

[Federal Register: December 18, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 242)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75790-75797]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18de06-67]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Release No. 34-54918; File No. SR-NYSE-2006-13]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Order 
Approving a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 431 (``Margin Requirements'') 
and Rule 726 (``Delivery of Options Disclosure Document and 
Prospectus''), and Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated 
Approval to Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule Change Relating to 
Customer Portfolio Margining

 December 12, 2006.

I. Introduction

    On March 2, 2006, the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'' or ``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 
\2\ thereunder, a proposed rule change seeking to amend NYSE Rules 431 
and 726 to expand the scope of products that are eligible for treatment 
as part of the NYSE's approved portfolio margin pilot program and to 
eliminate the requirement for a separate cross-margin account.\3\ The 
proposed rule change would expand the scope of eligible products in the 
pilot to include margin equity securities and unlisted derivatives. \4\ 
The proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register on April 
6, 2006.\5\ The Commission subsequently extended the comment period for 
the original proposed rule filing until May 11, 2006.\6\ The Commission 
received 8 comment letters in response to the Federal Register 
notice.\7\ On July 20,

[[Page 75791]]

2006, the Exchange filed a response to these comments.\8\ The comment 
letters and the Exchange's responses to the comments are summarized 
below. On September 13, 2006, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the 
proposed rule change.\9\
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Exchange Act Release No. 52031 (July 14, 2005), 70 FR 
42130 (July 21, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2002-19). On July 14, 2005, the 
Commission approved on a pilot basis expiring July 31, 2007, 
amendments to Rule 431 that permit broker-dealers to determine 
customer margin requirements for portfolios of listed broad-based 
securities index options, warrants, futures, futures options and 
related exchange-traded funds using a specified portfolio margin 
methodology. The Commission also approved amendments to Rule 726 to 
require disclosure to, and written acknowledgment from, customers 
using a portfolio margin account. See also NYSE Information Memo 05-
56, dated August 18, 2005 (for additional information); and Exchange 
Act Release No. 54125 (July 11, 2006), 71 FR 40766 (July 18, 2006) 
(SR-NYSE-2005-93) (approving securities futures products and listed 
single stock options as eligible products for portfolio margining).
    \4\ For purposes of the pilot, a margin equity security is a 
security that meets the definition of a ``margin equity security'' 
under Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board (``FRB''). See 12 
CFR 220.2. An unlisted derivative means ``any equity-based or equity 
index-based unlisted option, forward contract, or security-based 
swap that can be valued by a theoretical pricing model approved by 
the SEC.'' See proposed Rule 431(g)(2)(I).
    \5\  See Exchange Act Release No. 53577 (March 30, 2006), 71 FR 
17539 (April 6, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006-13). The Chicago Board Options 
Exchange, Incorporated (``CBOE'') also filed a similar proposed rule 
filing seeking to expand the scope of eligible products under its 
portfolio margin pilot program. See Exchange Act Release No. 53576 
(March 30, 2006), 71 FR 17519 (April 6, 2006) (SR-CBOE-2006-14).
    \6\ See Exchange Act Release No. 53728 (April 26, 2006), 71 FR 
25878 (May 2, 2006).
    \7\ See letter from Timothy H. Thompson, Senior Vice President, 
Chief Regulatory Officer, Regulatory Services Division, CBOE, to 
Nancy Morris, Secretary, Commission, dated June 5, 2006 (``CBOE 
Letter''); letter from William H. Navin, Executive Vice President, 
General Counsel and Secretary, The Options Clearing Corporation 
(``OCC''), to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Commission, dated May 19, 
2006 (``OCC Letter''); letter from James Barry, on behalf of the Ad 
Hoc Portfolio Margin Committee, John Vitha, Chair, Derivatives 
Product Committee and Christopher Nagy, Chair, Options Committee, 
Securities Industry Association, to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, 
dated May 16, 2006 (``SIA Letter''); letter from Gary Alan DeWaal, 
Group General Counsel and Director of Legal and Compliance, Fimat 
USA, LLC, to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Commission, dated May 11, 
2006 (``Fimat Letter''); letter from Stuart J. Kaswell, Partner, 
Dechert LLP, Counsel for Federated Investors, Inc., to Nancy M. 
Morris, Secretary, Commission, dated May 10, 2006 (``Federated 
Letter''); letter from Craig S. Donohue, Chief Executive Officer, 
Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc., to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, 
Commission, dated May 9, 2006 (``CME Letter''); letter from Gerard 
J. Quinn, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, SIA, to 
Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Commission, dated April 21, 2006 (``SIA 
Extension Letter''); and e-mail from Stephen A. Kasprzak, Principal 
Counsel, Rule and Interpretive Standards, NYSE, dated April 21, 2006 
(``Kasprzak e-mail'').
    \8\ See letter from Mary Yeager, Assistant Secretary, NYSE, to 
Michael A. Macchiaroli, Associate Director, Division of Market 
Regulation, Commission, dated July 20, 2006 (``NYSE Response'').
    \9\ The NYSE filed Amendment No. 1 in response to comments 
received and to make other clarifying changes to the proposed rule 
filing. See Section II. for a discussion of the changes in Amendment 
No. 1. A clean copy of the proposed rule, as amended by Amendment 
No. 1, is attached to this order as Appendix A.
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    This order approves the proposed rule change. Simultaneously, the 
Commission provides notice of filing of Amendment No. 1, grants 
accelerated approval of Amendment No. 1 and solicits comments from 
interested persons on Amendment No. 1.\10\
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    \10\ By separate order, the Commission also is approving a 
parallel rule filing by CBOE (SR-CBOE-2006-14). Exchange Act Release 
No. 54919; see also supra note 5.
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II. Description

