81 FR 1268 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fees for Certain CBOE Real-Time Data Feeds
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 6 (January 11, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 6 (January 11, 2016)
| Page Range | 1268-1272 | |
| FR Document | 2016-00254 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 1268-1272] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-00254] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-76828; File No. SR-CBOE-2015-115] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Fees for Certain CBOE Real-Time Data Feeds January 5, 2016. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that, on December 22, 2015, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the ``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (the ``Exchange'' or ``CBOE'') proposes to amend fees for certain CBOE real-time data feeds. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site (http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend fees for the BBO Data Feed and Book Depth Data Feed. These data feeds are made available by CBOE's affiliate Market Data Express, LLC (``MDX'').\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ MDX also offers real-time Complex Order Book (``COB'') and Flexible Exchange (``FLEX'') Options Data Feeds. The COB Data Feed includes data regarding the Exchange's Complex Order Book and related complex order information. The COB Data Feed includes BBO, Book Depth and last sale data for all CBOE-traded complex order strategies and identifies customer orders and trades. The Exchange is not proposing to amend fees for the COB Data Feed at this time. The FLEX Options Data Feed includes BBO and last sale data for FLEX options traded on the CBOE FLEX Hybrid Trading System, including BBO and last sale data for FLEX complex strategies. The FLEX Options Data Feed is currently made available at no charge. The Exchange is not proposing to establish fees for the FLEX Options Data Feed at this time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds BBO Data Feed: The BBO Data Feed is a real-time, low latency data feed that includes the following content: (i) Outstanding quotes and standing orders at the best available price level on each side of the market, with aggregate size (``BBO data''), and last sale data; \4\ (ii) totals of customer versus non-customer contracts at the BBO, (iii) All-or-None contingency orders priced better than or equal to the BBO, (iv) BBO and last sale data for complex strategies (e.g., spreads, straddles, buy-writes, etc.); (v) expected opening price (``EOP'') and expected opening size (``EOS'') information that is disseminated prior to the opening of the market and during trading rotations, (vi) end-of- day (``EOD'') summary messages that are disseminated after the close of a trading session that include summary [[Page 1269]] information about trading in CBOE listed options (i.e., product name, opening price, high and low price during the trading session and last sale price), (vii) ``recap messages'' that are disseminated during a trading session any time there is a change in the open, high, low or last sale price of a CBOE listed option, as well as product name and total volume traded in the product during the trading session; and (viii) product IDs and codes for all CBOE listed options contracts. The BBO Data Feed includes market data for simple options as well as complex strategies. The data in the BBO Data Feed is refreshed periodically during the trading session.\5\ The BBO and last sale data contained in the BBO Data Feed is identical to the data sent to the Options Price Reporting Authority (``OPRA'') for redistribution to the public.\6\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ ``Best bid and offer'' or ``BBO'' data is sometimes referred to as ``top-of-book'' data. Data with respect to executed trades is referred to as ``last sale'' data. \5\ The data is made available during ``Regular Trading Hours'' as defined in CBOE Rule 1.1(qqq) and ``Extended Trading Hours'' as defined in CBOE Rule 1.1(rrr). \6\ MDX makes available to Customers the BBO data and last sale data that is included in the BBO Data Feed no earlier than the time at which the Exchange sends that data to OPRA. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Book Depth Data Feed: The Book Depth Data Feed is a real-time, low latency data feed that includes all data contained in the BBO Data Feed (as described above) plus outstanding quotes and standing orders up to the first four price levels on each side of the market, with aggregate size (``Book Depth''). The data in the Book Depth Data Feed is refreshed periodically during the trading session.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ The data is made available during Regular Trading Hours and Extended Trading Hours. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fees BBO Data Feed Fees: MDX currently charges a ``Data Fee'', payable by a Customer, of $6,000 per month for internal use and external redistribution of the BBO Data Feed.\8\ The Data Fee entitles a Customer to provide the BBO Data Feed to an unlimited number of internal users and Devices \9\ within the Customer. A Customer receiving the BBO Data Feed from another Customer is assessed the Data Fee by MDX pursuant to its own market data agreement with MDX, and is entitled to use the Data internally and/or distribute it externally.\10\ All Customers have the same rights to utilize the data internally and/or distribute it externally as long as the Customer has entered into a written agreement with MDX for the data and pays the Data Fee. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ A BBO Data Feed ``Customer'' is any person, company or other entity that, pursuant to a market data agreement with MDX, is entitled to receive data, either directly from MDX or through an authorized redistributor (i.e., a Customer or an extranet service provider), whether that data is distributed externally or used internally. The MDX fee schedule for CBOE data is located at https://www.cboe.org/MDX/CSM/OBOOKMain.aspx. \9\ A ``Device'' means any computer, workstation or other item of equipment, fixed or portable, that receives, accesses and/or displays data in visual, audible or other form. \10\ A Customer may choose to receive the data from another Customer rather than directly from MDX's system because it does not want to or is not equipped to manage the technology necessary to establish a direct connection to MDX. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange proposes to increase the Data Fee from $6,000 per month to $7,000 per month. The Exchange currently charges a ``User Fee'', payable by a Customer, of $50 per month per Device or user ID for use of data in the BBO Data Feed by ``Display Only Service'' users.\11\ User fees are payable only for ``external'' Display Only Service users (Devices or user IDs of Display Only Service users who are not employees or natural person independent contractors of the Customer, the Customer's affiliates or an authorized service facilitator).\12\ The Exchange is not proposing to amend the User Fee at this time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ A ``Display Only Service'' allows a natural person end-user to view and manipulate data using the Customer's computerized service, but not to save, copy, export or transfer the data or any results of the manipulation to any other computer hardware, software or media, except for printing it to paper or other non-magnetic media. \12\ An entity or person that receives BBO data from a Customer through a Display Only Service is not a ``Customer'' unless it has a market data agreement in place with MDX. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Book Depth Data Feed Fees: MDX currently charges a ``Data Fee'', payable by a Customer (as defined above), of $6,000 per month for internal use and external redistribution of the Book Depth Data Feed. The Data Fee for the Book Depth Data Feed entitles a Customer to provide the Book Depth Data Feed to an unlimited number of internal users and Devices within the Customer. A Customer receiving the Book Depth Data Feed from another Customer is assessed the Data Fee by MDX pursuant to its own market data agreement with MDX, and is entitled to use the Data internally and/or distribute it externally. All Customers have the same rights to utilize the Book Depth data internally and/or distribute it externally as long as the Customer has entered into a written agreement with MDX for the data and pays the Data Fee. BBO Data Feed Customers may upgrade to become Book Depth Data Feed Customers without paying any additional Data Fee.\13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ Such Customers would still be subject to Display Only Service User Fees as described below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange proposes to increase the Data Fee from $6,000 per month to $7,000 per month. The Exchange currently charges a ``User Fee'', payable by a Customer, of $50 per month per Device or user ID for use of data in the Book Depth Data Feed by ``Display Only Service'' users (as defined above). User fees are payable only for ``external'' Display Only Service users (Devices or user IDs of Display Only Service users who are not employees or natural person independent contractors of the Customer, the Customer's affiliates or an authorized service facilitator).\14\ The Exchange is not proposing to amend the User Fee at this time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ An entity or person that receives Book Depth data from a Customer through a Display Only Service is not a ``Customer'' unless it has a market data agreement in place with MDX. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange also proposes to make a few clean-up changes to the MDX fee schedule for CBOE data, including removing several references to a January 1, 2015 effective date for prior fee changes. The proposed fee changes would be effective on January 1, 2016. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular, the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\15\ Specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) of the Act,\16\ which requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its Trading Permit Holders and other persons using its facilities. The Exchange also believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \17\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed increases in the Data Fees for the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds are intended to generate revenues that are needed to cover CBOE's actual and anticipated increases in the costs of collecting, processing and disseminating options market information and assuring the reliability and integrity of that information, as well as increases in CBOE's administrative costs. These costs include enhancements to CBOE's systems that are needed in order to enable CBOE to handle the continually increasing volume of market information and to accommodate the dissemination of data during Extended Trading Hours. [[Page 1270]] The Exchange believes the proposed increase in the Data Fee for BBO data is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it would apply equally to all Customers. The Exchange believes the proposed Data Fee is reasonable because it compares favorably to fees that other markets charge for similar products. For example, NASDAQ OMX PHLX charges Internal Distributors a monthly fee of $4,000 per organization and External Distributors a monthly fee of $5,000 per organization (i.e., a total of $9,000 per month for internal use and external redistribution) for its ``TOPO Plus Orders'' data feed, which like the BBO Data Feed includes top-of-book data (including orders, quotes and trades) and other market data.