Equity 9 Business Conduct
(a) A member holding an open order from a customer or another broker/dealer shall, prior to executing or
permitting the order to be executed, reduce, increase or adjust the price and/or number of shares of such
order by an amount equal to the dividend, payment or distribution, on the day that the security is quoted
ex-dividend, ex-rights, ex-distribution or ex-interest, except where a cash dividend or distribution is less
than one cent ($.01), as follows:
(1) In the case of a cash dividend or distribution, the price of the order shall
be reduced by subtracting the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution from the price of the order and
rounding the result to the next lower minimum quotation variation used in the primary market, provided that
if there is more than one minimum quotation variation in the primary market, then the greater of the
variations shall be used;
(2) In the case of a stock dividend or split, the price of the order shall be
reduced by rounding the dollar value of the stock dividend or split to the next higher minimum quotation
variation used in the primary market as specified in paragraph (a)(1) and subtracting that amount from the
price of the order; provided further, that the size of the order shall be increased by (A) multiplying the
size of the original order by the numerator of the ratio of the dividend or split, (B) dividing the result
by the denominator of the ratio of the dividend or split, and (C) rounding the result to the next lower
round lot; and
(3) In the case of a dividend payable in either cash or securities at the option
of the stockholder, the price of the order shall be reduced by the dollar value of the cash or securities,
whichever is greater, according to the formulas in subparagraph (1) or (2), above; provided, that if the
stockholder opts for securities, the size of the order shall be increased pursuant to the formula in
subparagraph (2), above.
(b) If the value of the distribution cannot be determined, the member shall not execute or permit such order
to be executed without reconfirming the order with the customer.
(c) If a security is the subject of a reverse split, all open orders shall be cancelled.
(d) The term "open order" means an order to buy or an open stop order to sell, including but not limited to "limit" or "stop limit" orders which remain in effect for a definite or indefinite
period until executed, cancelled or expired.
(e) The provisions of this Rule shall not apply to:
(1) orders governed by the rules of another registered national securities
exchange or the FINRA;
(2) orders marked "do not reduce" where the dividend is payable in cash;
(3) orders marked "do not increase" where the dividend is payable in stock,
provided that the price of such orders shall be adjusted as required by this Rule;
(4) open stop orders to buy;
(5) open sell orders; or
(6) orders for the purchase or sale of securities where the issuer of the
securities has not reported a dividend, payment or distribution pursuant to SEC Rule 10b-17.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended Dec. 12, 2025 (SR-BX-2025-033), operative Jan. 11, 2026.
(a) All clearing or carrying agreements entered into by a member shall specify the respective functions and
responsibilities of each party to the agreement and shall, at a minimum, specify the responsibility of each
party with respect to each of the following matters:
(1) opening, approving and monitoring customer accounts;
(2) extension of credit;
(3) maintenance of books and records;
(4) receipt and delivery of funds and securities;
(5) safeguarding of funds and securities;
(6) confirmations and statements;
(7) acceptance of orders and execution of transactions;
(8) whether, for purposes of the Commission's financial responsibility rules
adopted under the Act, and the Securities Investor Protection Act, as amended, and regulations adopted
thereunder, customers are customers of the clearing member; and
(9) the requirement to provide customer notification under paragraph (g) of this
Rule.
(b)
(1) In order for the introducing member to carry out its functions and
responsibilities under the agreement, each clearing member must forward promptly any written customer
complaint received by the clearing member regarding the introducing member or its associated persons
relating to functions and responsibilities allocated to the introducing member under the agreement directly
to: (A) the introducing member; and (B) the introducing member's examining authority designated under
Section 17 of the Act ("DEA") (or, if none, to its appropriate regulatory agency or authority). The clearing
or carrying agreement must specifically direct and authorize the clearing member to do so.
(2) The clearing member must also notify the customer, in writing, that it has
received the complaint, and that the complaint has been forwarded to the introducing member and to the
introducing member's DEA (or, if none, to its appropriate regulatory agency or authority).
(3) Pursuant to the General 5, Rule 9600 Series, the Exchange may exempt a member
or person associated with a member from the requirements of this paragraph for good cause shown in instances
where the introducing organization is an affiliated entity of the carrying organization.
(c)
(1) A clearing member, when it enters into a clearing agreement, must immediately,
and annually thereafter, provide the introducing member a list or description of all reports (exception and
other types of reports) which it offers to the introducing member to assist the introducing member in
supervising its activities, monitoring its customer accounts, and carrying out its functions and
responsibilities under the clearing agreement. The introducing member must notify promptly the clearing
member, in writing, of those specific reports offered by the clearing member that the introducing member
requires to supervise and monitor its customer accounts.