a. Portfolio Margining

    The proposed rule change consists of amendments to Rule 431 to 
include margin equity securities (as defined in Regulation T) and 
unlisted derivatives as eligible products for the portfolio margining 
pilot.\11\ The proposed rule change also includes amendments to 
eliminate the requirement of a separate cross-margin account. Rule 431 
prescribes specific margin requirements for customers based on the type 
of securities held in their accounts.\12\ Outside the existing pilot 
program, Rule 431 requires that margin be calculated using fixed 
percentages, on a position-by-position basis. In contrast, the current 
portfolio margin pilot program permits a broker-dealer to calculate 
customer margin requirements by grouping all products in an account 
that are based on the same index or issuer into a single portfolio. For 
example, futures, options and exchange traded funds based on the S&P 
500 would each be grouped in a portfolio and products based on IBM 
would be grouped into a separate portfolio.
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    \11\ The list of eligible products under the pilot currently 
includes listed broad-based securities index options, warrants, 
futures, futures options and related exchange-traded funds, as well 
as single stock options and securities futures products.
    \12\ The margin rules specify the amount of equity a customer 
must maintain in his or her margin account with respect to 
securities positions financed by the broker-dealer. The equity 
protects the broker-dealer in the event the customer defaults on the 
obligation to re-pay the financing and the broker-dealer is forced 
to liquidate the position at a loss.
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    The broker-dealer then calculates a customer's margin requirement 
by ``shocking'' each portfolio at different equidistant points along a 
range representing a potential percentage increase and decrease in the 
value of the instrument or underlying instrument in the case of a 
derivative product. Currently, under the pilot, products of portfolios 
based on high capitalization, broad-based securities indexes are 
shocked along a range spanning an increase of 6% and a decrease of 8%. 
Portfolios of products based on non-high capitalization, broad-based 
securities indexes are shocked along a range spanning an increase of 
10% and a decrease of 10%. Portfolios of products based on an equity 
security are shocked along a range spanning an increase of 15% and a 
decrease of 15%.\13\ The proposed rule change would continue to apply 
these shock ranges. In addition, as with the current pilot, a 
theoretical options pricing model would continue to be used to derive 
position values at each valuation point for the purpose of determining 
the gain or loss.\14\
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    \13\ For example, under the pilot, a portfolio of single stock 
futures and listed equity options would be shocked at 10 equidistant 
points along a range bounded on one end by a 15% increase in the 
market value of the instrument and at the other end by a 15% 
decrease (i.e., at +/-3%, +/-6%, +/-9%, +/-12% and +/-15%).
    \14\ Currently, the only model that qualifies is the OCC's 
Theoretical Intermarket Margining System (TIMS).
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    The portfolio shocks described above result in a gain or loss for 
each instrument in a portfolio at each calculation point along the 
range. These gains and losses are netted to derive a potential 
portfolio-wide gain or loss for the point. The margin requirement for a 
portfolio is the amount of the greatest portfolio-wide loss among the 
calculation points. The margin requirements for each portfolio are 
added together to calculate the total margin requirement for the 
portfolio margin account. This approach, in most cases, will generally 
lower customer margin requirements.\15\
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    \15\ For example, the current required initial and maintenance 
margin requirements for an equity security are 50% and 25%, 
respectively. The market movement range to calculate the potential 
gains and losses under the proposed portfolio margin rule for equity 
securities is +/-15%.
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    The amount of margin (initial and maintenance) required with 
respect to a given portfolio would be the larger of: (1) The greatest 
portfolio-wide loss amount among the valuation point calculations; or 
(2) the sum of $.375 for each option and future in the portfolio 
multiplied by the contract's or instrument's multiplier.\16\ The second 
computation establishes a minimum margin requirement to ensure that a 
certain level of margin is required from the customer in the event the 
greatest portfolio-wide loss among the valuation points is de minimis.
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    \16\ The multiplier for a standard listed option is fixed by the 
options market on which the options series is traded. For example, a 
cash settled equity option generally has a multiplier of 100. 
Therefore, the minimum margin for one options contract would be 
$37.50. The multipliers for different securities and futures 
products may vary.
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b. Expansion of Eligible Products

    Under the Exchange's proposed rule, products eligible for portfolio 
margining would be expanded to include margin equity securities (as 
defined under Regulation T),\17\ unlisted derivatives and futures 
contracts on narrow-based security indexes.\18\ The unlisted 
derivatives would be included in a portfolio based on the underlying 
reference index or security. Individual equities and narrow-based index 
futures would be included in a portfolio shocked at a range spanning an 
increase of 15% and a decrease of 15% (as is the case with listed 
single stock options and securities futures).
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    \17\ Margin equity securities include certain foreign equity 
securities and options on foreign equity securities. See 12 CFR 
220.2
    \18\ The Commission approved listed single stock options and 
securities futures products (excluding narrow-based indexes) as 
eligible products on July 11, 2006. See supra note 3.
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c. Margin Deficiency

    The current rule requires a customer to satisfy a margin deficiency 
in a portfolio margin account within three business days by depositing 
additional securities or cash or effecting an offsetting hedge.\19\ The 
current pilot also requires a broker-dealer to deduct from its net 
capital the amount of any portfolio margin call not met by the close of 
business on T+1 and until the

[[Page 75792]]

call is satisfied. The proposal would now further require the broker-
dealer to have in place procedures to identify accounts that 
periodically liquidate positions to eliminate margin deficiencies, and 
to take appropriate action when warranted.\20\
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    \19\ The original pilot required margin calls to be met by T+1. 
The current requirement of meeting margin calls within three 
business days was approved in SR-NYSE-2005-93. See Exchange Act 
Release No. 54125 (July 11, 2006), 71 FR 40766 (July 18, 2006).
    \20\ The current pilot requires that member firms not permit a 
customer to make a practice of meeting a portfolio margin deficiency 
through liquidation.
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d. $5 Million Equity Requirement

