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 "good `til cancelled," "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 NASD;
(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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(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 Rule 9600 Series, Nasdaq 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 Nasdaq's rules, 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 Rule 9600 Series, Nasdaq 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./p>
(e) Whenever a clearing member designated to Nasdaq 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 Nasdaq for review and approval.
(f) Whenever an introducing member designated to Nasdaq 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 Nasdaq
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 Nasdaq 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 February 20, 2006.
(i) Members shall be exempt from this Rule 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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Section 3. Publication of Transactions and Quotations
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Section 4. Manipulative and Deceptive Quotations
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(a) To the extent such information is not otherwise reported to the 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 Nasdaq and shall regularly report such information to Nasdaq in such a manner as may be prescribed by Nasdaq. Reports shall be received by Nasdaq no later than the second business day after the reporting settlement date designated by Nasdaq.
(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 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 Nasdaq.
(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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Section 10. Prompt Receipt and Delivery of Securities
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Section 11. Order Entry and Execution Practices
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
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.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
(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 Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Nasdaq 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, Nasdaq Market Makers shall be deemed to be exchange specialists.
Amended Nov. 23, 2020 (SR-NASDAQ-2020-079).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).
Adopted April 28, 2021 (SR-NASDAQ-2021-030).