Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Regarding Fees for the Automated Confirmation Transaction Service (“ACT”)

Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that on March 24, 2003 the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”), through its subsidiary, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”), filed a proposed rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”). On March 27, 2003, Nasdaq amended the proposed rule change. The proposed rule change is described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by Nasdaq. Nasdaq filed the proposed rule change pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act, and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change, as amended, from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

Nasdaq proposes to reduce fees for the use of the Automated Confirmation Transaction Service (“ACT”). Nasdaq will implement the proposed rule change on April 1, 2003.

The text of the proposed rule change, as amended, is below. Proposed new language is in italics; proposed deletions are in [brackets].

7000. CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT

7010. System Services

(a)-(f) No change.

(g) Automated Confirmation Transaction Service.

The following charges shall be paid by the participant for use of the Automated Confirmation Transaction Service (ACT):

(h)-(s) 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, as amended, 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 the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

ACT is an automated trade reporting and reconciliation service that speeds the post-execution steps of price and volume reporting, comparison, and clearing of trades completed in Nasdaq, OTC Bulletin Board, and other over-the-counter securities. ACT handles transactions executed through Nasdaq's automated trading systems, as well as transactions negotiated over the telephone and internalized transactions. It also manages post-execution procedures for transactions in exchange-listed securities that are traded in the Nasdaq InterMarket.

As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the costs incurred by market participants to use Nasdaq services, Nasdaq is proposing to introduce volume-based discounts for trade reports submitted to ACT. The discounts reflected in this proposed rule change apply to all reports in Nasdaq National Market and SmallCap Market securities submitted to ACT by a market participant directly or through Nasdaq's Primex system (defined as “Covered Transactions”), but do not apply to reports submitted automatically through Nasdaq's other transaction execution systems. Thus, the discounts offered by this proposed rule change apply to reports submitted pursuant to “automated give-up” (“AGU”) and Qualified Service Representative (“QSR”) arrangements, as well as internalized trades and Primex trades. However, the discounts do not apply to transactions that are subject to trade comparison through ACT, for which Nasdaq will continue to charge $0.0144 per side for each 100 shares (subject to a minimum charge of $0.0576 and a maximum charge of $1.08).

Under the proposal, the per side fee paid by an ACT participant for its trade reports during a particular month would depend upon the volume of media transaction reports for Covered Transactions in which the ACT participant was identified as the reporting party during that month. If an ACT participant's average daily volume of such media trade reports was 10,000 or less, its fee for all ACT reports for Covered Transactions during the month would be $0.029 per report. An ACT participant with an average daily volume of between 10,001 and 50,000 media trade reports in Covered Transactions during the month would pay $0.029 per report for a number of reports equal to 10,000 times the number of trading days in the month but only $0.015 per report for each additional report. Finally, an ACT participant with an average daily volume of more than 50,000 media reports would pay $0.029 per report for a number of reports equal to 10,000 times the number of trading days in the month and $0.015 for a number of reports equal to 40,000 times the number of trading days in the month, but all additional reports during the month would be free.

2. Statutory Basis

Nasdaq believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of section 15A of the Act, in general, and section 15A(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which the NASD operates or controls. Nasdaq believes that the fee reductions reflected in this proposed rule change assure that all participants reporting Covered Transactions through ACT pay a share of the costs associated with operation of the system, but recognize that the marginal costs associated with increases in trade report volume are low. Accordingly, the fee charged for “marginal” reports decreases as a participant's volume increases. Nasdaq believes that this change will make it more economical for market participants to use ACT for reporting their trading activity.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

Nasdaq does not believe that the proposed rule change 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 were neither solicited nor received.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder, because it establishes or changes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization. At any time within 60 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. For purposes of calculating the 60-day abrogation period, the Commission considers the proposed rule change to have been filed on March 27, 2003, when Amendment No. 1 was filed.

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. Persons making written submissions should file six copies thereof with the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20549-0609. 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 at the Commission's Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the NASD. All submissions should refer to the File No. SR-NASD-2003-51 and should be submitted by May 8, 2003.