81_FR_13025 81 FR 12977 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 123C To Provide for How the Exchange Would Determine an Official Closing Price if the Exchange is Unable To Conduct a Closing Transaction

81 FR 12977 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 123C To Provide for How the Exchange Would Determine an Official Closing Price if the Exchange is Unable To Conduct a Closing Transaction

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)

Page Range12977-12981
FR Document2016-05436

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12977-12981]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05436]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77305; File No. SR-NYSE-2016-18]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 123C To Provide 
for How the Exchange Would Determine an Official Closing Price if the 
Exchange is Unable To Conduct a Closing Transaction

March 7, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that on February 25, 2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' 
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, 
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 123C to provide for how the 
Exchange would determine an Official Closing Price if the Exchange is 
unable to conduct a closing transaction. The proposed rule change is 
available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, 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 self-regulatory organization 
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 those 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 parts of such statements.

[[Page 12978]]

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange is proposing to amend its rules to specify back-up 
procedures for determining an Official Closing Price for Exchange-
listed securities if it is unable to conduct a closing transaction in 
one or more securities due to a systems or technical issue.\4\ 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 123C to provide for 
how the Exchange would determine an Official Closing Price if the 
Exchange is impaired.
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    \4\ See Exchange press release dated July 22, 2015, available 
here: http://ir.theice.com/press-and-publications/press-releases/all-categories/2015/07-22-2015.aspx.
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    The Exchange developed this proposal in consultation with its 
affiliated exchanges, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'') and NYSE MKT LLC 
(``NYSE MKT''), and the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq''), and took 
into consideration feedback from discussions with industry 
participants, including meeting the following key goals important to 
market participants:
     Providing a pre-determined, consistent solution that would 
result in a closing print to the applicable securities information 
processor (``SIP'') within a reasonable time frame from the normal 
closing time;
     Minimizing the need for industry participants to modify 
their processing of data from the SIPs; and
     Providing advance notification of the applicable closing 
contingency plan to provide sufficient time for industry participants 
to route any closing interest to an alternate venue to participate in 
that venue's closing auction.
Background
    The Exchange recently amended Rule 123C to add the definition of 
``Official Closing Price'' for all Exchange-listed securities and, once 
implemented, will disseminate to the SIP the Official Closing Price as 
an ``M'' value.\5\ In that filing, the Exchange amended Rule 
123C(1)(e)(i) to define the ``Official Closing Price'' of a security 
listed on the Exchange as the price established in a closing 
transaction under paragraphs (7) and (8) of Rule 123C of one round lot 
or more. If there is no closing transaction in a security or if a 
closing transaction is less than one round lot, the Official Closing 
Price will be the most recent last-sale eligible trade in such security 
on the Exchange on that trading day.
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76598 (Dec. 9, 
2015), 80 FR 77688 (Dec. 15, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-62). For a 
description of all sale conditions that are reportable to the SIP, 
including the ``M'' value, see the Consolidated Tape System 
Participant Communications Interface Specification, dated November 
16, 2015, at 86, available here: https://www.ctaplan.com/publicdocs/ctaplan/notifications/trader-update/cts_input_spec.pdf.
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    The Exchange further amended Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) to provide for how 
the Exchange would determine an Official Closing Price if the Exchange 
is unable to conduct a closing transaction in a security or securities 
due to a systems or technical issue. In such case, the Official Closing 
Price will be the last consolidated last-sale eligible trade for such 
security during regular trading hours on that trading day. The rule 
further provides that if there were no consolidated last-sale eligible 
trades in a security on a trading day when the Exchange is unable to 
conduct a closing transaction in a security or securities due to a 
systems or technical issue, the Official Closing Price of such security 
will be the prior day's Official Closing Price.
    The Exchange also amended Rule 440B(b) to provide that Exchange 
systems will not execute or display a short sale order with respect to 
a covered security at a price that is less than or equal to the current 
national best bid if the price of that security decreases by 10% or 
more, as determined by the listing market for that security, from the 
security's Official Closing Price, as defined in Rule 123C as of the 
end of regular trading hours on the prior day (``Trigger Price'').
Proposed Amendments
    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) to provide for 
the proposed new contingency plan of how the Exchange would determine 
an Official Closing Price if the Exchange is unable to conduct a 
closing transaction in a security or securities due to a systems or 
technical issue. To reflect this change, the Exchange would replace the 
current rule text in Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii).
    As proposed, Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) would provide that if the Exchange 
determines at or before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time that it is unable to 
conduct a closing transaction in one or more securities due to a 
systems or technical issue, the Exchange would designate an alternate 
exchange for such security or securities. The Exchange would publicly 
announce the exchange designated as the alternate exchange via Trader 
Update.\6\ In such case, the Official Closing Price of each security 
would be determined on the following hierarchy:
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    \6\ The Exchange expects that it would designate one of its 
affiliated exchanges as the alternate exchange and would designate 
Nasdaq only if its affiliated exchanges were also impacted by the 
systems or technical issue.
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     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(A) would provide that the 
Official Closing Price would be the official closing price for such 
security under the rules of the designated alternate exchange. For 
example, if the Exchange designates NYSE Arca as the alternate 
exchange, the Official Closing Price would be based on NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 1.1(ggP), which defines how NYSE Arca establishes an 
official closing price.\7\ If Nasdaq were designated as the alternate 
exchange, the Official Closing Price would be the official closing 
price established in Nasdaq Rule 4754.
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    \7\ NYSE Arca Equities will be filing a rule proposal to amend 
Rule 1.1(ggP)(1) to provide that the manner by which NYSE Arca 
determines the Official Closing Price under that rule for securities 
listed on NYSE Arca would also be applicable to any securities for 
which NYSE Arca conducts a closing auction, including securities 
that trade on an unlisted trading privileges basis.
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     The proposed 3:00 p.m. cut off time was selected in part 
based on discussions with market participants regarding their 
capability to re-direct closing-only interest in Exchange-listed 
securities in time to participate in the closing auction of an 
alternate venue. By designating an alternate exchange before 3:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time, the Exchange therefore believes that market participants 
would be more likely to have sufficient notice to direct any closing-
only interest in Exchange-listed securities to the designated alternate 
exchange. By providing market participants sufficient time, when 
possible, to route closing-only interest to an alternate venue for 
participation in that exchange's closing auction process, that 
alternate exchange's closing auction would be more likely to result in 
a closing price that reflects market value for such security.
     If there were insufficient interest for a closing auction 
on the designated alternate exchange, the Exchange believes that the 
respective rules of NYSE Arca and Nasdaq provide for an appropriate 
hierarchy of which price to use to determine the Official Closing 
Price. For example, under NYSE Arca Rule 1.1(ggP)(1), if there is no 
closing auction of one round lot or more on a trading day, the official 
closing price under that rule is the most recent consolidated last sale 
eligible trade during Core Trading Hours on that trading day. That rule 
further provides that if there were no consolidated last sale eligible 
trades during Core Trading Hours on that trading day, NYSE Arca's

