Dear Investor:
Thank you for your comments to the SEC regarding the recent changes relating
to margin requirements for day trading.
We welcome hearing from you because we keep a database of information about
the complaints and inquiries we receive. This database allows us to track
whether a troubling situation may be developing about a particular issue,
company, broker, stock, or other securities product. The information you
have provided will be reflected in our database.
In early 2000, the New York Stock Exchange proposed changes to NYSE Rule
431, and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. proposed
changes to NASD Rule 2520 to establish margin requirements for "pattern" day
trading. The NYSE and NASD separately published their proposals for public
comment. In both cases, the public comment period lasted 21 days, ending on
February 15, 2000, for the NYSE proposal and on March 10, 2000, for the NASD
proposal. The SEC continued to receive and place in the public file letters
commenting on the respective proposals after the comment periods closed.
When reviewing the NYSE and NASD proposals, the SEC considered all the
comment letters it had received, not only those that had been filed on time.
On February 27, 2001, the SEC approved rule changes proposed by the New York
Stock Exchange and NASD Regulation, Inc. aimed at imposing more stringent
margin requirements for day-trading customers. The effective date for the
implementation of the New York Stock Exchange's rules was August 27, 2001.
The NASD's rules go into effect on September 28, 2001. For more
information, please see the NASD's Notice to Members
(
http://www.nasdr.com/pdf-text/0126ntm.txt) and the New York Stock
Exchange's Information Memo
(
http://www.nyse.com/pdfs/im01-9Microsoft Word - Document in 01-9.
pdf).
A full discussion of the rationale for the changes as well as extended
discussion of the numerous comments both for and against the changes occurs
in the SEC Approval Order referenced on the NASDR website in the highlighted
item entitled Federal Register
(
http://www.nasdr.com/pdf-text/rf00_03_app.pdf). If you would like to share
your views about the changes with the NYSE or NASD, please direct your
correspondence as follows:
NYSE:
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Office of the General Counsel
11 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Web:
http://www.nyse.com
NASD:
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Office of the General Counsel
1735 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Web:
http://ww.nasd.com
Once again, thank you for alerting us to your concerns. I hope this
information proves helpful.
Sincerely,
U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
Office of Investor Education and Assistance
oiea@sec.gov