Document ID: SEC-2007-0191-0001
Agency: sec
Document Type: Notice
Title: Self-regulatory organizations; proposed rule changes: American Stock Exchange LLC
Posted Date: 2007-02-07T05:00Z

[Federal Register: February 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 25)]
[Notices]               
[Page 5768-5772]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe07-155]                         

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-55213; File No. SR-Amex-2006-118]

 
Self-Regulatory Organizations; American Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change and Amendment No. 1 Thereto 
Relating to Generic Listing Standards for Series of Portfolio 
Depositary Receipts and Index Fund Shares Based on Fixed Income Indexes

January 31, 2007.
    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 22, 2006, the American Stock Exchange LLC (``Amex'' 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 substantially by the 
Exchange. On January 26, 2007, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1.\3\ 
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(l).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange modified the proposed rule 
text and corresponding description of its proposal. Amendment No. 1 
replaced and superseded the original filing in its entirety.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to revise Amex Rules 1000 and 1000A to 
include generic listing standards for series of portfolio depositary 
receipts (``PDRs'') and index fund shares (``IFSs'') (together referred 
to as ``exchange-traded funds'' or ``ETFs'') that are based on fixed 
income indexes or indexes consisting of both equity and fixed income 
securities (``combination indexes'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Amex, at 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Exchange's Web site 
at http://www.amex.com.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, Amex 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 Exchange 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 the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to add Commentaries .04, .05, and .06 to Amex 
Rule 1000 and Commentaries .03, .04, and .05 to Amex Rule 1000A to 
include generic listing standards for series of PDRs and IFSs that are 
based on fixed income indexes or combination indexes. These generic 
listing standards would be applicable to fixed income indexes and 
combination indexes that the Commission has yet to review as well as 
those fixed income indexes described in exchange rule changes that have 
previously been approved by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of 
the Act for the trading of ETFs, options, or other index-based 
securities. The Exchange also proposes to amend Amex Rules 1000(b)(1) 
and 1000A(b)(1) to revise the definitions of PDR and IFS to include 
ETFs based on fixed income indexes and combination indexes. This 
proposal would enable the Exchange to list and trade ETFs pursuant to 
Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act \4\ if each of the conditions set forth in 
either Commentaries .04 and .05 to Rule 1000 or Commentaries .03 and 
.04 to Rule 1000A, as applicable, are satisfied.
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    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(e).
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Background

    Exchange-Traded Funds. Amex Rules 1000 et seq. allow for the 
listing and trading on the Exchange of PDRs. A PDR represents an 
interest in a unit investment trust registered under the Investment 
Company Act of 1940 (the ``1940 Act'') \5\ that operates on an open-end 
basis and which holds the securities that comprise an index or 
portfolio. Amex Rules 1000A et seq. provide standards for listing IFSs, 
which are securities issued by an open-end management investment 
company (i.e., an open-end mutual fund) based on a portfolio of 
securities that seeks to provide investment results that correspond 
generally to the price and yield performance or total return 
performance of a specified foreign or domestic stock index or fixed 
income index. Pursuant to Rules 1000 et seq. and 1000A et seq., PDRs or 
IFSs must be issued in a specified aggregate minimum number in return 
for a deposit of specified securities and/or a cash amount, with a 
value equal to the next determined net asset value. When aggregated in 
the same specified minimum number, PDRs or IFSs must be redeemed by the 
issuer for the securities and/or cash, with a value equal to the next 
determined net asset value. Consistent with Amex Rules 1002 and 1002A, 
the net asset value is calculated once a day after the close of the 
regular trading day.
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    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 80a.
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    To meet the investment objective of providing investment returns 
that correspond to the performance of the underlying index, an ETF may 
use a ``replication'' strategy or a ``representative sampling'' 
strategy with respect to the ETF portfolio. An ETF using a replication 
strategy will invest in each component security of the underlying index 
in about the same proportion as that security is represented in the 
index itself. An ETF using a representative sampling strategy will 
generally invest in a significant number, but perhaps not all, of the 
component securities of the underlying

