Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) , notice is hereby given that on March 31, 2003, the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (“FICC”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which items have been prepared primarily by FICC. The Commission is publishing this notice and order to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested parties and to grant accelerated approval of the proposed rule change.
A copy of FICC's proposed rule change is available at the Commission's Public Reference Section or through FICC.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The proposed rule change would allow FICC to shift its GCF Repo service from an interbank service to an intrabank one.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, FICC 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. FICC has prepared summaries, set forth in sections (A), (B), and (C) below, of the most significant aspects of these statements.
The Commission has modified the text of the summaries prepared by FICC.
(A) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
Since its introduction in 1998, the GCF Repo service of the Government Securities Division of FICC has grown in participation, volume, and importance to become a significant financing vehicle alternative to delivery-versus-payment and tri-party repos. However, attendant to its success have been certain payments system risk issues that arise from the interbank funds settlements related to the service.
In order to allow for sufficient time to identify, study, and implement satisfactory solutions to these issues, FICC is shifting the GCF Repo service from an interbank service to an intrabank one. This means that only those GCF Repo participants that clear within the same clearing bank will be permitted to trade GCF Repos with one another. FICC intends to return the GCF Repo service to interbank status as soon as it is able to resolve the attendant payments system risk issues.
FICC will file a proposed rule change to return to interbank clearing for its GCF.
Members of FICC's Government Securities Division have been notified of this change via Important Notice and have been given sufficient time to switch to intrabank service.
The proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 17A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder because it because it will allow FICC time to identify and implement a solution to the payment system risk issues that arise from settling GCF Repo transactions in an interbank environment.
(B) Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
FICC does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any 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 yet been solicited or received. FICC will notify the Commission of any written comment received by FICC.
III. Date of Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action
The Commission finds that the proposal, which allows FICC to shift to intrabank clearing for its GCF Repo service, is consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) because it should help perfect the mechanism of a national system for the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions. Allowing FICC to move to intrabank clearing for GCF Repo transactions will permit FICC to continue to offer the GCF Repo service to its participants so they will continue to have uninterrupted access to liquidity pools within their clearing banks while providing FICC time to devise a solution to reduce the risks arising from the interbank funds settlement aspect of the service when offered as an interbank service.
FICC has requested that its proposed rule change be approved prior to the thirtieth day of the date of publication of notice of the filing. The Commission finds good cause for approving the proposed rule change prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice of the filing because such approval will allow FICC to immediately stop the risk associated with interbank funds settlements while still offering the GCF Repo service to its members on an intrabank basis.
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. Comments may also be submitted electronically at the following e-mail address: rule-comments@sec.gov. All comment letters should refer to File No. SR-FICC-2003-04. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help us process and review comments more efficiently, comments should be sent in hardcopy or by e-mail but not by both methods. 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, 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. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-FICC-2003-04 and should be submitted by July 7, 2003.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change is hereby approved on an accelerated basis.
For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-15085 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P