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###### Securities and Exchange Commission

          - [Release No. 34-43776; File No. SR-PHLX-00-103]

                    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 December 8, 2000, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Inc. (“Phlx” 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. On December 14, 2000, the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.[3]                                          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

                    The Exchange proposes to amend its fee schedule to accommodate the trading of Units of Beneficial Interest in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, Series 1 (“Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock”), traded under the symbol and widely known as QQQ. On June 14, 2000, the Phlx filed a proposed rule change with the Commission to permit, among other things, the trading pursuant to unlisted trading privileges (“UTP”), of Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock.[4]                                          The proposal has been approved.[5]                                          In addition, the Exchange has obtained a license to use the Nasdaq-100 Index in connection with the trading of the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock.[6] 

## 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 Phlx 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 Phlx 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 the proposed rule change is to provide for fees that will apply to trading on the Exchange of Units of Beneficial Interest in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, Series 1, referred to as “Nasdaq 100 Shares.” Specifically, under the Exchange's proposal the Exchange will assess no charge to members for trades entered through the Phlx Automated Communication and Execution System (“PACE”), but will impose a $1.00 fee for non-PACE trades.[7]                                          Specialists will be charged a fee of $0.002 per share, with a maximum charge of $50.00 per trade, whether or not a trade takes place on PACE.[8]                                          No other Phlx transaction fees will apply to trades in Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock. The Exchange represents that, upon initiation of trading, members will be notified, by means of a circular, of the new fees applicable to trading in Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock.                 

The Exchange represents that the fees proposed above for transactions in Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock are lower than the fees charged for other equities already traded on the Exchange. The Phlx believes that the proposed lower fees should encourage trading of Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock, while ensuring that the amounts collected will still cover the Exchange's costs of administering the trading of this new product. The Exchange further states that lower fees should also provide market participants with a more affordable market for the trading of this product. The Phlx states that a more affordable, competitive market for trading should attract more order flow in Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock to the Exchange, which in turn should further increase liquidity of Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock, and create a tighter, more liquid market. The Phlx represents that increased market competition should both benefit investors and protect the public interest in general.

#### 2. Statutory Basis

                    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,[9]                                          in general, and furthers the objectives of Section (6)(b)(4) [10]                                          in particular because it applies equally to all members that would be trading the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock and, therefore, is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees among Exchange members.                

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

The Phlx represents that it does not believe the proposed rule change will impose any inappropriate burden on competition.

### 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.                          ( print page 1167)    

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

                    The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act [11]                                          and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder [12]                                          because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization. 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.[13] 

## IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as amended, 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, DC 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 Phlx. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-Phlx-00-103 and should be submitted by January 26, 2001.

                        For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.[14] 

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy 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.                             In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange: replaced the term “Nasdaq-100 Shares” with “Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock” noted that “Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock” and “QQQ” are service marks of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) and that the Phlx has entered into a licensing agreement with Nasdaq to use those marks for certain purposes; observed that the Commission has approved a related rule filing, File No. SR-Phlx-00-54, relating to the listing and trading of Trust Shares; clarified that a fee for trades not processed through the Phlx Automated Communication and Execution System (“PACE”) will be paid by members of the Exchange; and clarified that the Phlx will charge specialists a per-share fee whether or not an order is executed via PACE.                         *See*                         letter from Carla Behnfeldt, Counsel, Phlx, to Nancy Sanow, Assistant Director, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, dated December 14, 2000 (“Amendment No. 1”).                    
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4.                             File No. SR-Phlx-00-54.                    
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5.                             Securities Exchange Act Release No. 43717 (December 13, 2000). The proposal is pending publication in the                         **Federal Register**                        .                    
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6.                             The Nasdaq-100®, Nasdaq-100 Index®, Nasdaq®, The Nasdaq Stock Market®, Nasdaq-100 SharesSM.                            , Nasdaq-100 Trust SM.                            , Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock SM.                            , and QQQ SM.                            , are trademarks or service marks of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by the Phlx pursuant to a License Agreement with Nasdaq. The Nasdaq-100 Index® (“Index”) is determined, composed, and calculated by Nasdaq without regard to the Licensee, the Nasdaq-100 TrustTM                        , or the beneficial owners of Nasdaq-100 SharesSM.                            . Nasdaq has complete control and sole discretion in determining, comprising or calculating the Index or in modifying in any way its method for determining, comprising or calculating the Index in the future.                    
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7.                             The $1.00 fee for non-PACE trades will be paid by a member who is trading with a specialist, either for the member's own account or for the account of the member's customer.                         *See*                         Amendment No. 1,                         *supra*                         note 3.                    
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8.                                                     *Id.*
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9.                             15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                    
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10.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(4).                    
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11.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                    
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12.                             17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).                    
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13.                             15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(C).                    
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14.                                 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).                        
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[FR Doc. 01-312  Filed 1-4-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M