\18\ The International Securities Exchange offers a ``Top Quote Feed'', which includes top-of-book data, and a separate ``Spread Feed'', which like the BBO Data Feed includes order and quote data for complex strategies (i.e., a customer must subscribe to both feeds to receive data comparable to the BBO Data Feed). ISE charges distributors of its Top Quote Feed a base monthly fee of $3,000 plus $20 per month per controlled device. ISE charges distributors of its Spread Feed a base monthly fee of $3,000 plus $25 per month per controlled device.\19\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ See IX. Proprietary Data Feed Fees, TOPO Plus Orders, available at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=phlxpricing. \19\ See ISE Schedule of Fees available at http://www.ise.com/assets/documents/OptionsExchange/legal/fee/ISE_fee_schedule.pdf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes the proposed increase in the Data Fee for Book Depth data is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it would apply equally to all Customers. The Exchange believes the proposed Data Fee is reasonable because it compares favorably to fees that other markets charge for similar products. For example, the International Securities Exchange offers a ``Depth of Market'' Feed, which includes the aggregated volume of all quotes and orders available at each of the top five price levels for simple (single legged) instruments, and a separate Spread Feed, which like the Book Depth Data Feed includes order and quote data for complex strategies (i.e., a customer must subscribe to both feeds to receive data comparable to the Book Depth Data Feed). ISE charges distributors of its Depth of Market Feed a base monthly fee of $5,000 plus $50 per month per controlled device. ISE charges distributors of its Spread Feed a base monthly fee of $3,000 plus $25 per month per controlled device.\20\ NASDAQ OMX PHLX charges Internal Distributors a monthly fee of $4,000 and External Distributors a monthly fee of a $4,500 (i.e., a total of $8,500 per month for internal use and external redistribution) for its Depth of Market data feed that includes full depth of quotes and orders and last sale data for options listed on PHLX.\21\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \20\ Supra Note 19. \21\ See IX. Proprietary Data Feed Fees, PHLX Depth Data, available at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=phlxpricing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010), upheld reliance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') upon the existence of competitive market mechanisms to set reasonable and equitably allocated fees for proprietary market data: In fact, the legislative history indicates that the Congress intended that the market system `evolve through the interplay of competitive forces as unnecessary regulatory restrictions are removed' and that the SEC wield its regulatory power `in those situations where competition may not be sufficient,' such as in the creation of a `consolidated transactional reporting system.' Id. At 535 (quoting H.R. Rep. No. 94-229 at 92 (1975), as reprinted in 1975 U.S.C.C.A.N. 323). The court agreed with the Commission's conclusion that ``Congress intended that `competitive forces should dictate the services and practices that constitute the U.S. national market system for trading equity securities.' ''\22\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \22\ NetCoalition, 615 F.3d at 535 (Quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 9 [sic], 2008), 73 FR 74770 (December 9, 2008) at 74771). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As explained below in the Exchange's Statement on Burden on Competition, the Exchange believes that there is substantial evidence of competition in the marketplace for proprietary market data and that the Commission can rely upon such evidence in concluding that the fees established in this filing are the product of competition and therefore satisfy the relevant statutory standards. In addition, the existence of alternatives to these data products, such as consolidated data and proprietary data from other sources, as described below, further ensures that the Exchange cannot set unreasonable fees, or fees that are unreasonably discriminatory, when vendors and subscribers can select such alternatives. For the reasons cited above, the Exchange believes the proposed fees for the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds are equitable, reasonable and not unfairly discriminatory. In addition, the Exchange believes that no substantial countervailing basis exists to support a finding that the proposed fees for the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds fail to meet the requirements of the Act. B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition CBOE does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. An exchange's ability to price its proprietary data market feed products is constrained by (1) the existence of actual competition for the sale of such data, (2) the joint product nature of exchange platforms, and (3) the existence of alternatives to the Exchange's proprietary data. The Existence of Actual Competition. The Exchange believes competition provides an effective constraint on the market data fees that the Exchange, through MDX, has the ability and the incentive to charge. CBOE has a compelling need to attract order flow from market participants in order to maintain its share of trading volume. This compelling need to attract order flow imposes significant pressure on CBOE to act reasonably in setting its fees for market data, particularly given that the market participants that will pay such fees often will be the same market participants from whom CBOE must attract order flow. These market participants include broker-dealers that control the handling of a large volume of customer and proprietary order flow. Given the portability of order flow from one exchange to another, any exchange that sought to charge unreasonably high data fees would risk alienating many of the same customers on whose orders it depends for competitive survival. CBOE currently competes with twelve options exchanges (including CBOE's affiliate, C2 Options Exchange) for order flow.