81_FR_30475 81 FR 30381 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Adopt a New Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program Under Rule 7014

81 FR 30381 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Adopt a New Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program Under Rule 7014

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 94 (May 16, 2016)

Page Range30381-30386
FR Document2016-11411

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 94 (Monday, May 16, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 94 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30381-30386]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11411]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77800; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-065]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to 
Adopt a New Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program Under Rule 7014

May 10, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\, and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on May 3, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II, and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the 
Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments 
on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 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 a proposal to adopt a new Limit Up-Limit Down 
Pricing Program under Rule 7014 to improve liquidity during Limit Up-
Limit Down events through incentive rebates.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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 Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for

[[Page 30382]]

the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange is proposing to adopt a new Limit Up-Limit Down 
Pricing Program under Rule 7014 to improve liquidity during Limit Up-
Limit Down events pursuant to Rule 4120(a)(12) through incentive 
rebates.
Background
    On May 6, 2010, the U.S. markets experienced excessive volatility 
in an abbreviated time period, commonly referred to as the ``flash 
crash.'' Many of the almost 8,000 equity securities and exchange-traded 
funds (``ETFs'') traded that day experienced rapid price declines and 
reversals within a short period of time. Staff of the SEC and the U.S. 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') (collectively, 
``Staff'') worked together to study the events of the flash crash, 
issuing a report of their findings (``Report'') to the Joint CFTC-SEC 
Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues (``Committee'').\3\ 
Staff observed, among other things, that there was a ``liquidity 
crisis'' with respect to individual stocks, whereby market participants 
widened quote spreads, reduced offered liquidity, or withdrew from the 
markets altogether.\4\ Staff stated that:
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    \3\ See Report of the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC to the Joint 
Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues, ``Findings 
Regarding the Market Events of May 6, 2010,'' dated September 30, 
2010, available at http://www.sec.gov/news/studies/2010/marketevents-report.pdf.
    \4\ See Report at 5.
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    While the withdrawal of a single participant may not 
significantly impact the entire market, a liquidity crisis can 
develop if many market participants withdraw at the same time. This, 
in turn, can lead to the breakdown of a fair and orderly price-
discovery process, and in the extreme case trades can be executed at 
stub-quotes used by market makers to fulfill their continuous two-
sided obligations.\5\
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    \5\ Report at 6.