    The current pilot requires customers that are not broker-dealers or 
futures firms to maintain minimum account equity of $5 million if they 
opt to include portfolios of broad-based securities index products in 
their accounts.\21\ The proposed rule change would eliminate the $5 
million account equity requirement for all portfolio margin accounts, 
except those holding unlisted derivatives.\22\
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    \21\ The $5 million account equity requirement for such 
customers was eliminated to the extent they limited their accounts 
to portfolios of listed options and securities futures. See SR-NYSE-
2005-93, supra note 3.
    \22\ See proposed Rule 431(g)(4)(C).
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e. Risk Management Methodology

    The pilot requires member broker-dealers to monitor the risk of 
portfolio margin accounts and maintain a written risk analysis 
methodology for assessing potential risk to the firm's capital. This 
risk analysis methodology must be made available to the Exchange upon 
request. The proposed rule change strengthens these requirements by 
providing that, the member broker-dealer must file the risk analysis 
methodology with the Exchange (or the firm's Designated Examining 
Authority, if not the Exchange) \23\ and submit it to the Commission 
prior to implementation. The proposed rule change also requires the 
inclusion of additional procedures and guidelines as part of the 
methodology.\24\
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    \23\ Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule amended the rule 
language to state that the written risk methodology must be filed 
with the Exchange, rather than approved by the Exchange, as 
proposed, in the March 2, 2006 rule filing.
    \24\ The current pilot also requires member firms to notify, and 
receive approval from the Exchange, prior to opening portfolio 
margin accounts for customers. The proposed rule modifies this 
requirement by requiring approval from a member firm's DEA, if it is 
not the Exchange.
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f. Cross-Margin Account

    The proposed rule change would eliminate the requirement that 
portfolios with futures positions be held in a separate cross-margin 
account. Under the proposal, a customer would be permitted to use a 
single securities margin account for all eligible products. The 
Exchange and commenters have indicated that maintaining and monitoring 
two separate margin accounts would be operationally difficult and that 
it would be more efficient to hold all positions in one securities 
account.

g. Hedged Positions

    Under the pilot, an underlying security in a portfolio margin 
account must be removed from the account if it is no longer offset by 
an option position. The amendments propose to eliminate the requirement 
to remove instruments that are no longer offset by options positions. 
The Exchange made this change in response to comments that all 
positions eligible for a portfolio margin account, including underlying 
securities, should receive equal treatment. Moreover, the Exchange 
noted that it would be operationally difficult to move positions in and 
out of the portfolio margin account based on whether they are currently 
being offset.

h. Discussion of Changes to the Proposed Rule Change in Amendment No. 1

    The Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change in 
response to comments received, to make conforming changes to the CBOE 
rule filing \25\ and to otherwise clarify certain terms and 
definitions. The following summarizes the changes made in Amendment No. 
1 to the proposed rule change. In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange:
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    \25\ See supra note 5.
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     Clarifies certain definitions and conforms others to the 
CBOE filing;
     Adds language allowing a customer to use excess equity in 
a regular margin account to meet a margin deficiency in a portfolio 
margin account without having to transfer any funds or securities where 
the portfolio margin account is a sub-account of the regular margin 
account;
     Adds language allowing positions not eligible for 
portfolio margin treatment to be carried in the portfolio margin 
account for their collateral value, subject to the margin requirements 
of a regular margin account;
     Adds language permitting shares of a money market mutual 
fund to be held in a portfolio margin account (subject to applicable 
margin requirements), provided certain requirements are met;
     Clarifies the restrictions with respect to day trading 
\26\ in a portfolio margin account; and
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    \26\ NYSE proposed to amend the rule text to allow a customer 
that establishes and maintains at least $5 million in equity to 
engage in day trading without the restrictions of NYSE's day trading 
rules, if the member firm has the ability to monitor the intra-day 
risk associated with day trading. Further, if a participant has less 
than $5 million equity, the day trading restrictions will apply, 
unless the position or positions day traded were part of a hedge 
strategy.
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     Eliminates the sample risk disclosure statement and 
acknowledgement in the rule text.\27\
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    \27\ Instead the Exchange will send out an Information Memo with 
the sample disclosure language. The Exchange made this change to 
avoid having to file a proposed rule change each time in the risk 
disclosure document is changed.
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III. Summary of Comments Received and NYSE Response

    The Commission received a total of 8 comment letters to the 
proposed rule change.\28\ The comments, in general, were supportive. 
One commenter stated that it strongly supports ``the significant step 
forward represented by the currently proposed changes.'' \29\ Another 
commenter stated that the portfolio margining of securities products 
will ``help U.S. brokers and exchanges compete more effectively with 
their overseas counterparts * * * and thereby increase the strength and 
liquidity of U.S. markets.'' \30\ Each commenter, however, recommended 
changes to specific provisions of the proposed rule change.
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    \28\ See supra note 7. Two of these comment letters related to 
the extension of the comment period for the proposed rule change. 
See SIA Extension Letter and Kasprzak e-mail.
    \29\ See SIA Letter.
    \30\ See Fimat Letter.
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    Several commenters \31\ submitted comments regarding the ability to 
use portfolio margin methodologies other than the method prescribed in 
the rule to calculate customer margin requirements. One commenter 
stated that the Commission has experience in approving proprietary 
market risk models for consolidated supervised entities (CSEs) and OTC 
derivatives dealers.\32\ In its response, the Exchange acknowledged 
that proprietary models may prove to be effective and efficient in 
managing risk.\33\ The Exchange stated, however, that initially, 
regulators should gain experience with portfolio margining through the 
rule's specified methodology and that in the longer term, proprietary 
risk models could be considered as alternatives.
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    \31\ See SIA Letter and OCC Letter; see also CME Letter 
(discussing SPAN).
    \32\ See SIA Letter.
    \33\ See NYSE Response, supra note 8.
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    One commenter suggested that futures positions in a portfolio 
margin account be held in a separate futures account, while securities 
positions be held in a securities account.\34\ The commenter referred 
to this approach as the ``two

