

[Federal Register: January 24, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 15)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3179-3184]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja07-93]                         

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-55113; File No. SR-NYSE-2006-101]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed 
Rule Change as Modified by Amendments No. 1 and 2 Thereto Adopting 
Generic Listing Standards for Exchange-Traded Funds Based on 
International or Global Indexes or Indexes Previously Approved by the 
Commission as Underlying Benchmarks for Derivative Securities

January 17, 2007.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Exchange Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby 
given that on November 21, 2006, the New York Stock Exchange LLC 
(``NYSE'' 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 substantially prepared by 
the Exchange. On January 11, 2007, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 
to the proposal. On January 16, 2007, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 
2 to the proposal. This order provides notice of the proposed rule 
change as amended and approves the proposed rule change as amended on 
an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, 
from the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on NYSE's Web site 
(http://www.nyse.com).


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 III below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

[[Page 3180]]

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to revise Section 703.16 of the NYSE Listed 
Company Manual (``Manual'') to include generic listing standards for 
series of Investment Company Units (``ICUs'') (which are also referred 
to herein as ``exchange-traded funds'' or ``ETFs'') that are based on 
international or global indexes, or on indexes described in rules 
previously approved by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act \3\ for the trading of ETFs, options, or other index-based 
securities. This proposal would enable the Exchange to list and trade 
ETFs pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Exchange Act \4\ if each of 
the conditions set forth in Section 703.16 of the Manual is satisfied. 
Rule 19b-4(e) provides that the listing and trading of a new derivative 
securities product by a self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') shall 
not be deemed a proposed rule change, pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of 
Rule 19b-4, if the Commission has approved, pursuant to Section 19(b) 
of the Exchange Act, the SRO's trading rules, procedures, and listing 
standards for the product class that would include the new derivatives 
securities product, and the SRO has a surveillance program for the 
product class.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
    \5\ When relying on Rule 19b-4(e), the SRO must submit Form 19b-
4(e) to the Commission within five business days after the exchange 
begins trading the new derivative securities products. See 17 CFR 
240.19b-4(e)(2)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exchange-Traded Funds

    NYSE Rule 1100 and Section 703.16 of the Manual provide standards 
for listing ICUs, which are securities issued by a unit investment 
trust, an open-end management investment company (i.e., an open-end 
mutual fund), or similar entity based on a portfolio of stocks or fixed 
income securities that seeks to provide investment results that 
correspond generally to the price and yield performance of a specified 
foreign or domestic stock index or fixed income securities index. 
Pursuant to Section 703.16 of the Manual, an ICU eligible for listing 
on the Exchange must be issued in a specified aggregate number in 
return for a deposit of specified securities and/or a cash amount, with 
a value equal to the next determined net asset value (``NAV''). When 
aggregated in the same specified minimum number, the ICU must be 
redeemable by the issuer for the securities and/or cash, with a value 
equal to the next determined NAV. The NAV is calculated once a day 
after the close of the regular trading day.
    To meet the investment objective of providing investment returns 
that correspond to the price and the dividend and yield performance of 
the underlying index, an ETF may use a ``replication'' strategy or a 
``representative sampling'' strategy with respect to the ETF 
portfolio.\6\ An ETF using a replication strategy will invest in each 
stock of the underlying index in about the same proportion as that 
stock is represented in the index itself. An ETF using a representative 
sampling strategy will generally invest in a significant number but not 
all of the component securities of the underlying index, and will hold 
stocks that, in the aggregate, are intended to approximate the full 
index in terms of key characteristics, such as price/earnings ratio, 
earnings growth, and dividend yield.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ In either case, an ETF, by its terms, may be considered 
invested in the securities of the underlying index to the extent the 
ETF invests in sponsored American Depository Receipts (``ADRs''), 
Global Depository Receipts (``GDRs''), or European Depository 
Receipts (``EDRs'') that trade on exchanges with last-sale reporting 
representing securities in the underlying index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, an ETF portfolio may be adjusted in accordance with 
changes in the composition of the underlying index or to maintain 
compliance with requirements applicable to a regulated investment 
company under the Internal Revenue Code (``IRC'').\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ For an ETF to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated 
investment company, it must meet several requirements under the IRC. 
Among these is the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of 
the ETF's taxable year, (1) at least 50% of the market value of the 
ETF's total assets must be represented by cash items, U.S. 
government securities, securities of other regulated investment 
companies, and other securities, with such other securities limited 
for purposes of this calculation in respect of any one issuer to an 
amount not greater than 5% of the value of the ETF's assets and not 
greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such 
issuer; and (2) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets 
may be invested in the securities of any one issuer, or two or more 
issuers that are controlled by the ETF (within the meaning of 
Section 851(b)(4)(B) of the IRC) and that are engaged in the same or 
similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses (other 
than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated 
investment companies).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generic Listing Standards for Exchange-Traded Funds