    The Committee, in turn, issued a series of recommendations based on 
its analysis of Staff's findings.\6\
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    \6\ See Summary Report of the Committee, ``Recommendations 
Regarding Regulatory Responses to the Market Events of May 6, 2010'' 
(Feb, 18, 2011).
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    In response to the market structure issues uncovered by the flash 
crash and the recommendations of the Committee, the exchanges and FINRA 
(collectively, the ``SROs'') implemented market-wide measures designed 
to restore investor confidence by reducing the potential for excessive 
market volatility. One such measure was the adoption of a pilot plan 
for stock-by-stock trading pauses by SROs. On May 31, 2012, the SEC 
approved the National Market System Plan to Address Extraordinary 
Market Volatility, commonly referred to as the ``Limit Up-Limit Down 
Plan.'' \7\ The Limit Up-Limit Down Plan created a market-wide limit 
up-limit down mechanism intended to address extraordinary market 
volatility in ``NMS Stocks,'' as defined in Rule 600(b)(47) of 
Regulation NMS under the Act.\8\ The Limit Up-Limit Down Plan is 
designed to prevent trades in individual NMS Stocks from occurring 
outside of specified Price Bands,\9\ which are based on a Reference 
Price \10\ for each NMS Stock that equals the arithmetic mean price of 
Eligible Reported Transactions \11\ for the NMS Stock over the 
immediately preceding five-minute period (except for periods following 
openings and re-openings). The Price Bands are disseminated by the 
single plan processor responsible for the consolidation of information 
for an NMS Stock (``Processor'') pursuant to Rule 603(b) of Regulation 
NMS.
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-67091 (May 31, 
2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012).
    \8\ See 17 CFR 242.600(b)(47).
    \9\ As defined by Section I.(N) of the Plan.
    \10\ As defined by Section I.(T) the Plan.
    \11\ As defined by Section I.(A) the Plan.
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    The Limit Up-Limit Down Plan prevents trades in individual NMS 
Stocks from occurring outside of the Price Bands by applying Limit 
States,\12\ whereby trading is permitted to continue within certain 
upper and lower limits, and Trading Pauses \13\ to accommodate more 
fundamental price moves in an NMS Stock. An NMS Stock will enter a 
Limit State if it has a National Best Offer (``NBO'') that equals the 
lower price band and does not cross the National Best Bid (``NBB''), or 
a NBB that equals the upper price band and does not cross the NBO. When 
an NMS Stock enters a Limit State, the Processor will disseminate the 
information by identifying the relevant quotation (i.e., a NBO that 
equals the Lower Price Band or a NBB that equals the Upper Price Band) 
as a Limit State Quotation,\14\ and ceases to calculate and disseminate 
updated Reference Prices and Price Bands for the NMS Stock until either 
trading exits the Limit State or trading resumes with an opening or re-
opening. An NMS Stock will exit a Limit State if, within 15 seconds of 
entering the Limit State, the entire size of all Limit State Quotations 
are executed or cancelled, at which time the Processor begins to 
calculate and disseminate updated Price Bands based on a Reference 
Price that equals the arithmetic mean price of Eligible Reported 
Transactions for the NMS Stock over the immediately preceding five-
minute period (including the period of the Limit State). If trading for 
an NMS Stock does not exit a Limit State within fifteen seconds of 
entry, the Limit State will terminate when the Primary Listing Exchange 
declares a Trading Pause, or at the end of Regular Trading Hours.
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    \12\ As defined by Section I.(C) the Plan.
    \13\ As defined by Section I.(Y) the Plan.
    \14\ As defined by Section I.(D) the Plan.
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    The Primary Listing Exchange must declare a Trading Pause if a 
[sic] NMS Stock does not exit a Limit State within fifteen seconds of 
entry during Regular Market Hours. The Primary Listing Exchange may 
also declare a Trading Pause for an NMS Stock if the NMS Stock is in a 
Straddle State, which is when the NBB is below the Lower Price Band or 
the NBO is above the Upper Price Band, the NMS Stock is not in a Limit 
State, and trading in that NMS Stock deviates from normal trading 
characteristics such that declaring a Trading Pause would support the 
Plan's goal to address extraordinary market volatility. The Primary 
Listing Exchange is responsible for declaring a Trading Pause in an NMS 
Stock and informing the Processor and during a Trading Pause the 
Processor disseminates Trading Pause information to the public. During 
a Trading Pause, no trades in a NMS Stock may occur, but all bids and 
offers may be displayed. A Trading Pause will conclude in one of two 
ways. First, if after five minutes from declaration of the Trading 
Pause the Primary Listing Exchange has not declared a Regulatory Halt, 
it will initiate established re-opening procedures. The Trading Pause 
will conclude when the Primary Listing Exchange reports a Reopening 
Price. Alternatively, a Trading Pause will conclude if the Primary 
Listing Exchange does not report a Reopening Price within ten minutes 
after the declaration of a Trading Pause in a NMS Stock, and has not 
declared a Regulatory Halt. When trading resumes after a Trading Pause, 
the Processor then will update the Prices Bands.
    The Exchange believes that the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan has been 
successful at addressing extraordinary

[[Page 30383]]

