[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 208 (Friday, October 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65431-65433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26339]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-68076; File No. SR-FINRA-2012-047]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of 
Proposed Rule Change To Extend a TRACE Pilot Program in FINRA Rule 
6730(e)(4)

October 22, 2012.
    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 October 12, 2012, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, 
Inc. (``FINRA'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I and II below, which Items

[[Page 65432]]

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    FINRA is proposing to extend the pilot program in FINRA Rule 
6730(e)(4) to October 25, 2013. The pilot program exempts from 
reporting to the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (``TRACE'') 
transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities that are executed on a 
facility of the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') in accordance with 
NYSE Rules 1400, 1401 and 86 and reported to NYSE in accordance with 
NYSE's applicable trade reporting rules and disseminated publicly by 
NYSE.
    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
    The pilot program set forth in FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4) exempts from 
reporting to TRACE transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities that are 
executed on a facility of NYSE in accordance with NYSE Rules 1400, 1401 
and 86 and reported to NYSE in accordance with NYSE's applicable trade 
reporting rules and disseminated publicly by NYSE, provided that a data 
sharing agreement between FINRA and NYSE related to transactions 
covered by the Rule remains in effect.\4\ The pilot program is 
currently scheduled to expire on October 25, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54768 (November 16, 
2006), 71 FR 67673 (November 22, 2006) (Order Approving Proposed 
Rule Change; File No. SR-NASD-2006-110) (pilot program in FINRA Rule 
6730(e)(4), subject to the execution of a data sharing agreement 
addressing relevant transactions, became effective on January 9, 
2007); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59216 (January 8, 2009), 
74 FR 2147 (January 14, 2009) (Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change; File No. SR-FINRA-2008-065) 
(pilot program extended to January 7, 2011); Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 63673 (January 7, 2011), 76 FR 2739 (January 14, 2011) 
(Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 
Change; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-002) (pilot program extended to July 
8, 2011); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64665 (June 14, 2011), 
76 FR 35933 (June 20, 2011) (Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-025) 
(pilot program extended to January 27, 2012); Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 66018 (December 21, 2011), 76 FR 81549 (December 28, 
2011) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule 
Change; File No. SR-FINRA-2011-072) (pilot program extended to 
October 26, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FINRA is proposing to extend the pilot program until October 25, 
2013 to continue to exempt transactions in TRACE-Eligible Securities on 
an NYSE facility (and as to which all the other conditions of the 
exemption are met) from the TRACE reporting requirements. The extension 
will provide additional time to analyze the impact of the exemption. 
Without the extension, members would be subject to both FINRA's and 
NYSE's trade reporting requirements with respect to these securities. 
The proposed change thus serves to eliminate duplicative reporting 
requirements for these securities and the resulting compliance costs 
and burdens.
    The proposed rule change would not expand or otherwise change the 
pilot. FINRA notes that the success of the pilot program remains 
dependent on FINRA's ability to continue to effectively conduct 
surveillance on debt trading in the over-the-counter market. In this 
regard, the parties continue to share data related to the transactions 
covered by FINRA Rule 6730(e)(4) as required by the Rule. However, 
FINRA supports a regulatory construct that, in the future, consolidates 
all last sale transaction information to provide better price 
transparency and a more efficient means to engage in market 
surveillance of TRACE-Eligible Securities transactions. The proposed 
extension would allow the pilot program to continue to operate without 
interruption while FINRA and NYSE continue to assess the effect of the 
exemption and issues regarding the consolidation of market data, market 
surveillance and price transparency.
    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 can implement the proposed rule 
change immediately.
2. Statutory Basis
    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,\5\ which requires, among 
other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to 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 that the extension of the exemptive 
provision protects investors and the public because transactions will 
be reported, transparency will be maintained for these transactions, 
and NYSE's agreement to share data with FINRA allows FINRA to continue 
to conduct surveillance in the debt securities market. In addition, 
extending the exemptive provision permits members that are subject to 
both FINRA's and NYSE's trade reporting requirements to avoid a 
duplicative regulatory structure and the increased costs that may be 
incurred as a result of duplicative requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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

[[Page 65433]]

19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
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. 
FINRA has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FINRA has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative 
delay so that the pilot program, which exempts transactions in TRACE-
Eligible Securities on an NYSE facility (and as to which all the other 
conditions of the exemption are met) from the TRACE reporting 
requirements, remains in effect without interruption. The Commission 
believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because such action 
will allow the benefits of the pilot program to continue without 
interruption. Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the 30-day 
operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend 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 email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-FINRA-2012-047 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-2012-047. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email 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 Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 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-2012-047 and should be 
submitted on or before November 16, 2012.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-26339 Filed 10-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P