    The Commission has previously approved generic listing standards 
for ETFs based on indexes that consist of stocks listed on U.S. 
exchanges.\8\ In general, the proposed criteria for the underlying 
component securities in the international and global indexes are 
similar to those for the domestic indexes, but with modifications as 
appropriate for the issues and risks associated with non-U.S. 
securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ In 1996, the Commission approved Section 703.16 of the 
Listed Company Manual, which sets forth the rules related to the 
listing of ICUs. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36923 
(March 5, 1996), 61 FR 10410 (March 13, 1996) (SR-NYSE-95-23). In 
2000, the Commission approved the Exchange's generic listing 
standards for the listing and trading, or the trading pursuant to 
unlisted trading privileges, of ICUs under Section 703.16 of the 
Manual and Exchange Rule 1100. See Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 43679 (December 5, 2000), 65 FR 77949 (December 13, 2000) (SR-
NYSE-00-46).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Commission has previously approved rules governing 
the listing and trading of ETFs based on international indexes--those 
based on non-U.S. component stocks--as well as global indexes--those 
based on non-U.S. and U.S. component stocks.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52178 (July 
29, 2005), 70 FR 46244 (August 9, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2005-41) (approving 
listing of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Fund and iShares MSCI EAFE Value 
Fund); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54458 (September 15, 
2006), 71 FR 55248 (September 21, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006-60) (approving 
listing of iShares S&P Global Index Funds).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission also has approved rules of other exchanges that 
permit the listing pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) of index-based derivatives 
where the Commission had previously approved rules contemplating the 
trading of specified index-based derivatives on the same index, on the 
condition that all of the standards set forth in those orders, in 
particular with respect to surveillance sharing agreements, continued 
to be satisfied.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51563 (April 
15, 2005), 70 FR 21257 (April 25, 2005) (SR-Amex-2005-001); 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52204 (August 3, 2005), 70 FR 
46559 (August 10, 2005) (SR-PCX-2005-63).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In approving ETFs for Exchange trading, the Commission thoroughly 
considered the structure of the ETFs, their usefulness to investors and 
to the markets, and NYSE rules that govern their trading. The Exchange 
believes that adopting additional generic listing standards for these 
securities and applying Rule 19b-4(e) should fulfill the intended 
objective of that rule by allowing those ETFs that satisfy the proposed 
generic listing standards to commence trading, without the need for the 
public comment period and Commission approval. The proposed rules have 
the potential to reduce the time frame for bringing ETFs to market, 
thereby reducing the burdens on issuers and other market participants. 
The failure of a particular index to comply with the proposed generic 
listing standards under Rule 19b-4(e) would

[[Page 3181]]

not, however, preclude the Exchange from submitting a separate filing 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) requesting Commission approval to list and 
trade a particular ETF.

Requirements for Listing and Trading ETFs Based on International and 
Global Indexes