volatility in the markets, through its combination of price bands and 
trading pauses. A fundamental underpinning to re-establishing a less 
volatile and stable market in times of market stress is liquidity. As 
quoted above, Staff observed that a liquidity crisis arising from the 
withdrawal of market participants can lead to the breakdown of a fair 
and orderly price-discovery process.\15\ There is great risk to market 
participants when markets are volatile and many firms employ their own 
versions of a trading pause to withdraw from the markets as risk 
mitigation.\16\ In its analysis of the flash crash, Staff observed that 
the markets suffered significant reductions in liquidity as prices 
fell, particularly evidenced by a significant reduction in buy-side 
market depth. The lack of adequate incentives to address such liquidity 
crisis is a concern of the Committee, which noted in its report that 
``incentives to display liquidity may be deficient in [a] normal 
market, and are seriously deficient in turbulent markets.'' \17\ 
Arising from this concern, the Committee recommended that the CFTC and 
SEC ``consider incentives to supply liquidity that vary with market 
conditions.'' \18\
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    \15\ See Supra note 6.
    \16\ See Report at 36.
    \17\ See Supra note 6 at 9.
    \18\ Id.
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Proposal
    The Exchange is proposing to implement a new rebate program 
designed to provide incentive to market participants to provide 
liquidity during Limit States, Straddle States and Trading Pause [sic] 
in a select group of NMS Stocks chosen by the Exchange (``LULD 
Liquidity Symbols''). The new incentive program is being proposed in 
light of the Committee's recommendation that exchanges adopt a ``peak 
load'' pricing model as a solution to encouraging liquidity during 
turbulent markets.\19\ In its purest form, a peak load pricing model 
increases both fees and rebates to improve liquidity. A higher access 
fee in comparison to other exchanges may discourage entry of aggressive 
liquidity-removing trades. By contrast, a higher rebate in comparison 
to other markets may encourage entry of liquidity-providing limit 
orders. Under Regulation NMS, exchanges are limited in level of access 
fees that they may assess their members. The Exchange's access fee 
schedule under Rule 7018(a) provides that, under certain circumstances, 
removal of displayed liquidity is assessed as the highest permissible 
rate. As consequence, any additional fee for removal of liquidity would 
exceed that limit. Exchanges are not so constrained, however, in level 
of rebate provided for liquidity.
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    \19\ Id.
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    The Exchange agrees with the Committee that more must be done to 
encourage liquidity during times of market stress, and providing market 
participants with incentives to provide liquidity may further that 
goal. While the Exchange is limited in the level of fee-based 
disincentives that it can assess for liquidity removal during turbulent 
markets, the Exchange is able to adopt incentives to address the 
Committee's concern that there are insufficient incentives to market 
participants to provide displayed liquidity in such markets. 
Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to provide two new incentives 
that are focused on promoting liquidity when a LULD Liquidity Symbol is 
in a Limit State, Straddle State, or a Trading Pause. \20\ The Exchange 
has selected a group of 200 LULD Liquidity Symbols that are Exchange-
listed stocks and ETFs of various sizes based on market capitalization. 
In selecting the securities, the Exchange first considered how 
individual Exchange-listed securities were impacted on particularly 
volatile days, and when a Limit State, Straddle State or Trading Pause 
occurred, with a particular focus on liquidity. From this pool of 
potential LULD Liquidity Symbols, the Exchange next eliminated very low 
volume stocks that frequently have LULD bands based on bid-ask midpoint 
rather than a trade price. Last, the Exchange used stratified random 
sampling of the remaining pool of potential LULD Liquidity Symbols to 
assure that the stocks represented a wide range of market 
capitalization levels. The Exchange may add to or modify the list of 
securities covered by the Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program. To the 
extent the Exchange determines to modify the list of LULD Liquidity 
Symbol, it will file a rule change proposal with the Commission. In 
selecting new LULD Liquidity Symbols, the Exchange will apply the same 
criteria used in selecting the initial group of LULD Liquidity Symbols.
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    \20\ The Exchange notes that nothing proposed in this rule 
change will alter how the Exchange handles quotes and orders in 
compliance with Regulation NMS, including member obligations with 
respect to avoiding quotes and orders that lock or cross the 
markets.
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    First, for LULD Liquidity Symbol securities priced $1 or more the 
Exchange is adopting an incentive in the form of a $0.0010 per share 
executed rebate to Exchange market makers that enter displayed orders 
to buy (other than Designated Retail Orders, as defined in Rule 7018) 
when the LULD Liquidity Symbol security enters a Limit State based on 
an NBO that equals the lower price band and does not cross the NBB 
(``Limit Down Limit State''). To be eligible, the market maker must be 
registered as a market maker for the LULD Liquidity Symbol. The 
Exchange believes the incentive will promote liquidity in LULD 
Liquidity Symbols during times of significant price declines in those 
securities, which is typically a time when buy liquidity is scarce. The 
rebate will be provided to all buy orders entered by an Exchange market 
maker priced at or higher than the Lower Price Band of the Limit Down 
Limit State entered after initiation thereof until its conclusion, and 
that add liquidity at any time during continuous trading.\21\ 
Similarly, for LULD Liquidity Symbol securities priced $1 or more the 
Exchange will provide the $0.0010 per share executed rebate to Exchange 
market makers that enter displayed orders to buy (other than Designated 
Retail Orders, as defined in Rule 7018) when the LULD Liquidity Symbol 
security enters a Straddle State based on an NBB that is below the 
lower price band (``Limit Down Straddle State''). To be eligible, the 
market maker must be registered as a market maker for the LULD 
Liquidity Symbol. The rebate will be provided to all buy orders entered 
by an Exchange market maker priced at or higher than the Lower Price 
Band of the Limit Down Straddle State entered after initiation thereof 
until its conclusion, and that receive an execution any time after the 
order is entered during regular market hours, except for executions 
received in subsequent Halt Crosses or Closing Cross. The Exchange will 
use the time that it receives the message from the Processor that a 
LULD Liquidity Symbol is in a Limit Down Limit State or Limit Down 
Straddle State as the time at which the rebate is available, and the 
message from the Processor that the security has emerged from the Limit 
Down Limit State or Limit Down Straddle State as the time at which the 
rebate is no longer available.
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    \21\ Orders are considered to have added liquidity if they are 
posted on the Exchange book and are executed during continuous 
trading. Executions during a Halt, IPO, Open, and Closing Crosses 
are note considered to have added or removed liquidity.
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    The following is an example of how the rebate will be applied. For 
this example market maker refers to an Exchange market maker registered 
in symbol ABC. Assume symbol ABC has a lower price band of $10.00 and 
is a LULD Liquidity Symbol. Further

