Maximum SOES Order Sizes Set To Change July 1, 1999

Executive Summary

Effective July 1, 1999, the maximum Small Order Execution System^SM (SOES^SM) order sizes for 336 Nasdaq National Market^® (NNM) securities will be revised in accordance with National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD^®) Rule 4710(g).

For more information, please contact Nasdaq^® Market Operations at (203) 378-0284.

Description

Under Rule 4710, the maximum SOES order size for an NNM security is 1,000, 500, or 200 shares, depending on the trading characteristics of the security. The Nasdaq Workstation II^® (NWII) indicates the maximum SOES order size for each NNM security. The indicator "NM10," "NM5," or "NM2" displayed in NWII corresponds to a maximum SOES order size of 1,000, 500, or 200 shares, respectively.¹

The criteria for establishing maximum SOES order sizes are as follows:

In accordance with Rule 4710, Nasdaq periodically reviews the maximum SOES order size applicable to each NNM security to determine if the trading characteristics of the issue have changed so as to warrant an adjustment. Such a review was conducted using data as of March 31, 1999, pursuant to the aforementioned standards. The maximum SOES order-size changes called for by this review are being implemented with three exceptions.

• First, issues were not permitted to move more than one size level. For example, if an issue was previously categorized in the 1,000-share level, it would not be permitted to move to the 200-share level, even if the formula calculated that such a move was warranted. The issue could move only one level to the 500-share level as a result of any single review.
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• Second, for securities priced below $1 where the reranking called for a reduction in the level, the maximum SOES order size was not reduced.
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• Third, for the top 50 Nasdaq securities based on market capitalization, the maximum SOES order sizes were not reduced, regardless of whether the reranking called for a reduction.

In addition, with respect to initial public offerings (IPOs), the SOES ordersize reranking procedures provide that a security must first be traded on Nasdaq for at least 45 days before it is eligible to be reclassified.

Thus, IPOs listed on Nasdaq within the 45 days prior to March 31, 1999, were not subject to SOES order-size reranking procedures.

Following is a listing of the 336 NNM issues that will have the maximum SOES order size changed on July 1, 1999.

Endnote

¹Previously, Nasdaq Market Makers were required to maintain a minimum quotation size for an NNM security in an amount equal to the maximum SOES order size for that security. See generally, NASD Rule 4613(a)(1) - (2). On July 15, 1998, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved an amendment to NASD Rule 4613(a)(1)(C), which reduced the minimum quotation size for all Nasdaq securities to one normal trading unit when a Market Maker is not displaying a limit order, and which thus eliminated the requirement that Market Makers quote a size equal to the maximum SOES order size.