(2) The clearing member must retain as part of its books and records required to
be maintained under the Act and the Rules of the Exchange, copies of the reports requested by or provided to
the introducing member. For purposes of this Rule, the clearing member will be in compliance with the
requirements of this paragraph if it retains the data from which the original report was produced, provided,
the clearing member can, at the request of the DEA (or, if none, to its appropriate regulatory agency or
authority), either (A) recreate the report; or (B) provide the data and the data formatting that was used to
prepare the report.
(3) Each year, no later than July 31, the clearing member must notify in writing
the introducing member's chief executive and compliance officers of the reports offered to the introducing
member pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) and the reports requested by or supplied to the introducing member as of
such date. The clearing member must also provide a copy of the notice to the introducing member's DEA (or,
if none, to its appropriate regulatory agency or authority).
(4) Pursuant to the General 5, Rule 9600 Series, the Exchange may exempt a member
or person associated with a member from the requirements of this paragraph for good cause shown in instances
where the introducing organization is an affiliated entity of the carrying organization.
(d) The clearing or carrying agreement may permit the introducing member to issue negotiable instruments
directly to the introducing member's customers using instruments for which the clearing member is the maker
or drawer. The clearing member may not grant the introducing member the authority to issue negotiable
instruments until the introducing member has notified the clearing member in writing that it has
established, and will maintain and enforce, supervisory procedures with respect to the issuance of such
instruments that are satisfactory to the carrying organization.
(e) Whenever a clearing member designated to the Exchange for oversight pursuant to Section 17 of the Act, or
a rule of the Commission adopted thereunder, amends any of its clearing or carrying agreements with respect
to any item enumerated in subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(9) or enters into a new clearing or carrying
agreement with an introducing member, the clearing member shall submit the agreement to the Exchange for
review and approval.
(f) Whenever an introducing member designated to the Exchange for oversight pursuant to Section 17 of the
Act, or a rule of the Commission adopted thereunder, amends its clearing or carrying agreement with a
clearing member designated to another self-regulatory organization for oversight with respect to any item
enumerated in subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(9) or enters into a new clearing agreement with another
clearing member, the introducing member shall submit the agreement to the Exchange for review.
(g) Each customer whose account is introduced on a fully disclosed basis shall be notified in writing upon
the opening of his account of the existence of the clearing or carrying agreement.
(h) All clearing agreements shall require each introducing member to maintain its proprietary and customer
accounts and the proprietary and customer accounts of any member for which it is acting as an intermediary
in obtaining clearing services from the clearing firm in such a manner as to enable the clearing firm and
the Exchange to identify data belonging to the proprietary and customer accounts of each member. The
requirements of this paragraph (h) shall apply to intermediary clearing arrangements between a member and an
introducing member that are established on or after December 23, 2008.
(i) Members shall be exempt from Equity 9, Section 2 to the extent any party to the clearing agreement is
subject to a comparable rule of the self-regulatory organization designated pursuant to SEC Rule 17d-1 as
the party's designated examining authority.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
No member shall publish or circulate, or cause to be published or circulated, any notice, circular,
advertisement, newspaper article, investment service, or communication of any kind which purports to report
any transaction as a purchase or sale of any security unless such member believes that such transaction was
a bona fide purchase or sale of such security; or which purports to quote the bid price or asked price for
any security, unless such member believes that such quotation represents a bona fide bid for, or offer of,
such security. If nominal quotations are used or given, they shall be clearly stated or indicated to be only
nominal quotations.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
General 9, Section 1 provides that:
A member, in the conduct of his business, shall observe high standards of commercial honor and just and
equitable principles of trade.
Equity 9, Section 3 provides that:
No member shall publish or circulate, or cause to be published or circulated, any notice, circular,
advertisement, newspaper article, investment service, or communication of any kind which purports to report
any transaction as a purchase or sale of any security unless such member believes that such transaction was
a bona fide purchase or sale of such security; or which purports to quote the bid price or asked price for
any security, unless such member believes that such quotation represents a bona fide bid for, or offer of,
such security. If nominal quotations are used or given, they shall be clearly stated or indicated to be only
nominal quotations.
General 9, Section 1 provides that:
No member shall effect any transaction in, or induce the purchase or sale of, any security by means of any
manipulative, deceptive or other fraudulent device or contrivance.
