
[Federal Register: August 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 159)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47996-48001]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au08-102]                         

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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-58332; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2008-51]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Adopt Generic 
Listing and Trading Rules for Commodity-Based Trust Shares, Currency 
Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares

August 8, 2008.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on June 13, 2008, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or ``Exchange''), 
through its wholly owned subsidiary, NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (``NYSE 
Arca Equities''), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. On 
August 5, 2008, NYSE Arca filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule 
change. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on 
the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rules 8.201 
(Commodity-Based Trust Shares), 8.202 (Currency Trust Shares), and 
8.203 (Commodity Index Trust Shares) to adopt generic listing and 
trading rules for such securities. The text of the proposed rule change 
is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room, 
and 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 IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

[[Page 47997]]

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange currently has rules permitting the listing and 
trading, including trading pursuant to unlisted trading privileges 
(``UTP''), of Commodity-Based Trust Shares (NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
8.201),\3\ Currency Trust Shares (NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202),\4\ 
and Commodity Index Trust Shares (NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203).\5\ 
The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rules 8.201, 8.202, 
and 8.203 to include provisions for the listing and trading (including 
trading pursuant to UTP) of Commodity-Based Trust Shares, Currency 
Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares, respectively 
(collectively, the ``Shares''), pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the 
Act.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51067 (January 21, 
2005), 70 FR 3952 (January 27, 2005) (SR-PCX-2004-132) (approving 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and the trading of shares of the 
iShares[supreg] COMEX Gold Trust pursuant to UTP).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53253 (February 8, 
2006), 71 FR 8029 (February 15, 2006) (SR-PCX-2005-123) (approving 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 and the trading of shares of the Euro 
Currency Trust pursuant to UTP).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54025 (June 21, 
2006), 71 FR 36856 (June 28, 2006) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-12) (approving 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203 and the trading of shares of the 
iShares[supreg] GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust pursuant to UTP).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Generic Listing Standards
    Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act 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 section (c)(1) of Rule 19b-4,\7\ if the Commission has 
approved, pursuant to section 19(b) of the Act,\8\ 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. The Exchange proposes to 
adopt generic listing standards under amended NYSE Arca Equities Rules 
8.201, 8.202, and 8.203 for the Shares pursuant to which it would be 
able to trade such securities without Commission approval of each 
individual product pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act.\9\ The 
Exchange represents that any securities it lists and/or trades pursuant 
to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, 8.202, or 8.203 will satisfy the 
standards set forth therein. The Exchange states that, within five 
business days after commencement of trading of a security pursuant to 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, 8.202 or 8.203, as proposed to be 
amended, the Exchange will file a Form 19b-4(e).\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(c)(1).
    \8\ 17 U.S.C. 78s(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \10\ See 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e)(2)(ii); 17 CFR 249.820.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commodity-Based Trust Shares
    The Exchange proposes to amend Commentary .04 to NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 8.201 to incorporate generic listing and trading standards for 
Commodity-Based Trust Shares.\11\ In addition to the general 
requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, Commodity-Based Trust 
Shares listed on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) must satisfy 
the following initial listing criteria. For a series of Commodity-Based 
Trust Shares listed on the Exchange, a minimum of 100,000 shares is 
required to be outstanding at the commencement of trading.\12\ In 
addition, for both listed Commodity-Based Trust Shares and those traded 
pursuant to UTP: (1) The value of the commodity held by the applicable 
