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. 34-59432; File No. SR-FINRA-2009-005]

                    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 February 13, 2009, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (f/k/a National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by FINRA. FINRA has designated the proposed rule change as constituting a “non-controversial” rule change under paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 under the Act,[3]                                          which renders the proposal effective upon receipt of this filing by the Commission. 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 Proposed Rule Change

FINRA is proposing to update rule cross-references and make other non-substantive technical changes to certain FINRA rules that have been adopted in the consolidated FINRA rulebook.

                    The text of the proposed rule change is available on FINRA's Web site at                     *http://www.finra.org,*                     at the principal office of FINRA and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.                

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

In its filing with the Commission, FINRA 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. FINRA 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

                    FINRA is in the process of developing a new consolidated rulebook (“Consolidated FINRA Rulebook”).[4]                                          That process involves FINRA submitting to the Commission for approval a series of proposed rule changes over time to adopt rules in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook. The phased adoption and implementation of those rules necessitates periodic amendments to update rule cross-references and other non-substantive technical changes in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook.                

                    The proposed rule change would update rule cross-references in FINRA Rules 2360, 2370, 6181, 6635, 9217 and 9610 that are needed as the result of Commission approval of three recent FINRA proposed rule changes.[5]                                          In addition, the proposed rule change would amend FINRA Rule 7410(m) to update cross-references to NYSE Rule 80A, which was renumbered as NYSE Rule 132B.[6]                                          Finally, the proposed rule change would amend FINRA Rule 5130 to reflect a change in FINRA style convention when referencing SEC rules and regulations.                

                    FINRA has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness and has requested that the SEC waive the requirement that the proposed rule change not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, such that FINRA could implement the proposed rule change on February 17, 2009, the date on which certain of the previously approved rule changes will also be implemented.[7] 

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    FINRA believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,[8]                                          which requires, among other things, that FINRA rules must be designed to                           ( print page 9122)                        prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. FINRA believes the proposed rule change will provide greater clarity to members and the public regarding FINRA's rules.                

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

FINRA does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in 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

Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

                    Because the 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 after the date of filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [9]                                          and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.[10]                                          As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),[11]                                          FINRA provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the filing of the proposed rule change.                

                    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to the 30th day after the date of filing.[12]                                          However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) [13]                                          permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. FINRA requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay and designate the proposed rule change to become operative upon filing so that FINRA could implement the proposed rule change on February 17, 2009, the same date on which certain of the previously approved rule changes relating the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook will be implemented. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. In particular, the Commission does not believe that the proposed rule change presents any novel issues. The proposed rule change makes non-substantive changes to update FINRA rules in the Consolidated FINRA Rulebook to reflect changes to FINRA rules previously published for comment by the Commission. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing with the Commission.[14] 

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate the 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.

## 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-FINRA-2009-005 on the subject line.                

### Paper Comments

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

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-FINRA-2009-005. 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 FINRA. 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-FINRA-2009-005 and should be submitted on or before March 23, 2009.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[15] 

Florence E. Harmon,

Deputy Secretary.

# Footnotes

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

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

3.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

4.                             The current FINRA rulebook consists of (1) FINRA Rules; (2) NASD Rules; and (3) rules incorporated from NYSE (“Incorporated NYSE Rules”) (together, the NASD Rules and Incorporated NYSE Rules are referred to as the “Transitional Rulebook”). While the NASD Rules generally apply to all FINRA members, the Incorporated NYSE Rules apply only to those members of FINRA that are also members of the NYSE (“Dual Members”). The FINRA Rules apply to all FINRA members, unless such rules have a more limited application by their terms. For more information about the rulebook consolidation process,                         *see*                         FINRA                         *Information Notice,*                         March 12, 2008 (Rulebook Consolidation Process).                    
        Back to Citation      

5.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58643 (September 25, 2008), 73 FR 57174 (October 1, 2008) (Order Approving File Nos. SR-FINRA-2008-021; SR-FINRA-2008-022; SR-FINRA-2008-026; SR-FINRA-2008-028 and SR-FINRA-2008-029); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58661 (September 26, 2008), 73 FR 57395 (October 2, 2008) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2008-030); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58932 (November 12, 2008), 73 FR 69696 (November 19, 2008) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2008-032).                    
        Back to Citation      

6.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56726 (October 31, 2007), 72 FR 62719 (November 6, 2007) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of File No. SR-NYSE-2007-96).                    
        Back to Citation      

7.                                                     *See*                         FINRA                         *Regulatory Notice*                         08-78 (December 2008) (FINRA Announces SEC Approval and Effective Date for New Consolidated FINRA Rules Relating to Warrants, Options and Security Futures).                    
        Back to Citation      

8.                             15 U.S.C. 78*o*                        -3(b)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

9.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
        Back to Citation      

10.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
        Back to Citation      

11.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                    
        Back to Citation      

12.                                                     *See id.*
        Back to Citation      

13.                                                     *Id.*
        Back to Citation      

14.                             For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.                         *See*15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
        Back to Citation      

15.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. E9-4300 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P