[[Page 12979]]

official closing price will be the prior day's Official Closing Price. 
This hierarchy is similar to how the Exchange determines the Official 
Closing Price pursuant to Rule 123C(1)(e)(i) when there is no closing 
transaction of a round lot or more, except that in lieu of a closing 
auction, NYSE Arca uses the last consolidated last sale eligible trade 
rather than the last Exchange last-sale eligible trade.
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(B) would provide if the 
designated alternate exchange does not have an official closing price 
in a security, the Official Closing price would be the volume-weighted 
average price (``VWAP'') of the consolidated last-sale eligible prices 
of the last five minutes of trading during regular trading hours up to 
the time that the VWAP is processed. The VWAP would include any closing 
transactions on an exchange and would take into account any trade 
breaks or corrections up to the time the VWAP is processed. Because the 
VWAP would include any last-sale eligible trades, busts, or corrections 
that were reported up to the time that the SIP calculates the VWAP, the 
Exchange believes that the VWAP price would reflect any pricing 
adjustments that may be reported after 4:00 p.m. ET.
     As discussed above, the manner by which exchanges 
calculate their respective official closing prices provide for an 
official closing price in the absence of a closing transaction. 
Accordingly, the Exchange believes that in circumstances when the 
Exchange designates an alternate exchange, the VWAP calculation would 
rarely be used to determine the Official Closing Price for an Exchange-
listed security.
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(C) would provide that if the 
designated alternate exchange does not have an official closing price 
in a security and there were no consolidated last-sale eligible trades 
in the last five minutes of trading during regular trading hours in 
such security, the Official Closing Price would be the last 
consolidated last-sale eligible trade during regular trading hours on 
that trading day.
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(D) would provide that if the 
designated alternate exchange does not have an official closing price 
in a security and there were no consolidated last-sale eligible trades 
in a security on a trading day in such security, the Official Closing 
Price would be the prior day's Official Closing Price.
     Finally, proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(E) would provide 
that if an Official Closing Price for a security cannot be determined 
under (A), (B), or (C) of proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) and there is no 
prior day's Official Closing Price, the Exchange would not publish an 
Official Closing Price for such security.
    The Exchange would use the hierarchy set forth in proposed Rule 
123C(e)(ii)(B)-(E) only if the designated alternate exchange did not 
disseminate an official closing price in a security. In such case, the 
proposed hierarchy is based on current Rule 123C(1)(e)(i), which 
provides that, if the Exchange is unable to conduct a closing 
transaction, the Official Closing Price will be the last consolidated 
last-sale eligible trade for such security during regular trading hours 
on that trading day, and if there were no consolidated last-sale 
eligible trades in a security, the Official Closing Price of such 
security will be the prior day's Official Closing Price. In addition, 
the Exchange proposes to add as paragraph (E) of Rule 123C(e)(ii) what 
would happen if there were no Official Closing Price published on the 
prior trading day (i.e., the Exchange would not publish an Official 
Closing Price). The Exchange believes not publishing an Official 
Closing Price would be a rare occurrence, and is most likely to occur 
for a thinly-traded security, such as a when issued security, right, or 
warrant, that has been listed for trading but does not have any 
consolidated last-sale eligible trades.
    If the Exchange determines that it is impaired before 3:00 p.m. and 
the Official Closing Price for an Exchange-listed security is 
determined pursuant to proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), the SIP would 
publish the Official Closing Price for such security no differently 
than how the SIP publishes the Official Closing Price for an Exchange-
listed security pursuant to Rule 123C(1)(e)(i).\8\ Accordingly, if the 
Official Closing Price is determined pursuant to proposed Rule 
123C(1)(e)(ii), recipients of SIP data would not have to make any 
changes to their systems because the SIP would publish the ``M'' last 
sale condition as an Exchange Official Closing Price for any impacted 
Exchange-listed securities.
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    \8\ The Operating Committees of the CTA Plan, CQ Plan, and the 
Joint Self-Regulatory Organization Plan Governing the Collection, 
Consolidation, and Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction 
Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on Exchanges on an 
Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis approved the Impaired Market 
Contingency Plan under which the SIPs would print an impaired 
primary listing exchange's contingency Official Closing Price as the 
Official Closing Price of that primary listing exchange as provided 
for in the rules of respective primary listing exchanges.
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    As further proposed, Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii) would describe how the 
Exchange would determine the Official Closing Price for a security if 
the Exchange determines after 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time that it is unable 
to conduct a closing transaction in one or more securities due to a 
systems or technical issue. Based on input from market participants, 
the Exchange believes that, if the Exchange were to announce after 3:00 
p.m. Eastern Time that it is impaired and unable to conduct a closing 
transaction, market participants would not have sufficient time to re-
direct closing-only orders to an alternate venue. The proposed 
hierarchy would be similar to proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), but would 
not contemplate a closing transaction on a designated alternate 
exchange. Accordingly, in such scenario, the Exchange proposes to use 
the following hierarchy for determining the Official Closing Price for 
a security:
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(A) would provide that the 
Official Closing Price would be the VWAP of the consolidated last-sale 
eligible prices of the last five minutes of trading during regular 
trading hours up to the time that the VWAP is processed, including any 
closing transactions on an exchange. The VWAP would take into account 
any trade breaks or corrections up to the time of the VWAP is 
processed. This VWAP would be calculated in the same manner as set 
forth in proposed in Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(B), described above. However, 
if the Exchange's determination that it is unable to conduct a closing 
transaction is after 3:00 p.m. ET, the proposed VWAP calculation would 
be the primary means for determining the Official Closing Price for a 
security. In such case, the Exchange believes that the VWAP would 
appropriately reflect the pricing of a security because it would 
include, in a volume-weighted manner, the price and volume of closing 
transactions on other exchanges if market participants are able to 
route closing interest in Exchange-listed securities to an alternate 
venue for participation in a closing auction.
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(B) would provide that if 
there were no consolidated last-sale eligible trades in the last five 
minutes of trading during regular trading hours in such security, the 
Official Closing Price would be the last consolidated last-sale 
eligible trades during regular trading hours on that trading day. This 
proposed rule text is the same as proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(C).
     Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(C) would provide that if 
there were no consolidated last-sale eligible trades in such security 
on a trading day, the Official Closing Price would be the prior day's 
Official Closing Price. This