trust must be disseminated by one or more major market data vendors on 
at least a 15-second delayed basis; (2) the Indicative Trust Value must 
be calculated and widely disseminated by the Exchange or one or more 
major market data vendors on at least a 15-second basis during the Core 
Trading Session as defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34; \13\ and 
(3) the Exchange will implement written surveillance procedures 
applicable to Commodity-Based Trust Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The Commission has previously approved issues of Commodity-
Based Trust Shares for listing and trading. See, e.g., Securities 
Exchange Act Release Nos. 50603 (October 28, 2004), 69 FR 64614 
(November 5, 2004) (SR-NYSE-2004-22) (approving the listing and 
trading of shares of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust); 51058 (January 
19, 2005), 70 FR 3749 (January 26, 2005) (SR-Amex-2004-38) 
(approving the listing and trading of shares of the iShares COMEX 
Gold Trust); 53521 (March 20, 2006), 71 FR 14967 (March 24, 2006) 
(SR-Amex-2005-072) (approving the listing and trading of shares of 
the iShares Silver Trust); and 56041 (July 11, 2007), 72 FR 39114 
(July 17, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-43) (granting accelerated approval 
to list and trade shares of the iShares COMEX Gold Trust). E-mail 
from Michael Cavalier, Associate General Counsel, NYSE Euronext, to 
Edward Cho, Special Counsel, and Steven Varholik, Staff Attorney, 
Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, dated June 18, 2008 
(confirming the types of securities that were approved for listing 
and trading under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201).
    \12\ The Exchange notes that the proposed 100,000-share minimum 
is the same as the requirement in Commentary .01(d) of NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3) applicable to Investment Company Units 
(``Units''), which provides that a minimum of 100,000 shares of a 
series of Units is required to be outstanding at the commencement of 
trading. In addition, the 100,000-share minimum is comparable to 
requirements previously applied to series of Units approved by the 
Commission for exchange listing pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act. See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 52816 (November 
21, 2005), 70 FR 71574, 71578 n.19 and accompanying text (November 
29, 2005) (SR-NYSE-2005-70) (approving the listing and trading of 
shares of the iShares Index Funds and noting that the Exchange has 
required a minimum number of 100,000 shares of Units to be 
outstanding in connection with the initial listing of shares of the 
iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund, which the Commission noted 
to be comparable to requirements previously applied to other listed 
series of Units).
    \13\ Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a), the NYSE Arca 
Marketplace will have three trading sessions each day the Exchange 
is open for business unless otherwise determined by the Exchange:
    Opening Session--begins at 1:00:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) and 
concludes at the commencement of the Core Trading Session. The 
Opening Auction and the Market Order Auction shall occur during the 
Opening Session.
    Core Trading Session--begins at 6:30:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) or 
at the conclusion of the Market Order Auction, whichever comes 
later, and concludes at 1:00:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).
    Late Trading Session--begins following the conclusion of the 
Core Trading Session and concludes at 5:00:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(c)(1) 
to provide that Commodity-Based Trust Shares may be redeemed at the 
request of an Authorized Participant (as defined in the trust's 
prospectus) by the trust, which will deliver to the redeeming 
Authorized Participant the quantity of the underlying commodity.\14\ 
The references to redemption ``at the holder's request'' and delivery 
of the underlying commodity to the ``holder'' would be deleted. This 
amendment reflects the fact that it is the Authorized Participant that 
actually makes the redemption request and receives the specified 
proceeds upon redemption, and that a beneficial holder other than an 
Authorized Participant must utilize an Authorized Participant to effect 
a redemption. This rationale also applies to insertion of the term 
``Authorized Participant'' in NYSE Arca Equities Rules 8.202 and 8.203, 
as described below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ The term ``Authorized Participant'' generally is defined in 
prospectuses for issues of Commodity-Based Trust Shares, Currency 
Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares as an entity that (1) 
is a registered broker-dealer, or other securities market 
participant such as a bank or other financial institution that is 
not required to register as a broker-dealer to engage in securities 
transactions; (2) is a Depository Trust Company participant; and (3) 
has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also proposes to delete the provision in NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 8.201(e)(2)(iv) which provides that the Exchange will 
consider the suspension of trading or removal from listing of a series 
of Commodity-Based Trust Shares if the Exchange stops providing a 
hyperlink on its Web site to the updated value of the underlying

