[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 247 (Monday, December 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68644-68646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30599]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-61204; File No. SR-BX-2009-079]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend IM-1002-1 
To Reflect Changes to a Corresponding FINRA Rule

December 18, 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 December 3, 2009, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``BX'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated 
the proposed rule change as constituting a non-controversial rule 
change under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act,\3\ which renders the 
proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The

[[Page 68645]]

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 the [sic] 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is filing this proposed rule change to amend BX IM-
1002-1 to reflect recent changes to a corresponding rule of the 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA''). The Exchange will 
implement the proposed rule change thirty days after the date of the 
filing. The text of the proposed rule change is available at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet.com, at the Exchange's principal office, 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, 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
    BX based much of its rules on those of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 
(``NASDAQ''). Similarly, many of NASDAQ's rules are based on rules of 
FINRA (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers 
(``NASD'')). As a consequence, many of BX's rules closely mirror those 
of FINRA. During 2008, FINRA embarked on an extended process of moving 
rules formerly designated as ``NASD Rules'' into a consolidated FINRA 
rulebook. In most cases, FINRA has renumbered these rules, and in some 
cases has substantively amended them. Accordingly, BX also has 
initiated a process of modifying its rulebook to ensure that BX rules 
corresponding to FINRA/NASD rules continue to mirror them as closely as 
practicable. In some cases, it is not possible for the rule numbers of 
BX rules to mirror corresponding FINRA rules, because existing or 
planned BX rules make use of those numbers. However, wherever possible, 
BX plans to update its rules to reflect changes to corresponding FINRA 
rules.
    This filing addresses BX IM-1002-1, which prohibits members and 
associated persons from filing with BX misleading information relating 
to membership or registration, and which formerly corresponded to NASD 
IM-1000-1. In SR-FINRA-2009-009,\4\ FINRA redesignated that rule as 
FINRA Rule 1122 and made amendments to clarify and simplify the rule. 
NASD IM-1000-1 provided that the filing of membership or registration 
information as a Registered Representative with FINRA which is 
incomplete or inaccurate so as to be misleading, or which could in any 
way tend to mislead, or the failure to correct such filing after notice 
thereof, may be deemed conduct inconsistent with just and equitable 
principles of trade and may be subject to disciplinary action.
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    \4\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59789 (April 20, 2009), 
74 FR 18767 (April 24, 2009) (SR-FINRA-2009-009).
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    FINRA's rule change clarified the rule's applicability to members 
and persons associated with members by specifying that ``no member or 
person associated with a member'' shall file incomplete or misleading 
membership or registration information. FINRA also eliminated the 
reference to the filing of registration information ``as a Registered 
Representative'' to clarify that the rule applies to the filing of 
registration information regarding any category of registration. In 
addition, FINRA deleted the reference that the prohibited conduct may 
be deemed inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade and 
subject to disciplinary action as unnecessary and to better reflect the 
adoption of the NASD IM as a stand-alone FINRA rule. Likewise, BX is 
proposing to make changes to the text of IM-1002-1 that virtually 
mirror the changes made by FINRA to NASD IM-1000-1 so that the rules 
remain consistent for regulatory purposes.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\5\ in general, and with 
Sections [sic] 6(b)(5) of the Act,\6\ in particular, in that the 
proposal 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 regulating, 
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and 
facilitating transactions in securities, 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 proposed changes will conform BX IM-1002-1 to recent changes made 
to a corresponding FINRA rule, to promote application of consistent 
regulatory standards.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \6\ 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 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended.

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 foregoing 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 from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\
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    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(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

[[Page 68646]]

No. SR-BX-2009-079 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 No. SR-BX-2009-079. 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,\9\ 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 such filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of BX. 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 No. SR-BX-2009-079 and should be 
submitted on or before January 19, 2010.
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    \9\ The text of the proposed rule change is available on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\10\
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    \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-30599 Filed 12-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P