[[Page 30384]]

assume the Exchange is the only market with a displayed offer at $10.00 
for 300 shares and the Exchange has received the message from the 
Processor that ABC is in a Limit Down Limit State. Market maker #1 
enters a 1,000 share displayable buy order priced at $10.00. Market 
maker #1's order trades against the 300 shares offered and the 
remaining 700 shares post to the Exchange's book at $10.00. The Bid on 
the Exchange is now $10.00. The 700 shares from market maker #1 are 
eligible to receive the additional $0.0010 rebate per share executed 
when adding liquidity. Market maker #2 enters a 200 share displayable 
buy order at $10.00. The 200 shares are also eligible to receive the 
additional $0.0010 rebate when adding liquidity. The Exchange receives 
the message from the Processor that the security has emerged from the 
Limit Down Limit State. Market maker #3 enters a 100 share displayable 
buy order at $10.00. The 100 shares are not eligible to receive the 
additional $0.0010 rebate since the Exchange has already received the 
message from the Processor that the security has emerged from the Limit 
Down Limit State. Market maker #1 and #2's posted orders are still 
eligible to receive the $0.0010 per share rebate if the orders add 
liquidity at a later point.
    Second, the Exchange is proposing to provide an incentive to all 
market participants that enter Orders in an LULD Liquidity Symbol 
during a Trading Pause and receive an execution of that Order. The 
Exchange will provide a $0.0005 per share executed rebate, which will 
be provided upon execution of the eligible Order in the reopening 
process at the conclusion of the Trading Pause. The rebate will be 
provided in lieu of the fee assessed under Rule 7018(f) for execution 
of quotes and orders executed halt crosses.\22\ Unlike the proposed 
$0.0010 per share executed rebate, which focuses on providing incentive 
to Exchange Market Makers to provide liquidity when the price of a LULD 
Liquidity Symbol has dropped significantly, this proposed $0.0005 per 
share executed rebate targets all market participants during a Trading 
Pause. The Exchange will use the time at which it declares a Trading 
Pause in the LULD Liquidity Symbol up to the point at which it 
completes the halt cross in the security as the time during which 
orders are eligible to receive the $0.0005 per share executed rebate
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    \22\ Under Rule 7018(f), a member is assessed a $0.0010 per 
share executed fee for any quote or order that receives an execution 
in a halt cross, which includes a Limit Up-Limit Down trading pause 
halt cross.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6 of the Act,\23\ in general, and furthers the objectives 
of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\24\ in particular, in that 
it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and 
other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any 
facility or system which the Exchange operates or controls, and 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 regulating, clearing, 
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating 
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest; and are not 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers. As a general principle, the Exchange applies 
rebates and reduced fees in an effort to promote beneficial market-
improving behavior among market participants. Under Rule 7014, the 
Exchange currently provides four Market Quality Incentive Programs that 
are designed to improve the markets by providing rebates and reduced 
fees as incentive to market participants. The proposed Limit Up-Limit 
Down Pricing Program is consistent with these other market-improving 
programs because it is designed to promote liquidity when liquidity is 
scarce and most needed. The proposed program is also consistent with 
recommendations made by the Committee to support trading during events 
when there is a shortage of liquidity. The Exchange is proposing to 
offer the program for a period no less than six months from its 
adoption so that it can measure the effectiveness of the rebates.
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    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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Market Maker Rebate
    The Exchange believes that the proposed $0.0010 per share executed 
rebate is reasonable because it rewards market makers for providing 
liquidity when the price of a security is falling significantly and 
many market participants have withdrawn. As discussed above, a stock 
that is in a Limit Down Limit State or Limit Down Straddle State has 
experienced a significant drop in a relatively short time. It has been 
the Exchange's observation that Limit Down Limit States and Limit Down 
Straddle States on the lower band are often characterized by a 
significant disparity between the number of buyers and sellers. Orders 
that provide buy side liquidity promote price discovery and help to 
normalize trading. The proposed rebate is designed to support buy side 
liquidity during Limit Down Limit States and Limit Down Straddle States 
in LULD Liquidity Symbols by providing market makers with an incentive 
to provide bids at or above the Limit Down Price band. The proposed 
rebate may also provide incentive to Members to register as market 
makers in the LULD Liquidity Symbols so that they may avail themselves 
of the rebate, thereby potentially improving overall market quality in 
such securities. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
$0.0010 per share executed rebate is reasonable because it is 
consistent with rebates of other market quality incentive programs 
under Rule 7014. While the Exchange acknowledges that the $0.0010 per 
share executed rebate is significantly higher than provided by most 
incentive programs under Rule 7014, which provide additional rebates 
ranging from $0.0001 to $0.0004 per share executed, the Exchange notes 
that the Lead Market Maker (``LMM'') Program under Rule 7014 provides 
rebates in Qualified Securities to LMMs for adding displayed liquidity 
ranging from $0.0040 to $0.0046 per share executed, depending on the 
qualification criteria met.\25\ The rebate under the LMM Program is 
provided in lieu of the rebates provided under Rule 7018(a) for 
providing displayed liquidity, which are as high as $0.00305 per share 
executed. Thus, the lowest effective rebate available to a LMM under 
the LMM Program is $0.00095 ($0.0040--$0.00305). Consequently, the 
Exchange believes that the proposed $0.0010 per share executed rebate 
is reasonable because it is similar to the rebates provided under the 
LMM Program.
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    \25\ See Rule 7014(d) and (e).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rebate is an equitable 
allocation and is not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange will 
provide the same rebate to all similarly situated market makers. The 
Exchange believes that limiting the $0.0010 per share executed rebate 
to registered market makers is an equitable allocation and is not 
unfairly discriminatory because the incentive may encourage Members to 
register as

