This rule is no longer applicable. NASD
Rule 6120A has been superseded by FINRA Rule 7120. Please consult the appropriate FINRA Rule.
The following Rules 6120A through 6190A apply to members that effect transactions in ADF-eligible securities through the ADF.
(a) Mandatory Participation for Clearing Agency Members
(1) Participation in TRACS trade comparison feature is mandatory for any NASD member that effects transactions in ADF-eligible securities through the ADF, which are not locked-in and sent directly to Deposit Trust Clearing Corporation ("DTCC") by that member, unless the member reports the trade to another reporting facility designated by the SEC as being authorized to accept trade reports for trades executed otherwise than on an exchange. All members, whether or not they must participate in the TRACS trade comparison feature, must comply with the trade reporting requirements described in pertinent NASD rules.
(2) Participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature as a Market Maker shall be conditioned upon the TRACS Market Maker's initial and continuing compliance with the following requirements:
(A) execution of, and continuing compliance with, a TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement;
(B) membership in, or maintenance of, an effective clearing arrangement with a member of a clearing agency registered pursuant to the Act;
(C) registration as a Registered Reporting ADF Market Maker for ADF-eligible securities pursuant to Rule 4611A and compliance with all applicable rules and operating procedures of NASD and the Commission;
(D) maintenance of the physical security of the equipment located on the premises of the TRACS Market Maker to prevent unauthorized entry of information into the TRACS trade comparison feature; and
(E) acceptance and settlement of each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by such TRACS Market Maker, or if settlement is to be made through a clearing member, guarantee of the acceptance and settlement of each TRACS identified trade by the clearing member on the regularly scheduled settlement date.
(3) Participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature as an Order Entry Firm shall be conditioned upon the Order Entry Firm's initial and continuing compliance with the following requirements:
(A) execution of, and continuing compliance with, a TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement;
(B) membership in, or maintenance of, an effective clearing arrangement with a member of a clearing agency registered pursuant to the Act;
(C) compliance with all applicable rules and operating procedures of NASD and the Commission;
(D) maintenance of the physical security of the equipment located on the premises of the TRACS Order Entry Firm to prevent the unauthorized entry of information into the TRACS trade comparison feature; and
(E) acceptance and settlement of each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by such TRACS Order Entry Firm, or if settlement is to be made through a clearing member, guarantee of the acceptance and settlement of each TRACS identified trade by the clearing member on the regularly scheduled settlement date.
(4) Participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature as a Clearing Broker shall be conditioned upon the Clearing Broker's initial and continuing compliance with the following requirements:
(A) execution of, and continuing compliance with, a TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement;
(B) membership in a clearing agency registered pursuant to the Act;
(C) compliance with all applicable rules and operating procedures of NASD and the Commission;
(D) maintenance of the physical security of the equipment located on the premises of the TRACS Clearing Broker to prevent the unauthorized entry of information into the TRACS trade comparison feature; and
(E) acceptance and settlement of each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by itself or any of its correspondents on the regularly scheduled settlement date.
(5) Participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature as a TRACS ECN shall be conditioned upon the ECN's initial and continuing compliance with the following requirements:
(A) execution of, and continuing compliance with, a TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement;
(B) membership in, or maintenance of an effective clearing arrangement with a member of, a clearing agency registered pursuant to the Act;
(C) compliance with all applicable rules and operating procedures of NASD and the Commission;
(D) maintenance of the physical security of the equipment located on the premises of the ECN to prevent the unauthorized entry of information into the TRACS trade comparison feature; and
(E) acceptance and settlement of each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by such TRACS ECN, or if settlement is to be made through a clearing member, guarantee of the acceptance and settlement of each TRACS identified trade by the clearing member on the regularly scheduled settlement date.
(6) Each TRACS trade comparison Participant shall be obligated to inform NASD of non-compliance with any of the participation requirements set forth above.