[[Page 75793]]

pot'' model.\35\ The commenter stated that it favors this ``two pot'' 
approach because it believes that it more easily accommodates 
differences in customer protection and capital requirements of the 
Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'').\36\ 
Commenters, in general, favored a single portfolio margin securities 
account (referred to as the ``one pot'' approach).\37\ One commenter 
stated that the ``disadvantages of a two pot model outweigh its 
advantages.'' \38\ The Exchange stated that it believes that a one pot 
approach will provide for more efficient margining, reduce broker-
dealer/FCM liquidity risk and reduce operational inefficiencies.
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    \34\ See CME Letter.
    \35\ Id.
    \36\ See CME Letter.
    \37\ See OCC and CBOE Letters.
    \38\ See CBOE Letter.
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    Three commenters expressed the need for the Commission and the CFTC 
to continue working towards eliminating the legal and regulatory 
impediments to cross-margining futures and securities products.\39\ In 
response, the Exchange stated that it will continue to work with the 
Commission and the CFTC on the regulatory issues related to holding 
securities and futures in a portfolio.
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    \39\ See SIA, Fimat and OCC Letters.
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    One commenter stated that portfolio margining should be expanded to 
include nonequity securities, interest rate derivatives, collateralized 
debt obligations and other similar non-equity related products, and 
foreign currency derivatives.\40\ This commenter also requested that 
nonequity securities be permitted to be held in the portfolio margin 
account for collateral purposes only, subject to the other margin 
requirements of NYSE Rule 431.\41\ The Exchange noted that it agrees 
with the commenter to the extent that nonequity securities may serve as 
collateral in the portfolio margin account.\42\ The Exchange also 
stated that once the SROs and broker-dealers gain more experience with 
portfolio margining, the Exchange may consider whether nonequity 
products should be eligible for portfolio margining.
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    \40\ See SIA Letter.
    \41\ See SIA Letter.
    \42\ See Amendment No. 1.
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    One commenter sought clarification as to whether broker-dealers and 
their customers could use shares of money market funds as collateral 
for portfolio margining.\43\ The Exchange noted that it believes the 
rule currently permits the use of money market funds in a portfolio 
margin account, and clarified this issue through changes to the rule 
text in Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\44\
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    \43\ See Federated Letter.
    \44\ See NYSE Response; see also Amendment No. 1 (adding 
language regarding use of money market mutual funds in a portfolio 
margin account).
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    One commenter objected to the $0.375 per contract minimum margin 
requirement, and offered alternative lower minimums.\45\ In response to 
this comment, the Exchange noted that the $.375 per contract minimum 
provides a cushion against significant market movements. The Exchange 
also noted that it is concerned about potential illiquidity in the 
market and the creation of gap risk in the event both sides of a hedge 
cannot be closed out simultaneously.
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    \45\ See SIA Letter.
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    Several commenters objected to the proposed prohibition on day 
trading in a portfolio margin account.\46\ The Exchange noted that the 
day trading prohibition is not intended to prohibit intraday trading in 
an account that contains a large portfolio of hedged instruments and, 
in response to the comments, amended the day trading rule language.\47\
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    \46\ See SIA and Fimat Letters.
    \47\ See Amendment No. 1.
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    Finally, the Exchange encouraged the Commission to move forward in 
approving the amendments.\48\
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    \48\ See NYSE Response.
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IV. Discussion and Commission Findings and Accelerated Approval of 
Amendment No. 1

    The Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as amended, is 
consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
exchange.\49\ In particular, the Commission believes that the proposed 
rule change, as amended, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 
\50\ in that it is designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and to protect investors and the public interest. The Commission 
notes that the proposed portfolio margin rule change is intended to 
promote greater reasonableness, accuracy and efficiency with respect to 
Exchange margin requirements and will better align margin requirements 
with actual risk.
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    \49\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission 
notes that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \50\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    Under a portfolio margin system, offsets are fully realized, 
whereas under the Exchange's current margin rules, positions are 
margined independent of each other and offsets between them do not 
figure into the total margin requirement. A portfolio margin system 
recognizes the offsetting gains from positions that react favorably in 
market declines, while market rises are tempered by offsetting losses 
from positions that react negatively. Consequently, a portfolio margin 
approach can have a neutralizing effect on the volatility of margin 
requirements. Thus, a portfolio margin system may better align a 
customer's total margin requirement with the actual risk associated 
with the customer's positions taken as a whole. The Commission further 
notes portfolio margining may alleviate excessive margin calls, improve 
cash flows and liquidity, and reduce volatility.
    Moreover, the Commission notes that approving the proposed rule 
change would enhance portfolio margining by permitting more products to 
be margined under this methodology. This is consistent with the 
amendments to Regulation T made by the FRB in 1998, which sought to 
advance the use of portfolio margining.\51\ The Commission also 
believes that this expanded program for portfolio margining will serve 
to advance the development of even more risk-sensitive approaches to 
margining customer positions, including the use of internal models as 
advocated by commenters. The Commission intends to work with the NYSE 
and CBOE towards this objective after it gains experience with the 
portfolio margining system of this proposal.
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    \51\ Federal Reserve System, ``Securities Credit Transactions; 
Borrowing by Brokers and Dealers,'' 63 FR 2806 (January 16, 1998); 
see also 12 CFR 220.1(b)(3)(i); see also letter from the FRB to 
James E. Newsome, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, and Laura S. Unger, Acting Chairman, Commission, dated 
March 6, 2001. The FRB concluded the letter by writing ``the Board 
anticipates that the creation of securities futures products will 
provide another opportunity to develop more risk-sensitive, 
portfolio-based approaches for all securities, including securities 
options and securities futures products.'' Id.
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    The Commission believes that while the portfolio margining system 
in the proposed rule will have the effect of reducing customer margin 
(in most cases), the methodology is relatively conservative in that it 
requires positions to be shocked at specified market move ranges (e.g., 
+/-15% for individual equities) that represent potential future stress 
events. Essentially the same portfolio methodology has been used by 
broker-dealers to calculate haircuts on options positions for net 
capital purposes.\52\ Furthermore, the proposed requirement that a firm 
receive pre-approval from the Exchange prior to offering portfolio 
margining to its

