Document ID: SEC-2006-0942-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Posted Date: 2006-07-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register: July 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 142)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42145-42149]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy06-118]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-54167; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2006-002]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed 
Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto To Add Generic Listing 
Standards for Index-Linked Securities

July 18, 2006.
    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 March 29, 2006, The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC (``Nasdaq''), filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items 
have been prepared by the Nasdaq. On May 5, 2006, the Exchange filed 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\3\ The Commission is 
publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, 
as amended, from interested persons and to approve the proposal on an 
accelerated basis.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1 Nasdaq made minor revisions to the 
proposed rule text.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    Nasdaq proposes to reflect in the Nasdaq rules the generic listing 
standards for index-linked notes (``ILNs'') previously approved for 
NASD pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act.\4\ These ``generic'' 
listing standards were recently approved by the Commission for The 
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (``Nasdaq Market'') as part of the NASD, Inc. 
rule book,\5\ but because their approval came several days after the 
approval of Nasdaq's registration as a national securities exchange,\6\ 
they were not a part of the Nasdaq rule set included in the Exchange 
Approval Order.
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    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53142 (Jan. 19, 
2006), 71 FR 4180 (Jan. 25, 2006).
    \6\ See Securities Act Release No. 53128 (Jan. 13, 2006), 71 FR 
3550 (Jan. 23, 2006 ``Exchange Approval Order'').
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on Nasdaq's Web 
site (http://www.nasdaq.com), at Nasdaq's principal office, and at the 

Commission's Public Reference Room. The text of the proposed rule 
change is also set forth below. Proposed new language is italicized; 
proposed deletions are in [brackets].
* * * * *

4420. Quantitative Designation Criteria

    In order to be listed on the Nasdaq National Market, an issuer 
shall be required to substantially meet the criteria set forth in 
paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), 
[or] (m) or (n) below.
    (a)-(l) No change.

(m) Index-Linked Securities

    Index-linked securities are securities that provide for the payment 
at maturity of a cash amount based on the performance of an underlying 
index or indexes. Such securities may or may not provide for the 
repayment of the original principal investment amount. Nasdaq may 
submit a rule filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 to permit the listing and trading of index-linked 
securities that do not otherwise meet the standards set forth below in 
paragraphs (1) through (9). Nasdaq will consider for listing and 
trading pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 index-linked securities, provided:
    (1) Both the issue and the issuer of such security meet the 
criteria for other securities set forth in paragraph (f) of this rule, 
except that the minimum public distribution of the security shall be 
1,000,000 units with a minimum of 400 public holders, unless the 
security is traded in $1,000 denominations, in which case there is no 
minimum number of holders.
    (2) The issue has a term of not less than one (1) year and not 
greater than ten (10) years.
    (3) The issue must be the non-convertible debt of the issuer.
    (4) The payment at maturity may or may not provide for a multiple 
of the positive performance of an underlying index or indexes; however, 
in no event will payment at maturity be based on a multiple of the 
negative performance of an underlying index or indexes.
    (5) The issuer will be expected to have a minimum tangible net 
worth in excess of $250,000,000 and to exceed by at least 20% the 
earnings requirements set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this Rule. In 
the alternative, the issuer will be expected: (i) to have a minimum 
tangible net worth of $150,000,000 and to exceed by at least 20% the 
earnings requirement set forth in paragraph (a)(1) of this Rule, and 
(ii) not to have issued securities where the original issue price of 
all the issuer's other index-linked note offerings (combined with 
index-linked note offerings of the issuer's affiliates) listed on a 
national securities exchange or traded through the facilities of Nasdaq 
exceeds 25% of the issuer's net worth.
    (6) The issuer is in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
    (7) Initial Listing Criteria-Each underlying index is required to 
have at least ten (10) component securities. In addition, the index or 
indexes to which the security is linked shall either (A) have been 
reviewed and approved for the trading of options or other derivatives 
by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of the 1934 Act and rules 
thereunder and the conditions set forth in the Commission's approval 
order, including comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements for non-
U.S. stocks, continue to be satisfied, or (B) the index or indexes meet 
the following criteria:
    (i) Each component security has a minimum market value of at least 
$75 million, except that for each of the lowest weighted component 
securities in the index that in the aggregate account for no more than 
10% of the weight of the index, the market value can be at least $50 
million;

[[Page 42146]]

