6660. Trading and Quotation Halt in OTC Equity Securities

(1) the OTC Equity Security or the security underlying an American Depository Receipt ("ADR") that is an OTC Equity Security ("OTC ADR") is listed on or registered with a foreign securities exchange or market, and the foreign securities exchange, market, or regulatory authority overseeing such issuer, exchange, or market, halts trading in such security for regulatory reasons because of public interest concerns ("Foreign Regulatory Halt"); provided, however, that NASD will not impose a trading and quotation halt if the Foreign Regulatory Halt was imposed solely for material news, a regulatory filing deficiency, or operational reasons;

(2) the OTC Equity Security or the security underlying an OTC ADR is a derivative or component of a security listed on or registered with a national securities exchange or foreign securities exchange or market ("listed security") and the national securities exchange, or foreign securities exchange or market imposes a trading halt in the listed security; or

(3) NASD determines that an extraordinary event has occurred or is ongoing that has had a material effect on the market for the OTC Equity Security or has caused or has the potential to cause major disruption to the marketplace and/or significant uncertainty in the settlement and clearance process.

(1) When a halt is initiated under subparagraph (a)(1) of this rule, upon receipt of information from a foreign securities exchange or market on which the OTC Equity Security or the security underlying the OTC ADR is listed or registered, or from a regulatory authority overseeing such issuer, exchange, or market, NASD will promptly evaluate the information and determine whether a trading and quotation halt in the OTC Equity Security is appropriate.

(2) Should NASD determine that a basis exists under this rule for initiating a trading and quotation halt, the commencement of the trading and quotation halt will be effective simultaneous with the issuance of appropriate public notice.

(3) Trading and quotations in the OTC market may resume when NASD determines that the basis for the halt no longer exists, or when ten business days have elapsed from the date NASD initiated the trading and quotation halt in the security, whichever occurs first. NASD shall disseminate appropriate public notice that the trading and quotation halt is no longer in effect.

(1) to effect, directly or indirectly, a trade in such security; or

(2) to publish a quotation, a priced bid and/or offer, an unpriced indication of interest (including "bid wanted" and "offer wanted" indications), or a bid or offer accompanied by a modifier to reflect unsolicited customer interest, in any quotation medium. For purposes of this rule, "quotation medium" shall mean any: system of general circulation to brokers or dealers that regularly disseminates quotations of identified brokers or dealers; or publication, alternative trading system or other device that is used by brokers or dealers to disseminate quotations to others.