[[Page 75794]]

customers, coupled with the requirement for enhanced risk management 
procedures, is designed to ensure that only those firms with adequate 
controls would be eligible to implement a customer portfolio margining 
program.\53\
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    \52\ See Exchange Act Release No. 38248 (February 6, 1997), 62 
FR 6474 (February 12, 1997).
    \53\ The proposed rules also would continue to require a minimum 
per contract charge of $.375. The Commission also notes that the 
proposed rules contain a leverage test under which a broker-dealer 
cannot permit the amount of portfolio margin required of its 
customers to exceed 10 times the firm's net capital.
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Accelerated Approval of Amendment No. 1

    The Exchange also has requested that the Commission approve 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day 
after publication of notice of the filing in the Federal Register. The 
Commission believes that the changes in Amendment No. 1 to the proposed 
rule change do not raise significant new or unique issues from those 
previously raised in the earlier portfolio margin rule filings.\54\ The 
changes proposed by the Exchange in Amendment No. 1 are designed to 
ensure consistency with the companion CBOE proposed rule filing and to 
respond to comments received as a result of the Federal Register 
notice.\55\ The Commission believes that these proposed changes 
strengthen the proposed rule change.
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    \54\ See supra note 3.
    \55\ See supra notes 5 and 7.
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    Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause for approving 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day 
after the date of publication of notice thereof in the Federal 
Register. Specifically, the Commission believes that it is consistent 
with Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \56\ to approve Amendment No. 1 to the 
Exchange's proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after 
publication of the notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register.
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    \56\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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Uniform Effective Date

    The Commission believes that approving the amendment on an 
accelerated basis will permit the NYSE to begin the process of 
approving broker-dealers to implement portfolio margining and would 
allow firms to begin to make the necessary changes and upgrades to 
their systems, as well as their policies and procedures, in order to 
accommodate customer portfolio. The Commission, however, believes that 
if some firms receive NYSE approval to begin offering customer 
portfolio margining to customers before other member firms, these other 
firms would be at a competitive disadvantage. Therefore, the Commission 
has determined to set a uniform effective date of April 2, 2007 for the 
proposed rule change, as amended. As stated above, the Commission 
believes that setting a uniform effective date will avoid placing some 
members firms at a competitive disadvantage and reduce confusion in the 
marketplace.

V. Solicitation of Comments of Amendment No. 1

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, as amended, is consistent with the Exchange 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 e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File 

Number SR-NYSE-2006-13 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2006-13. 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 the Exchange. 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 submission should refer to 
File Number SR-NYSE-2006-13 and should be submitted on or before 
January 8, 2007.

VI. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\57\ that the proposed rule change (File No. SR-NYSE-2006-13), is 
hereby approved, and that Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change 
be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis, both on a pilot 
basis to expire on July 31, 2007. The effective date will be April 2, 
2007.
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    \57\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    By the Commission.
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.

Exhibit A--Margin Requirements

Rule 431. (a) through (f) unchanged.

Portfolio Margin
    (g) As an alternative to the ``strategy-based'' margin requirements 
set forth in sections (a) through (f) of this Rule, member 
organizations may elect to apply the portfolio margin requirements set 
forth in this section (g) to all margin equity securities \1\, listed 
options, unlisted derivatives, and security futures products (as 
defined in Section 3(a)(56) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 
``Exchange Act'')), provided that the requirements of section 
(g)(6)(B)(1) of this Rule are met.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ For purposes of this section (g) of the Rule, the term 
``margin equity security'' utilizes the definition at section 220.2 
of Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, excluding a nonequity security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, a member organization, provided that it is a Futures 
Commission Merchant (``FCM'') and is either a clearing member of a 
futures clearing organization or has an affiliate that is a clearing 
member of a futures clearing organization, is permitted under this 
section (g) to combine an eligible participant's related instruments as 
defined in section (g)(2)(E), with listed index options, options on 
exchange traded funds (``ETF''), index warrants and underlying 
instruments and compute a margin requirement for such combined products 
on a portfolio margin basis.
    The portfolio margin provisions of this Rule shall not apply to 
Individual Retirement Accounts (``IRAs'').
    (1) Member organizations must monitor the risk of portfolio margin 
accounts and maintain a comprehensive written risk analysis methodology 
for assessing the potential risk to the member organization's capital 
over a