    (ii) Each component security shall have trading volume in each of 
the last six months of not less than 1,000,000 shares, except that for 
each of the lowest weighted component securities in the index that in 
the aggregate account for no more than 10% of the weight of the index, 
the trading volume shall be at least 500,000 shares in each of the last 
six months;
    (iii) Each index will be calculated based on a capitalization, 
modified capitalization, price, equal-dollar or modified equal-dollar 
weighting methodology;
    (iv) Indexes based upon the equal-dollar or modified equal-dollar 
weighting method will be rebalanced at least quarterly;
    (v) In the case of a capitalization-weighted or modified 
capitalization-weighted index, the lesser of the five highest weighted 
component securities in the index or the highest weighted component 
securities in the index that in the aggregate represent at least 30% of 
the total number of component securities in the index, each have an 
average monthly trading volume of at least 2,000,000 shares over the 
previous six months;
    (vi) No underlying component security will represent more than 25% 
of the weight of the index, and the five highest weighted component 
securities in the index do not in the aggregate account for more than 
50% of the weight of the index (60% for an index consisting of fewer 
than 25 component securities);
    (vii) 90% of the index's numerical value and at least 80% of the 
total number of component securities will meet the then current 
criteria for standardized option trading on a national securities 
exchange or a national securities association;
    (viii) Each component security shall be issued by a 1934 Act 
reporting company, shall be listed on Nasdaq or another national 
securities exchange, and shall be an ``NMS stock'' as defined in Rule 
600 of SEC Regulation NMS; and
    (ix) Foreign country securities or American Depository Receipts 
(``ADRs'') that are not subject to comprehensive surveillance 
agreements do not in the aggregate represent more than 20% of the 
weight of the index.
    (8) Index Maintenance and Dissemination--(i) If the index is 
maintained by a broker-dealer, the broker-dealer shall erect a 
``firewall'' around the personnel who have access to information 
concerning changes and adjustments to the index and the index shall be 
calculated by a third party who is not a broker-dealer. (ii) The 
current value of an index will be widely disseminated at least every 15 
seconds, except as provided in the next clause (iii). (iii) The values 
of the following indexes need not be calculated and widely disseminated 
at least every 15 seconds if, after the close of trading, the 
indicative value of the index-linked security based on one or more of 
such indexes is calculated and disseminated to provide an updated 
value: CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index(sm), CBOE DJIA BuyWrite Index(sm), 
CBOE Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite Index(sm). (iv) If the value of an index-
linked security is based on more than one index, then the composite 
value of such indexes must be widely disseminated at least every 15 
seconds.
    (9) Surveillance Procedures. NASD will implement on behalf of 
Nasdaq written surveillance procedures for index-linked securities. 
Nasdaq will enter into adequate comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreements for non-U.S. securities, as applicable.
    (10) Index-linked securities will be treated as equity instruments. 
Furthermore, for the purpose of fee determination, index-linked 
securities shall be deemed and treated as Other Securities.
    [(m)] (n) NASD Regulation
    No change.
* * * * *

4450. Quantitative Maintenance Criteria

    (a) and (b) No change.
(c) Other Securities Designated Pursuant to Rule 4420(f) and Index-
Linked Securities
    (1) The aggregate market value or principal amount of publicly held 
units (except index-linked securities that were listed pursuant to Rule 
4420(m)) must be at least $1 million.
    (2) Delisting or removal proceedings will be commenced (unless the 
Commission has approved the continued trading) with respect to any 
index-linked security that was listed pursuant to paragraph (7)(B) of 
Rule 4420(m) if any of the standards set forth in paragraph (7)(B) of 
such rule are not continuously maintained, except that:
    (i) the criteria that no single component represent more than 25% 
of the weight of the index and the five highest weighted components in 
the index may not represent more than 50% (or 60% for indexes with less 
than 25 components) of the weight of the Index, need only be satisfied 
for capitalization weighted and price weighted indexes as of the first 
day of January and July in each year;
    (ii) the total number of components in the index may not increase 
or decrease by more than 33\1/3\% from the number of components in the 
index at the time of its initial listing, and in no event may be less 
than ten (10) components;
    (iii) the trading volume of each component security in the index 
must be at least 500,000 shares for each of the last six months, except 
that for each of the lowest weighted components in the index that in 
the aggregate account for no more than 10% of the weight of the index, 
trading volume must be at least 400,000 shares for each of the last six 
months; and
    (iv) in a capitalization-weighted or modified capitalization-
weighted index, the lesser of the five highest weighted component 
securities in the index or the highest weighted component securities in 
the index that in the aggregate represent at least 30% of the total 
number of stocks in the index have had an average monthly trading 
volume of at least 1,000,000 shares over the previous six months.
    (3) With respect to an index-linked security that was listed 
pursuant to paragraph (7)(A) of Rule 4420(m), delisting or removal 
proceedings will be commenced (unless the Commission has approved the 
continued trading of the subject index-linked security) if an 
underlying index or indexes fails to satisfy the maintenance standards 
or conditions for such index or indexes as set forth by the Commission 
in its order under Section 19(b)(2) of the 1934 Act approving the index 
or indexes for the trading of options or other derivatives.
    (4) Delisting or removal proceedings will also be commenced with 
respect to any index-linked security listed pursuant to Rule 4420(m) 
(unless the Commission has approved the continued trading of the 
subject index-linked security), under any of the following 
circumstances:
    (i) if the aggregate market value or the principal amount of the 
securities publicly held is less than $400,000;
    (ii) if the value of the index or composite value of the indexes is 
no longer calculated or widely disseminated on at least a 15-second 
basis, provided, however, that the values of the following indexes need 
not be calculated and disseminated at least every 15 seconds if, after 
the close of trading, the indicative value of any index-linked security 
linked to one or more of such indexes is calculated and disseminated to 
provide an updated value: CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index(sm), CBOE DJIA 
BuyWrite Index(sm), CBOE Nasdaq-100 BuyWrite Index(sm); or

