SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–51882; File No. SR–NSCC–2005–06]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Expand the Number of Extended Settlement Days for Fixed Income Securities
June 20, 2005.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),
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notice is hereby given that on June 8, 2005, National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change described in Items I, II, and III below, which items have been prepared primarily by NSCC. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the rule change from interested parties.
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15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The rule change expands NSCC's number of extended settlement days for fixed income securities.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, NSCC 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. NSCC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.
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The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by NSCC.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
Under NSCC's current debt securities processing procedures, members can designate a maximum of 18 days for a fixed income transaction to settle. However, debt securities are now processed at NSCC by a real-time trade matching (“RTTM”) mechanism, which operationally has the capability to provide a settlement option of up to 50 days. NSCC is proposing to amend its Rules and Procedures to provide for this increased functionality. The change will be implemented no sooner than two weeks after the date of this filing, and NSCC will announce the effective date to its members by an Important Notice.
NSCC believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act
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and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to NSCC because it modifies NSCC's procedures to allow the implementation of a mechanism that enhances the settlement of fixed income transactions. As such, NSCC believes it is a change to an existing service that will not affect the safeguarding of securities and funds in NSCC's custody or control.
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15 U.S.C. 78q–1.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have an impact or impose any burden on competition.
(C) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments relating to the proposed rule change have not been solicited or received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change has become effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act
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and Rule 19b-4(f)
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thereunder because it does not significantly affect the respective rights or obligations of the clearing agency or persons using the service and does not adversely affect the safeguarding of securities or funds in the custody or control of NSCC or for which it is responsible. At any time within sixty 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.
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15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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17 CFR 240.19b–4(f).
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–NSCC–2005–06 on the subject line.
Paper comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549–9303.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NSCC–2005–06. 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 Section, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filings also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of NSCC and on NSCC's Web site at
http://www.nscc.com
. 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–NSCC–2005–06 and should be submitted on or before July 18, 2005.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.
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17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.