[[Page 5769]]

index, and will hold securities that, in the aggregate, are intended to 
approximate the full index in terms of certain key characteristics. In 
the context of a fixed income index, such characteristics may include 
liquidity, duration, maturity, and yield.
    In addition, an ETF portfolio may be adjusted in accordance with 
changes in the composition of the underlying index or to maintain 
compliance with requirements applicable to a regulated investment 
company under the Internal Revenue Code (``IRC'').\6\
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    \6\ For an ETF to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated 
investment company, it must meet several requirements under the IRC. 
Among these is the requirement that, at the close of each quarter of 
the ETF's taxable year, (i) At least 50% of the market value of the 
ETF's total assets must be represented by cash items, U.S. 
government securities, securities of other regulated investment 
companies, and other securities, with such other securities limited 
for purposes of this calculation in respect of any one issuer to an 
amount not greater than 5% of the value if the ETF's assets and not 
greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such 
issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets 
may be invested in the securities of any one issuer, or two or more 
issuers that are controlled by the ETF (within the meaning of 
Section 851(b)(4)(B) of the IRC) and that are engaged in the same or 
similar trades or businesses or related trades or business (other 
than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated 
investment companies).
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    Generic Listing Standards for Exchange-Traded Funds. The Exchange 
notes that the Commission has previously approved generic listing 
standards contemplated by Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act for ETFs based on 
indexes that consist of stocks listed on U.S. and non-U.S. 
exchanges.\7\ This proposal seeks to adopt generic listing standards 
for fixed income and combination indexes that generally reflect 
existing generic listing standards for equities, but are tailored for 
the fixed income markets.
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 54739 (November 9, 
2006), 71 FR 66993 (November 17, 2006) (for ETFs based on global and 
international indexes) and 42787 (May 15, 2000), 65 FR 33598 (May 
24, 2000) (for ETFs based on indexes comprised of U.S. stocks).
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    The Exchange notes that the Commission has previously approved the 
listing and trading of ETFs based on certain fixed income indexes \8\ 
as well as structured notes linked to a basket or index of fixed income 
securities.\9\ In addition, the Commission has also approved listing 
standards for other index-based derivatives that permit the listing--
pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e)--of such securities where the Commission had 
previously approved the trading of specified index-based derivatives on 
the same index, on the condition that all of the standards set forth in 
the original order are satisfied by the exchange employing generic 
listing standards.\10\
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 46252 (July 24, 
2002), 67 FR 49715 (July 31, 2002) (approving the listing and 
trading of funds based on U.S. Treasury or corporate bond indexes); 
46738 (October 29, 2002), 67 FR 67666 (November 6, 2002) (approving 
the listing and trading of FITRS) and 52870 (December 1, 2005), 70 
FR 73039 (December 8, 2005) (approving the trading on a UTP basis of 
the iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund).
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 41334 (April 27, 
1999), 64 FR 23883 (May 4, 1999) (approving the listing and trading 
of Bond Indexed Term Notes); 46923 (November 27, 2002), 67 FR 72247 
(December 4, 2002) (approving the listing and trading of trust units 
linked to a basket of investment-grade fixed income securities); 
48484 (September 11, 2003), 68 FR 54508 (September 17, 2003) 
(approving the listing and trading of trust certificates linked to a 
basket of up to five investment-grade fixed income securities plus 
U.S. Treasury securities); and 50355 (September 13, 2004), 69 FR 
56252 (September 20, 2004) (approving generic listing standards for 
trust certificates linked to portfolios of investment grade 
securities and U.S. Treasury securities).
    \10\ See Amex Company Guide Section 107D (Index-Linked 
Securities); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51563 (April 15, 
2005), 70 FR 21257 (April 25, 2005).
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    The Exchange believes that adopting additional generic listing 
standards for ETFs based on fixed income indexes and applying Rule 19b-
4(e) should fulfill the intended objective of that rule by allowing 
those ETFs that satisfy the proposed generic listing standards to 
commence trading, without the need for individualized Commission 
approval. The proposed rules have the potential to reduce the time 
frame for bringing ETFs to market, thereby reducing the burdens on 
issuers and other market participants. The Exchange submits that the 
failure of a particular ETF to comply with the proposed generic listing 
standards would not, however, preclude the Exchange from submitting a 
separate filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) requesting Commission 
approval to list and trade a particular ETF.