\23\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \23\ The Commission has previously made a finding that the options industry is subject to significant competitive forces. See e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59949 (May 20, 2009), 74 FR 25593 (May 28, 2009) (SR-ISE-2009-97) (order approving ISE's proposal to establish fees for a real-time depth of market data offering). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, in the case of products that are distributed through market data vendors, the market data vendors themselves provide additional price discipline for proprietary data products because they control the primary means of access to certain end users. These vendors impose price discipline based upon their business models. For example, vendors that assess a surcharge on data they sell are able to refuse to offer proprietary products that their end users do not or will not [[Page 1271]] purchase in sufficient numbers. Internet portals, such as Google, impose price discipline by providing only data that they believe will enable them to attract ``eyeballs'' that contribute to their advertising revenue. Similarly, Customers will not offer the BBO or Book Depth Data Feeds unless these products will help them maintain current users or attract new ones. For example, a broker-dealer will not choose to offer the BBO or Book Depth Data Feeds to its retail customers unless the broker-dealer believes that the retail customers will use and value the data and the provision of such data will help the broker-dealer maintain the customer relationship, which allows the broker-dealer to generate profits for itself. Professional users will not request any of these feeds from Customers unless they can use the data for profit-generating purposes in their businesses. All of these operate as constraints on pricing proprietary data products. Joint Product Nature of Exchange Platform. Transaction execution and proprietary data products are complementary in that market data is both an input and a byproduct of the execution service. In fact, market data and trade executions are a paradigmatic example of joint products with joint costs. The decision whether and on which platform to post an order will depend on the attributes of the platforms where the order can be posted, including the execution fees, data quality, and price and distribution of their data products. The more trade executions a platform does, the more valuable its market data products become. The costs of producing market data include not only the costs of the data distribution infrastructure, but also the costs of designing, maintaining, and operating the exchange's transaction execution platform and the cost of regulating the exchange to ensure its fair operation and maintain investor confidence. The total return that a trading platform earns reflects the revenues it receives from both products and the joint costs it incurs. Moreover, an exchange's broker- dealer customers view the costs of transaction executions and market data as a unified cost of doing business with the exchange. Analyzing the cost of market data product production and distribution in isolation from the cost of all of the inputs supporting the creation of market data and market data products will inevitably underestimate the cost of the data and data products because it is impossible to obtain the data inputs to create market data products without a fast, technologically robust, and well-regulated execution system, and system costs and regulatory costs affect the price of both obtaining the market data itself and creating and distributing market data products. It would be equally misleading, however, to attribute all of an exchange's costs to the market data portion of an exchange's joint products. Rather, all of an exchange's costs are incurred for the unified purposes of attracting order flow, executing and/or routing orders, and generating and selling data about market activity. The total return that an exchange earns reflects the revenues it receives from the joint products and the total costs of the joint products. The level of competition and contestability in the market is evident in the numerous alternative venues that compete for order flow, including 12 options self-regulatory organization (``SRO'') markets, as well as various forms of alternative trading systems (``ATSs''), including dark pools and electronic communication networks (``ECNs'') and internalizing broker-dealers (``BDs''). Competition among trading platforms can be expected to constrain the aggregate return that each platform earns from the sale of its joint products, but different platforms may choose from a range of possible, and equally reasonable, pricing strategies as the means of recovering total costs. For example, some platforms may choose to pay rebates to attract orders, charge relatively low prices for market data products (or provide market data products free of charge), and charge relatively high prices for accessing posted liquidity. Other platforms may choose a strategy of paying lower rebates (or no rebates) to attract orders, setting relatively high prices for market data products, and setting relatively low prices for accessing posted liquidity. In this environment, there is no economic basis for regulating maximum prices for one of the joint products in an industry in which suppliers face competitive constraints with regard to the joint offering. The Existence of Alternatives. CBOE is constrained in pricing the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds by the availability to market