[[Page 75795]]

specified range of possible market movements of positions maintained in 
such accounts. The risk analysis methodology shall specify the 
computations to be made, the frequency of computations, the records to 
be reviewed and maintained, and the person(s) within the organization 
responsible for the risk function. This risk analysis methodology must 
be filed with the New York Stock Exchange (``Exchange''), or the member 
organization's designated examining authority (``DEA''), if other than 
the Exchange, and submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'') prior to the implementation of portfolio margining. In 
performing the risk analysis of portfolio margin accounts required by 
this Rule, each member organization shall include in the written risk 
analysis methodology procedures and guidelines for:
    (A) Obtaining and reviewing the appropriate account documentation 
and financial information necessary for assessing the amount of credit 
to be extended to eligible participants.
    (B) The determination, review and approval of credit limits to each 
eligible participant, and across all eligible participants, utilizing a 
portfolio margin account,
    (C) Monitoring credit risk exposure to the member organization from 
portfolio margin accounts, on both an intra-day and end of day basis, 
including the type, scope and frequency of reporting to senior 
management,
    (D) The use of stress testing of portfolio margin accounts in order 
to monitor market risk exposure from individual accounts and in the 
aggregate,
    (E) The regular review and testing of these risk analysis 
procedures by an independent unit such as internal audit or other 
comparable group,
    (F) Managing the impact of credit extended related to portfolio 
margin accounts on the member organization's overall risk exposure,
    (G) The appropriate response by management when limits on credit 
extensions related to portfolio margin accounts have been exceeded, and
    (H) Determining the need to collect additional margin from a 
particular eligible participant, including whether that determination 
was based upon the creditworthiness of the participant and/or the risk 
of the eligible product.
    Moreover, management must periodically review, in accordance with 
written procedures, the member organization's credit extension 
activities for consistency with these guidelines. Management must 
periodically determine if the data necessary to apply this section (g) 
is accessible on a timely basis and information systems are available 
to adequately capture, monitor, analyze and report relevant data.
    (2) Definitions.--For purposes of this section (g), the following 
terms shall have the meanings specified below:
    (A) For purposes of portfolio margin requirements the term 
``equity'', as defined in section (a)(4) of this Rule, includes the 
market value of any long or short positions held in an eligible 
participant's account.
    (B) The term ``listed option'' means any equity-based or equity 
index-based option traded on a registered national securities exchange 
or automated facility of a registered national securities association.
    (C) The term ``portfolio'' means any eligible product, as defined 
in section (g)(6)(B)(1), grouped with its underlying instruments and 
related instruments.
    (D) The term ``product group'' means two or more portfolios of the 
same type (see table in section (g)(2)(G) below) for which it has been 
determined by Rule 15c3-1a under the Exchange Act that a percentage of 
offsetting profits may be applied to losses at the same valuation 
point.
    (E) The term ``related instrument'' within a security class or 
product group means broad-based index futures and options on broad-
based index futures covering the same underlying instrument. The term 
``related instrument'' does not include security futures products.
    (F) The term ``security class'' refers to all listed options, 
security futures products, unlisted derivatives, and related 
instruments covering the same underlying instrument and the underlying 
instrument itself.
    (G) The term ``theoretical gains and losses'' means the gain and 
loss in the value of individual eligible products and related 
instruments at ten equidistant intervals (valuation points) ranging 
from an assumed movement (both up and down) in the current market value 
of the underlying instrument. The magnitude of the valuation point 
range shall be as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Up/down market
                                                        move (high & low
                    Portfolio type                          valuation
                                                             points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Capitalization, Broad-based Market Index \2\.....           +6%/-8%
Non-High Capitalization, Broad-based Market Index \3\.            +/-10%
Any other eligible product that is, or is based on, an            +/-15%
 equity security or a narrow-based index..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (H) The term ``underlying instrument'' means a security or security 
index upon which any listed option, unlisted derivative, security 
future, or broad-based index future is based.
    (I) The term ``unlisted derivative'' means any equity-based or 
equity index-based unlisted option, forward contract, or security-based 
swap that can be valued by a theoretical pricing model approved by the 
SEC.
    (3) Approved Theoretical Pricing Models.--Theoretical pricing 
models must be approved by the SEC.
    (4) Eligible Participants.--The application of the portfolio margin 
provisions of this section (g) is limited to the following:
    (A) Any broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the 
Exchange Act;
    (B) Any member of a national futures exchange to the extent that 
listed index options hedge the member's index futures; and
    (C) Any person or entity not included in sections (g)(4)(A) and 
(g)(4)(B) above approved for uncovered options and, if transactions in 
security futures are to be included in the account, approval for such 
transactions is also required. However, an eligible participant under 
this section (g)(4)(C) may not establish or maintain positions in 
unlisted derivatives unless minimum equity of at least five million 
dollars is established and maintained with the member organization. For 
purposes of this minimum equity requirement, all securities and futures 
accounts carried by the member organization for the same eligible 
participant may be combined provided ownership across the accounts is 
identical. A guarantee pursuant to section (f)(4) of this Rule is

