Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-43304; File No. SR-CHX-00-26] 

                    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 September 12, 2000, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Incorporated (“CHX” or “Exchange”) 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. The Exchange filed the proposal pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the  Act,[3]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder,[4]                                          which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission.[5]                                          The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.                 

## I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposal

                    On October 13, 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved, on a pilot basis through March 1, 2000, a new Article XXA and amendments to existing rules that allowed the Exchange to implement a new extended trading hours session (the “E-Session”).[6]                                          On February 28, 2000, the CHX extended the operation of the E-Session through October 1, 2000.[7]                                          The CHX now proposes to make the operation of the E-Session permanent.                 

## 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 CHX included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for its proposal and discussed any comments it received regarding the proposal. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The CHX has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. 

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

#### 1. Purpose 

                    In September 1999, the Exchange proposed new Article XXA and several related rule changes to implement the E-Session. The E-Session was designed to meet the needs of market participants and CHX members who had demanded that the Exchange begin trading in hours that extend beyond the then-current trading day. The Exchange continues to believe that investors are best served if registered securities exchanges are participants in the burgeoning after-hours trading market and submits this proposal to make the operation of the E-Session permanent. The Exchange does not propose to make any additional changes to the E-Session at this time; this proposal seeks only to make the E-                          ( print page 57851)                        Session a permanent part of the CHX's current operations.                 

*The operation of the E-Session.*                     The E-Session began operating on October 29, 1999. It currently operates from 3:30 p.m. (immediately following the close of the CHX's post primary trading session) to 5:30 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday.[8] 

                    Trading during the E-Session is conducted, in some respects, as it is during the CHX's primary trading session; however, new features more fully automate the transmission of orders and provide additional protections to investors who trade during the session. Only unconditional limit orders and immediate or cancel limit orders are eligible for execution in the E-Session, and each limit order must be appropriately designated for trading in the E-Session.[9]                                          Any orders remaining unexecuted at the end of the session are automatically canceled and do not carry over to any other trading session. Specialist firms continue to make two-sided, continuous markets in E-Session eligible stocks, generally the more active stocks assigned to them during the existing trading sessions, at their posts on the floor of the CHX (unless a specialist firm has transferred its assignment, for the E-Session only, to another specialist firm with the approval of the Committee on Specialist Assignment and Evaluation).                 

                    During the E-Session, in most cases (subject to an exception described below), limit orders must be electronically and directly transmitted, via the MAXTM                     electronic order routing system, to the specialist's limit order book. Floor brokers may route limit orders to the specialist's limit order book via MAX or may transmit the orders to another market. In addition, a floor broker may route orders to buy and sell equivalent quantities of the same security eligible to be executed at the same price through MAX to the specialist's limit order book or may execute those orders as a crossing transaction at the specialist's post in accordance with existing Exchange rules.                 

                    Except as described in Article XXA or in other E-Session rule amendments, execution, reporting, clearance and settlement of transactions that occur during the E-Session follow the procedures currently in place for those activities in the Exchange's primarily trading session.[10]                                          Among other things, this general principle means that the National Securities Clearing Corporation clears the transactions that take place during this session, and the Securities Industry Automation Corporation and Nasdaq, Inc. disseminate CHX quotations and trade data. Three exceptions to this general rule arise from either the Exchange's desire to more fully automate the E-Session, or from the fact that no primary market of the kind that operates under the same terms and conditions during traditional trading hours is available during the E-Session.[11] 

*Securities eligible for trading during the E-Session.*                     The CHX's Committee on Floor Procedure identifies, from time to time, the securities eligible for trading during the E-Session. In general, the securities listed on the Standard & Poor's 100 Stock IndexTM                     (OEX) and on the Nasdaq-100 Index® (NDX), as well as other securities that rank among the 100 most active listed and 100 most active Nasdaq/NM securities at the end of each quarter trade during the E-Session. Currently, 303 securities are eligible for trading during the E-Session.                 

*Members eligible to participate in the E-Sessioin.*                     All CHX members have access to the E-Session, in accordance with applicable CHX rules.                 

*Mandatory disclosures to non-members.*                     Because the E-Session operates in a manner, and at a time, that is different from the CHX's primary trading session, members must provide specific disclosures to non-members before accepting orders for execution in the E-Session. These disclosures are designed to ensure that participants in the after-hours market understand the potential risks of that participation.                 