participants of alternatives to purchasing these products. CBOE must consider the extent to which market participants would choose one or more alternatives instead of purchasing the exchange's data. Other options exchanges can and have produced their own top-of-book and book depth market data products, and thus are sources of potential competition for MDX. For example, as noted above, ISE and NASDAQ OMX PHLX offer market data products that compete with the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds. The NYSE offers market data products entitled ``NYSE ArcaBook for Amex Options'' and ``NYSE ArcaBook for Arca Options'' that include top-of-book, last sale and market depth data similar to the data in the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds. The large number of SROs, BDs, and ATSs that currently produce proprietary data or are currently capable of producing it provides further pricing discipline for proprietary data products. Each SRO, ATS, and BD is currently permitted to produce proprietary data products, and many currently do. In addition, the OPRA data feed is a significant competitive alternative to the BBO and last sale data included in the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds. Further, data products are valuable to professional users only if they can be used for profit-generating purposes in their businesses and valuable to non-professional users only insofar as they provide information that such users expect will assist them in tracking prices and market trends and making trading decisions. The existence of numerous alternatives to the Exchange's products, including proprietary data from other sources, ensures that the Exchange cannot set unreasonable fees, or fees that are unreasonably discriminatory, when vendors and subscribers can elect these alternatives or choose not to purchase a specific proprietary data product if its cost to purchase is not justified by the returns any particular vendor or subscriber would achieve through the purchase. C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \24\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \25\ thereunder. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the [[Page 1272]] Commission will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \25\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic CommentsUse the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or Send an email to [email protected]. Please include File Number SR-CBOE-2015-115 on the subject line. Paper Comments Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2015-115. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CBOE-2015-115 and should be submitted on or before February 1, 2016. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\26\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \26\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-00254 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
![1268 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2016 / Notices
At any time within 60 days of the office of the Exchange. All comments II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
filing of the proposed rule change, the received will be posted without change; Statement of the Purpose of, and
Commission summarily may the Commission does not edit personal Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
temporarily suspend such rule change if identifying information from Change
it appears to the Commission that such submissions. You should submit only In its filing with the Commission, the
action is necessary or appropriate in the information that you wish to make Exchange included statements
public interest, for the protection of available publicly. All submissions concerning the purpose of and basis for
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of should refer to File Number SR– the proposed rule change and discussed
the purposes of the Act. If the NASDAQ–2015–163 and should be any comments it received on the
Commission takes such action, the submitted on or before February 1, 2016. proposed rule change. The text of these
Commission shall institute proceedings For the Commission, by the Division of statements may be examined at the
to determine whether the proposed rule Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated places specified in Item IV below. The
should be approved or disapproved. authority.16 Exchange has prepared summaries, set
IV. Solicitation of Comments Robert W. Errett, forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
Interested persons are invited to Deputy Secretary.
statements.
submit written data, views and [FR Doc. 2016–00252 Filed 1–8–16; 8:45 am]
arguments concerning the foregoing, BILLING CODE 8011–01–P A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
including whether the proposed rule Statement of the Purpose of, and
change is consistent with the Act. Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Comments may be submitted by any of SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE Change
the following methods: COMMISSION 1. Purpose
Electronic Comments The purpose of the proposed rule
[Release No. 34–76828; File No. SR–CBOE–
• Use the Commission’s Internet change is to amend fees for the BBO
2015–115] Data Feed and Book Depth Data Feed.
comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or These data feeds are made available by
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
• Send an email to rule- Chicago Board Options Exchange,
CBOE’s affiliate Market Data Express,
comments@sec.gov. Please include File LLC (‘‘MDX’’).3
Incorporated; Notice of Filing and
Number SR–NASDAQ–2015–163 on the Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds
subject line. Rule Change Relating to Fees for BBO Data Feed: The BBO Data Feed
Paper Comments Certain CBOE Real-Time Data Feeds is a real-time, low latency data feed that
• Send paper comments in triplicate January 5, 2016.