[[Page 47998]]

commodity. The Exchange believes such information is widely available 
from market data vendors and an Exchange hyperlink is not necessary to 
provide investors with access to such information.
    Proposed Commentary .05 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 provides 
that Commodity-Based Trust Shares will be subject to the Exchange's 
equity trading rules. Proposed Commentary .06 to NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 8.201 provides that if the Indicative Trust Value or value of the 
commodity applicable to a series of Commodity-Based Trust Shares is not 
being disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during 
the day on which such interruption first occurs. If such interruption 
persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will 
halt trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following 
the interruption. If the Exchange becomes aware that the net asset 
value (``NAV'') applicable to a series of Commodity-Based Trust Shares 
is not being disseminated to all market participants at the same time, 
it will halt trading in such series until such time as the NAV is 
available to all market participants.
Currency Trust Shares
    The Exchange proposes to amend the definition of the term 
``Currency Trust Shares'' in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(c) to 
provide that such shares may be issued by a trust that holds more than 
one non-U.S. currency. In addition, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(c) 
would be amended to provide that Currency Trust Shares may be 
surrendered by an Authorized Participant (as defined in the trust's 
prospectus) to the trust, which will deliver to the redeeming 
Authorized Participant the specified non-U.S. currency or currencies. 
The reference to the surrender of Currency Trust Shares by the 
beneficial owner would be deleted. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202(d), 
relating to the designation of the non-U.S. currency, is proposed to be 
amended to clarify the rule's application to an issue of Currency Trust 
Shares that holds more than one non-U.S. currency. Commentary .01 to 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 also would be amended to clarify that 
Currency Trust Shares are Trust Issued Receipts that can hold multiple 
currencies.
    The Exchange proposes to amend Commentary .04 to NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 8.202 to incorporate generic listing and trading standards for 
Currency Trust Shares.\15\ In addition to the general requirements of 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202, Currency Trust Shares listed on the 
Exchange must satisfy the following initial listing criteria. For each 
series of Currency Trust Shares, a minimum of 100,000 shares of a 
series of Currency Trust Shares is required to be outstanding at the 
commencement of trading.\16\ In addition, for both listed Currency 
Trust Shares and those traded pursuant to UTP: (1) The value of the 
applicable non-U.S. currency must be disseminated by one or more major 
market data vendors on at least a 15-second delayed basis; (2) the 
Indicative Trust Value must be calculated and widely disseminated by 
the Exchange or one or more major market data vendors on at least a 15-
second basis during the Core Trading Session as defined in NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.34; and (3) the Exchange will implement written 
surveillance procedures applicable to Currency Trust Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The Commission has previously approved a number of issues 
of Currency Trust Shares for listing and trading. See, e.g., 
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 52843 (November 28, 2005), 70 
FR 72486 (December 5, 2005) (SR-NYSE 2005-65) (granting accelerated 
approval for the listing and trading of shares of the CurrencyShares 
Euro Trust); 54020 (June 20, 2006), 71 FR 36579 (June 27, 2006) (SR-
NYSE-2006-35) (granting accelerated approval for the listing and 
trading of shares of the CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust, 
CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, CurrencyShares Canadian 
Dollar Trust, CurrencyShares Mexican Peso Trust, CurrencyShares 
Swedish Krona Trust, and CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust); 55268 
(February 9, 2007), 72 FR 7793 (February 20, 2007) (SR-NYSE-2007-03) 
(granting accelerated approval for the listing and trading of shares 
of the CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust); and 56131 (July 25, 
2007), 72 FR 42212 (August 1, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-57) (granting 
accelerated approval for the listing and trading of shares of the 