    Exchange-traded funds listed pursuant to these generic listing 
standards would be traded, in all other respects, under the Exchange's 
existing trading rules and procedures that apply to ETFs and would be 
covered under the Exchange's surveillance program for ETFs.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See e.g., NYSE Rule 1100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To list an ETF pursuant to the proposed generic listing standards 
for international and global indexes, the index underlying an ETF must 
satisfy all the conditions contained in proposed Section 
703.16(C)(2)(b) of the Manual. As with the existing generic standards 
for ETFs based on domestic indexes, these generic listing standards are 
intended to ensure that stocks with substantial market capitalization 
and trading volume account for a substantial portion of the weight of 
an index or portfolio. While the standards in this proposal are based 
on the standards contained in the current generic listing standards for 
ETFs based on domestic indexes, they have been adapted as appropriate 
to apply to international and global indexes.
    As proposed, Section 703.16(B) of the Manual would be amended to 
include definitions of U.S. Component Stock and Non-U.S. Component 
Stock. These new definitions would provide the basis for the standards 
for indexes with either domestic or international stocks, or a 
combination of both. A ``Non-U.S. Component Stock'' would mean an 
equity security that is not registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of 
the Exchange Act,\12\ and that is issued by an entity that (1) is not 
organized, domiciled, or incorporated in the United States, and (2) is 
an operating company (including a real estate investment trust (REIT) 
or income trust, but excluding an investment trust, unit trust, mutual 
fund, or derivative). This definition is designed to create a category 
of component stocks that are issued by companies that are not based in 
the United States, are not subject to oversight through Commission 
registration, and would include sponsored GDRs and EDRs. A ``U.S. 
Component Stock'' would mean an equity security that is registered 
under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act or an ADR the 
underlying equity security of which is registered under Section 12(b) 
or 12(g) of the Exchange Act. An ADR with an underlying equity security 
that is registered pursuant to the Exchange Act is considered a U.S. 
Component Stock because the issuer of that security is subject to 
Commission jurisdiction and must comply with Commission rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78l(b) or (g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes that, to list an ICU based on an 
international or global index or portfolio pursuant to the generic 
listing standards, such index or portfolio must meet the following 
criteria:
     Component stocks that in the aggregate account for at 
least 90% of the weight of the index or portfolio each must have a 
minimum market value of at least $100 million (Section 
703.16(C)(2)(b)(i));
     Component stocks representing at least 90% of the weight 
of the index or portfolio each must have a minimum worldwide monthly 
trading volume during each of the last six months of at least 250,000 
shares (Section 703.16(C)(2)(b)(ii));
     The most heavily weighted component stock may not exceed 
25% of the weight of the index or portfolio and the five most heavily 
weighted component stocks may not exceed 60% of the weight of the index 
or portfolio (Section 703.16(C)(2)(b)(iii));
     The index or portfolio shall include a minimum of 20 
component stocks (Section 703.16(C)(2)(b)(iv)); and
     Each U.S. Component Stock must be listed on a national 
securities exchange and an NMS stock as defined in Rule 600 of 
Regulation NMS under the Exchange Act, and each Non-U.S. Component 
Stock must be listed on an exchange that has last-sale reporting 
(Section 703.16(C)(2)(b)(v)).
    The Exchange believes that the proposed standards are reasonable 
for international and global indexes, and, when applied in conjunction 
with the other listing requirements, would result in the listing and 
trading on the Exchange of ETFs that are sufficiently broad-based in 
scope and not readily susceptible to manipulation. The Exchange also 
believes that the proposed standards would result in ETFs that are 
adequately diversified in weighting for any single security or small 
group of securities to significantly reduce concerns that trading in an 
ETF based on an international or global index could become a surrogate 
for trading in unregistered securities.
    The Exchange further notes that, while these standards are similar 
to those for indexes that include only U.S. Component Stocks, they 
differ in certain important respects and are generally more 
restrictive, reflecting greater concerns over portfolio diversification 
with respect to ETFs investing in components that are not individually 
registered with the Commission. First, in the proposed standards, 
component stocks that in the aggregate account for at least 90% of the 
weight of the index or portfolio each shall have a minimum market value 
of at least $100 million, compared to a minimum market value of at 
least $75 million for indexes with only U.S. Component Stocks. (Market 
value is calculated by multiplying the total shares outstanding by the 
price per share of the component stock.) Second, in the proposed 
standards, the most heavily weighted component stock cannot exceed 25% 
of the weight of the index or portfolio, in contrast to a 30% standard 
for an index or portfolio comprised of only U.S. Component Stocks. 
Third, in the proposed standards, the five most heavily weighted 
component stocks shall not exceed 60% of the weight of the index or 
portfolio, compared to a 65% standard for indexes comprised of only 
U.S. Component Stocks. Fourth, the minimum number of stocks in the 
proposed standards is 20, in contrast to a minimum of 13 in the 
standards for an index or portfolio with only U.S. Component Stocks. 
Finally, the proposed standards require that each Non-U.S. Component 
Stock included in the index or portfolio be listed and traded on an 
exchange that has last-sale reporting.
    The Exchange also proposes to modify Section 703.16(C)(3) to 
require that the index value for an ETF listed pursuant to the proposed 
standards for international and global indexes be widely disseminated 
by one or more major market data vendors at least every 60 seconds 
during the time when the ETF shares trade on the Exchange. If the index 
value does not change during some or all of the period when trading is 
occurring on the Exchange, the last official calculated index value 
must remain available throughout Exchange trading hours. In contrast, 
the index value for an ETF listed pursuant to the existing standards 
for domestic indexes must be disseminated at least every 15 seconds 
during the trading day. This modification reflects limitations, in some 
instances, on the frequency of intra-day trading information with 
respect to Non-U.S. Component Stocks and that, in many cases, trading 
hours for overseas markets overlap only in part, or not at all, with 
Exchange trading hours.
    In addition, Section 703.16(C)(3) would be modified to define the 
term