Fixed Income and Combination Index ETFs

    Requirements for Listing and Trading ETFs Based on Fixed Income 
Indexes. Exchange-traded funds listed pursuant to the proposed generic 
listing standards for fixed income indexes would be traded, in all 
other respects, under the Exchange's existing trading rules and 
procedures that apply to ETFs and would be covered under the Exchange's 
surveillance program for ETFs.\11\ The Exchange represents that its 
surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor the trading of 
ETFs listed pursuant to the proposed new listing standards. In 
addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
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    \11\ See Amex Rules 1000 through 1006 and 1000A through 1005A.
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    In order to list an ETF pursuant to the proposed generic listing 
standards for fixed income indexes, the index underlying the ETF must 
satisfy all the conditions contained in proposed Commentary .04 to Rule 
1000 (for PDRs) or proposed Commentary .03 to Rule 1000A (for IFSs). As 
with existing generic listing standards for ETFs based on domestic and 
international or global indexes, the proposed generic listing standards 
are intended to ensure that fixed income securities with substantial 
market distribution and liquidity account for a substantial portion of 
the weight of an index or portfolio. While the standards in this 
proposal are loosely based on the standards contained in Commission and 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') rules regarding the 
application of the definition of narrow-based security index to debt 
security indexes \12\ as well as existing fixed income ETFs, they have 
been adapted as appropriate to apply generally to fixed income indexes 
for ETFs.
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    \12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54106 (July 6, 
2006), 71 FR 39534 (July 13, 2006) (File No. S7-07-06) (the ``Joint 
Rules'').
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Fixed Income Securities

    As proposed, Commentary .04 to Rule 1000 and Commentary .03 to Rule 
1000A define the term ``Fixed Income Securities'' to include notes, 
bonds (including convertible bonds), debentures, or evidence of 
indebtedness that include, but are not limited to, U.S. Treasury 
securities (``Treasury Securities''), government-sponsored entity 
securities (``GSE Securities''), municipal securities, trust-preferred 
securities,\13\ supranational debt,\14\ and debt of a foreign country 
or subdivision thereof. This new definition is designed to create a 
category of ETFs based on

[[Page 5770]]

