Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Certain Modifications to the Initial Listing and Trading Standards for Equity Index-Linked Securities

I. Introduction

On October 18, 2007, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or “Exchange”), through its wholly owned subsidiary, NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. (“NYSE Arca Equities”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, a proposal to modify certain initial listing and trading standards for Equity Index-Linked Securities. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal Register on November 1, 2007. The Commission received no comments on the proposal. This order approves the proposed rule change.

II. Description of the Proposal

NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I) currently permits the Exchange to list and trade, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(e) under the Act, Equity Index-Linked Securities if, among other requirements, all component securities included in the underlying index are either: (1) Securities (other than foreign country securities and American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”)) that are (a) issued by a reporting company under the Act that is listed on a national securities exchange and (b) an “NMS stock,” as defined in Rule 600 of Regulation NMS; or (2) foreign country securities or ADRs, subject to certain limitations. The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I) to permit the listing and trading of Equity Index-Linked Securities where the underlying index consists, in whole or in part, of (1) securities of closed-end management investment companies (“Closed-End Fund Securities”) or (2) investment company units (“ETF Securities”), which, in each case, are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and listed on a national securities exchange.

In its proposal, the Exchange stated its belief that trading in exchange-listed Closed-End Fund Securities and ETF Securities is subject to the same level of regulation as trading in exchange-listed equity securities. In addition, the Exchange stated that Closed-End Fund Securities and ETF Securities trade on the same exchange platforms as equity securities registered under the Act and are subject to the same exchange trading rules as equity securities. As such, the Exchange believes that it is appropriate to permit their inclusion as components of indexes underlying Equity Index-Linked Securities.

The Exchange also proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(v) to incorporate a limited exception to the requirement that 90% of the index's numerical value and at least 80% of the total number of component securities underlying an Equity Reference Asset must meet the then current criteria for standardized options trading set forth in NYSE Arca Rule 5.3. The Exchange proposes that an underlying index would not be subject to such requirement if (1) no underlying component security represents more than 10% of the dollar weight of such index, and (2) such index has a minimum of 20 component securities.

All of the options exchanges apply the same criteria to securities underlying exchange-traded options. These criteria relate primarily to the distribution and trading volume of the securities underlying an option, and, as such, the Exchange believes that such criteria are duplicative of the minimum market capitalization and trading volume requirements for securities underlying Equity Index-Linked Securities set forth in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(i) and (ii), respectively. The Exchange notes that the current requirement of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(ii), in particular, that relates to minimum trading volume for each component security is more stringent than the trading volume requirement related to options trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, while a significant number of listed equity securities meet the minimum market capitalization and trading volume requirements for components of equity indexes under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6), the Exchange represents that many do not meet the current criteria for standardized options trading. The Exchange believes that the explicit market capitalization and trading volume requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(i) and (ii), respectively, are sufficient to ensure that any component security comprising an Equity Reference Asset underlying a series of Equity Index-Linked Securities will have an adequate liquid trading market. In addition, the Exchange believes that, by requiring that both proposed conditions to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(v) (i.e., enhancing concentration limits for component securities and increasing the minimum number of component securities) be met in order to avail of the proposed exemption to such rule, the proposal would significantly reduce the possibility of manipulation of the index. Based on the foregoing, the Exchange believes that the protection of requiring such securities to be qualified for options trading is unnecessary.

III. Commission's Findings and Order Granting Approval of the Proposed Rule Change

After careful review and based on the Exchange's representations, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, 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.

With respect to the proposal to permit the inclusion of Closed-End Fund Securities and ETF Securities in an underlying index of a series of Equity Index-Linked Securities, the Commission notes that issuers of Closed-End Fund Securities and ETF Securities must register under the 1940 Act, and such securities must be listed on a national securities exchange. The Commission also notes that Closed-End Securities and ETF Securities trade on the same platforms as equity securities and are generally subject to the same exchange trading rules as equity securities. In addition, in order for such securities to be included in an underlying index of an issue of Equity Index-Linked Securities, it must be an NMS stock, as defined in Rule 600(b)(47) of Regulation NMS. The Commission believes that this proposal should benefit investors by creating additional alternatives to investing in such regulated products and competition in the market for Equity Index-Linked Securities, while maintaining transparency of the underlying components comprising an index.

The Commission further believes that the proposal to provide for a limited exception to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(v) reasonably balances the removal of impediments to a free and open market with the protection of investors and the public interest, two principles set forth in Section 6(b)(5) of the Act. The Commission notes that the minimum trading volume standard relating to the eligibility of securities underlying options overlaps with, and is less stringent than, the equivalent trading volume standards provided in NYSE Arca Equities Rules 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(ii) and (iii). Because the overall purpose of the current criteria for standardized options trading is to ensure proper liquidity of the underlying security, the Commission believes that the minimum market value thresholds of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(i), the minimum trading volume requirements provided in NYSE Arca Equities Rules 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(ii) and (iii), together with the enhanced concentration limits and increased minimum number of component securities needed in order to avail of the proposed exemption to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.2(j)(6)(B)(I)(1)(b)(2)(v), will help ensure adequate liquidity of each component comprising an underlying index of Equity Index-Linked Securities. As such, the Commission believes it is reasonable and consistent with the Act for the Exchange to modify the listing standards for Equity Index-Linked Securities in the manner described in the proposal.

IV. Conclusion

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2007-110), be, and it hereby is, approved.