regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: Boston Stock Exchange, Inc.,

[Federal Register: October 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 203)]

[Notices]

[Page 64669-64671]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21oc02-72]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-46651; File No. SR-BSE-2002-18]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the Boston Stock Exchange Relating to an Extension of a Temporary Exemption Concerning an Interpretation of its Execution Guarantee Rule

October 11, 2002.

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that on October 3, 2002, the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc. (``BSE'' or ``Exchange'') filedwith the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self- regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule from interested persons.

\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

   The Exchange proposes to extend a temporary exemption related to an interpretation of its Execution Guarantee Rule in response to Commission action regarding de minimis trades through of certain Exchange Traded Funds (``ETFs'') in the Intermarket Trading System (``ITS'').

2. 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.

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

      1. Purpose

      The purpose of the proposed rule change is to add Paragraph .07 to the Interpretations and Policies section of Chapter II, Dealings on the Exchange, Section 33, Execution Guarantee, of the BSE Rules. This rule proposal is in response to a Commission order issued August 28, 2002, granting a de minimis exemption for transactions in certain Exchange Traded Funds from the Trade-Through Provisions of the ITS Plan (``Order'').\3\ As of the implementation date of the Order, September 4, 2002, certain executions that take place according to the Rules of the Exchange may be deemed violative of the provisions thereof.

      \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 46428, 67 FR 56607 (September 4, 2002) (the ``Order''). Participants of the ITS Plan are exempt from Section 8(d) of the Plan, for the period of September 4, 2002 until June 4, 2003, with respect to transactions in Nasdaq-100 Index (``QQQs''), the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (``DIAMONDs''), and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (``SPDRs''), that are executed at a price that is no more than three cents lower than the highest bid displayed in CQS and no more than three cents higher than the lowest offer displayed in CQS.

      On September 4, 2002, the Exchange submitted a proposed rule change on a pilot basis, which was effective upon filing, that would allow the Exchange to not enforce a specific provision of its rules relating to trade-through protection for certain securities.\4\ The pilot expired on October 4, 2002. The Exchange is seeking to extend the pilot for an additional thirty days, until November 3, 2002.

      \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 46482 (September 10, 2002), 67 FR 58662 (September 17, 2002).

      In Chapter II, Dealings on the Exchange, Section 33, Execution Guarantee, of the BSE Rules, paragraph (c)(2) states that ``All agency limit orders will be filled if one of the following conditions occur * * * (2) there has been price penetration of the limit in the primary market. * * *'' Moreover, in various sections of Chapter XV, Dealer Specialists, there are similar provisions.\5\ These provisions, in particular those set forth in Chapter II, guarantee that a limit order in a BSE specialist's book will be filled if the primary market trades through the limit price. The BSE specialist provides this protection to its customer limit orders in part due to the fact that the specialist can seek relief through ITS in the event of a trade-through.

      \5\ See, e.g., the Commentary to Section 1, Specialists, which sets forth a specialist's obligations in relation to buying and selling on a principal basis while holding unexecuted orders in his book; Section 2, Responsibilities, which sets forth, in part, a specialist's primary duties as agent; Section 4, Precedence to Orders in the Book, which sets forth the precedence parameters a specialist must adhere to; and Section 18, Procedures for Competing Specialists, which sets forth, in various paragraphs, obligations which may conflict with the de minimis exemption in the Order.

      As a result of the Commission's Order, certain primary market trades-through in ETFs will constitute exempt trades-through, but will still, under BSE Rules, trigger an obligation on the part of a BSE specialist to provide trade-through protection. However, the specialist will no longer be able to seek recourse to seek satisfaction through ITS from the primary market. Accordingly, the BSE specialist will be competitively disadvantaged if this section of its rules is strictly enforced, while the de minimis exemption exists for other ITS participants. Therefore, the BSE is seeking to implement an Interpretation of Chapter II, Section 33(c)(2) of its rules permitting the Exchange to not enforce the provision following a de minimis trade through of certain ETFs outlined in the Order. 2. Statutory Basis

      The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of section 6(b) of the Act \6\ and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\7\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to facilitate 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, that it is designed to protect investors and the public interest; and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.

      \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

      \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

   2. 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.

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

      The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change.

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

   The foregoing rule change constitutes a stated policy, practice or interpretation with respect to the meaning, administration, or enforcement of an existing rule of the Exchange and therefore, has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act \8\ and subparagraph (f)(1) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\9\

   \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(i).

   \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(1).

   At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

4. 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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filedwith the Commission, and all written communications relating to the

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   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 at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the above-mentioned self-regulatory organization. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-BSE-2002-18 and should be submitted by November 12, 2002.

   For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.\10\

   \10\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

   Margaret H. McFarland, Deputy Secretary.

   [FR Doc. 02-26684Filed10-18-02; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 8010-01-P