fixed income indexes that may be listed and traded pursuant to Rule 
19b-4(e) under the Act.
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    \13\ Trust-preferred securities are undated cumulative 
securities issued from a special purpose trust in which a bank or 
bank holding company owns all of the common securities. The trust's 
sole asset is a subordinated note issued by the bank or bank holding 
company. Trust preferred securities are treated as debt for tax 
purposes so that the distributions or dividends paid are a tax-
deductible interest expense.
    \14\ Supranational debt represents the debt of international 
organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary 
Fund, regional multilateral development banks, and multilateral 
financial institutions. Examples of regional multilateral 
development banks include the African Development Bank, Asian 
Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 
and the Inter-American Development Bank. In addition, examples of 
multilateral financial institutions include the European Investment 
Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
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    For purposes of the proposed definition, a convertible bond is 
deemed to be a Fixed Income Security up until the time that it is 
converted into its underlying common or preferred stock.\15\ Once 
converted, the equity security may no longer continue as a component of 
a fixed income index under the proposed rules, and accordingly, would 
have to be removed from such index for the ETF to remain listed 
pursuant to proposed Commentary .04 to Rule 1000 or Commentary .03 to 
Rule 1000A.
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    \15\ The Exchange notes that, under the Section 3(a)(11) of the 
Act, 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(11), a convertible security is defined as an 
equity security. However, for the purpose of the proposed generic 
listing criteria, Amex believes that defining a convertible security 
(prior to its conversion) as a Fixed Income Security is consistent 
with the objectives and intention of the generic listing standards 
for fixed-income-based ETFs as well as the Act.
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    The Exchange proposes that, to list an ETF based on a fixed income 
index pursuant to the generic standards, the index must meet the 
following criteria:
     The index or portfolio must consist of Fixed Income 
Securities;
     Components that in aggregate account for at least 75% of 
the weight of the index or portfolio must have a minimum original 
principal amount outstanding of $100 million or more;
     No component Fixed Income Security (excluding a Treasury 
Security) represents more than 30% of the weight of the index, and the 
five highest weighted component fixed income securities in the index do 
not in the aggregate account for more than 65% of the weight of the 
index;
     An underlying index or portfolio (excluding one consisting 
entirely of exempted securities) must include a minimum of 13 non-
affiliated issuers; and
     Component securities that in aggregate account for at 
least 90% of the weight of the index or portfolio must be either:
    [rtarr8] From issuers that are required to file reports pursuant to 
Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Act; \16\
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    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78m and 78o(d).
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    [rtarr8] From issuers that have a worldwide market value of its 
outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or 
more;
    [rtarr8] From issuers that have outstanding securities that are 
notes, bonds, debentures, or evidences of indebtedness having a total 
remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion;
    [rtarr8] Exempted securities, as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the 
Act; \17\ or
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(12).
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    [rtarr8] From issuers that are governments of foreign countries or 
political subdivisions of foreign countries.
    The Exchange believes that these proposed component criteria 
standards are reasonable for fixed income indexes, and, when applied in 
conjunction with the other listing requirements, would result in ETFs 
that are sufficiently broad-based in scope and not readily susceptible 
to manipulation.
    The Exchange notes that the proposed standards are similar to the 
standards set forth by the Commission and the CFTC in the Joint Rules 
as well as existing fixed-income-based ETFs. First, in the proposed 
standards, component fixed income securities that in the aggregate 
account for at least 75% of the weight of the index or portfolio would 
have to have a minimum original principal amount outstanding of at 
least $100 million. This is virtually identical to the corresponding 
standard in Section 107E(a)(x) of the Amex Company Guide for trust 
certificates. Second, in the proposed standards, the most heavily 
weighted component stock cannot exceed 30% of the weight of the index 
or portfolio, consistent with the standard for U.S. equity ETFs set 
forth in Commentaries .03(a)(A) to Rule 1000 and .02(a)(A) to Rule 
1000A. In addition, this standard is identical to the standard set 
forth by the Commission and the CFTC in the Joint Rules.\18\ Third, in 
the proposed standards, the five most heavily weighted component 
securities could not exceed 65% of the weight of the index or 
portfolio, consistent with the standard for U.S. equity ETFs set forth 
in Commentaries .03(a)(A) to Rule 1000 and .02(a)(A) to Rule 1000A as 
well as the Joint Rules. Fourth, the minimum number of fixed income 
securities (except for portfolios consisting entirely of exempted 
securities, such as Treasury Securities or GSEs) from unaffiliated \19\ 
issuers in the proposed standards is 13, consistent with the standard 
for U.S. equity ETFs set forth in Commentaries .03(a)(A) to Rule 1000 
and .02(a)(A) to Rule 1000A and the Joint Rules. This requirement 
together with the diversification standards set forth above would 
provide assurance that the fixed income securities comprising an index 
would not be overly dependent on the price behavior of a single 
component or small group of components.
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    \18\ See note 12 supra.
    \19\ Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, 17 CFR 230.405, 
defines an affiliate as a person that directly, or indirectly 
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or 
is under common control with, such person. Control, for this 
purpose, is the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to 
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a 
person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by 
contract, or otherwise.
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    Finally, the proposed standards would require that at least 90% of 
the weight of the index or portfolio must be either (i) From issuers 
that are required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of 
the Act; \20\ (ii) from issuers that have a worldwide market value of 
its outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of $700 million or 
more; (iii) from issuers that have outstanding securities that are 
notes, bonds, debentures, or evidences of indebtedness having a total 
remaining principal amount of at least $1 billion; (iv) exempted 
securities, as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the Act; \21\ or (v) from 
issuers that are governments of foreign countries or political 
subdivisions of foreign countries. This proposed standard is consistent 
with a similar standard in the Joint Rules and is designed to ensure 
that the component fixed income securities have sufficient publicly 
available information.
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    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78m and 78o(d).
    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(12).
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    The proposed generic listing requirements for fixed income ETFs 
would not require that component securities in an underlying index have 
an investment-grade rating.\22\ In addition, the proposed requirements 
would not require a minimum trading volume, due to the lower trading 
volume that generally occurs in the fixed income markets as compared to 
the equity markets. However, the Exchange submits that the minimum 
principal amount outstanding requirement of $100 million, coupled with 
the proposed concentration requirements, would severely reduce the 
likelihood that an ETF listed under the proposal would be readily 
susceptible to manipulation. In all cases, Multiple or Inverse ETFs, 
which are considered for listing pursuant to Rule 1000A(b)(2), may not 
be the subject of these proposed generic listing standards.
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    \22\ See Joint Rules, 71 FR at 30538.
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    Requirements for Listing and Trading ETFs Based on Combination 
Indexes. The Exchange also seeks to list and trade ETFs based on a 
combination of equity and fixed income securities or a composite index 
that would consist of an equity index and fixed income index 
(collectively, ``combination indexes''). An ETF listed pursuant to the 
generic standards for combination indexes would be traded, in all other 
respects, under the Exchange's existing trading