[[Page 30385]]

market makers in LULD Liquidity Symbols. Market makers have certain 
quoting and pricing obligations \26\ for the securities in which they 
are registered; however, such obligations do not require them to enter 
buy orders priced at or higher than the Lower Price Band of the Limit 
Down Limit State or Limit Down Straddle State. The proposed $0.0010 per 
share executed rebate is designed to incentivize market makers to 
provide liquidity in LULD Liquidity Symbols for which they are 
registered as market makers at a price higher than they would otherwise 
be obligated in order to satisfy their market making obligations. 
Moreover, an increased number of market makers registered in LULD 
Liquidity Symbols may increase the potential for improved liquidity in 
LULD Liquidity Symbols during Limit States, and may improve overall 
market quality in LULD Liquidity Symbols because of market makers' 
quoting and pricing obligations, which would benefit all market 
participants that trade LULD Liquidity Symbols.
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    \26\ Rule 4613 requires market maker to be willing to buy and 
sell a security that it is registered as such on a continuous basis 
during regular market hours and to enter and maintain a two-sided 
trading interest that is identified to the Exchange as the interest 
meeting the obligation and is displayed in the Exchange's quotation 
montage at all times. Exchange market makers must also adhere to 
certain pricing obligations in their registered securities, as 
established by Rule 4613.
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Trading Pause Rebate
    The Exchange believes that the proposed $0.0005 per share executed 
rebate provided to members that enter Orders in a LULD Liquidity Symbol 
during a Trading Pause and receive an execution of that Order is 
reasonable because it may provide incentive to all market participants 
to provide liquidity during a Trading Pause in the securities of the 
program. The Exchange believes that all participants that provide 
liquidity during a Trading Pause should be rewarded for taking on the 
risk of entering orders during a volatile market. These orders promote 
price discovery, which may in turn help reestablish normal trading in a 
security covered by the program. Moreover, the Exchange believes that 
the proposed $0.0005 per share executed rebate is reasonable because it 
is consistent with rebates of other market quality incentive programs 
under Rule 7014, which provide additional rebates ranging from $0.0001 
to $0.0004 per share executed. Unlike those rebates, which are provided 
in addition to any fee or other rebate the member may receive under 
Rule 7018, the proposed $0.0005 per share executed rebate is provided 
in lieu of the $0.0010 per share executed fee assessed for executions 
in halt crosses, including a Limit Up-Limit Down trading pause halt 
cross. As a consequence, a member that qualifies for the proposed new 
rebate will receive a net benefit of $0.0015 per share executed. The 
Exchange notes that this net benefit is similar to the net benefit 
provided LMMs under the LMM Program. Specifically, an LMM that meets 
the highest performance criteria under the LMM Program is eligible to 
receive no charge for executions in the Halt Cross, Opening Cross and 
Closing Cross. In certain circumstances, a member may be assessed a 
charge of $0.0015 per share executed for participation in the Opening 
and Closing Crosses. Thus, the net benefit provided by the proposed 
$0.0005 per share executed rebate is reasonable. The Exchange believes 
that the proposed $0.0005 per share executed rebate is an equitable 
allocation and is not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange will 
provide the rebate to all members that provide orders during a Trading 
Pause in a LULD Liquidity Symbol that receive an execution