[[Page 12980]]

proposed rule text is the same as proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(D).
     Finally, proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(D) would provide 
that if an Official Closing Price for a security cannot be determined 
under (A), (B), or (C) of proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii) and there is no 
prior day's Official Closing Price, the Exchange would not publish an 
Official Closing Price for such security. This proposed rule text is 
based on proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(E).
    Similar to how the Official Closing Price would be published under 
proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), if the Exchange determines that it is 
impaired after 3:00 p.m. and the Official Closing Price is determined 
pursuant to proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii), the SIP would publish the 
Official Closing Price for such security no differently than how the 
SIP publishes the Official Closing Price for an Exchange-listed 
security pursuant to Rule 123C(1)(e)(i). Accordingly, if the Official 
Closing Price is determined pursuant to proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii), 
recipients of SIP data would not have to make any changes to their 
systems because the SIP would publish the ``M'' last sale condition as 
an Exchange Official Closing Price for any impacted Exchange-listed 
securities.
    For purposes of Rule 440B(b), the Official Closing Price would 
still be determined based on Rule 123C and if the market is impaired, 
the Official Closing Price as defined in proposed Rules 123C(1)(e)(ii) 
and (iii) would be used for purposes of determining whether a Short 
Sale Price Test is triggered in a security the next trading day.
    Because of the technology changes associated with this proposed 
rule change, the Exchange will implement the proposed back-up 
procedures for determining an Official Closing Price no later than 120 
days after approval of this proposed rule change and will announce the 
implementation date via Trader Update.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in particular, in that it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 
transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system because it would provide transparency in how 
the Exchange would determine the Official Closing Price in Exchange-
listed securities when the Exchange is unable to conduct a closing 
transaction due to a systems or technical issue. The Exchange believes 
that the proposed amendments would remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system 
because the proposed determination of an Official Closing Price was 
crafted in response to input from industry participants and would:
     Provide a pre-determined, consistent solution that would 
result in a closing print to the SIP within a reasonable time frame 
from the normal closing time;
     minimize the need for industry participants to modify 
their processing of data from the SIP; and
     provide advance notification of the applicable closing 
contingency plan to provide sufficient time for industry participants 
to route any closing interest to an alternate venue to participate in 
that venue's closing auction.
    More specifically, the Exchange believes the proposed hierarchy for 
determining the Official Closing Price if the Exchange determines that 
it is impaired before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time would remove impediments 
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system because the proposal, which is based on input from market 
participants, would provide sufficient time for market participants to 
direct closing-only interest to a designated alternate exchange in time 
for such interest to participate in a closing auction on such alternate 
venue in a meaningful manner. The Exchange further believes that 
relying on the official closing price of a designated alternate 
exchange would provide for an established hierarchy for determining an 
Official Closing Price for an Exchange-listed security if there is 
insufficient interest to conduct a closing auction on the alternate 
exchange. In such case, the rules of NYSE Arca and Nasdaq already 
provide a mechanism for determining an official closing price for 
securities that trade on those markets.
    The Exchange further believes that if the Exchange determines after 
3:00 p.m. that it is impaired and unable the [sic] conduct a closing 
transaction, the proposed VWAP calculation would remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system because it would provide for a mechanism to determine the 
value of an affected security for purposes of determining an Official 
Closing Price. By using a volume-weighted calculation that would 
include the closing transactions on an affected security on alternate 
exchanges as well as any busts or corrections that were reported up to 
the time that the SIP calculates the value, the Exchange believes that 
the proposed calculation would reflect the correct price of a security. 
In addition, by using a VWAP calculation rather than the last 
consolidated last-sale eligible price as of the end of regular trading 
hours, the Exchange would reduce the potential for an anomalous trade 
that may not reflect the true price of a security from being set as the 
Official Closing Price for a security.
    The Exchange further believes that the proposed rule change would 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system because the proposal would have 
minimal impact on market participants. As proposed, from the 
perspective of market participants, even if the Exchange were impaired, 
the SIP would publish an Official Closing Price for Exchange-listed 
securities on behalf of the Exchange in a manner that would be no 
different than if the Exchange were not impaired. If the Exchange 
determines that it is impaired after 3:00 p.m., market participants 
would not have to make any system changes. If the Exchange determines 
that it is impaired before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time and designates an 
alternate exchange, market participants may have to do systems work to 
re-direct closing-only orders to the alternate exchange. However, the 
Exchange understands, based on input from market participants, that 
such changes would be feasible based on the amount of advance notice. 
In addition, the Exchange believes that designating an alternate 
exchange when there is sufficient time to do so would remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system because it would allow for the price-discovery 
mechanism of a closing auction to be available for impacted Exchange-
listed securities.

[[Page 12981]]

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange 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. The proposed rule change is 
not designed to address any competitive issues, but rather to provide 
for how the Exchange would determine an Official Closing Price for 
Exchange-listed securities if it is impaired and cannot conduct a 
closing transaction due to a systems or technical issue. The proposal 
has been crafted with input from market participants, Nasdaq, and the 
SIPs, and is designed to reduce the burden on competition by having 
similar back-up procedures across all primary listing exchanges if such 
exchange is is [sic] impaired and cannot conduct a closing transaction.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate 
if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its 
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory 
organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

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 Comments

     Use 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-NYSE-2016-18 on the subject line.