[[Page 5771]]

rules and procedures that apply to ETFs and would be covered under the 
Exchange's surveillance program for ETFs.\23\
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    \23\ See Amex Rules 1000 through 1006 and 1000A through 1005A.
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    To list an ETF pursuant to the proposed generic listing standards 
for combination indexes, an index underlying a PDR or IFS must satisfy 
all the conditions contained in proposed Commentary .05 to Rule 1000 
(for PDRs) or proposed Commentary .04 to Rule 1000A (for IFSs). These 
generic listing standards are intended to ensure that securities with 
substantial market distribution and liquidity account for a substantial 
portion of the weight of both the equity and fixed income portions of 
an index or portfolio.
    Proposed Commentaries .05 to Rule 1000 and .04 to Rule 1000A would 
provide that the Exchange may approve series of PDRs and IFSs--based on 
a combination of indexes or a series of component securities 
representing the U.S. or domestic equity market, the international 
equity market, and the fixed income market--for listing and trading 
pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act. The standards that an ETF 
would have to comply with are as follows: (i) Such portfolio or 
combination of indexes has been described in exchange rule changes 
reviewed and approved for the trading of options, PDRs, IFSs, Index-
Linked Exchangeable Notes, or Index-Linked Securities by the Commission 
under Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, and all of the standards set forth 
in the original order are satisfied by the exchange employing generic 
listing standards; or (ii) the equity portion and fixed income portion 
of the component securities separately meet the criteria set forth in 
Commentary .03 (equities) and proposed Commentary .04 (fixed income) 
for PDRs and Commentary .02 (equities) and proposed Commentary .03 
(fixed income) for IFSs. In all cases, however, Multiple or Inverse 
ETFs, which are considered for listing pursuant to Rule 1000A(b)(2), 
may not be the subject of these proposed generic listing standards.
    Index Methodology and Dissemination. The Exchange proposes to adopt 
Commentaries .04(b) and .05(a) to Rule 1000 and Commentaries .03(b) and 
.04(a) to Rule 1000A to establish requirements for index methodology 
and dissemination in connection with fixed income and combination 
indexes.
    If a broker-dealer is responsible for maintaining (or has a role in 
maintaining) the underlying index, such broker-dealer would be required 
to erect and maintain a ``firewall,'' in a form satisfactory to the 
Exchange, to prevent the flow of non-public information regarding the 
underlying index from the personnel involved in the development and 
maintenance of such index to others such as sales and trading 
personnel.
    With respect to index dissemination, the Exchange proposes to adopt 
Commentaries .04(b)(iii) and .05(a)(iii) to Rule 1000 and Commentaries 
.03(b)(iii) and .04(a)(iii) to Rule 1000A to require that the index 
value for an ETF listed pursuant to the proposed standards for fixed 
income be widely disseminated by one or more major market data vendors 
at least once a day during the time when the ETF shares trade on the 
Exchange. If the index value does not change during some or all of the 
period when trading is occurring on the Exchange, the last official 
calculated index value must remain available throughout Exchange 
trading hours. This reflects the nature of the fixed income markets as 
well as the frequency of intra-day trading information with respect to 
fixed income indexes. To the extent that an ETF is based on a 
combination index, the index would have to be widely disseminated by 
one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 seconds during 
the time when the ETF shares trade on the Exchange to reflect updates 
for the prices of the equity securities included in the combination 
index. The fixed income portion of the combination index would have to 
be updated at least daily.
    Application of General Rules. Commentaries .06 to Rule 1000 and .05 
to Rule 1000A would be added to identify those characteristics of ETFs 
that would apply to all such series of PDRs or IFSs based on fixed 
income or combination indexes. This would include the dissemination of 
the Intraday Indicative Value, an estimate of the value of a share of 
each ETF, updated at least every 15 seconds. In addition, proposed 
Commentaries .05 to Rule 1000 and .06 to Rule 1000A would set forth the 
requirements for PDRs or IFSs relating to initial shares outstanding, 
minimum price variation, listing fees, surveillance procedures, and the 
application of PDR or IFS rules, as applicable.
    The Exchange states that the Commission has approved generic 
