Notice of Extension of Comment Period; Request by ProTrade for Exemption From Registration as a Clearing Agency

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-36864; File No. 600-28]

Notice of Extension of Comment Period; Request by ProTrade for

Exemption From Registration as a Clearing Agency

February 21, 1996.

On September 22, 1994, ProTrade filed with the Securities and

Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a Form CA-1 requesting an

exemption from registration as a clearing agency pursuant to Section

17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 \1\ and Rule 17Ab2-1

thereunder.\2\ ProTrade has supplemented the information provided in

its Form CA-1 with letters to the Commission dated October 27, 1994;

April 18, 1995; September 26, 1995; and October 2, 1995.

\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1 (1988).

\2\ 17 CFR 240.17Ab2-1 (1995).

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ProTrade's requested exemption from registration as a clearing

agency was published for notice and comment in the Federal Register on

December 20, 1995.\3\ In that notice, the Commission requested public

comments on ProTrade's requested exemption by February 16, 1996.

\3\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 36587 (December 13,

1995), 60 FR 65697 (December 20, 1995).

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Recently, the Commission's staff has received requests from

interested persons for an extension of time within which to comment on

the ProTrade notice. These persons claim that the ProTrade request

involves complicated and significant material and requires a longer

comment period to ensure that interested persons have sufficient time

in which to conduct thorough analyses.

Accordingly, in light of the substantial nature of the ProTrade

request and in light of the Commission's desire to consider the views

of all interested persons on the subject, the Commission believes that

an extension of the comment period is appropriate. Therefore, the

Commission is extending the comment period for responding to Securities

Exchange Act Release No. 36587 [File No. 600-28] from February 16,

1996, until March 8, 1996.

For the Commission by the Division of Market Regulation,

pursuant to delegated authority.\4\

\4\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12) (1995).

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Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96-4312 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-M