Paper Comments:

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2016-18. 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-NYSE-2016-18 and should be 
submitted on or before April 1, 2016.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant 
to delegated authority.\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-05436 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices                                        12977

                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                       Washington, DC 20549–1090.                             COMMISSION
                                                      Because the rule change proposes                       All submissions should refer to File
                                                    ministerial changes related to the                       Number SR–BYX–2016–07. This file                       [Release No. 34–77305; File No. SR–NYSE–
                                                    administration, and not the governance                   number should be included on the                       2016–18]
                                                    or operation, of the Exchange, the                       subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                    Exchange does not believe that the                                                                              Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
                                                                                                             Commission process and review your
                                                    proposed rule change will impose any                                                                            York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of
                                                                                                             comments more efficiently, please use
                                                    burden on competition not necessary or                                                                          Filing of Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                             only one method. The Commission will
                                                    appropriate in furtherance of the                                                                               Amending Rule 123C To Provide for
                                                                                                             post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                    purposes of the Act.                                                                                            How the Exchange Would Determine
                                                                                                             Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                    an Official Closing Price if the
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                                                                                    Exchange is Unable To Conduct a
                                                                                                             submission, all subsequent
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                                                                              Closing Transaction
                                                                                                             amendments, all written statements
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                         with respect to the proposed rule                      March 7, 2016.
                                                      The Exchange has not solicited, and                    change that are filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                       Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                    does not intend to solicit, comments on                  Commission, and all written                            Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                    this proposed rule change. The                           communications relating to the                         ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                    Exchange has not received any                            proposed rule change between the                       notice is hereby given that on February
                                                    unsolicited written comments from                        Commission and any person, other than                  25, 2016, New York Stock Exchange
                                                    Members or other interested parties.                     those that may be withheld from the                    LLC (‘‘NYSE’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                        public in accordance with the                          with the Securities and Exchange
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                      provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                    Commission Action                                        available for Web site viewing and                     proposed rule change as described in
                                                                                                             printing in the Commission’s Public                    Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                                       Because it is concerned solely with
                                                                                                             Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      have been prepared by the self-
                                                    the administration of the Exchange, the
                                                                                                             Washington, DC 20549, on official                      regulatory organization. The
                                                    foregoing proposed rule change has
                                                    become effective pursuant to section                     business days between the hours of                     Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                    19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 13 and Rule                  10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                    19b–4(f)(3) thereunder.14                                filing also will be available for                      change from interested persons.
                                                       At any time within 60 days of the                     inspection and copying at the principal
                                                    filing of the proposed rule change, the                  office of the Exchange. All comments                   I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Commission summarily may                                 received will be posted without change;                Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    temporarily suspend such rule change if                  the Commission does not edit personal                  the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    it appears to the Commission that such                   identifying information from
                                                                                                                                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend
                                                    action is: (1) Necessary or appropriate in               submissions. You should submit only
                                                                                                                                                                    Rule 123C to provide for how the
                                                    the public interest; (2) for the protection              information that you wish to make
                                                                                                                                                                    Exchange would determine an Official
                                                    of investors; or (3) otherwise in                        available publicly. All submissions
                                                                                                                                                                    Closing Price if the Exchange is unable
                                                    furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                  should refer to File Number SR–BYX–                    to conduct a closing transaction. The
                                                    If the Commission takes such action, the                 2016–07, and should be submitted on or                 proposed rule change is available on the
                                                    Commission shall institute proceedings                   before April 1, 2016.
                                                    to determine whether the proposed rule                                                                          Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
                                                    should be approved or disapproved.
                                                                                                               For the Commission, by the Division of               at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                                                                             Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             and at the Commission’s Public
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                             authority.15                                           Reference Room.
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                      Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                                                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    submit written data, views, and                          Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                      [FR Doc. 2016–05439 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am]            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                      BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 Change
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                               In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                    the following methods:                                                                                          self-regulatory organization included
                                                    Electronic Comments                                                                                             statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                                                                                                                                    and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                                                                                    and discussed any comments it received
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                    on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                                                                             of those statements may be examined at
                                                                                                                                                                    the places specified in Item IV below.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                    BYX–2016–07 on the subject line.                                                                                The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                                                                                                                                    set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                    Paper Comments                                                                                                  of the most significant parts of such
                                                      • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                           statements.
                                                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                      1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                      13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).                                                                                 2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                      14 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(3).                               15 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                           3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                    12978                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices

                                                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       or more. If there is no closing                       Official Closing Price of each security
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and the                    transaction in a security or if a closing             would be determined on the following
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  transaction is less than one round lot,               hierarchy:
                                                    Change                                                  the Official Closing Price will be the                   • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(A)
                                                                                                            most recent last-sale eligible trade in               would provide that the Official Closing
                                                    1. Purpose
                                                                                                            such security on the Exchange on that                 Price would be the official closing price
                                                       The Exchange is proposing to amend                   trading day.                                          for such security under the rules of the
                                                    its rules to specify back-up procedures                    The Exchange further amended Rule                  designated alternate exchange. For
                                                    for determining an Official Closing Price               123C(1)(e)(ii) to provide for how the                 example, if the Exchange designates
                                                    for Exchange-listed securities if it is                 Exchange would determine an Official                  NYSE Arca as the alternate exchange,
                                                    unable to conduct a closing transaction                 Closing Price if the Exchange is unable               the Official Closing Price would be
                                                    in one or more securities due to a                      to conduct a closing transaction in a                 based on NYSE Arca Equities Rule
                                                    systems or technical issue.4 Specifically,              security or securities due to a systems               1.1(ggP), which defines how NYSE Arca
                                                    the Exchange proposes to amend Rule                     or technical issue. In such case, the                 establishes an official closing price.7 If
                                                    123C to provide for how the Exchange                    Official Closing Price will be the last               Nasdaq were designated as the alternate
                                                    would determine an Official Closing                     consolidated last-sale eligible trade for             exchange, the Official Closing Price
                                                    Price if the Exchange is impaired.                      such security during regular trading                  would be the official closing price
                                                       The Exchange developed this                          hours on that trading day. The rule                   established in Nasdaq Rule 4754.
                                                    proposal in consultation with its                       further provides that if there were no                   • The proposed 3:00 p.m. cut off time
                                                    affiliated exchanges, NYSE Arca, Inc.                   consolidated last-sale eligible trades in             was selected in part based on
                                                    (‘‘NYSE Arca’’) and NYSE MKT LLC                        a security on a trading day when the                  discussions with market participants
                                                    (‘‘NYSE MKT’’), and the NASDAQ Stock                    Exchange is unable to conduct a closing               regarding their capability to re-direct
                                                    Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’), and took into                  transaction in a security or securities               closing-only interest in Exchange-listed
                                                    consideration feedback from discussions                 due to a systems or technical issue, the              securities in time to participate in the
                                                    with industry participants, including                   Official Closing Price of such security               closing auction of an alternate venue. By
                                                    meeting the following key goals                         will be the prior day’s Official Closing              designating an alternate exchange before
                                                    important to market participants:                       Price.                                                3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Exchange
                                                       • Providing a pre-determined,                           The Exchange also amended Rule                     therefore believes that market
                                                    consistent solution that would result in                440B(b) to provide that Exchange                      participants would be more likely to
                                                    a closing print to the applicable                       systems will not execute or display a                 have sufficient notice to direct any
                                                    securities information processor (‘‘SIP’’)              short sale order with respect to a                    closing-only interest in Exchange-listed
                                                    within a reasonable time frame from the                 covered security at a price that is less              securities to the designated alternate
                                                    normal closing time;                                    than or equal to the current national                 exchange. By providing market
                                                       • Minimizing the need for industry                   best bid if the price of that security                participants sufficient time, when
                                                    participants to modify their processing                 decreases by 10% or more, as                          possible, to route closing-only interest
                                                    of data from the SIPs; and                              determined by the listing market for that             to an alternate venue for participation in
                                                       • Providing advance notification of                  security, from the security’s Official                that exchange’s closing auction process,
                                                    the applicable closing contingency plan                 Closing Price, as defined in Rule 123C                that alternate exchange’s closing auction
                                                    to provide sufficient time for industry                 as of the end of regular trading hours on             would be more likely to result in a
                                                    participants to route any closing interest              the prior day (‘‘Trigger Price’’).                    closing price that reflects market value
                                                    to an alternate venue to participate in                                                                       for such security.
                                                                                                            Proposed Amendments
                                                    that venue’s closing auction.                                                                                    • If there were insufficient interest for
                                                                                                               The Exchange proposes to amend                     a closing auction on the designated
                                                    Background                                              Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) to provide for the                alternate exchange, the Exchange
                                                       The Exchange recently amended Rule                   proposed new contingency plan of how                  believes that the respective rules of
                                                    123C to add the definition of ‘‘Official                the Exchange would determine an                       NYSE Arca and Nasdaq provide for an
                                                    Closing Price’’ for all Exchange-listed                 Official Closing Price if the Exchange is             appropriate hierarchy of which price to
                                                    securities and, once implemented, will                  unable to conduct a closing transaction               use to determine the Official Closing
                                                    disseminate to the SIP the Official                     in a security or securities due to a                  Price. For example, under NYSE Arca
                                                    Closing Price as an ‘‘M’’ value.5 In that               systems or technical issue. To reflect                Rule 1.1(ggP)(1), if there is no closing
                                                    filing, the Exchange amended Rule                       this change, the Exchange would                       auction of one round lot or more on a
                                                    123C(1)(e)(i) to define the ‘‘Official                  replace the current rule text in Rule                 trading day, the official closing price
                                                    Closing Price’’ of a security listed on the             123C(1)(e)(ii).                                       under that rule is the most recent
                                                    Exchange as the price established in a                     As proposed, Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)                   consolidated last sale eligible trade
                                                    closing transaction under paragraphs (7)                would provide that if the Exchange                    during Core Trading Hours on that
                                                    and (8) of Rule 123C of one round lot                   determines at or before 3:00 p.m.                     trading day. That rule further provides
                                                                                                            Eastern Time that it is unable to conduct             that if there were no consolidated last
                                                      4 See Exchange press release dated July 22, 2015,     a closing transaction in one or more                  sale eligible trades during Core Trading
                                                    available here: http://ir.theice.com/press-and-         securities due to a systems or technical
                                                    publications/press-releases/all-categories/2015/07-                                                           Hours on that trading day, NYSE Arca’s
                                                    22-2015.aspx.
                                                                                                            issue, the Exchange would designate an
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                                                      5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76598       alternate exchange for such security or               affiliated exchanges were also impacted by the
                                                    (Dec. 9, 2015), 80 FR 77688 (Dec. 15, 2015) (SR–        securities. The Exchange would                        systems or technical issue.
                                                    NYSE–2015–62). For a description of all sale            publicly announce the exchange                           7 NYSE Arca Equities will be filing a rule

                                                    conditions that are reportable to the SIP, including    designated as the alternate exchange via              proposal to amend Rule 1.1(ggP)(1) to provide that
                                                    the ‘‘M’’ value, see the Consolidated Tape System                                                             the manner by which NYSE Arca determines the
                                                    Participant Communications Interface                    Trader Update.6 In such case, the                     Official Closing Price under that rule for securities
                                                    Specification, dated November 16, 2015, at 86,                                                                listed on NYSE Arca would also be applicable to
                                                    available here: https://www.ctaplan.com/                  6 The Exchange expects that it would designate      any securities for which NYSE Arca conducts a
                                                    publicdocs/ctaplan/notifications/trader-update/cts_     one of its affiliated exchanges as the alternate      closing auction, including securities that trade on
                                                    input_spec.pdf.                                         exchange and would designate Nasdaq only if its       an unlisted trading privileges basis.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices                                            12979

