Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Regarding Trading Ahead of Customer Limit Orders and Short Sales on a Pilot Basis and Transaction Reporting Pursuant to Decimal Pricing in the Nasdaq Market

I. Introduction

On January 25, 2001, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD or Association), through its subsidiary, the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (Nasdaq), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission or SEC), pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, a proposed rule change that would modify several NASD rules to support the implementation of decimal pricing in the Nasdaq market. Notice of the proposed rule change appeared in the Federal Register on February 2, 2001. The Commission received no comments on the proposed rule change. This order approves the proposed rule changes regarding trading ahead of customer limit orders and short sales on a pilot basis ending on Friday, March 1, 2002, and grants approval for the proposed rule change concerning transaction reporting pursuant to decimal pricing in the Nasdaq Market.

II. Description of the Proposal

In preparation for decimal pricing, the NASD proposes to amend certain of its rules that contain references to fractions through the addition of language and decimal-based values so as to govern trading activity in securities when they transition from fractional to decimal pricing. After Nasdaq's full implementation of decimal pricing, Nasdaq will automatically remove, where appropriate, any remaining references to fractions in NASD rules. Specifically, Nasdaq is proposing to amend the following: IM-2110-2 (Trading Ahead of Customer Limit Order); IM-3350 (Short Sale Rule); and NASD Rule 4632 (Transaction Reporting). A summary of the proposed changes is provided below.

IM-2110-2. Trading Ahead of Customer Limit Order

Nasdaq is amending NASD IM-2110-2 and the related interpretation of IM-2110-2 (Manning Interpretation or Interpretation) to add language that the minimum amount of price improvement that an NASD member holding an unexecuted customer limit order in a decimal-priced Nasdaq National Market (NNM) or SmallCap security must provide when executing an incoming order in that same security to avoid a violation of the Interpretation is $0.01. The Interpretation is also being amended to incorporate the price improvement standard for NMS and SmallCap securities trading in fractions currently contained in NASD's NTM 97-57.

According to Nasdaq, the Manning Interpretation is designed to ensure that customer limit orders are executed in a fair manner and at similar prices at which a firm has indicated it is willing to trade for its own account. To provide customers with the greatest opportunity to have their orders executed, NASD's Manning Interpretation requires NASD member firms to provide a minimum level of price improvement to incoming orders in NMS and SmallCap securities if the firm chooses to trade as principal with those incoming orders at prices superior to customer limit orders they currently hold. If a firm fails to provide the minimum level of price improvement to the incoming order, the firm must execute the customer limit orders it holds. Generally, if a firm trades for its own account and fails to provide the requisite amount of price improvement and also fails to execute its held customer limit orders, it is in violation of the Manning Interpretation. Currently, the minimum price improvements necessary to avoid a Manning violation, as outlined in NTM 97-57, are:

• If actual spread is equal to or greater than 1/16th of a point: Firm must price improve incoming order by at least a 1/16th.
• If actual spread is the minimum quotation increment: Firm must price improve incoming order by one-half the minimum quotation increment.

In a decimal environment, Nasdaq is proposing the following Manning Interpretation price improvement standards for NNM and SmallCap securities:

• A firm must always price improve an incoming order by at least $0.01.

Nasdaq chose to propose the $0.01 price improvement standard for securities quoting in decimals, taking the position that the current 1/16th price improvement values contained in NTM 97-57 discussing the Interpretation generally approximate the existing minimum quotation increment for most Nasdaq securities. One exception to this approach is price improvement when the spread equals the minimum quotation increment. Recognizing that retaining the Interpretation's current “one-half the spread” price improvement alternative standard when the spread equals the minimum quote increment would result in a firm being able to price ahead of a customer order for one-half a penny ($0.005), Nasdaq proposes to strengthen that standard by requiring at least a penny price improvement before executing ahead of a held customer limit order. Nasdaq believes that, given the size of the new decimal quotation increment, uniform price improvement of a penny, particularly for stocks that are already trading with a penny spread, is an appropriate price improvement standard for the initiation of decimal pricing.

As contemplated in the Implementation Plan, Nasdaq and NASD Regulation will monitor the protection of customer limit orders during the implementation of decimal pricing in the Nasdaq market, and will analyze and evaluate trading activity to determine if future changes to the price improvement standard are warranted.