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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In terms of inter-market 
competition, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor 
competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be 
excessive, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more 
favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust 
its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with 
alternative trading systems that have been exempted from compliance 
with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because 
competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because 
market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, 
the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this 
market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited.
    In this instance, the Exchange is offering rebates in an effort to 
improve market quality during times of high volatility. The Exchange 
does not believe that the proposed change will place a burden on inter-
market competition because the Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program is 
designed to improve market quality for all market participants by 
promoting price discovery for LULD Liquidity Symbols that have 
triggered Limit Up-Limit Down processes, and other exchanges are free 
to offer similar programs. If successful, the proposed Limit Up-Limit 
Down Pricing Program may promote competition among exchanges to provide 
incentives of their own to address low liquidity in NMS Stocks during a 
Limit Up-Limit Down process. Further, the Exchange does not believe 
that the proposed incentive program imposes a burden on competition 
among market participants because participation in the market during a 
Limit Up-Limit Down Limit State, Straddle State, or Trading Pause is 
completely voluntary. Moreover, the proposed incentive program will not 
be a burden on competition among market participants because the 
Exchange is offering a rebate to all members that qualify under the 
program. The Exchange notes that it is limiting the $0.0010 per share 
executed rebate to Exchange market makers registered in LULD Liquidity 
Symbols as an incentive to such market makers to provide liquidity 
priced better than they otherwise would be required to do so as market 
makers. In addition, the proposal may incentivize market participants 
to register as market makers with the Exchange. Providing incentive to 
members to become market makers will benefit all market participants 
trading in LULD Liquidity Symbols for the reasons discussed above. In 
this regard, all member firms may register as market makers in the LULD 
Liquidity Symbols if they choose to meet the qualification criteria. 
Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes 
will impair the ability of members or competing order execution venues 
to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\27\
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    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if

[[Page 30386]]

it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) Necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of 
investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the 
Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall 
institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be 
approved or 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-NASDAQ-2016-065 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-NASDAQ-2016-065. 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-NASDAQ-2016-065 and 
should be submitted on or before June 6, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-11411 Filed 5-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices                                                   30381