It would be inconsistent with the above provisions for a member to publish or circulate or cause to be
published or circulated, by any means whatsoever, any report of any securities transaction or of any
purchase or sale of any security unless such member knows or has reason to believe that such transaction was
a bona fide transaction, purchase or sale.
Similarly, it would be inconsistent with the above provisions for a member, for itself or for any other
person, to publish or circulate or to cause to be published or circulated, by any means whatsoever, any
quotation for any security without having reasonable cause to believe that such quotation is a bona fide
quotation, is not fictitious and is not published or circulated or caused to be published or circulated for
any fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative purpose.
For the purposes of this interpretation, the term "quotation" shall include any bid or offer or any formula,
such as "bid wanted" or "offer wanted," designed to induce any person to make or submit any bid or
offer.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
No member shall make an offer to buy from or sell to any person any security at a stated price unless such
member is prepared to purchase or sell, as the case may be, at such price and under such conditions as are
stated at the time of such offer to buy or sell.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) No member or person associated with a member shall, directly or indirectly, effect any transaction or
publish a quotation, a priced bid and/or offer, an unpriced indication of interest (including "bid wanted"
and "offer wanted" and name only indications), or a bid or offer accompanied by a modifier to reflect
unsolicited customer interest, in any security as to which a trading halt is currently in effect.
(b) No member or person associated with a member shall, directly or indirectly, effect any transaction or
publish a quotation, a priced bid and/or offer, an unpriced indication of interest (including "bid wanted"
and "offer wanted" and name only indications), or a bid or offer, accompanied by a modifier to reflect
unsolicited customer interest, in:
(1) a future for a single security when the underlying security has a regulatory
trading halt that is currently in effect; and
(2) a future on a narrow-based securities index when one or more underlying
securities that constitute 50% or more of the market capitalization of the index has a regulatory trading
halt that is currently in effect.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) Members shall promptly notify Nasdaq whenever they have knowledge of any matter related to any "NMS
Stock" (as defined in SEC Rule 600(b)(42)) or the issuer thereof which has not been adequately disclosed to
the public or where they have knowledge of a regulatory problem relating to such security.
(b) Whenever any market for any NMS Stock halts or suspends trading in such security, members may continue to
conduct trading in such security during the period of any such halt or suspension and shall continue to
report all last sale prices reflecting transactions in such security, unless Nasdaq has initiated a trading
halt for the security, pursuant to Rule 4120.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) No member shall execute or cause to be executed or participate in an account for which there are executed
purchases of any "NMS Stock" (as defined in SEC Rule 600(b)(42)) at successively higher prices, or sales of
any such security at successively lower prices, for the purpose of creating or inducing a false, misleading
or artificial appearance of activity in such security or for the purpose of unduly or improperly influencing
the market price for such security or for the purpose of establishing a price which does not reflect the
true state of the market in such security.
(b) No member shall, for the purpose of creating or inducing a false or misleading appearance of activity in
an NMS Stock or creating or inducing a false or misleading appearance with respect to the market in such
security:
(1) execute any transaction in such security which involves no change in the
beneficial ownership thereof; or
(2) enter any order or orders for the purchase of such security with the knowledge
that an order or orders of substantially the same size, and at substantially the same price, for the sale of
any such security, has been or will be entered by or for the same or different parties; or
(3) enter any order or orders for the sale of any such security with the knowledge
that an order or orders of substantially the same size, and at substantially the same price, for the
purchase of such security, has been or will be entered by or for the same or different parties.
(c) No member shall execute purchases or sales of any NMS Stock for any account in which such member is
directly or indirectly interested, which purchases or sales are excessive in view of the member's financial
resources or in view of the market for such security.
(d) No member shall participate or have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the profits of a
manipulative operation or knowingly manage or finance a manipulative operation.
(1) Any pool, syndicate or joint account organized or used intentionally for the
purpose of unfairly influencing the market price of an NMS Stock shall be deemed to be a manipulative
operation.
(2) The solicitation of subscriptions to or the acceptance of discretionary orders
from any such pool, syndicate or joint account shall be deemed to be managing a manipulative operation.
(3) The carrying on margin of a position in such securities or the advancing of
credit through loans to any such pool, syndicate or joint account shall be deemed to be financing a
manipulative operation.
(e) No member shall make any statement or circulate and disseminate any information concerning any NMS Stock
which such member knows or has reasonable grounds for believing is false or misleading or would improperly
influence the market price of such security.
(f) No member or person associated with a member shall, directly or indirectly, hold any interest or
participation in any joint account for buying or selling an NMS Stock, unless such joint account is promptly
reported to Nasdaq. The report should contain the following information for each account:
(1) Name of the account, with names of all participants and their respective
interests in profits and losses;
(2) a statement regarding the purpose of the account;
(3) name of the member carrying and clearing the account; and
(4) a copy of any written agreement or instrument relating to the account.