*Surveillance and oversight.*                     the Exchange conducts surveillance of E-Session trading using many of he same surveillance programs it uses to monitor trading during the primary trading session. E-Session order delivery, quoting and matching is almost entirely controlled by the Exchange's electronic systems. These systems reduce the possibility for intentional or inadvertent mishandling of orders and enhance the effectiveness of the surveillance programs. The CHX believes that E-Session surveillance has operated effectively during the first ten months of after-hours trading.                 

*Procedures for reviewing capacity, security and contingency planning.*                     the CHX uses many of the same review procedures for systems security, capacity management, and recovery and contingency planning that it employs for the systems that support the primary trading session.                 

#### 2. Statutory Basis 

                    The CHX believes the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act [12]                                          in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and to perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.                 

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

The Exchange believes that no burden will be placed on competition as a result of its proposal to make the E-Session a permanent part of the Exchange's current operations. 

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

No written comments were either solicited or received. 

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: 

(i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; 

(ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and 

                    (iii) become operative for 30 days form the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [13]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[14]                                          At any time within 60 days of the filing                           ( print page 57852)                        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.                 

                    The Exchange has requested that the Commission accelerate the operative date. The Commission finds good cause to designate the proposal to become operative immediately because such designation is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Commission believes that the E-Session provides retail investors with an additional means to trade after traditional trading hours, and that the operation of the E-Session is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act [15]                                          in that it is designed to remove impediments to, and to perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market. The Commission believes the availability of the E-Session may enhance competition in the after-hours market. Currently, electronic trading systems provide retail investors the opportunity to trade after-hours. The continued presence of a national securities exchange in the after-hours market will provide retail investors with an alternative forum through which to conduct after-hours transactions. The CHX has been operating the E-Session on a pilot basis. The Commission believes there is no particular benefit to investors if the CHX is required to wait 30 days before its proposal to make the E-Session a permanent part of its operations becomes operative. For these reasons, the Commission finds good cause to designate that the proposal is both effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.[16] 

## IV. Solicitation of Comments 

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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, D.C. 20549-0609. 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 will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the CHX. All submissions should refer to file number SR-CHX-00-26 and should be submitted by October 17, 2000.

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[17] 

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
        Back to Citation      

2.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
        Back to Citation      

3.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
        Back to Citation      

4.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

5.                             The Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposal on September 6, 2000, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6). 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

6.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42004 (October 13, 1999), 64 FR 56548 (October 20, 1999) (SR-CHX-99-16).                    
        Back to Citation      

7.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42463 (February 28, 2000), 65 FR 11817 (March 6, 2000) (SR-CHX-00-02).                    
        Back to Citation      

8.                             The amendments to Article IX, Rule 10(b) (Business Days and Hours of Trading) and Article XX, Rule 2 (Hours of Floor Dealing) confirm the existence of this new trading session.                    
        Back to Citation      

9.                             The CHX proposed a rule change to allow its members to accept immediate or cancel limit orders during the E-Session so that the Exchange could participate in an anticipated linkage with a group of electronic communications networks who accept this type of order. Although the Commission has approved the rule change needed to allow the CHX to accept these orders (                        *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 42916 (June 9, 2000), 65 FR 38015 (June 19, 2000)(SSR-CHX-00-17)), the CHX is still working to develop the linkages with other market centers through which those orders will be transmitted.                    
        Back to Citation      

10.                             The amendments to Article XX, Rule 1 (Application [of Article] and Article XXI, Rule 1 (Reporting of Transaction) confirm that these rules encompass transactions that occur during the E-Session.                    
        Back to Citation      

11.                             The amendments to Article XX, Rule 37 (confirming that the Best System and the automatic execution features of the Midwest Automated Execution System do not operate during the E-Session), Article XXXI, rules 6 and 9 (confirming that odd-lot order execution occurs differently than during the primary trading session) and Article XXXIV (confirming that market makers do not participate in the E-Session) reflect these exceptions.                    
        Back to Citation      

12.                             U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
        Back to Citation      

13.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
        Back to Citation      

14.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

15.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
        Back to Citation      

16.                             For purposes only of accelerating the operative date of this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
        Back to Citation      

17.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. 00-24641  Filed 9-25-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M