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26625]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-58897; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2008-018]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order 
Approving Proposed Rule Change as Modified by Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 
Thereto to Remove from Rule 7019 the Fees for Receiving Index Values

November 3, 2008.
    On March 12, 2008, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), pursuant 
to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') 
\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to remove from 
the Nasdaq rulebook references to the fees charged by Nasdaq for 
receiving index values. On September 5, 2008, Nasdaq filed Amendment 
No. 1 to the proposed rule change. On September 25, 2008, Nasdaq filed 
Amendment No. 2 to the proposed rule change. The proposed rule change, 
as amended, was published for comment in the Federal Register on 
October 3, 2008.\3\ The Commission received no comments regarding the 
proposal. This order approves the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Amendment Nos. 1 and 2.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58666 (September 26, 
2008), 73 FR 57725.
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    Nasdaq distributes values for indexes and exchange traded funds 
(``ETFs'') through an index dissemination service. Through this 
service, Nasdaq calculates and disseminates the values of Nasdaq 
indexes, such as the Nasdaq-100, and, on occasion, non-Nasdaq indexes. 
Nasdaq also distributes information related to ETFs, including intra-
day asset values. All market participants may subscribe to the index 
dissemination service.
    Nasdaq Rule 7019(b) sets forth the fees paid by distributors to 
receive various Nasdaq Market Center data feeds. Nasdaq proposes to 
delete the portion of Rule 7019(b) that relates to fees for the index 
dissemination service.
    The Commission has carefully reviewed the proposed rule change and 
finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements 
of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a 
national securities exchange.\4\ The Commission believes that it is 
reasonable for Nasdaq

[[Page 66953]]

to delete the portion of Rule 7019(b) that relates to fees for the 
index dissemination service, as, based on representations made by 
Nasdaq, the index dissemination service does not appear to be a 
facility of a national securities exchange within the meaning of the 
Act. Removing the provisions of Rule 7019(b) that relate to the index 
dissemination service is thus consistent with the requirements of 
section 6(b) of the Act,\5\ as the fees charged by Nasdaq in connection 
with the index dissemination service do not fall within the scope of 
the rules that must be filed with the Commission pursuant to section 
19(b)(1) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\7\
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    \4\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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    If, however, Nasdaq were to propose to tie pricing for the index 
dissemination service to exchange services, or otherwise modify the 
index dissemination service such that it falls within the definition of 
facility of an exchange in the Act,\8\ Nasdaq would have to file a 
proposed rule change with the Commission. Similarly, Nasdaq would have 
to file a proposed rule change with the Commission if it were to 
condition a company's inclusion in an index on that company's listing 
market.
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    \8\ See 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(2).
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    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, 
that the proposed rule change (SR-NASDAQ-2008-018), as modified by 
Amendment Nos. 1 and 2, be, and it hereby is, approved.
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-26625 Filed 11-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P