includes the following content: (i)
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Outstanding quotes and standing orders
Commission, 100 F Street NE., Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the at the best available price level on each
Washington, DC 20549–1090. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 side of the market, with aggregate size
All submissions should refer to File (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 (‘‘BBO data’’), and last sale data; 4 (ii)
Number SR–NASDAQ–2015–163. This notice is hereby given that, on December totals of customer versus non-customer
file number should be included on the 22, 2015, Chicago Board Options contracts at the BBO, (iii) All-or-None
subject line if email is used. To help the Exchange, Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ contingency orders priced better than or
Commission process and review your or ‘‘CBOE’’) filed with the Securities equal to the BBO, (iv) BBO and last sale
comments more efficiently, please use and Exchange Commission data for complex strategies (e.g.,
only one method. The Commission will (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule spreads, straddles, buy-writes, etc.); (v)
post all comments on the Commission’s change as described in Items I, II, and expected opening price (‘‘EOP’’) and
Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ III below, which Items have been expected opening size (‘‘EOS’’)
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the prepared by the Exchange. The information that is disseminated prior to
submission, all subsequent Commission is publishing this notice to the opening of the market and during
amendments, all written statements solicit comments on the proposed rule trading rotations, (vi) end-of-day
with respect to the proposed rule change from interested persons. (‘‘EOD’’) summary messages that are
disseminated after the close of a trading
change that are filed with the I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s session that include summary
Commission, and all written Statement of the Terms of Substance of
communications relating to the the Proposed Rule Change 3 MDX also offers real-time Complex Order Book
proposed rule change between the (‘‘COB’’) and Flexible Exchange (‘‘FLEX’’) Options
Commission and any person, other than Chicago Board Options Exchange, Data Feeds. The COB Data Feed includes data
those that may be withheld from the Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or regarding the Exchange’s Complex Order Book and
‘‘CBOE’’) proposes to amend fees for related complex order information. The COB Data
public in accordance with the Feed includes BBO, Book Depth and last sale data
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be certain CBOE real-time data feeds. The for all CBOE-traded complex order strategies and
available for Web site viewing and text of the proposed rule change is identifies customer orders and trades. The
printing in the Commission’s Public available on the Exchange’s Web site Exchange is not proposing to amend fees for the
(http://www.cboe.com/AboutCBOE/ COB Data Feed at this time. The FLEX Options Data
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Feed includes BBO and last sale data for FLEX
CBOELegalRegulatoryHome.aspx), at
ebenthall on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Washington, DC 20549, on official options traded on the CBOE FLEX Hybrid Trading
business days between the hours of the Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, System, including BBO and last sale data for FLEX
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the and at the Commission’s Public complex strategies. The FLEX Options Data Feed is
Reference Room. currently made available at no charge. The
filing also will be available for Exchange is not proposing to establish fees for the
inspection and copying at the principal FLEX Options Data Feed at this time.
16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12) and (59). 4 ‘‘Best bid and offer’’ or ‘‘BBO’’ data is sometimes
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See referred to as ‘‘top-of-book’’ data. Data with respect
15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. to executed trades is referred to as ‘‘last sale’’ data.
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![1270 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2016 / Notices
The Exchange believes the proposed NASDAQ OMX PHLX charges Internal countervailing basis exists to support a
increase in the Data Fee for BBO data is Distributors a monthly fee of $4,000 and finding that the proposed fees for the
equitable and not unfairly External Distributors a monthly fee of a BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds fail to
discriminatory because it would apply $4,500 (i.e., a total of $8,500 per month meet the requirements of the Act.
equally to all Customers. The Exchange for internal use and external
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
believes the proposed Data Fee is redistribution) for its Depth of Market
Statement on Burden on Competition
reasonable because it compares data feed that includes full depth of
favorably to fees that other markets quotes and orders and last sale data for CBOE does not believe that the
charge for similar products. For options listed on PHLX.21 proposed rule change will impose any
example, NASDAQ OMX PHLX charges The decision of the United States burden on competition that is not
Internal Distributors a monthly fee of Court of Appeals for the District of necessary or appropriate in furtherance
$4,000 per organization and External Columbia Circuit in NetCoalition v. of the purposes of the Act.
Distributors a monthly fee of $5,000 per SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010), An exchange’s ability to price its
organization (i.e., a total of $9,000 per upheld reliance by the Securities and proprietary data market feed products is
month for internal use and external Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) constrained by (1) the existence of
redistribution) for its ‘‘TOPO Plus upon the existence of competitive actual competition for the sale of such
Orders’’ data feed, which like the BBO market mechanisms to set reasonable data, (2) the joint product nature of
Data Feed includes top-of-book data and equitably allocated fees for exchange platforms, and (3) the
(including orders, quotes and trades) proprietary market data: existence of alternatives to the
and other market data.18 The Exchange’s proprietary data.
In fact, the legislative history indicates that The Existence of Actual Competition.
International Securities Exchange offers the Congress intended that the market system
a ‘‘Top Quote Feed’’, which includes ‘evolve through the interplay of competitive The Exchange believes competition
top-of-book data, and a separate ‘‘Spread forces as unnecessary regulatory restrictions provides an effective constraint on the
Feed’’, which like the BBO Data Feed are removed’ and that the SEC wield its market data fees that the Exchange,
includes order and quote data for regulatory power ‘in those situations where through MDX, has the ability and the
complex strategies (i.e., a customer must competition may not be sufficient,’ such as incentive to charge. CBOE has a
in the creation of a ‘consolidated compelling need to attract order flow
subscribe to both feeds to receive data transactional reporting system.’
comparable to the BBO Data Feed). ISE from market participants in order to
charges distributors of its Top Quote Id. At 535 (quoting H.R. Rep. No. 94– maintain its share of trading volume.