[[Page 42147]]

    (iii) if such other event shall occur or condition exists which in 
the opinion of Nasdaq makes further dealings on Nasdaq inadvisable.
    (d) through (i) No change.
* * * * *

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 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 proposed rule change will add generic listing standards to 
permit the listing and trading of ILNs pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under 
the Act.\7\ Rule 19b-4(e) provides that the listing and trading of a 
new derivative securities product by a self-regulatory organization 
shall not be deemed a proposed rule change, pursuant to paragraph 
(c)(1) of Rule 19b-4,\8\ if the Commission has approved, pursuant to 
Section 19(b) of the Act,\9\ the self-regulatory organization's trading 
rules, procedures and listing standards for the product class that 
would include the new derivatives securities product, and the self-
regulatory organization has a surveillance program for the product 
class.\10\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(c)(1).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (Dec. 8, 
1998), 63 FR 70952 (Dec. 22, 1998) (the ``19b-4(e) Order'').
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    Nasdaq believes adopting generic listing standards for these 
securities and applying Rule 19b-4(e) should fulfill the intended 
objective of that Rule by allowing those ILNs that satisfy the proposed 
generic listing standards to commence trading, without the need for the 
public comment period and Commission approval. This has the potential 
to reduce the time frame for bringing ILNs to market and thereby reduce 
the burdens on issuers and other market participants. The failure of a 
particular index to comply with the proposed generic listing standards 
under Rule 19b-4(e), however, would not preclude a separate filing 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2), requesting Commission approval to list 
and trade a particular ILN.
    On January 19, 2006, the Commission approved the proposed ILN 
standards for the Nasdaq Market.\11\ However, on January 13, 2006, the 
Commission also approved Nasdaq's registration as a national securities 
exchange, and because of the timing of the two approvals, the ILN 
standards were not included in the rule set that the Commission 
approved for Nasdaq. The purpose of this filing is to update the Nasdaq 
rules accordingly.
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    \11\ See NASD Rule 4420(m).
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    The proposed Nasdaq Rule 4420(m) is the same \12\ as the 
corresponding NASD Rule 4420(m) for the Nasdaq Market and will be 
administered in the same manner as the Nasdaq Market rule is being 
administered currently. The proposed rule will become operative as soon 
as Nasdaq begins its operations as an exchange.
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    \12\ This proposal includes two clarifications. First, it 
removes a potential conflict between the provisions of Rules 
4450(c)(1) and 4450(c)(4)(i) by clarifying that Rule 4450(c)(1) does 
not apply to ILNs (and, therefore, the minimum aggregate market 
value or the principal amount of the publicly held securities is 
$400,000, as stated in Rule 4450(c)(4)(i)). Second, it clarifies in 
the wording of Rule 4420(m)(9) that despite NASD's obligations 
pursuant to a regulatory services agreement to surveil Nasdaq 
trading, Nasdaq itself must enter into appropriate written 
surveillance sharing agreements. See Nasdaq Rule 4420(n). The 
Commission made minor clarifying changes to this footnote to conform 
it with Amendment No. 1. Telephone conversation between Alex Kogan, 
Associate General Counsel, Nasdaq, Florence E. Harmon, Senior 
Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, and 
Rahman Harrison, Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, 
Commission on July 17, 2006.
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    In transitioning to Nasdaq the ILNs that are listed on the Nasdaq 
Market, Nasdaq will deem all such ILNs, without exception, as subject 
to the continued listing standards in proposed Nasdaq Rules 4450(c)(3) 
and (c)(4).\13\
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    \13\ The Commission deleted text from this paragraph pursuant to 
authorization by Nasdaq staff. Telephone conversation between Alex 
Kogan, Associate General Counsel, Nasdaq, Florence E. Harmon, Senior 
Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, Commission, and 
Rahman Harrison, Special Counsel, Division of Market Regulation, 
Commission on July 17, 2006.
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    Index Securities will be treated as equity instruments and will be 
subject to all Nasdaq rules governing the trading of equity securities, 
including trading halt rules. Index Securities will be subject to the 
same fee schedule as Other Securities listed under Nasdaq Rule 4420(f). 
The applicable fee schedule is currently codified as Nasdaq Rule 4530.
2. Statutory Basis
    Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change, as amended, is 
consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\14\ in general, 
and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\15\ in particular, in that it is 
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to a 
free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change, as amended, 
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 on the proposed rule change, as amended, were 
neither solicited nor received.

