

[Federal Register: January 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 14)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3569-3570]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja06-102]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-53116; File No. SR-Amex-2006-002]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Relating to Odd-Lots in Nasdaq Securities

January 13, 2006.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on January 4, 2006, the American Stock Exchange LLC (``Amex'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by Amex. The Exchange filed 
the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which 
renders the proposed rule change 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

    Amex proposes to extend for an additional six-month period through 
June 30, 2006, the Exchange's pilot program for odd-lot execution 
procedures for Nasdaq securities traded on the Exchange pursuant to 
unlisted trading privileges. There is no proposed rule text. Amex is 
making no changes to the pilot program as it currently operates, other 
than extending it through June 30, 2006.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, Amex 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. Amex 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 Commission approved, and the Exchange implemented, a pilot 
program for odd-lot order \5\ executions in Nasdaq securities 
transacted on the Exchange pursuant to unlisted trading privileges. 
Paragraph (j) of Amex Rule 118 (``Trading in Nasdaq National Market 
Securities'') describes the Exchange's odd-lot execution procedures for 
Nasdaq securities, and Commentary .05 of Amex Rule 205 (``Manner of 
Executing Odd-Lot Orders'') references Amex Rule 118(j) odd-lot 
procedures. The pilot program was originally approved on August 2, 2002 
for a six-month period, was most recently extended on June 30, 2005, 
and is due to expire on December 30, 2005.\6\
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    \5\ An odd-lot order is an order for less than 100 shares.
    \6\ The pilot program originally approved on August 2, 2002 was 
subsequently extended on July 14, 2003; December 24, 2003; June 14, 
2004; December 27, 2004; and July 6, 2005. See Securities Exchange 
Act Release Nos. 46304 (August 2, 2002), 67 FR 51903 (August 9, 
2002) (SR-Amex-2002-56); 48174 (July 14, 2003), 68 FR 43409 (July 
22, 2003) (SR-Amex-2003-56); 48995 (December 24, 2003), 68 FR 75670 
(December 31, 2003) (SR-Amex-2003-102); 49855 (June 14, 2004), 69 FR 
35399 (June 24, 2004) (SR-Amex-2004-30); 50934 (December 27, 2004), 
70 FR 412 (January 4, 2005) (SR-Amex-2004-108); 51975 (July 6, 
2005); and 70 FR 40409 (July 13, 2005) (SR-Amex-2005-065).
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    Under the Exchange's current pilot program, after the opening of 
trading in Nasdaq securities, odd-lot market orders and executable odd-
lot limit orders are executed at the qualified national best bid or 
offer \7\ at the time the order is received at the trading post or 
through Amex Order File. Odd-lot market orders and executable odd-lot 
limit orders entered before the opening of trading in Nasdaq securities 
are executed at the price of the first round-lot or part of round-lot 
transaction on the Exchange. Non-executable limit orders, stop orders, 
stop limit orders, orders filled after the close and non-regular way 
trades are executed in accordance with Amex Rule 205 A(2), A(3), A(4), 
C(1), and C(2), respectively. Orders to buy or sell ``at the close'' 
are filled at the price of the closing round-lot sale on the Exchange. 
In a locked market condition, odd-lot market orders and executable odd-
lot limit orders are executed at the locked market price. In a crossed 
market condition, odd-lot market orders are executed at the mean of the 
bid and offer prices when the displayed national best bid is higher 
than the displayed national best offer by $.05 or less. When the 
displayed national best bid is higher than the displayed national best 
offer by more than $.05, odd-lot market orders are executed when the 
crossed market condition no longer exists. In addition, in a crossed 
market condition, executable odd-lot limit orders are executed at the 
crossed market bid price (in the case of an order to sell) or at the 
crossed market offer price (in the case of an order to buy). For 
example, if the bid and offer are 20.10 and 20.00, respectively, an 
executable odd-lot sell limit order priced at 20.10 or less will be 
executed at 20.10 and an executable odd-lot buy limit order priced at 
20.00 or higher will be executed at 20.00.
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    \7\ In Amex Rule 118(j), the qualified national best bid and 
offer are defined as the highest bid and lowest offer, respectively, 
disseminated (A) by the Exchange or (B) by another market center 
participating in the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan 
Governing the Collection, Consolidation and Dissemination of 
Quotation and Transaction Information for Nasdaq Listed Securities 
Traded on Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis 
(``Plan''); provided, however, that the bid and offer in another 
such market center will be considered in determining the qualified 
national best bid or offer in a stock only if (i) the quotation 
conforms to the requirements of Amex Rule 127 (``Minimum Price 
Variations''), (ii) the quotation does not result in a locked or 
crossed market, (iii) the market center is not experiencing 
operational or system problems with respect to the dissemination of 
quotation information, and (iv) the bid or offer is ``firm,'' that 
is, members of the market center disseminating the bid or offer are 
not relieved of their obligations with respect to such bid or offer 
under paragraph (b)(2) of Rule 602 pursuant to the ``unusual 
market'' exception of paragraph (a)(3)(i) of Rule 602 under the Act. 
17 CFR 242.602.
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    The Exchange believes that the existing odd-lot execution 
procedures have operated efficiently. Furthermore, the Exchange has 
received no complaints from members or the public regarding odd-lot 
executions. Therefore, the Exchange seeks an extension to the pilot 
program for an additional six-month period through June 30, 2006, 
providing the Exchange time to assess

[[Page 3570]]

further enhancements to the odd-lot execution procedures.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act \8\ in general and furthers the objectives 
of Section 6(b)(5) \9\ 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, to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, to protect investors and the 
public interest and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination 
between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 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.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received from Members, Participants or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

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) \10\ of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
thereunder.\11\
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act 
requires the self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days (or such shorter time as designated by the 
Commission) before doing so. Amex has requested that the Commission 
waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement. The Commission 
granted Amex's request.
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    Amex requests that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay, 
as specified in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\12\ and designate the proposed 
rule change to become operative immediately. The Commission believes 
that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver 
would allow the pilot program to continue operating through June 30, 
2006 without interruption.\13\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \13\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, 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 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 

File No. SR-Amex-2006-002 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2006-002. 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. Copies of such 
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of Amex.
    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-Amex-2006-002 
and should be submitted on or before February 13, 2006.
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    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-698 Filed 1-20-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
