[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 39 (Monday, March 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9121-9122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4300]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-59432; File No. SR-FINRA-2009-005]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of 
Proposed Rule Change To Update Rule Cross-References and Make Other 
Various Non-Substantive Technical Changes to FINRA Rules

February 23, 2009.
    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 13, 2009, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. 
(``FINRA'') (f/k/a National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 
(``NASD'')) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' 
or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated 
the proposed rule change as constituting a ``non-controversial'' rule 
change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,\3\ which 
renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by 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\ 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

    FINRA is proposing to update rule cross-references and make other 
non-substantive technical changes to certain FINRA rules that have been 
adopted in the consolidated FINRA rulebook.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web 
site at http://www.finra.org, at the principal office of FINRA 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, FINRA 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. FINRA 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
    FINRA is in the process of developing a new consolidated rulebook 
(``Consolidated FINRA Rulebook'').\4\ That process involves FINRA 
submitting to the Commission for approval a series of proposed rule 
changes over time to adopt rules in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. 
The phased adoption and implementation of those rules necessitates 
periodic amendments to update rule cross-references and other non-
substantive technical changes in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook.
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    \4\ The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2) 
NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (``Incorporated 
NYSE Rules'') (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules 
are referred to as the ``Transitional Rulebook''). While the NASD 
Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE 
Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of 
the NYSE (``Dual Members''). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA 
members, unless such rules have a more limited application by their 
terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation 
process, see FINRA Information Notice, March 12, 2008 (Rulebook 
Consolidation Process).
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    The proposed rule change would update rule cross-references in 
FINRA Rules 2360, 2370, 6181, 6635, 9217 and 9610 that are needed as 
the result of Commission approval of three recent FINRA proposed rule 
changes.\5\ In addition, the proposed rule change would amend FINRA 
Rule 7410(m) to update cross-references to NYSE Rule 80A, which was 
renumbered as NYSE Rule 132B.\6\ Finally, the proposed rule change 
would amend FINRA Rule 5130 to reflect a change in FINRA style 
convention when referencing SEC rules and regulations.
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58643 (September 25, 
2008), 73 FR 57174 (October 1, 2008) (Order Approving File Nos. SR-
FINRA-2008-021; SR-FINRA-2008-022; SR-FINRA-2008-026; SR-FINRA-2008-
028 and SR-FINRA-2008-029); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
58661 (September 26, 2008), 73 FR 57395 (October 2, 2008) (Order 
Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2008-030); Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 58932 (November 12, 2008), 73 FR 69696 (November 19, 
2008) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2008-032).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56726 (October 31, 
2007), 72 FR 62719 (November 6, 2007) (Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of File No. SR-NYSE-2007-96).
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    FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate 
effectiveness and has requested that the SEC waive the requirement that 
the proposed rule change not become operative for 30 days after the 
date of the filing, such that FINRA could implement the proposed rule 
change on February 17, 2009, the date on which certain of the 
previously approved rule changes will also be implemented.\7\
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    \7\ See FINRA Regulatory Notice 08-78 (December 2008) (FINRA 
Announces SEC Approval and Effective Date for New Consolidated FINRA 
Rules Relating to Warrants, Options and Security Futures).
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2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\8\ which requires, among 
other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to

[[Page 9122]]

prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest. FINRA believes the proposed rule 
change will provide greater clarity to members and the public regarding 
FINRA's rules.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 
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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 
days after the date of 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 subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 
19b-4 thereunder.\10\ As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\11\ 
FINRA provided 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 
filing of the proposed rule change.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may 
not become operative prior to the 30th day after the date of 
filing.\12\ However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \13\ permits the Commission 
to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. FINRA requested that 
the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay and designate the 
proposed rule change to become operative upon filing so that FINRA 
could implement the proposed rule change on February 17, 2009, the same 
date on which certain of the previously approved rule changes relating 
the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook will be implemented. The Commission 
believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. In particular, the 
Commission does not believe that the proposed rule change presents any 
novel issues. The proposed rule change makes non-substantive changes to 
update FINRA rules in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook to reflect 
changes to FINRA rules previously published for comment by the 
Commission. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule 
change to be operative upon filing with the Commission.\14\
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    \12\ See id.
    \13\ Id.
    \14\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission may summarily abrogate the 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-FINRA-2009-005 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2009-005. 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 FINRA. 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-FINRA-2009-005 and should be 
submitted on or before March 23, 2009.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-4300 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P