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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-52431; File No. SR-NASD-2005-103] 

                    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 6, 2005, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), through its subsidiary, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”), 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 Nasdaq. Nasdaq has filed the proposal as a “non-controversial” rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [3]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)[4]                                          thereunder, which renders the proposed rule change 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 Proposed Rule Change 

                    Nasdaq is proposing to amend NASD Rule 3110 to re-label paragraph (d) (Changes in Account Name or Designation) as paragraph (j), and relocate the Interpretive Material 3110 (“IM-3110”) to the end of NASD Rule 3110. The text of the proposed rule change is below. Proposed new language is in                     *italics*; proposed deletions are in [brackets].                 

* * * * *

## 3100. BOOKS AND RECORDS, AND FINANCIAL CONDITION 

## 3110. Books and Records 

(a) through (c) No change. 

[(d) Changes in Account Name or Designation] 

[Before any customer order is executed, there must be placed upon the memorandum for each transaction, the name or designation of the account (or accounts) for which such order is to be executed. No change in such account name(s) (including related accounts) or designation(s) (including error accounts) shall be made unless the change has been authorized by a member or a person(s) designated under the provisions of NASD rules. Such person must, prior to giving his or her approval of the account designation change, be personally informed of the essential facts relative thereto and indicate his or her approval of such change in writing on the order or other similar record of the member. The essential facts relied upon by the person approving the change must be documented in writing and preserved for a period of not less than three years, the first two years in an easily accessible place, as the term “easily accessible place” is used in SEC Rule 17a-4.] 

[For purposes of this paragraph (d), a person(s) designated under the provisions of NASD rules to approve account name or designation changes must pass a qualifying principal examination appropriate to the business of the firm.] 

[* * *] 

## [IM-3110. Customer Account Information] 

[(a) Members should be aware that, effective January 1, 1990, any transaction which involves a non-Nasdaq, non-exchange equity security trading for less than five dollars per share may be subject to the provisions of SEC Rules 15g-1 through 15g-9, and those rules should be reviewed to determine if an executed customer suitability agreement is required.] 

[(b) Additional information is required to be obtained prior to making recommendations to customers (see Rule 2310) and in connection with discretionary accounts (see Rule 2510).] 

[(c) Accounts opened, and recommendations made prior to January 1, 1991 remain subject to former Article III, Sections 2 and 21(c) as previously in effect as set forth in Notice to Members 90-52 (August 1990).] 

[* * *] 

(d) through (i) No change. 

### (j) Changes in Account Name or Designation 

*Before any customer order is executed, there must be placed upon the memorandum for each transaction, the name or designation of the account (or accounts) for which such order is to be executed. No change in such account name(s) (including related accounts) or designation(s) (including error accounts) shall be made unless the change has been authorized by a member or a person(s) designated under the provisions of NASD rules. Such person must, prior to giving his or her approval of the account designation change, be personally informed of the essential facts relative thereto and indicate his or her approval of such change in writing on the order or other similar record of the member. The essential facts relied upon by the person approving the change must be documented in writing and preserved for a period of not less than three years, the first two years in an easily accessible place, as the term “easily accessible place” is used in SEC Rule 17a-4.*

*For purposes of this paragraph (j), a person(s) designated under the provisions of NASD rules to approve account name or designation changes must pass a qualifying principal examination appropriate to the business of the firm.*

### IM-3110. Customer Account Information 

*(a) Members should be aware that, effective January 1, 1990, any transaction which involves a non-Nasdaq, non-exchange equity security trading for less than five dollars per share may be subject to the provisions of SEC Rules 15g-1 through 15g-9, and those rules should be reviewed to determine if an executed customer suitability agreement is required.*

*(b) Additional information is required to be obtained prior to making recommendations to customers (see Rule 2310) and in connection with discretionary accounts (see Rule 2510).*

*(c) Accounts opened, and recommendations made prior to January 1, 1991 remain subject to former Article III, Sections 2 and 21(c) as previously in effect as set forth in Notice to Members 90-52 (August 1990).*

* * * * *

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

                    In its filing with the Commission, Nasdaq included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the                           ( print page 55437)                        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. Nasdaq 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 

                    The Commission previously approved amendments to NASD Rule 3110 (Books and Records) to create new paragraphs (d) and (i) concerning Changes in Account Name or Designation, and Holding of Customer Mail, respectively.[6] 

In reviewing NASD Rule 3110, Nasdaq staff noticed that certain provisions in NASD Rule 3110 were inadvertently labeled as being part of the Interpretive Material, IM-3110 (Customer Account Information). In seeking to re-label these provisions as part of NASD Rule 3110, Nasdaq staff noticed that two paragraphs of NASD Rule 3110 are now labeled as paragraph (d). To avoid confusion, Nasdaq proposes to re-label paragraph (d) (Changes in Account Name or Designation) as paragraph (j). In addition, Nasdaq proposes to move the Interpretive Material, IM-3110, which consists only of paragraphs (a)-(c), and is currently contained in the middle of NASD Rule 3110, to the end of the rule. This change conforms IM-3110 to Nasdaq's general practice of placing Interpretive Material after the rule to which it relates. 

#### 2. Statutory Basis 

                    Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,[7]                                          which requires, among other things, that Nasdaq rules must be designed to 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. Nasdaq believes that this technical change is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest in that it will avoid any confusion when reading the provisions of NASD Rule 3110.                 

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

Nasdaq 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, as amended. 

### 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 foregoing proposed rule change: (1) Does not significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) does not impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this 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) [8]                                          of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[9] 

                    Nasdaq has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day pre-operative period, which would make the proposed rule operative immediately. The Commission believes waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because the proposed rule change is solely technical in nature and is intended to alleviate confusion when reading the provisions of NASD Rule 3110. For these reasons, the Commission designates the proposal to be effective and operative upon filing with the Commission.[10] 

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. 

## 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-NASD-2005-103 on the subject line.                 

### Paper Comments

    - Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, Station Place, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549-9303.

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASD-2005-103. 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 the NASD.                 

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-NASD-2005-103 and should be submitted on or before October 12, 2005. 

      ( print page 55438)    
                        For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[11] 

Jonathan G. Katz, 

Secretary. 

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
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2.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
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3.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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4.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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5.                             Nasdaq asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay. See Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii). 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                    
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6.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 49883 (June 17, 2004), 69 FR 35092 (June 23, 2004) (SR-NASD-2002-162).                    
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7.                             15 U.S.C. 78o-3(b)(6).                    
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8.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                    
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9.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act requires the self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days (or such shorter time as designated by the Commission) before doing so. Nasdaq has requested that the Commission waive the five-day pre-filing notice requirement. The Commission granted Nasdaq's request.                    
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10.                             For purposes of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
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11.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 05-18767 Filed 9-20-05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P