CurrencyShares Trusts).
    \16\ See supra note 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Commentary .05 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 provides 
certain ``firewall'' requirements where the value of a Currency Trust 
Share is based in whole or in part on an index that is maintained by a 
broker-dealer, as well as requirements on any advisory committee, 
supervisory board, or similar entity that advises or that makes certain 
decisions regarding the index, similar to the requirements currently 
specified in Commentary .01(b)(1) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3).
    Proposed Commentary .06 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 provides 
that Currency Trust Shares will be subject to the Exchange's equity 
trading rules. Proposed Commentary .07 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.202 
provides that, if the Indicative Trust Value or the value of the 
currency, currencies, or currency index applicable to a series of 
Currency Trust Shares is not being disseminated as required, the 
Exchange may halt trading during the day on which such interruption 
first occurs. If such interruption persists past the trading day in 
which it occurred, the Exchange will halt trading no later than the 
beginning of the trading day following the interruption. If the 
Exchange becomes aware that the NAV applicable to a series of Currency 
Trust Shares is not being disseminated to all market participants at 
the same time, it will halt trading in such series until such time as 
the NAV is available to all market participants.
Commodity Index Trust Shares
    The Exchange proposes to amend the definition of the term 
``Commodity Index Trust Shares'' in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203(c) to 
accommodate shares issued by a trust that holds commodities included in 
an index or portfolio, as well as a trust that holds commodity futures 
on a specified index or portfolio, or that holds interests in a 
commodity pool that holds commodity futures or interests in a commodity 
pool as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act, and is managed by a 
commodity pool operator registered with the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission. In addition, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203(c) would be 
amended to provide that Commodity Index Trust Shares may be surrendered 
to the trust by an Authorized Participant (as defined in the trust's 
prospectus), which will deliver to the redeeming Authorized Participant 
the specified proceeds. The reference to surrender of Commodity Index 
Trust Shares by the beneficial owner would be deleted.
    The Exchange also proposes to amend Commentary .01 to NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 8.203 to provide that a Commodity Index Trust Share is a 
Trust Issued Receipt that holds commodities included in, or long 
positions in futures contracts on a specified commodity index or 
portfolio, or interests in a commodity pool which, in turn, holds such 
commodities or long positions, deposited with the applicable trust. 
Commentary .04 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203 would be amended to 
incorporate generic listing and trading standards for Commodity Index 
Trust Shares.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ The Commission has previously approved a number of issues 
of Commodity Index Trust Shares for listing and trading. See, e.g., 
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 54013 (June 16, 2006), 71 FR 
36372 (June 26, 2006) (SR-NYSE-2006-17) (approving the listing and 
trading of shares of the iShares GSCI Trust); 55585 (April 5, 2007), 
72 FR 18500 (April 12, 2007) (SR-NYSE-2006-75) (approving the 
listing and trading of shares of the iShares GS Commodity Light 
Energy Indexed Trust; iShares GS Commodity Industrial Metals Indexed 
Trust; iShares GS Commodity Livestock Indexed Trust; and iShares GS 
Commodity Non-Energy Indexed Trust); 56932 (December 7, 2007), 72 FR 
71178 (December 14, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-112) (granting 
accelerated approval for the listing and trading of shares of the 
S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust); and 57456 (March 7, 2008), 73 FR 
13599 (March 13, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-91) (granting accelerated 
approval for the listing and trading of shares of the iShares S&P 
GSCI Energy Commodity-Indexed Trust; iShares S&P GSCI Natural Gas 
Commodity-Indexed Trust; iShares S&P GSCI Industrial Metals 
Commodity-Indexed Trust; iShares S&P GSCI Light Energy Commodity-
Indexed Trust; iShares S&P GSCI Livestock Commodity-Indexed Trust; 
and iShares S&P GSCI Non-Energy Commodity-Indexed Trust).