(g) No member shall offer that a transaction or transactions to buy or sell an NMS Stock will influence the
closing transaction on the Consolidated Tape.
(h)
(1) A member may, but is not obligated to, accept a stop order in an NMS Stock.
(A) A buy stop order is an order to buy which becomes a market order when a
transaction takes place at or above the stop price.
(B) A sell stop order is an order to sell which becomes a market order when a
transaction takes place at or below the stop price.
(2) A member may, but is not obligated to, accept stop limit orders in NMS Stocks.
When a transaction occurs at the stop price, the stop limit order to buy or sell becomes a limit order at
the limit price.
(i) No member or person associated with a member shall execute or cause to be executed, directly or
indirectly, on Nasdaq a transaction in a security subject to an initial public offering until such security
has first opened for trading on the national securities exchange listing the security, as indicated by the
dissemination of an opening transaction in the security by the listing exchange via the Consolidated Tape.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) To the extent such information is not otherwise reported to FINRA in conformance with FINRA Rule 4560,
each member shall maintain a record of total "short" positions in all customer and proprietary firm accounts
in all securities listed on the Exchange and shall regularly report such information to the Exchange in such
a manner as may be prescribed by the Exchange. Reports shall be received by the Exchange no later than the
second business day after the reporting settlement date designated by the Exchange.
(b) Members shall record and report all gross short positions existing in each individual firm or customer
account, including the account of a broker-dealer, that resulted from (1) a "short sale" as that term is
defined in Rule 200(a) of SEC Regulation SHO, or (2) where the transaction(s) that caused the short position
was marked “long,” consistent with SEC Regulation SHO, due to the firm's or the customer's net
long position at the time of the transaction. Members shall report only those short positions resulting from
short sales that have settled or reached settlement date by the close of the reporting settlement date
designated by the Exchange.
(c) The recording and reporting requirements of this Rule shall not apply to:
(1) any sale by any person, for an account in which he has an interest, if such
person owns the security sold and intends to deliver such security as soon as is possible without undue
inconvenience or expense; and
(2) any sale by an underwriter, or any member of a syndicate or group
participating in the distribution of a security, in connection with an over-allotment of securities, or any
lay-off sale by such a person in connection with a distribution of securities through rights or a standby
underwriting commitment.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
No member or person associated with a member may accept a customer's purchase order for any security unless
it has first ascertained that the customer placing the order or its agent agrees to receive securities
against payment in an amount equal to any execution, even though such an execution may represent the
purchase of only a part of a larger order.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
No member or associated person may engage in conduct that has the intent or effect of splitting any order
into multiple smaller orders for execution or any execution into multiple smaller executions for transaction
reporting for the primary purpose of maximizing a monetary or in-kind amount to be received by the member or
associated person as a result of the execution of such orders or the transaction reporting of such
executions. For purposes of this rule, "monetary or in-kind amount" shall be defined to include, but not be
limited to, any credits, commissions, gratuities, payments for or rebates of fees, or any other payments of
value to the member or associated person.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
No rule, stated policy, or practice of this exchange shall prohibit or condition, or be construed to prohibit
or condition or otherwise limit, directly or indirectly, the ability of any member acting as agent to effect
any transaction otherwise than on this exchange with another person (except when such member also is acting
as agent for such other person in such transaction), in any equity security listed on this exchange or to
which unlisted trading privileges on this exchange have been extended.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
(a) No rule, stated policy or practice of this exchange shall prohibit or condition, or be construed to
prohibit, condition or otherwise limit, directly or indirectly, the ability of any member to effect any
transaction otherwise than on this exchange in any reported security listed and registered on this exchange
or as to which unlisted trading privileges on this exchange have been extended (other than a put option or
call option issued by The Options Clearing Corporation) which is not a covered security.
(b) For purposes of this rule,
(1) The term "Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(2) The term "exchange" shall mean a national securities exchange
registered as such with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to section 6 of the Act.