III. 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-NASDAQ-2006-002 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2006-002. 
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

[[Page 42148]]

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 Section. Copies of the filing also will 
be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the 
Nasdaq. 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-
NASDAQ-2006-002 and should be submitted on or before August 15, 2006.

IV. Commission's Findings

    After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as amended, is consistent with the requirements of the Act 
and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national 
securities exchange.\16\ In particular, the Commission believes that 
the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 
\17\ in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts 
and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to 
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in 
facilitating transactions in securities, and 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.
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    \16\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Commission has previously approved the listing and trading of 
several Index Securities based on a variety of debt structures and 
market indexes.\18\ The Commission has also recently approved, pursuant 
to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act,\19\ generic listing standards for these 
securities for the Nasdaq Market,\20\ that, in all material respects, 
are identical to those listing standards proposed by Nasdaq.
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    \18\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 41091 (Feb. 23, 
1999), 64 FR 10515 (Mar. 4, 1999) (Narrow-Based Index Options); 
42787 (May 15, 2000), 65 FR 33598 (May 24, 2000) (ETFs); and 43396 
(Sept. 29, 2000), 65 FR 60230 (Oct. 10, 2000) (TIRs).
    \19\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
    \20\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 53142 (Jan. 19, 
2006), 71 FR 4180 (Jan. 25, 2006).
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    Consistent with its previous orders, the Commission believes that 
generic listing standards proposed by Nasdaq for Index Securities 
should fulfill the intended objective of Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act by 
allowing those Index Securities that satisfy the generic listing 
standards to commence trading without public comment and Commission 
approval.\21\ This has the potential to reduce the time frame for 
bringing Index Securities to market and thereby reduce the burdens on 
issuers and other market participants and thus enhances investors' 
opportunities.
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    \21\ The Commission notes that the failure of a particular index 
to comply with the proposed generic listing standards under Rule 
19b-4(e) under the Act, however, would not preclude Nasdaq from 
submitting a separate filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act, requesting Commission approval to list and trade a particular 
index-linked product.
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A. Trading of Index Securities

    Taken together, the Commission finds that Nasdaq's proposal 
contains adequate rules and procedures to govern the trading of Index 
Securities listed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) on Nasdaq. All Index 
Security products listed under the standards will be subject to the 
full panoply of Nasdaq rules and procedures that now govern the trading 
of Index Securities and the trading of equity securities on Nasdaq.
    Nasdaq has proposed asset/equity requirements and tangible net 
worth for each Index Security issuer, as well as minimum distribution, 
principal/market value, and term thresholds for each issuance of Index 
Securities. As set forth more fully above, Nasdaq's proposed listing 
criteria include minimum market capitalization, monthly trading volume, 
and relative weighting requirements for the Index Securities. These 
requirements are designed to ensure that the trading markets for index 
components underlying Index Securities are adequately capitalized and 
sufficiently liquid, and that no one stock dominates the index. The 
Commission believes that these requirements should minimize the 
potential for of manipulation. The Commission also finds that the 
requirement that each component security underlying an Index Security 
be listed on a national securities exchange or traded through the 
facilities of a national securities system and subject to last sale 
reporting will contribute to the transparency of the market for Index 
Securities. Alternatively, if the index component securities are 
foreign securities that are not reporting companies, the generic 
listing standards permit listing of an Index Security if the Commission 
previously approved the underlying index for trading in connection with 
another derivative product and if certain surveillance sharing 
arrangements exist with foreign markets. The Commission believes that 
if it has previously determined that such index and its components were 
sufficiently transparent, then Nasdaq may rely on this finding, 
provided it has comparable surveillance sharing arrangements with the 
foreign market that the Commission relied on in approving the previous 
product.
    The Commission believes that by requiring pricing information for 
both the relevant underlying index or indexes and the Index Security to 
be readily available and disseminated, the proposed listing standards 
should help ensure a fair and orderly market for Index Securities 
approved pursuant to such proposed listing standards.
    The Commission also believes that the requirement that at least 90 
percent of the component securities, by weight, and 80 percent of the 
total number of Underlying Securities, be eligible individually for 
options trading will prevent an Index Security from being a vehicle for 
trading options on a security not otherwise options eligible.
    Nasdaq has also developed delisting criteria that will permit 
Nasdaq to suspend trading of an Index Security in case of circumstances 
that make further dealings in the product inadvisable. The Commission 
believes that the delisting criteria will help ensure a minimum level 
of liquidity exists for each Index Security to allow for the 
maintenance of fair and orderly markets. Also, Nasdaq will commence 
delisting proceedings in the event that the value of the underlying 
index or index is no longer calculated and widely disseminated on at 
least a 15-second basis.\22\
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    \22\ In the case of the BuyWrite Index Securities, CBOE 
disseminates a daily index value. Additionally, a daily indicative 
value for the product is also disseminated.
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B. Surveillance