(b) Participant Obligations in TRACS
(1) Access to TRACS
Upon execution and receipt by NASD of the TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement, a TRACS trade comparison Participant may commence input and validation of trade information in ADF-eligible securities. TRACS trade comparison Participants may access the service via NASD terminals or Workstations or through computer interface during the hours of operation specified in the TRACS Users Guide. Prior to such input, all TRACS comparison Participants, including those that have trade report information submitted to NASD by any third party, must obtain from NASD a unique identifying Market Participant Symbol ("MMID" or "MPID"), and use that identifier for trade reporting and audit trail purposes.
(2) Market Maker Obligations
(A) TRACS Market Makers shall commence participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature by initially contacting the TRACS Operation Center to verify authorization for submitting trade data to the TRACS system for ADF-eligible securities.
(B) A TRACS Market Maker that is a self-clearing firm shall be obligated to accept and clear each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by that Market Maker.
(C) A TRACS Market Maker that is an introducing broker or a correspondent executing broker shall identify its clearing broker when it becomes a TRACS trade comparison participant and notify the TRACS Operation Center if its clearing broker is to be changed; this will necessitate execution of a revised TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement.
(D) If at any time a TRACS Market Maker fails to maintain a clearing arrangement, it shall be removed from the TRACS trade comparison feature, and be precluded from participation as a Market Maker in ADF until such time as a clearing arrangement is reestablished and notice of such arrangement, with an amended TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement, is filed with NASD. If, however, NASD finds that the TRACS Market Maker's failure to maintain a clearing arrangement is voluntary, the withdrawal of quotations will be considered voluntary and unexcused pursuant to Rule 4619A.
(3) Order Entry Firm Obligations
(A) TRACS Order Entry Firms shall commence participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature by initially contacting the TRACS Operation Center to verify authorization for submitting trade data to the TRACS system for ADF-eligible securities.
(B) A TRACS Order Entry Firm that is a self-clearing firm shall be obligated to accept and clear each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by the Order Entry Firm.
(C) A TRACS Order Entry Firm that is an introducing broker or a correspondent executing broker shall identify its clearing broker when it becomes a TRACS trade comparison Participant and notify the TRACS Operations Center if its clearing broker is to be changed; this change will necessitate execution of a revised TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement.
(D) If at any time a TRACS Order Entry Firm fails to maintain a clearing arrangement, it shall be removed from the TRACS trade comparison feature until such time as a clearing arrangement is reestablished, and notice of such arrangement, with an amended TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement, is filed with NASD.
(4) Clearing Broker Obligation
TRACS clearing brokers shall be obligated to accept and clear as a party to the transaction each trade that the system identifies as having been effected by itself or any of its correspondent executing brokers. Clearing brokers may cease to act as principal for a correspondent executing broker at any time provided that notification has been given to, received and acknowledged by the TRACS Operations Center and affirmative action has been completed by the Center to remove the clearing broker from the TRACS trade comparison feature for that correspondent executing broker. The clearing broker's obligation to accept and clear trades for its correspondents shall not cease prior to the completion of all of the steps detailed in this subparagraph (4).
(5) ECN Obligations
(A) TRACS ECNs shall commence participation in the TRACS trade comparison feature by initially contacting the TRACS Operations Center to verify authorization for submitting trade data to the TRACS trade comparison feature for ADF-eligible securities.
(B) A TRACS ECN that is a self-clearing firm shall be obligated to accept and clear each trade that the TRACS trade comparison feature identifies as having been effected by the ECN.
(C) A TRACS ECN that is an introducing broker or a correspondent executing broker shall identify its clearing broker when it becomes a TRACS trade comparison Participant and notify the TRACS Operations Center if its clearing broker is to be changed; this change will necessitate execution of a revised TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement.
(D) If at any time a TRACS ECN fails to maintain a clearing arrangement, it shall be removed from the TRACS trade comparison feature until such time as a clearing arrangement is reestablished, and notice of such arrangement, with an amended TRACS trade comparison Participant Application Agreement, is filed with NASD.