[[Page 75796]]

not permitted for purposes of the minimum equity requirement.
    (5) Opening of Accounts.
    (A) Member organizations must notify and receive approval from the 
Exchange or the member organization's DEA, if other than the Exchange, 
prior to establishing a portfolio margin methodology for eligible 
participants.
    (B) Only eligible participants that have been approved to engage in 
uncovered short option contracts pursuant to Exchange Rule 721, or the 
rules of the member organization's DEA, if other than the Exchange, are 
permitted to utilize a portfolio margin account.
    (C) On or before the date of the initial transaction in a portfolio 
margin account, a member organization shall:
    (1) Furnish the eligible participant with a special written 
disclosure statement describing the nature and risks of portfolio 
margining which includes an acknowledgement for all portfolio margin 
account owners to sign, attesting that they have read and understood 
the disclosure statement, and agree to the terms under which a 
portfolio margin account is provided (see Exchange Rule 726(d)), and
    (2) Obtain the signed acknowledgement noted above from the eligible 
participant and record the date of receipt.
    (6) Establishing Account and Eligible Positions.
    (A) For purposes of applying the portfolio margin requirements 
prescribed in this section (g), member organizations are to establish 
and utilize a specific securities margin account, or sub-account of a 
margin account, clearly identified as a portfolio margin account that 
is separate from any other securities account carried for an eligible 
participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ In accordance with section (b)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 15c3-1a 
(Appendix A to Rule 15c3-1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, 17 CFR 240.15c3-1a(b)(1)(i)(B).
    \3\ See footnote above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A margin deficit in the portfolio margin account of an eligible 
participant may not be considered as satisfied by excess equity in 
another account. Funds and/or securities must be transferred to the 
deficient account and a written record created and maintained. However, 
if a portfolio margin account is carried as a sub-account of a margin 
account, excess equity in the margin account (determined in accordance 
with the rules applicable to a margin account other than a portfolio 
margin account) may be used to satisfy a margin deficit in the 
portfolio margin sub-account without having to transfer any funds and/
or securities.
    (B) Eligible Products.
    (1) For eligible participants as described in sections (g)(4)(A) 
through (g)(4)(C), a transaction in, or transfer of, an eligible 
product may be effected in the portfolio margin account. Eligible 
products under this section (g) consist of:
    (i) A margin equity security (including a foreign equity security 
and option on a foreign equity security, provided the security is 
deemed to have a ``ready market'' under SEC Rule 15c3-1 or a ``no-
action'' position issued thereunder, and a control or restricted 
security, provided the security has met the requirements in a manner 
consistent with SEC Rule 144 or an SEC ``no-action'' position issued 
thereunder, sufficient to permit the sale of the security, upon 
exercise or assignment of any listed option or unlisted derivative 
written or held against it, without restriction).
    (ii) A listed option on an equity security or index of equity 
securities,
    (iii) A security futures product,
    (iv) An unlisted derivative on an equity security or index of 
equity securities,
    (v) A warrant on an equity security or index of equity securities,
    (vi) A related instrument as defined in section (g)(2)(E).
    (7) Margin Required.--The amount of margin required under this 
section (g) for each portfolio shall be the greater of:
    (A) the amount for any of the ten equidistant valuation points 
representing the largest theoretical loss as calculated pursuant to 
section (g)(8) below, or
    (B) for eligible participants as described in section (g)(4)(A) 
through (g)(4)(C), $.375 for each listed option, unlisted derivative, 
security future product, and related instrument, multiplied by the 
contract's or instrument's multiplier, not to exceed the market value 
in the case of long contracts in eligible products.
    (C) Account guarantees pursuant to section (f)(4) of this Rule are 
not permitted for purposes of meeting margin requirements.
    (D) Positions other than those listed in section (g)(6)(B)(1) above 
are not eligible for portfolio margin treatment. However, positions not 
eligible for portfolio margin treatment (except for ineligible related 
instruments) may be carried in a portfolio margin account, provided the 
member organization has the ability to apply the applicable strategy 
based margin requirements promulgated under this Rule. Shares of a 
money market mutual fund may be carried in a portfolio margin account, 
also subject to the applicable strategy based margin requirements under 
this Rule provided that:
    (1) The customer waives any right to redeem shares without the 
member organization's consent, s
    (2) The member organization (or, if the shares are deposited with a 
clearing organization, the clearing organization) obtains the right to 
redeem shares in cash upon request,
    (3) The fund agrees to satisfy any conditions necessary or 
appropriate to ensure that the shares may be redeemed in cash, promptly 
upon request, and
    (4) The member organization complies with the requirements of 
Section 11(d)(1) of the Exchange Act and Rule 11d1-2 thereunder.
    (8) Method of Calculation.
    (A) Long and short positions in eligible products including 
underlying instruments and related instruments, are to be grouped by 
security class; each security class group being a ``portfolio''. Each 
portfolio is categorized as one of the portfolio types specified in 
section (g)(2)(G) above as applicable.
    (B) For each portfolio, theoretical gains and losses are calculated 
for each position as specified in section (g)(2)(G) above. For purposes 
of determining the theoretical gains and losses at each valuation 
point, member organizations shall obtain and utilize the theoretical 
values of eligible products as described in this section (g) rendered 
by an approved theoretical pricing model.
    (C) Offsets. Within each portfolio, theoretical gains and losses 
may be netted fully at each valuation point. Offsets between portfolios 
within the eligible product groups, as described in section (g)(2)(G), 
may then be applied as permitted by Rule 15c3-1a under the Exchange 
Act.
    (D) After applying the offsets above, the sum of the greatest loss 
from each portfolio is computed to arrive at the total margin required 
for the account (subject to the per contract minimum).
    (9) Portfolio Margin Minimum Equity Deficiency.
    (A) If, as of the close of business, the equity in the portfolio 
margin account of an eligible participant as described in section 
(g)(4)(C), declines below the five million dollar minimum equity 
required, if applicable, and is not restored to at least five million 
dollars within three business days by a deposit of funds and/or 
securities, member organizations are prohibited from accepting new 
opening orders beginning on the fourth business day, except that new 
opening orders entered for the purpose of reducing market risk may be 
accepted if the result would be to lower margin requirements. This 
prohibition shall remain in effect until,
    (1) Equity of five million dollars is established or,
    (2) All unlisted derivatives are liquidated or transferred from the

