The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) is publishing this notice and order to solicit comments from interested persons and to extend the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation's (“FICC”) temporary registration as a clearing agency through June 30, 2005.
On January 1, 2003, MBS Clearing Corporation (“MBSCC”) was merged into the Government Securities Clearing Corporation (“GSCC”) and GSCC was renamed the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 47015 (December 17, 2002), 67 FR 78531 (December 24, 2002) File Nos. [SR-GSCC-2002-07 and SR-MBSCC-2002-01].
On May 24, 1988, pursuant to sections 17A(b) and 19(a) of the Act and Rule 17Ab2-1 promulgated thereunder, the Commission granted the Government Securities Clearing Corporation (“GSCC”) registration as a clearing agency on a temporary basis for a period of three years. The Commission subsequently extended GSCC's registration through June 30, 2003.
15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b) and 78s(a).
17 CFR 240.17Ab2-1.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 25740 (May 24, 1988), 53 FR 19639.
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 25740 (May 24, 1988), 53 FR 19639; 29236 (May 24, 1991), 56 FR 24852; 32385 (June 3, 1993), 58 FR 32405; 35787 (May 31, 1995), 60 FR 30324; 36508 (November 27, 1995), 60 FR 61719; 37983 (November 25, 1996), 61 FR 64183; 38698 (May 30, 1997), 62 FR 30911; 39696 (February 24, 1998), 63 FR 10253; 41104 (February 24, 1999), 64 FR 10510; 41805 (August 27, 1999), 64 FR 48682; 42335 (January 12, 2000), 65 FR 3509; 43089 (July 28, 2000), 65 FR 48032; 43900 (January 29, 2001), 66 FR 8988; 44553 (July 13, 2001), 66 FR 37714; 45164 (December 18, 2001), 66 FR 66957; and 46135 (June 27, 2002), 67 FR 44655.
On February 2, 1987, pursuant to sections 17A(b) and 19(a) of the Act and Rule 17Ab2-1 promulgated thereunder, the Commission granted MBS Clearing Corporation (“MBSCC”) registration as a clearing agency on a temporary basis for a period of 18 months. The Commission subsequently extended MBSCC's registration through June 30, 2003.
Supra note 2.
Supra note 3.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 24046 (February 2, 1987), 52 FR 4218.
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 25957 (August 2, 1988), 53 FR 29537; 27079 (July 31, 1989), 54 FR 34212; 28492 (September 28, 1990), 55 FR 41148; 29751 (September 27, 1991), 56 FR 50602; 31750 (January 21, 1993), 58 FR 6424; 33348 (December 15, 1993), 58 FR 68183; 35132 (December 21, 1994), 59 FR 67743; 37372 (June 26, 1996), 61 FR 35281; 38784 (June 27, 1997), 62 FR 36587; 39776 (March 20, 1998), 63 FR 14740; 41211 (March 24, 1999), 64 FR 15854; 42568 (March 23, 2000), 65 FR 16980; 44089 (March 21, 2001), 66 FR 16961; 44831 (September 21, 2001), 66 FR 49728; 45607 (March 20, 2002), 67 FR 14755; and 46136 (June 27, 2002), 67 FR 44655.
On July 1, 2003, the Commission issued on order extending FICC's temporary registration through June 30, 2004.
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 48116 (July 1, 2003), 68 FR 41031.
On June 9, 2004, FICC requested that the Commission extend FICC's temporary registration until such time as the Commission is prepared to grant FICC permanent registration.
Letter from Jeffrey Ingber, Managing Director, General Counsel, and Secretary, FICC (June 3, 2004).
The Commission today is extending FICC's temporary registration as a clearing agency in order that FICC may continue to provide its users clearing and settlement services as a registered clearing agency. During the third quarter of 2004, the Commission expects to publish a release requesting comment on granting FICC permanent registration as a clearing agency. FICC acts as the central clearing entity for the U.S. Government securities trading and financing marketplaces and provides for the safe and efficient clearance and settlement of transactions in mortgage-backed securities. 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 600-23 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
- Send paper comments in triplicate to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609.
All submissions should refer to File Number 600-23. 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, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of FICC and on FICC's Web site at http://www.ficc.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 600-23 and should be submitted on or before July 27, 2004.
It is therefore ordered that FICC's temporary registration as a clearing agency (File No. 600-23) be and hereby is extended through June 30, 2005.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.
17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(1506).
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-15188 Filed 7-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P