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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-58549; File No. SR-NYSE-2008-80]

                    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) [1]                                          of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) [2]                                          and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[3]                                          notice is hereby given that, on September 5, 2008, New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. On September 11, 2008, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.                

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

                    The Exchange proposes to amend certain New York Stock Exchange  (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) Rules to conform with proposed amendments to certain NYSE Incorporated Rules (defined below) recently filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) [4]                                          to reduce regulatory duplication and relieve firms that are members of both FINRA and the Exchange of conflicting or unnecessary regulatory burdens in the interim period                           ( print page 54445)                        prior to completion of a consolidated FINRA rulebook.                

## 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 those 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 parts of such statements.

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

#### 1. Purpose

                    On July 30, 2007, NASD and NYSE Regulation, Inc. consolidated their member firm regulation operations into a combined organization, FINRA.[5]                                          As noted above, pursuant to its new regulatory responsibilities, FINRA recently filed proposed amendments to certain NYSE Incorporated Rules (and applicable Rule Interpretations). The NYSE hereby proposes to amend its version of these same rules to conform to the proposed changes filed by FINRA.                

                    The amendments proposed by FINRA fall into the following categories: [6] 
    - Replacing the term “allied member” with the newly defined category of “principal executive”, and making corresponding technical changes as needed, in NYSE Incorporated Rules 2, 2A, 311-313, 321, 342, 345, 345A, 346, 351-354, 401, 405, 407-410, 414, 424, 431, 435, 440F, 440G, 477, 704, 705, 723, 724 and 791.
    - Repositioning and consolidating certain NYSE Incorporated Rules. In order to consolidate all “Buy-In” requirements and procedures into one rule, FINRA proposes to reposition NYSE Incorporated Rule 283 and 285-290 as supplementary material in NYSE Incorporated Rule 282, and to make conforming changes to NYSE Incorporated Rule 134. FINRA also proposes to move certain provisions of NYSE Incorporated Rule 407 to Common Rule 346.
    - Deleting NYSE Incorporated Rules that are obsolete or no longer applicable, including Rules 311(h) and 436.
    - Eliminating certain provisions of NYSE Incorporated Rules that do not have a corresponding NASD equivalent, and therefore are deemed unnecessary rules, including the training requirements and registration for “securities trader” under Rule 345, Rule 345(b) and Rule 346(c).
    - Additional amendments to further harmonize certain NYSE and NASD Rules, including NYSE Incorporated Rules 342.13(a), 346(e), 346.10, 351.13, 352(c) and (d), and 408(a). In order to further harmonize NYSE Incorporated Rule 282 with NASD's 11000 Rule Series, FINRA also proposes to add as supplementary material the substance of NYSE Rule 140 and provisions from NASD Rule 11810.
    - Deleting NYSE Incorporated Rules that are substantively duplicative of existing NASD Rules and procedures, including Rules 404, 412 and 446. Similarly, FINRA proposes limiting application of NYSE Incorporated Rule 345(a) to securities lending representatives and supervisors only, since registered representatives and their supervisors are already addressed by NASD Rule 1031. For these particular proposed changes, the Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rules 404, 412, 446 and 345(a) to incorporate by reference the applicable NASD Rules that will be applied by FINRA going forward. [7]  

The Exchange proposes to amend its version of the above-referenced NYSE Incorporated Rules to conform to FINRA's proposed rule changes. The Exchange proposes that the operative date of the proposed rule changes be the same as the operative date of FINRA's proposed amendments to the NYSE Incorporated Rules and Rule Interpretations.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) [8]                                          of the Act, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.                

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes will provide greater harmonization between NYSE Incorporated Rules and NASD Rules of similar purpose, resulting in less burdensome and more efficient regulatory compliance for their members. Where proposed amendments do not entirely conform to existing NYSE Incorporated or NASD Rules or address a provision without a direct counterpart, the Exchange believes the standards the proposed amendments establish further the objectives of the Exchange Act by providing greater regulatory clarity and relieving unnecessary regulatory burdens in the interim period until a Consolidated Rulebook is completed.

### 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

No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change.

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

                    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act [9]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[10]                                          Because the                           ( print page 54446)                        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 prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, 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 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.[11] 

                    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) [12]                                          normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), [13]                                          the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed rule change may become operative pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) at the same time that FINRA's proposed amendments become operative.                

                    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to conform NYSE Rules to FINRA's proposed amendments to certain NYSE Incorporated Rules, in furtherance of the consolidation of the member firm regulations functions of NYSE Regulation and FINRA. NYSE requests that the operative date of the proposed rule change be the same as the operative date of FINRA's proposal in order to ensure that the NYSE Rules maintain their status as Common Rules under the 17d-2 Agreement. As provided in paragraph 2(b) of the Agreement, FINRA and NYSE will, absent a disagreement about the substance of a proposed rule change to one of the Common Rules, promptly propose conforming changes to ensure that such rules continue to be Common Rules under the Agreement. For this reason, the Commission designates that the proposed rule change has become operative as of September 12, 2008.[14] 

                    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.[15] 

## 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-NYSE-2008-80 on the subject line.                

### Paper Comments

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

                    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2008-80. 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 such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. 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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2008-80 and should be submitted on or before October 10, 2008.                

                        For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[16] 

Florence E. Harmon,

Acting Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                    
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2.                             15 U.S.C. 78a.                    
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3.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4.                    
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4.                                                     *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58533 (September 12, 2008) (SR-FINRA-2008-036).                    
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5.                             Pursuant to Rule 17d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), NYSE, NYSE Regulation, Inc., and NASD entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) to reduce regulatory duplication for firms that are members of FINRA and also members of NYSE on or after July 30, 2007  (“Dual Members”), by allocating to FINRA certain regulatory responsibilities for selected NYSE rules. The Agreement includes a list of all of those NYSE and NASD rules for which FINRA has assumed regulatory responsibilities (“Common Rules”).                         *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56148 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42146 (August 1, 2007) (Notice of Filing and Order Approving and Declaring Effective a Plan for the Allocation of Regulatory Responsibilities). The Common Rules include those NYSE rules that FINRA has incorporated into its rulebook (the “NYSE Incorporated Rules”).                         *See*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56147 (July 26, 2007), 72 FR 42166 (August 1, 2007) (Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change to Incorporate Certain NYSE Rules Relating to Member Firm Conduct; File No. SR-NASD-2007-054). Paragraph 2(b) of the 17d-2 Agreement sets forth procedures regarding proposed changes by either NYSE or FINRA to the substance of any of the Common Rules.                    
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6.                             For more detail,                         *see*                         Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58103 (July 3, 2008), 73 FR 40403 (July 14, 2008) (SR-FINRA-2008-036).                    
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7.                             The Exchange recognizes that the proposed amendments to NYSE Rules 404, 412, 446 and 345(a) will remove these Rules from their status as Common Rules under the 17d-2 Agreement. Notwithstanding, FINRA will continue to provide regulatory services to the Exchange with respect to these Rules pursuant to the existing Regulatory Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2007, by and among FINRA, the Exchange and NYSE Regulation, Inc.                    
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8.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                    
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9.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                    
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10.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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11.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange's 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 date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied the pre-filing requirement.                    
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12.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).                    
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13.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).                    
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14.                             For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation.                         *See*15 U.S.C. 78c(f).                    
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15.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C). For purposes of calculating the 60-day period within which the Commission may summarily abrogate the proposal, the Commission considers the period to commence on September 11, 2008, the date on which the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1.                    
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16.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. E8-21948 Filed 9-18-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P