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

[[Page 47999]]

    In addition to the general requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
8.203, Commodity Index Trust Shares listed on the Exchange must satisfy 
the following initial listing criteria: (1) A minimum of 100,000 shares 
of a series of Commodity Index Trust Shares is required to be 
outstanding at the commencement of trading;\18\ and (2) the issue must 
meet one of the following initial listing standards: (a) The 
commodities included in a specified commodity index, long positions in 
futures contracts on a specified commodity index, or interests in a 
commodity pool which, in turn, holds such long positions held by the 
applicable trust shall have been reviewed or approved for the trading 
of Commodity-Linked Securities, Commodity Index Trust Shares or options 
or other derivatives by the Commission under section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act \19\ and rules thereunder, and the conditions set forth in the 
Commission's approval order, including with respect to comprehensive 
surveillance sharing agreements, continue to be satisfied; or (b) with 
respect to trusts holding long positions in futures contracts on a 
specified commodity index, or interests in a commodity pool which, in 
turn, holds such long positions, the pricing information for index 
components must be derived from a market which is an Intermarket 
Surveillance Group (``ISG'') member or with which the Exchange has a 
comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. An index may include 
components representing not more than 10% of the dollar weight of such 
index for which the pricing information is derived from markets that do 
not meet such requirements; provided, however, that no single component 
subject to this exception exceeds 7% of the dollar weight of the 
applicable index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See supra note 12.
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, for both listed Commodity Index Trust Shares and those 
traded pursuant to UTP: (1) The value of the applicable underlying 
index or portfolio must be disseminated by one or more major market 
data vendors on at least a 15-second delayed basis and, with respect to 
trusts holding commodities included in a specified index or portfolio, 
the applicable commodity spot price or prices must be disseminated by 
one or more major market data vendors on at least a 15-second delayed 
basis; (2) the Indicative Trust Value must be calculated and widely 
disseminated by the Exchange or one or more major market data vendors 
on at least a 15-second basis during the Core Trading Session as 
defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34; and (3) the Exchange will 
implement written surveillance procedures applicable to Commodity Index 
Trust Shares.
    Proposed Commentary .05 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203 provides 
certain ``firewall'' requirements where the value of a Commodity Index 
Trust Share is based in whole or in part on an index that is maintained 
by a broker-dealer, as well as requirements on any advisory committee, 
supervisory board, or similar entity that advises or that makes certain 
decisions regarding the index, similar to the requirements specified in 
Commentary .01(b)(1) to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(3). Proposed 
Commentary .06 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203 provides that Commodity 
Index Trust Shares will be subject to the Exchange's equity trading 
rules. Proposed Commentary .07 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.203 
provides that, if the Indicative Trust Value, the value of the 
underlying index or portfolio, or the commodity spot price or prices 
applicable to a series of Commodity Index Trust Shares is not being 
disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day 
on which such interruption first occurs. If such interruption persists 
past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will halt 
trading no later than the beginning of the trading day following the 
interruption. If the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV applicable to 
a series of Commodity Index Trust Shares is not being disseminated to 
all market participants at the same time, it will halt trading in such 
series until such time as the NAV is available to all market 
participants.
    Proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rules 8.201(j), 8.202(j), and 8.203(j) 
each also provide that the Exchange may submit a rule filing pursuant 
to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act \20\ to permit the listing and trading 
of Commodity-Based Trust Shares, Currency Trust Shares, and Commodity 
Based Trust Shares, respectively, that do not otherwise meet the 
standards set forth in proposed Commentary .04 to each such rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 17 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trading Rules Applicable to the Shares
    The Shares will be subject to all Exchange rules governing the 
trading of equity securities. The Exchange's equity margin rules will 
apply to transactions in the Shares. Shares will trade during trading 
hours set forth in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a).\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See supra note 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surveillance
    The Exchange intends to utilize its existing surveillance 
procedures applicable to derivative products, including Commodity-Based 
Trust Shares, Currency Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares, 
to monitor trading in the Shares. The Exchange represents that these 
procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the 
Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of 
Exchange rules or applicable federal securities laws.
    The Exchange's current trading surveillance focuses on detecting 
when securities trade outside their normal patterns. When such 
situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and 
investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of 
all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange notes that components underlying Commodity-Based Trust 
Shares, Currency Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares are 
based on spot prices of the relevant commodity or currency, as the case 
may be, and such underlying commodities or currencies are traded in 
over-the-counter markets rather than on exchanges. In addition, as 
noted above, with respect to Commodity Index Trust Shares, where the 
trust holds long positions in futures contracts on a specified 
commodity index, or interests in a commodity pool which, in turn, holds 
such long positions, the pricing information for index components must 
be derived from a market which is an ISG member or with which the 
Exchange has a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. An index 
may include components representing not more than 10% of the dollar 
weight of such index for which the pricing information is derived from 
markets that do not meet such requirements; provided, however, that no 
single component subject to this exception can exceed 7% of the dollar 
weight of the applicable index.