                                                    official closing price will be the prior                there is no prior day’s Official Closing              Exchange determines after 3:00 p.m.
                                                    day’s Official Closing Price. This                      Price, the Exchange would not publish                 Eastern Time that it is unable to conduct
                                                    hierarchy is similar to how the                         an Official Closing Price for such                    a closing transaction in one or more
                                                    Exchange determines the Official                        security.                                             securities due to a systems or technical
                                                    Closing Price pursuant to Rule                             The Exchange would use the                         issue. Based on input from market
                                                    123C(1)(e)(i) when there is no closing                  hierarchy set forth in proposed Rule                  participants, the Exchange believes that,
                                                    transaction of a round lot or more,                     123C(e)(ii)(B)–(E) only if the designated             if the Exchange were to announce after
                                                    except that in lieu of a closing auction,               alternate exchange did not disseminate                3:00 p.m. Eastern Time that it is
                                                    NYSE Arca uses the last consolidated                    an official closing price in a security. In           impaired and unable to conduct a
                                                    last sale eligible trade rather than the                such case, the proposed hierarchy is                  closing transaction, market participants
                                                    last Exchange last-sale eligible trade.                 based on current Rule 123C(1)(e)(i),                  would not have sufficient time to re-
                                                       • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(B)                    which provides that, if the Exchange is               direct closing-only orders to an alternate
                                                    would provide if the designated                         unable to conduct a closing transaction,              venue. The proposed hierarchy would
                                                    alternate exchange does not have an                     the Official Closing Price will be the last           be similar to proposed Rule
                                                    official closing price in a security, the               consolidated last-sale eligible trade for             123C(1)(e)(ii), but would not
                                                    Official Closing price would be the                     such security during regular trading                  contemplate a closing transaction on a
                                                    volume-weighted average price                           hours on that trading day, and if there               designated alternate exchange.
                                                    (‘‘VWAP’’) of the consolidated last-sale                were no consolidated last-sale eligible               Accordingly, in such scenario, the
                                                    eligible prices of the last five minutes of             trades in a security, the Official Closing            Exchange proposes to use the following
                                                    trading during regular trading hours up                 Price of such security will be the prior              hierarchy for determining the Official
                                                    to the time that the VWAP is processed.                 day’s Official Closing Price. In addition,            Closing Price for a security:
                                                    The VWAP would include any closing                      the Exchange proposes to add as                          • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(A)
                                                    transactions on an exchange and would                   paragraph (E) of Rule 123C(e)(ii) what                would provide that the Official Closing
                                                    take into account any trade breaks or                   would happen if there were no Official                Price would be the VWAP of the
                                                    corrections up to the time the VWAP is                  Closing Price published on the prior                  consolidated last-sale eligible prices of
                                                    processed. Because the VWAP would                       trading day (i.e., the Exchange would                 the last five minutes of trading during
                                                    include any last-sale eligible trades,                  not publish an Official Closing Price).               regular trading hours up to the time that
                                                    busts, or corrections that were reported                The Exchange believes not publishing                  the VWAP is processed, including any
                                                    up to the time that the SIP calculates the              an Official Closing Price would be a rare             closing transactions on an exchange.
                                                    VWAP, the Exchange believes that the                    occurrence, and is most likely to occur               The VWAP would take into account any
                                                    VWAP price would reflect any pricing                    for a thinly-traded security, such as a               trade breaks or corrections up to the
                                                    adjustments that may be reported after                  when issued security, right, or warrant,              time of the VWAP is processed. This
                                                    4:00 p.m. ET.                                           that has been listed for trading but does             VWAP would be calculated in the same
                                                       • As discussed above, the manner by                  not have any consolidated last-sale                   manner as set forth in proposed in Rule
                                                    which exchanges calculate their                         eligible trades.                                      123C(1)(e)(ii)(B), described above.
                                                    respective official closing prices provide                 If the Exchange determines that it is              However, if the Exchange’s
                                                    for an official closing price in the                    impaired before 3:00 p.m. and the                     determination that it is unable to
                                                    absence of a closing transaction.                       Official Closing Price for an Exchange-               conduct a closing transaction is after
                                                    Accordingly, the Exchange believes that                 listed security is determined pursuant to             3:00 p.m. ET, the proposed VWAP
                                                    in circumstances when the Exchange                      proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), the SIP                 calculation would be the primary means
                                                    designates an alternate exchange, the                   would publish the Official Closing Price              for determining the Official Closing
                                                    VWAP calculation would rarely be used                   for such security no differently than                 Price for a security. In such case, the
                                                    to determine the Official Closing Price                 how the SIP publishes the Official                    Exchange believes that the VWAP
                                                    for an Exchange-listed security.                        Closing Price for an Exchange-listed                  would appropriately reflect the pricing
                                                       • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(C)                    security pursuant to Rule 123C(1)(e)(i).8             of a security because it would include,
                                                    would provide that if the designated                    Accordingly, if the Official Closing Price            in a volume-weighted manner, the price
                                                    alternate exchange does not have an                     is determined pursuant to proposed                    and volume of closing transactions on
                                                    official closing price in a security and                Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), recipients of SIP                other exchanges if market participants
                                                    there were no consolidated last-sale                    data would not have to make any                       are able to route closing interest in
                                                    eligible trades in the last five minutes of             changes to their systems because the SIP              Exchange-listed securities to an
                                                    trading during regular trading hours in                 would publish the ‘‘M’’ last sale                     alternate venue for participation in a
                                                    such security, the Official Closing Price               condition as an Exchange Official                     closing auction.
                                                    would be the last consolidated last-sale                Closing Price for any impacted                           • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(B)
                                                    eligible trade during regular trading                   Exchange-listed securities.                           would provide that if there were no
                                                    hours on that trading day.                                 As further proposed, Rule                          consolidated last-sale eligible trades in
                                                       • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(D)                    123C(1)(e)(iii) would describe how the                the last five minutes of trading during
                                                    would provide that if the designated                    Exchange would determine the Official                 regular trading hours in such security,
                                                    alternate exchange does not have an                     Closing Price for a security if the                   the Official Closing Price would be the
                                                    official closing price in a security and                                                                      last consolidated last-sale eligible trades
                                                    there were no consolidated last-sale                      8 The Operating Committees of the CTA Plan, CQ      during regular trading hours on that
                                                    eligible trades in a security on a trading                                                                    trading day. This proposed rule text is
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            Plan, and the Joint Self-Regulatory Organization
                                                    day in such security, the Official                      Plan Governing the Collection, Consolidation, and     the same as proposed Rule
                                                                                                            Dissemination of Quotation and Transaction
                                                    Closing Price would be the prior day’s                  Information for Nasdaq-Listed Securities Traded on    123C(1)(e)(ii)(C).
                                                    Official Closing Price.                                 Exchanges on an Unlisted Trading Privileges Basis        • Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii)(C)
                                                       • Finally, proposed Rule                             approved the Impaired Market Contingency Plan         would provide that if there were no
                                                    123C(1)(e)(ii)(E) would provide that if                 under which the SIPs would print an impaired          consolidated last-sale eligible trades in
                                                                                                            primary listing exchange’s contingency Official
                                                    an Official Closing Price for a security                Closing Price as the Official Closing Price of that
                                                                                                                                                                  such security on a trading day, the
                                                    cannot be determined under (A), (B), or                 primary listing exchange as provided for in the       Official Closing Price would be the prior
                                                    (C) of proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii) and                 rules of respective primary listing exchanges.        day’s Official Closing Price. This