Feed a base monthly fee of $3,000 plus 229 at 92 (1975), as reprinted in 1975 This compelling need to attract order
$20 per month per controlled device. U.S.C.C.A.N. 323). The court agreed flow imposes significant pressure on
ISE charges distributors of its Spread with the Commission’s conclusion that CBOE to act reasonably in setting its
Feed a base monthly fee of $3,000 plus ‘‘Congress intended that ‘competitive fees for market data, particularly given
$25 per month per controlled device.19 forces should dictate the services and that the market participants that will
The Exchange believes the proposed practices that constitute the U.S. pay such fees often will be the same
increase in the Data Fee for Book Depth national market system for trading market participants from whom CBOE
data is equitable and not unfairly equity securities.’ ’’22 must attract order flow. These market
discriminatory because it would apply As explained below in the Exchange’s participants include broker-dealers that
equally to all Customers. The Exchange Statement on Burden on Competition, control the handling of a large volume
believes the proposed Data Fee is the Exchange believes that there is of customer and proprietary order flow.
reasonable because it compares substantial evidence of competition in Given the portability of order flow from
favorably to fees that other markets the marketplace for proprietary market one exchange to another, any exchange
charge for similar products. For data and that the Commission can rely that sought to charge unreasonably high
example, the International Securities upon such evidence in concluding that data fees would risk alienating many of
Exchange offers a ‘‘Depth of Market’’ the fees established in this filing are the the same customers on whose orders it
Feed, which includes the aggregated product of competition and therefore depends for competitive survival. CBOE
volume of all quotes and orders satisfy the relevant statutory standards. currently competes with twelve options
available at each of the top five price In addition, the existence of alternatives exchanges (including CBOE’s affiliate,
levels for simple (single legged) to these data products, such as C2 Options Exchange) for order flow.23
instruments, and a separate Spread consolidated data and proprietary data In addition, in the case of products
Feed, which like the Book Depth Data from other sources, as described below, that are distributed through market data
Feed includes order and quote data for further ensures that the Exchange vendors, the market data vendors
complex strategies (i.e., a customer must cannot set unreasonable fees, or fees themselves provide additional price
subscribe to both feeds to receive data that are unreasonably discriminatory, discipline for proprietary data products
comparable to the Book Depth Data when vendors and subscribers can because they control the primary means
Feed). ISE charges distributors of its select such alternatives. of access to certain end users. These
Depth of Market Feed a base monthly For the reasons cited above, the vendors impose price discipline based
fee of $5,000 plus $50 per month per Exchange believes the proposed fees for upon their business models. For
controlled device. ISE charges the BBO and Book Depth Data Feeds are example, vendors that assess a
distributors of its Spread Feed a base equitable, reasonable and not unfairly surcharge on data they sell are able to
monthly fee of $3,000 plus $25 per discriminatory. In addition, the refuse to offer proprietary products that
month per controlled device.20 Exchange believes that no substantial
ebenthall on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
their end users do not or will not
18 See IX. Proprietary Data Feed Fees, TOPO Plus 21 See IX. Proprietary Data Feed Fees, PHLX 23 The Commission has previously made a finding
Orders, available at http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/ Depth Data, available at http:// that the options industry is subject to significant
Micro.aspx?id=phlxpricing. www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=phlxpricing. competitive forces. See e.g., Securities Exchange
19 See ISE Schedule of Fees available at http:// 22 NetCoalition, 615 F.3d at 535 (Quoting Act Release No. 59949 (May 20, 2009), 74 FR 25593
www.ise.com/assets/documents/OptionsExchange/ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (May 28, 2009) (SR–ISE–2009–97) (order approving
legal/fee/ISE_fee_schedule.pdf. (December 9 [sic], 2008), 73 FR 74770 (December ISE’s proposal to establish fees for a real-time depth