IM-3350. Short Sale Rule

Nasdaq proposes to amend IM-3350 to add language indicating that when the current best bid in a decimalized NNM security is lower than the preceding best bid in that security, a “legal” short sale must be executed at a price at least $0.01 above the current best bid.

NASD's Short Sale Rule requires that no member execute a short sale in an NNM security for a customer or proprietary account at or below the current best bid (unless operating pursuant to an exemption to the rule) when the current best bid is below the preceding best bid in the security. Under the current rule, a valid short sale in an NNM security must be executed at the following specified amounts above the current bid in a bid context:

• Spread 1/16th or greater: Legal Short Sale must be executed at least 1/16th above current best (inside) bid.
• Spread less than 1/16th: Legal Short Sale must be executed at price equal or greater than current best (inside) offer.

In a decimal environment, Nasdaq proposes the following standard for “legal” short sales:

• A valid short sale on a down bid would have to be executed at least $0.01 above the current best (inside) bid.

Nasdaq believes that the current 1/16th increment contained in the short sale rule generally approximates the current minimum 1/16th quotation increment for most Nasdaq securities. Nasdaq believes that short sale regulation should reflect the minimum quotation increment once trading commences in a decimals environment, i.e., where there is a down bid in a security a legal short sale must be executed at a price at least $0.01 above the current best bid.

As contemplated in the Implementation Plan, Nasdaq and NASD Regulation will monitor the operation of the short sale rule in Nasdaq's decimal environment, and will analyze and evaluate trading activity to determine if the short sale price improvement standard adopted here adequately advances the market quality goals of the rule.

Rule 4632 Transaction Reporting

Nasdaq proposes to amend Rule 4632 to provide alternative reporting examples for securities trading in decimals.

III. Discussion

The Commission has reviewed carefully the proposed rule change, and finds that it is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Specifically, the Commission finds that approval of the proposed rule change is consistent with section 15A(b)(6) of the Act.

The Commission finds that the proposed amendment to the Interpretation to IM-2110-2 is consistent with section 15A(b)(6) of the Act, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. The proposal is intended to ensure that customer limit orders are executed fairly, and to require firms to provide price improvement of at least $0.01 before trading ahead of customer limit orders that they hold.

Regarding Nasdaq's proposed amendment to IM-3350, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with section 15A(b)(6) of the Act, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. Nasdaq is setting the $0.01 increment standard for legal short sales in securities quoting in decimals to mirror current operation of this rule for most Nasdaq securities quoting in fractions.

The Commission believes the proposed amendments to the Manning Interpretation and IM-3350 are a reasonable approach during the initial stages of the Nasdaq conversion to decimal pricing. However, we believe that the amendments should be reexamined once Nasdaq decimal trading behavior can be analyzed. As a result, the Commission is approving the amendment on a one-year pilot program basis. The primary purpose of pilot program is to allow Nasdaq, participants, and the Commission to examine the operation of the Interpretation and the Short Sale Rule. Ninety days prior to the end of the pilot period, Nasdaq must submit to the Commission a study analyzing the operation of these rules as amended. The study must include, but is not limited to, an analysis of whether the rules are effective in achieving their investor protection and market quality goals with a $0.01 minimum increment. The Commission finds that the proposed amendments are appropriate during the pilot period.

With regard to the amendments to NASD Rule 4632, the Commission finds that providing alternative reporting examples for securities quoting in decimals is consistent with the Act in general, and in particular with section 15A(b)(6). By providing examples of trade reporting for securities quoting in decimals, Nasdaq clarifies how trade reporting will operate in a decimals environment, which should help 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.

The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 30th day after the date of publication of notice of the filing in the Federal Register. Notice of the proposal indicated that the Commission would consider granting accelerated approval of the proposed rule change after a 15-day comment period. The Commission received no comments on the proposal. Given the absence of comments, and Nasdaq's resolve to begin decimal pricing in certain Nasdaq securities on March 12, 2001, the Commission finds good cause to approve the proposal on an accelerated basis to ensure that the amendments are approved in advance of March 12, 2001.

IV. Conclusion

For the above reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of the Act, in general, and with section 15A(b)(6), in particular.

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-01-09), be and hereby is approved on a pilot basis for the proposed rule changes to IM-2110-2 and the related Interpretation to IM-2110-2, and IM-3350 on a pilot basis ending on Friday, March 1, 2002;

It is further ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(b) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-01-09), be and hereby is approved as to the amendment to NASD Rule 4632.