[[Page 3182]]

``Intraday Indicative Value'' (``IIV'') as the estimate, updated at 
least every 15 seconds, of the value of a share of each ETF, for ease 
of reference. The Exchange also proposes to clarify in Section 
703.16(C)(3) that the IIV would be updated during the hours the ETF 
shares trade on the Exchange to reflect changes in the exchange rate 
between the U.S. dollar and the currency in which any component stock 
is denominated.
    The Exchange is also proposing to add a Section 703.16(C)(6) 
regarding the creation and redemption process for ETFs and compliance 
with federal securities laws for, in particular, ETFs listed pursuant 
to the new generic listing standards. This new subsection would apply 
to ICUs listed pursuant to Section 703.16(C)(2)(b) or (c). It would 
require that the statutory prospectus or the application for exemption 
from provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 \13\ for the ETF 
being listed pursuant to these new standards must state that the ETF 
must comply with the federal securities laws in accepting securities 
for deposits and satisfying redemptions with redemption securities, 
including that the securities accepted for deposits and the securities 
used to satisfy redemption requests are sold in transactions that would 
be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 80a et seq.
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has approved generic standards providing for the 
listing pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) of other derivative products based on 
indexes described in rules previously approved by the Commission under 
Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act. The Exchange proposes to include 
in the generic standards for the listing of ICUs indexes that have been 
approved by the Commission in connection with the listing of options, 
ICUs, Index-Linked Exchangeable Notes, or Index-Linked Securities. The 
Exchange believes that the application of that standard to ETFs is 
appropriate because the underlying index would have been subject to 
detailed and specific Commission review in the context of the approval 
of listing of those other derivatives.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ For example, rules of the American Stock Exchange LLC 
(``Amex'') and NYSE Arca, Inc. provide that one element of the 
standards for listing Index-Linked Securities pursuant to Rule 19b-
4(e) is the previous review and approval for trading of options or 
other derivatives by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act and rules thereunder. See supra note 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This new generic standard would be limited to stock indexes and 
would require that each component stock be either: (1) a U.S. Component 
Stock that is listed on a national securities exchange and is an NMS 
stock as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS; or (2) a Non-U.S. 
Component Stock that is listed and traded on an exchange that has last-
sale reporting.
    The Exchange is also proposing to include additional continued 
listing standards relating to ETFs. The Exchange would commence 
delisting proceedings if the value of the index or portfolio of 
securities on which the ETF is based is no longer calculated or 
disseminated.
    The Exchange proposes to modify the Original Unit Listing Standards 
in Section 703.16(A) of the Manual to formalize in the rules existing 
best practices for providing equal access to material information about 
the value of ETFs. Pursuant to proposed Section 703.16(A)(6), prior to 
approving an ETF for listing, the Exchange would obtain a 
representation from the ETF issuer that the NAV per share would be 
calculated daily and made available to all market participants at the 
same time.
    Proposed Rule 1100(f) sets out the trading halt parameters for 
ETFs. In particular, proposed Rule 1100(f)(1) sets out that, where the 
Exchange is the listing market for an ICU, if the IIV or the index 
value applicable to that series of ICUs is not being disseminated as 
required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day in which the 
interruption to the dissemination of the IIV or the index value occurs. 
If the interruption to the dissemination of the IIV or the index value 
persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange would 
halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following 
the interruption.
    Proposed Rule 1100(f)(2) provides that, for series of ICUs admitted 
to dealings by the Exchange on the basis of unlisted trading privileges 
(``UTP''), during the hours for trading of ICUs on the Exchange, if a 
temporary interruption occurs in the calculation or wide dissemination 
of the applicable IIV or value of the underlying index by a major 
market data vendor and the listing market halts trading in a series of 
ICUs, the Exchange, upon notification by the listing market of such 
halt due to such temporary interruption, also shall immediately halt 
trading in the series of ICUs on the Exchange. If the IIV or the value 
of the underlying index continues not to be calculated or widely 
available as of the commencement of trading on the Exchange on the next 
business day, the Exchange shall not commence trading of the series of 
ICUs that day. If an interruption in the calculation or wide 
dissemination of the IIV or the value of the underlying index 
continues, the Exchange may resume trading in the series of ICUs only 
if calculation and wide dissemination of the IIV or the value of the 
underlying index resumes or trading in such series resumes in the 
listing market.
    The Exchange is proposing other minor and clarifying changes to 
Section 703.16. Section 703.16(C)(2)(a)(v) has been modified to reflect 
the adoption of Regulation NMS. Proposed Section 703.16(C)(4)(c) has 
been added to make sure that an entity that advises index providers or 
calculators and related entities has in place procedures designed to 
prevent the use and dissemination of material non-public information 
regarding the index underlying the ETF.
    The Exchange represents that its surveillance procedures are 
adequate to properly monitor the trading of ICUs listed pursuant to the 
proposed new listing standards or traded pursuant to UTP. In addition, 
the Exchange has a general policy prohibiting the dissemination of 
material, non-public information by its employees.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6 of the Exchange Act \16\ in general and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) \17\ 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, and to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would 
impose any burden on competition.