(3) The term "covered security" shall mean:
(A) Any equity security or class of equity securities which
(i) was listed and registered on an exchange on April 26, 1979, and
(ii) remains listed and registered on at least one exchange continuously
thereafter;
(B) Any equity security or class of equity securities which
(i) was traded on one or more exchanges on April 26, 1979, pursuant to unlisted
trading privileges permitted by Section 12(f)(1)(A) of the Act, and
(ii) remains traded on any such exchange pursuant to such unlisted trading
privileges continuously thereafter; and
(C) Any equity security or class of equity securities which
(i) is issued in connection with a statutory merger, consolidation or similar
plan or reorganization (including a reincorporation or change of domicile) in exchange for an equity
security or class of equity securities described in paragraph (b)(3)(A) or (b)(3)(B) of this rule,
(ii) is listed and registered on an exchange after April 26, 1979, and
(iii) remains listed and registered on at least one exchange continuously
thereafter.
(4) The term "reported security" shall mean any security or class of
securities for which transaction reports are collected, processed and made available pursuant to an
effective transaction reporting plan.
(5) The term "transaction report" shall mean a report containing the price
and volume associated with a completed transaction involving the purchase or sale of a security.
(6) The term "effective transaction reporting plan" shall mean any plan
approved by the Commission pursuant to Rule 11Aa3-1 for collecting, processing and making available
transaction reports with respect to transactions in an equity security or class of equity securities.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
Equities Market Makers shall comply with the obligations of SEC Rule 604 and any interpretations issued
thereunder. Solely for the purposes of this Rule and SEC Rule 604, Equities Market Makers shall be deemed to
be exchange specialists.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
The provisions of FINRA Rule 2360(b)(19) shall apply to recommendations by members and persons associated
with members regarding the purchase or sale of index warrants, currency index warrants, or currency
warrants. To the extent that it is made applicable to index warrants, currency index warrants, and currency
warrants by FINRA Rule 2353, Exchange Members and their associated persons shall comply with FINRA Rule
2360(b)(19) as if such Rule were part of the Rules of the Exchange.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) Insofar as a member or person associated with a member exercises discretion to trade in index warrants,
currency index warrants, or currency warrants in a customer's account, such account shall be subject to the
provisions of FINRA Rule 2360(b)(18). To the extent that it is made applicable to index warrants, currency
index warrants, and currency warrants by FINRA Rule 2354, Exchange Members and their associated persons
shall comply with FINRA Rule 2360(b)(18) as if such Rule were part of the Rules of the Exchange.
(b)
For purposes of this Rule, references to Rule 3260 and Rule 4512(c) shall be construed as references to
General 9, Section 19 and General 9, Section 45.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) The provisions of FINRA Rule 2360(b)(20) shall apply to all customer accounts of a member in which
transactions in index warrants, currency index warrants, or currency warrants are effected. To the extent
that it is made applicable to index warrants, currency index warrants, and currency warrants by FINRA Rule
2355, Exchange Members and their associated persons shall comply with FINRA Rule 2360(b)(20) as if such Rule
were part of the Rules of the Exchange.
(b) For purposes of this rule, references to Rules 3110, 3120, and 3130 shall be construed as references to
General 9, Sections 20 and 21.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) The record-keeping requirements of FINRA Rule 2360(b)(17)(A) concerning the receipt and handling of
customer complaints relating to options shall also apply to customer complaints relating to index warrants,
currency index warrants, or currency warrants. To the extent that it is made applicable to index warrants,
currency index warrants, and currency warrants by FINRA Rule 2356, Exchange Members and their associated
persons shall comply with FINRA Rule 2360(b)(17)(A) as if such Rule were part of the Rules of the Exchange.
(b) For purposes of this rule, references to Rule 2268 and the Rule 4510 Series shall be construed as
references to General 6, Section 1(b) and General 9, Section 30. The reference to Rule 5340 shall be
disregarded.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
(a) The provisions of FINRA Rule 2220 (except FINRA Rule 2220(c)) shall be applicable to communications to
customers regarding index warrants, currency index warrants, or currency warrants. To the extent that it is
made applicable to index warrants, currency index warrants, and currency warrants by FINRA Rule 2357,
Exchange Members and their associated persons shall comply with FINRA Rule 2220 (except FINRA Rule 2220(c))
as if such Rule were part of the Rules of the Exchange.
(b) For purposes of this rule, references to "FINRA" shall be construed as references to the Exchange.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
The record-keeping provisions of FINRA Rule 2360(b)(17)(B) shall be applicable to customer accounts approved
to trade index warrants, currency index warrants, or currency warrants. To the extent that it is made
applicable to index warrants, currency index warrants, and currency warrants by FINRA Rule 2358, Exchange
Members and their associated persons shall comply with FINRA Rule 2360(b)(17)(B) as if such Rule were part
of the Rules of the Exchange.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012); amended March 8, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-006), operative Jan. 24, 2022.
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).
Adopted Apr. 27, 2021 (SR-BX-2021-012).