    Nasdaq must have surveillance procedures to monitor trading in any 
products listed under the generic listing standards. An Index Security, 
just like an ETF, derives its value by reference to the underlying 
index. For this reason, the Commission has required that markets that 
list index based securities monitor the qualifications of not just the 
actual security (e.g., the ETF, index option, or Index Securities), but 
also of the underlying indexes (and of the index providers). In this 
regard, the Commission believes that a surveillance

[[Page 42149]]

sharing agreement between a self-regulatory organization proposing to 
list a stock index derivative product and the self-regulatory 
organization trading the stocks underlying the derivative product is an 
important measure for surveillance of the derivative and underlying 
securities markets. When a new derivative securities product based upon 
domestic securities is listed and traded on an exchange or national 
securities association pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, the 
self-regulatory organization should determine that the markets upon 
which all of the U.S. component securities trade are members of the 
Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG''), which provides information 
relevant to the surveillance of the trading of securities on other 
market centers.\23\ For derivative securities products based on 
previously approved indexes that contain securities from one or more 
foreign markets, the self-regulatory organization should have a 
comprehensive Intermarket Surveillance Agreement, as prescribed in the 
prior Commission order, which covers the securities underlying the new 
securities product.\24\ With respect to indexes not previously approved 
by the Commission, the Commission finds that Nasdaq's commitment to 
implement comprehensive surveillance sharing agreements,\25\ as 
necessary, and the definitive requirements that: (i) Each component 
security shall be a registered reporting company under the Act; and 
(ii) no more than 20 percent of the weight of the Underlying Index or 
Underlying Indexes may be comprised of foreign country securities or 
ADRs not subject to a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement,\26\ 
will make possible adequate surveillance of trading of Index Securities 
listed pursuant to the proposed generic listing standards.
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    \23\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 40761 (Dec. 8, 
1998), 63 FR 70952 (Dec. 22, 1998) (File No. S7-13-98). ISG was 
formed on July 14, 1983, to, among other things, coordinate more 
effectively surveillance and investigative information sharing 
arrangements in the stock and options markets. The Commission notes 
that all of the registered national securities exchanges, as well as 
the NASD, are members of the ISG.
    \24\ Id.
    \25\ Proposed Nasdaq Rule 4420(m)(9).
    \26\ Proposed Nasdaq Rules 4420(m)(7)(viii)-(ix).
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    With regard to actual oversight, Nasdaq represents that its 
surveillance procedures are sufficient to detect fraudulent trading 
among members in the trading of Index Securities pursuant to the 
proposed generic listing standards.

C. Acceleration

    The Commission finds good cause for approving proposed rule change, 
as amended, prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of 
notice of filing thereof in the Federal Register. The proposal 
implements generic listing standards substantially identical to those 
already approved for the Nasdaq Market. The Commission does not believe 
that Nasdaq's proposal raises any novel regulatory issues. The proposed 
generic listing criteria should enable more expeditious review and 
listing of Index Securities by Nasdaq, thereby reducing administrative 
burdens and benefiting the investing public. Thus, the Commission finds 
good cause to accelerate approval of the proposed rule change, as 
amended.

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\27\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NASDAQ-2006-002), as 
amended, is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-11788 Filed 7-24-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P