[[Page 75797]]

portfolio margin account to the appropriate securities account.
    (B) Member organizations will not be permitted to deduct any 
portfolio margin minimum equity deficiency amount from Net Capital in 
lieu of collecting the minimum equity required.
    (10) Portfolio Margin Deficiency
    (A) If, as of the close of business, the equity in the portfolio 
margin account of an eligible participant, as described in section 
(g)(4)(A) through (g)(4)(C), is less than the margin required, the 
eligible participant may deposit additional funds and/or securities or 
establish a hedge to meet the margin requirement within three business 
days. After the three business day period, member organizations are 
prohibited from accepting new opening orders, except that new opening 
orders entered for the purpose of reducing market risk may be accepted 
if the result would be to lower margin requirements. In the event an 
eligible participant fails to hedge existing positions or deposit 
additional funds and/or securities in an amount sufficient to eliminate 
any margin deficiency after three business days, the member 
organization must liquidate positions in an amount sufficient to, at a 
minimum, lower the total margin required to an amount less than or 
equal to the account equity.
    (B) If the portfolio margin deficiency is not met by the close of 
business on the next business day after the business day on which such 
deficiency arises, member organizations will be required to deduct the 
amount of the deficiency from Net Capital until such time as the 
deficiency is satisfied.
    (C) Member organizations will not be permitted to deduct any 
portfolio margin deficiency amount from Net Capital in lieu of 
collecting the margin required.
    (D) The Exchange, or the member organization's DEA, if other than 
the Exchange, may grant additional time for an eligible participant to 
meet a portfolio margin deficiency upon written request, which is 
expected to be granted in extraordinary circumstances only.
    (E) Member organizations should not permit an eligible participant 
to make a practice of meeting a portfolio margin deficiency by 
liquidation. Member organizations must have procedures in place to 
identify accounts that periodically liquidate positions to eliminate 
margin deficiencies, and the member organization is expected to take 
appropriate action when warranted. Liquidations to eliminate margin 
deficiencies that are caused solely by adverse price movements may be 
disregarded.
    (11) Determination of Value for Margin Purposes.--For the purposes 
of this section (g), all eligible products shall be valued at current 
market prices. Account equity for the purposes of sections (g)(9)(A) 
and (g)(10)(A) shall be calculated separately for each portfolio margin 
account.
    (12) Net Capital Treatment of Portfolio Margin Accounts.
    (A) No member organization that requires margin in any portfolio 
margin account pursuant to section (g) of this Rule shall permit the 
aggregate portfolio margin requirements to exceed ten times its Net 
Capital for any period exceeding three business days. The member 
organization shall, beginning on the fourth business day, cease opening 
new portfolio margin accounts until compliance is achieved.
    (B) If, at any time, a member organization's aggregate portfolio 
margin requirements exceed ten times its Net Capital the member 
organization shall immediately transmit telegraphic or facsimile notice 
of such deficiency to the principal office of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., the district or regional 
office of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the district or 
region in which the member organization maintains its principal place 
of business; and to the Exchange, or the member organization's DEA, if 
other than the Exchange.
    (13) Day Trading Requirements.--The day trading restrictions 
promulgated under section (f)(8)(B) of this Rule shall not apply to 
portfolio margin accounts that establish and maintain at least five 
million dollars in equity, provided a member organization has the 
ability to monitor the intra-day risk associated with day trading. 
Portfolio margin accounts that do not establish and maintain at least 
five million dollars in equity will be subject to the day trading 
restrictions under section (f)(8)(B), provided the member organization 
has the ability to apply the applicable day trading requirements under 
this Rule. However, if the position or positions day traded were part 
of a hedge strategy, the day trading restrictions will not apply. A 
``hedge strategy'' for the purpose of this rule means a transaction or 
a series of transactions that reduces or offsets a material portion of 
the risk in a portfolio. Member organizations are expected to monitor 
these portfolio margin accounts to detect and prevent circumvention of 
the day trading requirements.
    (14) Requirements to Liquidate
    (A) A member organization is required immediately either to 
liquidate, or transfer to another broker-dealer eligible to carry 
portfolio margin accounts, all portfolio margin accounts with positions 
in related instruments, if the member organization is:
    (1) Insolvent as defined in section 101 of title 11 of the United
    States Code, or is unable to meet its obligations as they mature;
    (2) the subject of a proceeding pending in any court or before any 
agency of the United States or any State in which a receiver, trustee, 
or liquidator for such debtor has been appointed;
    (3) not in compliance with applicable requirements under the 
Exchange Act or rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any 
self-regulatory organization with respect to financial responsibility 
or hypothecation of eligible participant's securities; or
    (4) unable to make such computations as may be necessary to 
establish compliance with such financial responsibility or 
hypothecation rules.
    (B) Nothing in this section (14) shall be construed as limiting or 
restricting in any way the exercise of any right of a registered 
clearing agency to liquidate or cause the liquidation of positions in 
accordance with its by-laws and rules.
    (15) Member organizations must ensure that portfolio margin 
accounts are in compliance with all other applicable Exchange rules 
promulgated in Rules 700 through 795.
* * * * *

Delivery of Options Disclosure Document and Prospectus

Rule 726 (a) through (c) unchanged.

Portfolio Margining Disclosure Statement and Acknowledgement
    (d) The special written disclosure statement describing the nature 
and risks of portfolio margining, and acknowledgement for an eligible 
participant signature, required by Rule 431(g)(5)(C) shall be in a 
format prescribed by the Exchange or in a format developed by the 
member organization, provided it contains substantially similar 
information as in the prescribed Exchange format and has received the 
prior written approval of the Exchange.

 [FR Doc. E6-21474 Filed 12-15-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