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                                                    12980                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices

                                                    proposed rule text is the same as                          and to remove impediments to and                      that it is impaired and unable the [sic]
                                                    proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii)(D).                           perfect the mechanism of a free and                   conduct a closing transaction, the
                                                       • Finally, proposed Rule                                open market and a national market                     proposed VWAP calculation would
                                                    123C(1)(e)(iii)(D) would provide that if                   system.                                               remove impediments to and perfect the
                                                    an Official Closing Price for a security                      The Exchange believes that the                     mechanism of a free and open market
                                                    cannot be determined under (A), (B), or                    proposed rule change would remove                     and a national market system because it
                                                    (C) of proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii) and                   impediments to and perfect the                        would provide for a mechanism to
                                                    there is no prior day’s Official Closing                   mechanism of a free and open market                   determine the value of an affected
                                                    Price, the Exchange would not publish                      and a national market system because it               security for purposes of determining an
                                                    an Official Closing Price for such                         would provide transparency in how the                 Official Closing Price. By using a
                                                    security. This proposed rule text is                       Exchange would determine the Official
                                                                                                                                                                     volume-weighted calculation that would
                                                    based on proposed Rule                                     Closing Price in Exchange-listed
                                                                                                                                                                     include the closing transactions on an
                                                    123C(1)(e)(ii)(E).                                         securities when the Exchange is unable
                                                       Similar to how the Official Closing                     to conduct a closing transaction due to               affected security on alternate exchanges
                                                    Price would be published under                             a systems or technical issue. The                     as well as any busts or corrections that
                                                    proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(ii), if the                       Exchange believes that the proposed                   were reported up to the time that the
                                                    Exchange determines that it is impaired                    amendments would remove                               SIP calculates the value, the Exchange
                                                    after 3:00 p.m. and the Official Closing                   impediments to and perfect the                        believes that the proposed calculation
                                                    Price is determined pursuant to                            mechanism of a free and open market                   would reflect the correct price of a
                                                    proposed Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii), the SIP                     and a national market system because                  security. In addition, by using a VWAP
                                                    would publish the Official Closing Price                   the proposed determination of an                      calculation rather than the last
                                                    for such security no differently than                      Official Closing Price was crafted in                 consolidated last-sale eligible price as of
                                                    how the SIP publishes the Official                         response to input from industry                       the end of regular trading hours, the
                                                    Closing Price for an Exchange-listed                       participants and would:                               Exchange would reduce the potential for
                                                    security pursuant to Rule 123C(1)(e)(i).                      • Provide a pre-determined,                        an anomalous trade that may not reflect
                                                    Accordingly, if the Official Closing Price                 consistent solution that would result in              the true price of a security from being
                                                    is determined pursuant to proposed                         a closing print to the SIP within a                   set as the Official Closing Price for a
                                                    Rule 123C(1)(e)(iii), recipients of SIP                    reasonable time frame from the normal                 security.
                                                    data would not have to make any                            closing time;
                                                                                                                  • minimize the need for industry                      The Exchange further believes that the
                                                    changes to their systems because the SIP                                                                         proposed rule change would remove
                                                    would publish the ‘‘M’’ last sale                          participants to modify their processing
                                                                                                               of data from the SIP; and                             impediments to and perfect the
                                                    condition as an Exchange Official
                                                    Closing Price for any impacted                                • provide advance notification of the              mechanism of a free and open market
                                                                                                               applicable closing contingency plan to                and a national market system because
                                                    Exchange-listed securities.
                                                       For purposes of Rule 440B(b), the                       provide sufficient time for industry                  the proposal would have minimal
                                                    Official Closing Price would still be                      participants to route any closing interest            impact on market participants. As
                                                    determined based on Rule 123C and if                       to an alternate venue to participate in               proposed, from the perspective of
                                                    the market is impaired, the Official                       that venue’s closing auction.                         market participants, even if the
                                                    Closing Price as defined in proposed                          More specifically, the Exchange                    Exchange were impaired, the SIP would
                                                    Rules 123C(1)(e)(ii) and (iii) would be                    believes the proposed hierarchy for                   publish an Official Closing Price for
                                                    used for purposes of determining                           determining the Official Closing Price if             Exchange-listed securities on behalf of
                                                    whether a Short Sale Price Test is                         the Exchange determines that it is                    the Exchange in a manner that would be
                                                    triggered in a security the next trading                   impaired before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time                no different than if the Exchange were
                                                    day.                                                       would remove impediments to and                       not impaired. If the Exchange
                                                       Because of the technology changes                       perfect the mechanism of a free and                   determines that it is impaired after 3:00
                                                    associated with this proposed rule                         open market and a national market                     p.m., market participants would not
                                                    change, the Exchange will implement                        system because the proposal, which is                 have to make any system changes. If the
                                                    the proposed back-up procedures for                        based on input from market                            Exchange determines that it is impaired
                                                    determining an Official Closing Price no                   participants, would provide sufficient                before 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time and
                                                    later than 120 days after approval of this                 time for market participants to direct                designates an alternate exchange,
                                                    proposed rule change and will                              closing-only interest to a designated                 market participants may have to do
                                                    announce the implementation date via                       alternate exchange in time for such
                                                                                                                                                                     systems work to re-direct closing-only
                                                    Trader Update.                                             interest to participate in a closing
                                                                                                                                                                     orders to the alternate exchange.
                                                                                                               auction on such alternate venue in a
                                                    2. Statutory Basis                                                                                               However, the Exchange understands,
                                                                                                               meaningful manner. The Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                     based on input from market
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                          further believes that relying on the
                                                                                                               official closing price of a designated                participants, that such changes would
                                                    proposed rule change is consistent with
                                                                                                               alternate exchange would provide for an               be feasible based on the amount of
                                                    Section 6(b) of the Act,9 in general, and
                                                    furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)                 established hierarchy for determining an              advance notice. In addition, the
                                                    of the Act,10 in particular, in that it is                 Official Closing Price for an Exchange-               Exchange believes that designating an
                                                                                                               listed security if there is insufficient              alternate exchange when there is
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    designed to prevent fraudulent and
                                                    manipulative acts and practices, to                        interest to conduct a closing auction on              sufficient time to do so would remove
                                                    promote just and equitable principles of                   the alternate exchange. In such case, the             impediments to and perfect the
                                                    trade, to foster cooperation and                           rules of NYSE Arca and Nasdaq already                 mechanism of a free and open market
                                                    coordination with persons engaged in                       provide a mechanism for determining                   and a national market system because it
                                                    facilitating transactions in securities,                   an official closing price for securities              would allow for the price-discovery
                                                                                                               that trade on those markets.                          mechanism of a closing auction to be
                                                      9 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                       The Exchange further believes that if              available for impacted Exchange-listed
                                                      10 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                the Exchange determines after 3:00 p.m.               securities.