20 Supra Note 19. 9, 2008) at 74771). of market data offering).
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![1272 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 6 / Monday, January 11, 2016 / Notices
Commission will institute proceedings For the Commission, by the Division of a collection of practices and concepts
to determine whether the proposed rule Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated for business model analysis—to those
change should be approved or authority.26 scientists’ and entrepreneurs’ nascent
disapproved. Robert W. Errett, entrepreneurial efforts. Given the SBA’s
Deputy Secretary. esteem for the success of this program,
IV. Solicitation of Comments [FR Doc. 2016–00254 Filed 1–8–16; 8:45 am] the SBA has partnered with the National
Interested persons are invited to BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Science Foundation (NSF) to offer the
submit written data, views and Lean for Main Street Training Challenge
arguments concerning the foregoing, to current SBA Women’s Business
including whether the proposed rule SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Centers, Small Business Development
change is consistent with the Act. Centers, and SCORE Chapters
Announcement of Lean for Main Street (‘‘Contestants’’). Contestants selected as
Comments may be submitted by any of Training Challenge
the following methods: winners will participate in the
AGENCY: U.S. Small Business development and deployment of
Electronic Comments Administration. innovative ‘‘lean startup’’ resources that
ACTION: Notice. can be delivered to small businesses in
• Use the Commission’s Internet sectors or regions that have not had
comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business significant exposure or access to these
rules/sro.shtml); or Administration (SBA) announces the resources. Winning Contestant
• Send an email to rule- Lean for Main Street Training representatives will participate in an in-
comments@sec.gov. Please include File Challenge, pursuant to the America person and virtual train-the-trainer
Number SR–CBOE–2015–115 on the Competes Act, to encourage current program and forum with I-CorpsTM
subject line. SBA Women’s Business Centers, Small national instructors to develop an
Business Development Centers, and innovative framework for exposing lean
Paper Comments SCORE Chapters—to identify ways of methodology to businesses in traditional
adapting framework established under
• Send paper comments in triplicate sectors. Winners will then implement
the National Science Foundation’s these newly-developed lean training
to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
successful I-CorpsTM business assistance resources to businesses in their
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
program for small businesses and respective communities on a pilot basis
Washington, DC 20549–1090.
aspiring entrepreneurs that have not had and provide SBA with an assessment of
All submissions should refer to File much exposure to those kinds of their effectiveness.
Number SR–CBOE–2015–115. This file resources.
2. Eligibility Rules for Participating in
number should be included on the DATES: The submission period for the Competition: Only current recipients
subject line if email is used. To help the entries will begin at 12:00 p.m. EDT, or sub-recipients in good standing of
Commission process and review your January 11, 2016, and end February 10, grants and cooperative agreements from
comments more efficiently, please use 2016, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. SBA SBA under the Women’s Business
only one method. The Commission will anticipates that winners will be Center, Small Business Development
post all comments on the Commission’s announced no later than February 29, Center (both lead and service centers are
Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ 2016. eligible), or SCORE programs
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the (‘‘Resource Partners’’) are eligible to take
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
submission, all subsequent part in this competition. To be eligible
Matthew Stevens, Strategic Initiatives
amendments, all written statements to win a prize under this Competition,
Manager, Office of Entrepreneurial
with respect to the proposed rule a Contestant:
Development, U.S. Small Business
change that are filed with the
Administration, 409 Third Street SW., (a) Shall have registered to participate
Commission, and all written
6th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202) in the competition under the rules
communications relating to the
205–7699, LeanChallenge@sba.gov. promulgated by SBA;
proposed rule change between the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (b) Shall have complied with all the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the Competition Details requirements under this Notice;
public in accordance with the (c) In the case of a private entity, shall
1. Subject of Challenge Competition:
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be be incorporated in and maintain a
Given the success and growing
available for Web site viewing and primary place of business in the United
popularity of the National Science
printing in the Commission’s Public States, and
Foundation’s I-CorpsTM program (see
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., http://www.nsf.gov/news/ (d) May not be a Federal entity or
Washington, DC 20549, on official special_reports/i-corps/about.jsp), the Federal employee acting within the
business days between the hours of SBA is interested in the potential for scope of their employment;
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the using adapted versions of that program (e) Shall not be an SBA employee
filing also will be available for as a means to assist a broader array of working on their applications during
inspection and copying at the principal small businesses and aspiring assigned duty hours.
office of the Exchange. All comments entrepreneurs operating outside the I- 3. Registration Process for
received will be posted without change; CorpsTM program’s current focus on Contestants: Contestants will submit
the Commission does not edit personal technology-based businesses or their application through challenge.gov.
ebenthall on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
identifying information from commercialization concepts. For Winners will be required to have an
submissions. You should submit only reference, the I-CorpsTM program account in System for Award
information that you wish to make involves expert business trainers Management (SAM) https://
available publicly. All submissions helping teams of scientists and www.sam.gov to receive the award.
should refer to File Number SR–CBOE– entrepreneurs apply ‘‘lean principles’’— 4. Amount of Prize: Through the Lean
2015–115 and should be submitted on for Main Street Training Challenge, the
or before February 1, 2016. 26 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). SBA will award up to five cash prizes
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Document Created: 2016-01-16 01:03:41
Document Modified: 2016-01-16 01:03:41
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 1268 |
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