[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20302-20304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11143]



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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-37151; File No. SR-NYSE-96-10]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate 
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the New York Stock Exchange, 
Inc. Relating to Six-Month Extension of Pilot Program To Display Price 
Improvement on the Execution Report Sent to the Entering Firm

April 29, 1996.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''), 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), notice is hereby given that on April 
19, 1996, the New York Stock Exchange, Incorporated (``NYSE'' 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 self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organizations's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change extends for six months the program filed 
as a pilot in Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 36421 (October 26, 
1995), 60 FR 55625 (November 1, 1995) (File No. SR-NYSE-95-35) and 
36489 (November 16, 1995), 60 FR 58123 (November 24, 1995) (File

[[Page 20303]]

No. SR-NYSE-95-37). This is a program to calculate and display, on the 
execution reports sent to member firms, the dollar amounts realized as 
savings to their customers as a result of price improvement in the 
execution of their orders on the Exchange.

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 self-regulatory organization 
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 self-regulatory organization 
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 purpose of this proposed rule change is to extend for six 
months a pilot program for calculating and displaying, on execution 
reports sent to member firms entering orders, the dollar value saved by 
their customers as a result of price improvement of orders executed on 
the Exchange. The program does not in any way affect the actual 
execution of orders. The Exchange refers to this calculated dollar 
savings as the ``NYSE PRIME<SUP>SM.''
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    \SM\ NYSE PRIME is a service mark of the New York Stock 
Exchange, Inc.
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    NYSE PRIME is available to all member organizations \1\ for intra-
day market orders entered via the Exchange's SuperDOT system that are 
not tick-sensitive and are entered from off the Floor.\2\ In 
calculating the dollar value of price improvement, NYSE PRIME utilizes 
the Best Pricing Quote (``BPQ'') as approved by the Commission in 
connection with the Exchange's pricing of odd-lot orders.\3\
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    \1\ The Commission notes that member organizations electing to 
receive NYSE PRIME information are required to enter into an 
agreement with the Exchange regarding the use of NYSE PRIME 
information and the NYSE PRIME service mark. Among other things, the 
agreement provides that in any publication or use of NYSE PRIME 
information (unless the Exchange otherwise agrees), the member 
organization must employ the NYSE PRIME service mark.
    As of April 29, 1996, the following NYSE member organization are 
receiving and utilizing NYSE PRIME information: Merrill Lynch, 
Pierce, Fenner, and Smith, Inc.; Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; and 
Kalb, Voorhis & Co.
    \2\ Also excluded from the NYSE PRIME feature are booth entered 
or booth routed orders, booked orders, combination orders (e.g., 
switch orders) and orders diverted to sidecar.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 27981 (May 2, 1990), 
55 FR 19407 (May 9, 1990) (File No. SR-NYSE-90-06). The BPQ is the 
highest bid and lowest offer, respectively, disseminated by the 
Exchange or another market center participating in the Intermarket 
Trading System (``ITS'') at the time the order is received by the 
Exchange. In order to protect against the inclusion of incorrect or 
stale quotations in the BPQ, however, the Exchange includes 
quotations in a stock from other markets only if: (1) the stock is 
included in ITS in that other market; (2) the quotation size is for 
more than 100 shares: (3) the bid or offer is not more than one-
quarter point away from the NYSE's bid or offer; (4) the quotation 
conforms to NYSE Rule 62 governing minimum variations; (5) the 
quotation does not create a locked or crossed market; (6) the market 
disseminating the quotation is not experiencing operational or 
system problems with respect to the dissemination of quotation 
information; and, (7) the quotation is ``firm'' pursuant to Rule 
11Ac1-1 under the Act, 17 CFR 240.11Ac1-1, and the market's rules.
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    Data from the operation of the pilot during the first quarter of 
1996 show price improvement on 25.6% of the execution reports for 
eligible post-opening market orders entered on the Exchange. The 
Exchange believes that the NYSE PRIME enhances the information made 
available to investors and improves their understanding of the auction 
market.
    The initial NYSE PRIME pilot program was commenced on October 24, 
1995 \4\ and ran until April 24, 1996. The proposed rule change extends 
the pilot program for an additional six months, to October 24, 1996.
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    \4\ See NYSE Notice to Members (November 17, 1995).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \5\ that an exchange have rules that 
are designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. This proposed rule change is 
designed to perfect the mechanism of a free and open market in that it 
enhances the information provided to investors by displaying to them 
the dollar value of the price improvement their orders may have 
received when executed on the NYSE.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 has neither solicited nor received any written 
comments on the proposed rule change.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change: (i) does not 
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) does not impose any significant burden on competition; 
and (iii) does not have the effect of limiting access to or 
availability of any Exchange order entry or trading system, the NYSE 
PRIME program has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of 
the Act \6\ and subparagraph (e)(5) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\7\ At any 
time within 60 days of the filing of such 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.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e)(5).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing. Persons making written submissions 
should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and 
Exchange commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. 
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 at the 
Commission's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such filing will also be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
submissions should refer to File No. SR-NYSE-96-10 and should be 
submitted by May 28, 1996.


[[Page 20304]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-11143 Filed 5-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-M