SEC approves listing threshold for certain NYSE companies
Citing the "dramatic decline in stock prices and market capitalizations of many listed companies", the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently published temporary changes filed by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in its listing thresholds for certain listed companies. These changes went into effect on May 12, 2009, the date of filing by the NYSE, and will remain in force until October 31, 2009. Prior to these temporary amendments, the rules considered companies that qualified to list under the Earnings Test, Assets and Equity Test or the "Initial Listing Standard for Companies Transferring from NYSE Arca" standard of the NYSE's Listed Company Manual to be below compliance standards if their average global market cap over a consecutive 30 trading-day period was less than $75 million and, at the same time, total stockholders' equity was less than $75 million. These temporary changes have lowered the thresholds for these companies to $50 million. Although the changes are in effect, the SEC is inviting comments until June 25, 2009 as it has 60 days from the date of filing to abrogate the rule change.
