SEC EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR SRO PROPOSED RULEMAKING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2005-5

Washington, D.C., Jan. 11, 2005 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to extend for 45 days the comment period on the proposed rulemaking relating to self-regulatory organizations (SROs) that was published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2004 (Release No. 34-50699). These proposed new rules and amendments to existing rules relate to the governance, administration, transparency, and ownership of SROs that are national securities exchanges or registered securities associations, and the periodic reporting of information by these SROs regarding their regulatory programs. The proposals also relate to the listing and trading by SROs of their own or affiliated securities.

The Commission received requests from interested persons to extend the comment period for this release to March 8, 2005, to coincide with the comment period for the related Concept Release Concerning Self-Regulation (Release No. 34-50700). The Commission believes that extending the comment period for Release No. 34-50699 is appropriate given the length and complexity of the proposals.

The public comment period for Release No. 34-50699 will now end on March 8, 2005. The scope and comment process for this release remains as stated in the original Federal Register notice of December 8, 2004 and comments should be received on or before March 8, 2005.

See also: Proposed Rule, Extension of Comment Period

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2005-5.htm