Amendment to NASD Rule 1050 Related to Registration and Qualification of Research Analysts

NASD has filed with the SEC a proposed rule change to amend NASD Rule 1050 to set forth certain prerequisites and exemptions for the requirement that all associated persons who function as research analysts be registered with NASD and pass a qualification examination. Specifically, the proposed rule change would (1) establish as a prerequisite to be registered as a research analyst the requirement that an applicant first be registered pursuant to NASD Rule 1032 as a General Securities Representative and (2) provide for an exemption from the analytical portion of the Research Analyst Qualification Examination (Series 86) for certain applicants who have passed both Levels I and II of the Chartered Financial Analyst ("CFA") Examination.