standards providing for the listing pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) of other 
derivative products based on indexes described in rule changes 
previously approved by the Commission under Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act. The Exchange proposes to include in the generic standards for the 
listing of PDRs and IFSs based on fixed income and combination indexes, 
in new Commentary .04 to Rule 1000 and Commentary .03 to Rule 1000A, 
indexes that have been approved by the Commission in connection with 
the listing of options, Portfolio Depository Receipts, Index Fund 
Shares, Index-Linked Exchangeable Notes, or Index-Linked Securities. 
The Exchange believes that the application of that standard to ETFs is 
appropriate because the underlying index would have been subject to 
detailed and specific Commission review in the context of the approval 
of listing of other derivatives.\24\
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    \24\ See supra notes 7 and 9.
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    The Exchange notes that existing Rules 1002 and 1002A provide 
continued listing standards for all PDRs and IFSs. For example, where 
the value of the underlying index or portfolio of securities on which 
the ETF is based is no longer calculated or available, or in the event 
that the ETF chooses to substitute a new index or portfolio for the 
existing index or portfolio, the Exchange would commence delisting 
proceedings if the new index or portfolio does not meet the 
requirements of and listing standards set forth in Rules 1000 et seq. 
or Rules 1000A et seq., as applicable. If an ETF chose to substitute an 
index that did not meet any of the generic listing standards for 
listing of ETFs pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, then for 
continued listing and trading, approval by the Commission of a separate 
filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) to list and trade that ETF would be 
required. The Exchange further notes that existing Amex Rules 
1002(a)(ii) and 1002A(a)(ii) provide that, before approving an ETF for 
listing, the Exchange will obtain a representation from the ETF issuer 
that the net asset value per share will be calculated daily and made 
available to all market participants at the same time.
    The trading halt requirements for existing ETFs will similarly 
apply to fixed income and combination index ETFs. In particular, Rules 
1002(b)(ii) and 1002A(b)(iv) provide that, if the Intraday Indicative 
Value or the index value applicable to that series of ETFs is not being 
disseminated as required, the Exchange may halt trading during the day 
in which the interruption to the dissemination of the Intraday 
Indicative Value or the index value occurs. If the interruption to the 
dissemination of the Intraday Indicative Value or the index value 
persists past the trading day in which it occurred, the Exchange will 
halt trading no later than the beginning

[[Page 5772]]

of the trading day following the interruption.\25\
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    \25\ If an ETF is traded on the Exchange pursuant to unlisted 
trading privileges, the Exchange would halt trading if the primary 
listing market halts trading in such ETF because the Intraday 
Indicative Value and/or the index value is not being disseminated. 
See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55018 (December 28, 2006), 
72 FR 1040 (January 9, 2007) (SR Amex-2006-109).
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \26\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \27\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade; to foster cooperation 
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transactions in securities; to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.
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    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would impose no 
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 comments on this 
proposal.

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

    Within 35 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the Exchange consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve such proposed rule change, or
    (B) Institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.
    The Amex has requested accelerated approval of the proposed rule 
change. The Commission had determined that a public notice and comment 
period is appropriate.

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-Amex-2006-118 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Amex-2006-118. 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 Amex. 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-Amex-2006-118 and should be submitted on or before February 22, 
2007.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-1998 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P