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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 48 / Friday, March 11, 2016 / Notices                                                      12981

                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Paper Comments:                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                                                                             COMMISSION
                                                                                                              • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                       The Exchange does not believe that                   to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                    the proposed rule change will impose                                                                           [Release No. 34–77304; File No. SR–
                                                                                                            and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                    any burden on competition that is not                                                                          NYSEMKT–2016–17]
                                                                                                            NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                    of the purposes of the Act. The                         All submissions should refer to File                   Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                                    proposed rule change is not designed to                 Number SR–NYSE–2016–18. This file                      MKT LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed
                                                    address any competitive issues, but                     number should be included on the                       Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                    rather to provide for how the Exchange                  subject line if email is used. To help the             Amendment No. 1, Establishing
                                                    would determine an Official Closing                     Commission process and review your                     Procedures for the Allocation of Cages
                                                    Price for Exchange-listed securities if it              comments more efficiently, please use                  to Its Co-Located Users, Including the
                                                    is impaired and cannot conduct a                        only one method. The Commission will                   Waiver of Certain Fees, and To Amend
                                                    closing transaction due to a systems or                 post all comments on the Commission’s                  the Visitor Security Escort
                                                    technical issue. The proposal has been                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 Requirements and Fee
                                                    crafted with input from market                          rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                                                                                                                                   March 7, 2016.
                                                    participants, Nasdaq, and the SIPs, and                 submission, all subsequent
                                                    is designed to reduce the burden on                     amendments, all written statements                        Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                    competition by having similar back-up                   with respect to the proposed rule                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                    procedures across all primary listing                   change that are filed with the                         ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                    exchanges if such exchange is is [sic]                  Commission, and all written                            notice is hereby given that, on February
                                                    impaired and cannot conduct a closing                   communications relating to the                         23, 2016, NYSE MKT LLC (the
                                                    transaction.                                            proposed rule change between the                       ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed with
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Commission and any person, other than                  the Securities and Exchange
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            those that may be withheld from the                    Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      public in accordance with the                          proposed rule change as described in
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    Items I and II below, which Items have
                                                                                                            available for Web site viewing and                     been prepared by the self-regulatory
                                                      No written comments were solicited                    printing in the Commission’s Public                    organization. On March 1, 2016, the
                                                    or received with respect to the proposed                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the
                                                    rule change.                                                                                                   proposed rule change.4 The Commission
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       business days between the hours of                     is publishing this notice to solicit
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 comments on the proposed rule change,
                                                    Commission Action                                       filing also will be available for                      as modified by Amendment No. 1, from
                                                                                                            inspection and copying at the principal                interested persons.
                                                      Within 45 days of the date of
                                                                                                            office of the Exchange. All comments                   I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    publication of this notice in the Federal
                                                                                                            received will be posted without change;                Statement of the Terms of the Substance
                                                    Register or up to 90 days (i) as the
                                                    Commission may designate if it finds                    the Commission does not edit personal                  of the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    such longer period to be appropriate                    identifying information from
                                                    and publishes its reasons for so finding                submissions. You should submit only                       The Exchange proposes to establish
                                                    or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory                 information that you wish to make                      procedures for the allocation of cages to
                                                    organization consents, the Commission                   available publicly. All submissions                    its co-located Users, including the
                                                    will:                                                   should refer to File Number SR–NYSE–                   waiver of certain fees, and to amend the
                                                                                                            2016–18 and should be submitted on or                  visitor security escort requirements and
                                                      (A) By order approve or disapprove
                                                    the proposed rule change, or                            before April 1, 2016.                                  fee. The Exchange proposes to amend
                                                                                                            For the Commission, by the Division of                 the NYSE MKT Equities Price List
                                                      (B) institute proceedings to determine                                                                       (‘‘Price List’’) and the NYSE Amex
                                                    whether the proposed rule change                        Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                            authority.11                                           Options Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee Schedule’’)
                                                    should be disapproved.
                                                                                                            Robert W. Errett,                                      to reflect the changes. The proposed
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                                                                                   change is available on the Exchange’s
                                                                                                            Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                                   Web site at www.nyse.com, at the
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                     [FR Doc. 2016–05436 Filed 3–10–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                   principal office of the Exchange, and at
                                                    submit written data, views, and                         BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                   the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                                                                                                                                   Room.
                                                    including whether the proposed rule
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                              1 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
                                                    the following methods:                                                                                           2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                     3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                    Electronic Comments                                                                                              4 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange clarified the

                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                                                                              proposal to specify that the visitor escort fee is
                                                                                                                                                                   equitable because all Users of the Exchange’s Data
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                              Center would be charged the same fee. The
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                           Exchange also clarified the proposal to specify that
                                                                                                                                                                   while an individual User is on the waitlist for a
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                                                                            cabinet, it will be granted a fee waiver for 2 bundles
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                        of 24 cross connects to be used to connect that
                                                    NYSE–2016–18 on the subject line.                         11 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                         User’s non-contiguous cabinets.



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Document Created: 2016-03-11 01:51:21
Document Modified: 2016-03-11 01:51:21
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation81 FR 12977 

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