[[Page 48000]]

    The Exchange states that it may also obtain information via ISG 
from other exchanges who are members of the ISG.\22\ In addition, the 
Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the distribution of 
material, non-public information by its employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ For a list of current members of the ISG, see http://
www.isgportal.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information Bulletin
    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders \23\ in an Information Bulletin of the special 
characteristics and risks associated with trading an issue of 
Commodity-Based Trust Shares, Currency Trust Shares, or Commodity Index 
Trust Shares. Specifically, the Information Bulletin will discuss the 
following: (1) The procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares; 
(2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a),\24\ which imposes a duty of due 
diligence on ETP Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every 
customer prior to trading an issue of Shares; (3) how information 
regarding the Indicative Trust Value is disseminated; (4) the risks 
involved in trading an issue of Shares during the Opening and Late 
Trading Sessions when an updated Indicative Trust Value will not be 
calculated or publicly disseminated; (5) the requirement that ETP 
Holders deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued 
Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; 
and (6) trading information. The Information Bulletin will advise ETP 
Holders, prior to the commencement of trading, of the prospectus 
delivery requirements applicable to the relevant issue of Shares. The 
Exchange notes that investors purchasing Shares directly from the 
applicable trust will receive a prospectus; ETP Holders purchasing 
Shares from the trust for resale to investors will deliver a prospectus 
to such investors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 1.1(n).
    \24\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a) (Diligence as to Accounts) 
provides that ETP Holders, before recommending a transaction, must 
have reasonable grounds to believe that the recommendation is 
suitable for the customer based on any facts disclosed by the 
customer as to his other security holdings and as to his financial 
situation and needs. Further, the rule provides, with a limited 
exception, that prior to the execution of a transaction recommended 
to a non-institutional customer, the ETP Holder shall make 
reasonable efforts to obtain information concerning the customer's 
financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and any other 
information that the ETP Holder believes would be useful to make a 
recommendation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Information Bulletin will reference that an issue 
of Shares is subject to various fees and expenses described in the 
applicable prospectus and that there is no regulated source of last 
sale information regarding physical commodities or non-U.S. currencies, 
and that the Commission has no jurisdiction over the trading of 
physical commodities, currencies, or futures contracts on which the 
value of an issue of Shares may be based.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\25\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\26\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
believes that the proposed rules applicable to trading pursuant to 
generic listing and trading criteria, together with the Exchange's 
surveillance procedures applicable to trading in the securities covered 
by the proposed rules, serve to foster investor protection. The 
Exchange further believes that the proposed rules will enhance market 
competition by assisting in bringing Commodity-Based Trust Shares, 
Currency Trust Shares, and Commodity Index Trust Shares to the market 
more quickly, consistent with the Commission's adoption of Rule 19b-
4(e) under the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \26\ 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 will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

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

    The Exchange states that it has neither solicited nor received 
written comments on the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
    A. By order approve such proposed rule change, or
    B. Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2008-51 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2008-51. 
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, 100 F Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours 
of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the 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 
submissions should refer to File

[[Page 48001]]

Number SR-NYSEArca-2008-51 and should be submitted on or before 
September 5, 2008.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florence E. Harmon,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-18853 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P