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

    The Exchange did not receive any written comments on the proposed 
rule change.

III. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing,

[[Page 3183]]

including whether the proposed rule change 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 an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 

File Number SR-NYSE-2006-101 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-2006-101. 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 NYSE. 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-NYSE-2006-101 and should be submitted on or before February 14, 
2007.

IV. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of 
the Proposed Rule Change

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
change, as amended, is consistent with the requirements of the Exchange 
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national 
securities exchange.\18\ In particular, the Commission finds that the 
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Exchange Act \19\ 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, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ In approving this rule change, the Commission notes that it 
has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Currently, the Exchange must file a proposed rule change with the 
Commission pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Exchange Act \20\ and 
Rule 19b-4 thereunder \21\ to list and trade any ETF based on an index 
comprised of foreign securities. The Exchange also must file a proposed 
rule change to list and trade ETFs based on indexes or portfolios 
previously approved by the Commission as underlying benchmarks for 
derivative securities. However, Rule 19b-4(e) provides that the listing 
and trading of a new derivative securities product by an SRO will not 
be deemed a proposed rule change pursuant to Rule 19b-4(c)(1) if the 
Commission has approved, pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act, 
the SRO's trading rules, procedures, and listing standards for the 
product class that would include the new derivative securities product, 
and the SRO has a surveillance program for the product class. The 
Exchange's proposed rules for the listing and trading of ETFs pursuant 
to Rule 19b-4(e) based on (1) certain indexes with components that 
include foreign securities or (2) indexes or portfolios previously 
approved by the Commission as underlying benchmarks for derivative 
securities fulfill these requirements. Use of Rule 19b-4(e) by NYSE to 
list and trade such ETFs should promote competition, reduce burdens on 
issuers and other market participants, and make such ETFs available to 
investors more quickly.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \21\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \22\ The Commission notes, however, that the failure of a 
particular ETF to meet these generic listing standards would not 
preclude the Exchange from submitting a separate proposed rule 
change to list and trade the ETF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission previously has approved generic listing standards 
for another exchange, Amex, that are substantially similar to those 
proposed here by NYSE.\23\ This proposal does not appear to raise any 
novel regulatory issues. Therefore, the Commission finds that NYSE's 
proposal is consistent with the Exchange Act on the same basis that it 
approved Amex's generic listing standards for ETFs based on 
international or global indexes or on indexes or portfolios previously 
approved by the Commission as underlying benchmarks for derivative 
securities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54739 (November 9, 
2006), 71 FR 66993 (November 17, 2006) (SR-Amex-2006-78) (approving 
generic listing standards for series of portfolio depositary 
receipts and index fund shares based on international or global 
indexes); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55018 (December 28, 
2006), 72 FR 1040 (January 9, 2007) (SR-Amex-2006-109) (making 
clarifying changes to the generic listing standards set forth in SR-
Amex-2006-78).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Section 703.16(C)(2)(b) of the Manual establishes 
standards for the composition of an index or portfolio underlying an 
ETF. These requirements are designed, among other things, to require 
that components of an index or portfolio underlying the ETF are 
adequately capitalized and sufficiently liquid, and that no one 
security dominates the index. The Commission believes that, taken 
together, these standards are reasonably designed to ensure that 
securities with substantial market capitalization and trading volume 
account for a substantial portion of any underlying index or portfolio, 
and that when applied in conjunction with the other applicable listing 
requirements, will permit the listing and trading only of ETFs that are 
sufficiently broad-based in scope to minimize potential manipulation. 
The Commission further believes that the proposed listing standards are 
reasonably designed to preclude NYSE from listing and trading ETFs that 
might be used as surrogate for trading in unregistered securities. The 
requirement that each component security underlying an ETF be an NMS 
stock (in the case of a U.S. Component Stock) or listed on an exchange 
and subject to last-sale reporting (in the case of a Non-U.S. Component 
Stock) should contribute to the transparency of the market for these 
ETFs.
    The proposed generic listing standards also will permit NYSE to 
list and trade an ETF if the Commission has previously approved an SRO 
rule change that contemplates listing and trading a derivative product 
based on the same underlying index. NYSE would be able to rely on that 
earlier approval order, provided that (1) the securities comprising the 
underlying index consist of U.S. Component Stocks or Non-U.S. Component 
Stocks as set

[[Page 3184]]

forth in Section 703.16(B) of the Manual and (2) NYSE complies with the 
commitments undertaken by the other SRO set forth in the prior order, 
including any surveillance-sharing arrangements with a foreign market.
    The Commission believes that NYSE's proposal is consistent with 
Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Exchange Act,\24\ which sets forth 
Congress' finding that it is in the public interest and appropriate for 
the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly 
markets to assure the availability to brokers, dealers, and investors 
of information with respect to quotations for and transactions in 
securities. The Exchange's proposal also requires the value of the 
index or portfolio underlying an ETF based on a global or international 
index to be disseminated at least once every 60 seconds during Exchange 
trading hours.\25\ In addition, an IIV, which represents an estimate of 
the value of a share of each ETF, must be updated and disseminated at 
least once every 15 seconds during the time an ETF trades on the 
Exchange.\26\ The IIV will be updated to reflect changes in the 
exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the currency in which any 
index or portfolio component stock is denominated. In the event that an 
underlying index or portfolio value is no longer calculated or 
disseminated, the Exchange has represented that it would commence 
delisting proceedings for the associated ETF. Furthermore, the issuer 
of an ETF listed under the proposed rules will be required to represent 
that it will calculate the NAV and make it available daily to all 
market participants at the same time.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
    \25\ See proposed Section 703.16(C)(3) of the Manual. If an 
index or portfolio value does not change for some of the time that 
the ETF trades on the Exchange, the last official calculated value 
must remain available throughout Exchange trading hours.
    \26\ See id.
    \27\ See proposed Section 703.16(A)(6) of the Manual.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's trading halt rules are reasonably designed to 
prevent trading in an ETF when transparency cannot be assured. Proposed 
NYSE Rule 1100(f)(1) provides that, when the Exchange is the listing 
market, if the IIV or index value applicable to an ETF is not 
disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day 
in which the interruption occurs. If the interruption continues, then 
the Exchange will halt trading no later than the beginning of the next 
trading day. In addition, proposed NYSE Rule 1100(f)(2) sets forth 
trading halt procedures when the Exchange trades the ETF pursuant to 
UTP. This proposed rule is substantially similar to that recently 
adopted by another exchange, NYSEArca.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54997 (December 21, 
2006), 71 FR 78501 (December 29, 2006) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-77).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In approving this proposal, the Commission relied on NYSE's 
representation that its surveillance procedures are adequate to 
properly monitor the trading of ICUs listed pursuant to the proposed 
new listing standards or traded pursuant to unlisted trading 
privileges. This approval is conditioned on the continuing accuracy of 
that representation.

Acceleration

    The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule 
change, as amended, prior to the 30th day after the date of publication 
of the notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. The Commission 
notes that NYSE's proposal is substantially similar to an Amex proposal 
that has been approved by the Commission.\29\ The Commission does not 
believe that NYSE's proposal raises any novel regulatory issues and, 
therefore, that good cause exists for approving the filing before the 
conclusion of a notice-and-comment period. Accelerated approval of the 
proposal will expedite the listing and trading of additional ETFs by 
the Exchange, subject to consistent and reasonable standards. 
Therefore, the Commission finds good cause, consistent with Section 
19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,\30\ to approve the proposed rule change, 
as amended, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See supra note 23.
    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act,\31\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSE-2006-101), as 
amended, be, and it hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ Id.
    \32\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\32\
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-956 Filed 1-23-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