                                                    driven test that was designed to evaluate               Commission summarily may                              information that you wish to make
                                                    the impact of a wider tick size on                      temporarily suspend such rule change if               available publicly. All submissions
                                                    trading, liquidity, and the market                      it appears to the Commission that such                should refer to File Number SR–
                                                    quality of securities of smaller                        action is: (1) Necessary or appropriate in            BatsEDGX–2016–14, and should be
                                                    capitalization companies, and was                       the public interest; (2) for the protection           submitted on or before June 6, 2016.
                                                    therefore in furtherance of the purposes                of investors; or (3) otherwise in                       For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    of the Act. To the extent that this                     furtherance of the purposes of the Act.               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    proposal implements, interprets, and                    If the Commission takes such action, the              authority.49
                                                    clarifies the Plan and applies specific                 Commission shall institute proceedings                Robert W. Errett,
                                                    requirements to Members, the Exchange                   to determine whether the proposed rule                Deputy Secretary.
                                                    believes that this proposal is in                       should be approved or disapproved.                    [FR Doc. 2016–11402 Filed 5–13–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    furtherance of the objectives of the Plan,              IV. Solicitation of Comments                          BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    as identified by the SEC, and is
                                                    therefore consistent with the Act.                        Interested persons are invited to
                                                                                                            submit written data, views, and                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                                                                            COMMISSION
                                                                                                            including whether the proposed rule
                                                       The Exchange does not believe that                   change is consistent with the Act.                    [Release No. 34–77800; File No. SR–
                                                    the proposed rule change will result in                 Comments may be submitted by any of                   NASDAQ–2016–065]
                                                    any burden on competition that is not                   the following methods:
                                                                                                                                                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 Electronic Comments                                   NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                    of the purposes of the Act. The
                                                    Exchange notes that the proposed rule                     • Use the Commission’s Internet                     Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                                                                            comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     Proposed Rule Change to Adopt a New
                                                    change implements the provisions of the
                                                                                                            rules/sro.shtml); or                                  Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing Program
                                                    Plan, and is designed to assist the
                                                    Exchange in meeting its regulatory                        • Send an email to rule-                            Under Rule 7014
                                                    obligations pursuant to the Plan. The                   comments@sec.gov. Please include File                 May 10, 2016.
                                                    Exchange also notes that the quoting                    Number SR–BatsEDGX–2016–14 on the                        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    and trading requirements of the Plan                    subject line.                                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                    will apply equally to all Members that                  Paper Comments                                        (‘‘Act’’) 1, and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                    trade Pilot Securities.                                                                                       notice is hereby given that on May 3,
                                                                                                               • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                         (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      Washington, DC 20549–1090.                            Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        All submissions should refer to File                  (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                                                                            Number SR-BatsEDGX–2016–14. This                      rule change as described in Items I, II,
                                                      Written comments were neither                                                                               and III, below, which Items have been
                                                    solicited nor received.                                 file number should be included on the
                                                                                                            subject line if email is used. To help the            prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       Commission process and review your                    Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     comments more efficiently, please use                 solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                    Commission Action                                       only one method. The Commission will                  change from interested persons.
                                                       Because the foregoing proposed rule                  post all comments on the Commission’s                 I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    change does not: (A) Significantly affect               Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    the protection of investors or the public               rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    interest; (B) impose any significant                    submission, all subsequent
                                                                                                                                                                     The Exchange proposes a proposal to
                                                    burden on competition; and (C) by its                   amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                                                                                  adopt a new Limit Up-Limit Down
                                                    terms, become operative for 30 days                     with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                                  Pricing Program under Rule 7014 to
                                                    from the date on which it was filed or                  change that are filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                  improve liquidity during Limit Up-
                                                    such shorter time as the Commission                     Commission, and all written
                                                                                                                                                                  Limit Down events through incentive
                                                    may designate it has become effective                   communications relating to the
                                                                                                                                                                  rebates.
                                                    pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the                  proposed rule change between the                         The text of the proposed rule change
                                                    Act 47 and paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–                Commission and any person, other than                 is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                    4 thereunder,48 the Exchange has                        those that may be withheld from the                   at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
                                                    designated this rule filing as non-                     public in accordance with the                         the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                                    controversial. The Exchange has given                   provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   at the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                    the Commission written notice of its                    available for Web site viewing and                    Room.
                                                    intent to file the proposed rule change,                printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    along with a brief description and text                 Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    of the proposed rule change at least five               Washington, DC 20549, on official                     Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                            business days between the hours of                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    business days prior to the date of filing
                                                    of the proposed rule change, or such                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                Change
                                                    shorter time as designated by the                       filing also will be available for                        In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                    Commission.                                             inspection and copying at the principal               Exchange included statements
                                                       At any time within 60 days of the                    office of the Exchange. All comments                  concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                    filing of the proposed rule change, the                 received will be posted without change;
                                                                                                            the Commission does not edit personal                   49 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                      47 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            identifying information from                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                      48 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                  submissions. You should submit only                     2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                    30382                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices

                                                    the proposed rule change and discussed                     In response to the market structure                ceases to calculate and disseminate
                                                    any comments it received on the                         issues uncovered by the flash crash and               updated Reference Prices and Price
                                                    proposed rule change. The text of these                 the recommendations of the Committee,                 Bands for the NMS Stock until either
                                                    statements may be examined at the                       the exchanges and FINRA (collectively,                trading exits the Limit State or trading
                                                    places specified in Item IV below. The                  the ‘‘SROs’’) implemented market-wide                 resumes with an opening or re-opening.
                                                    Exchange has prepared summaries, set                    measures designed to restore investor                 An NMS Stock will exit a Limit State if,
                                                    forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 confidence by reducing the potential for              within 15 seconds of entering the Limit
                                                    the most significant aspects of such                    excessive market volatility. One such                 State, the entire size of all Limit State
                                                    statements.                                             measure was the adoption of a pilot                   Quotations are executed or cancelled, at
                                                                                                            plan for stock-by-stock trading pauses                which time the Processor begins to
                                                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       by SROs. On May 31, 2012, the SEC                     calculate and disseminate updated Price
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                        approved the National Market System                   Bands based on a Reference Price that
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  Plan to Address Extraordinary Market                  equals the arithmetic mean price of
                                                    Change                                                  Volatility, commonly referred to as the               Eligible Reported Transactions for the
                                                    1. Purpose                                              ‘‘Limit Up-Limit Down Plan.’’ 7 The                   NMS Stock over the immediately
                                                                                                            Limit Up-Limit Down Plan created a                    preceding five-minute period (including
                                                       The Exchange is proposing to adopt a                 market-wide limit up-limit down                       the period of the Limit State). If trading
                                                    new Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing                         mechanism intended to address                         for an NMS Stock does not exit a Limit
                                                    Program under Rule 7014 to improve                      extraordinary market volatility in ‘‘NMS              State within fifteen seconds of entry, the
                                                    liquidity during Limit Up-Limit Down                    Stocks,’’ as defined in Rule 600(b)(47) of            Limit State will terminate when the
                                                    events pursuant to Rule 4120(a)(12)                     Regulation NMS under the Act.8 The                    Primary Listing Exchange declares a
                                                    through incentive rebates.                              Limit Up-Limit Down Plan is designed                  Trading Pause, or at the end of Regular
                                                    Background                                              to prevent trades in individual NMS                   Trading Hours.
                                                                                                            Stocks from occurring outside of                         The Primary Listing Exchange must
                                                       On May 6, 2010, the U.S. markets                     specified Price Bands,9 which are based               declare a Trading Pause if a [sic] NMS
                                                    experienced excessive volatility in an                  on a Reference Price 10 for each NMS                  Stock does not exit a Limit State within
                                                    abbreviated time period, commonly                       Stock that equals the arithmetic mean                 fifteen seconds of entry during Regular
                                                    referred to as the ‘‘flash crash.’’ Many of             price of Eligible Reported                            Market Hours. The Primary Listing
                                                    the almost 8,000 equity securities and                  Transactions 11 for the NMS Stock over                Exchange may also declare a Trading
                                                    exchange-traded funds (‘‘ETFs’’) traded                 the immediately preceding five-minute                 Pause for an NMS Stock if the NMS
                                                    that day experienced rapid price                        period (except for periods following                  Stock is in a Straddle State, which is
                                                    declines and reversals within a short                   openings and re-openings). The Price                  when the NBB is below the Lower Price
                                                    period of time. Staff of the SEC and the                Bands are disseminated by the single                  Band or the NBO is above the Upper
                                                    U.S. Commodity Futures Trading                          plan processor responsible for the                    Price Band, the NMS Stock is not in a
                                                    Commission (‘‘CFTC’’) (collectively,                    consolidation of information for an                   Limit State, and trading in that NMS
                                                    ‘‘Staff’’) worked together to study the                 NMS Stock (‘‘Processor’’) pursuant to                 Stock deviates from normal trading
                                                    events of the flash crash, issuing a                    Rule 603(b) of Regulation NMS.                        characteristics such that declaring a
                                                    report of their findings (‘‘Report’’) to the               The Limit Up-Limit Down Plan                       Trading Pause would support the Plan’s
                                                    Joint CFTC–SEC Advisory Committee                       prevents trades in individual NMS                     goal to address extraordinary market
                                                    on Emerging Regulatory Issues                           Stocks from occurring outside of the                  volatility. The Primary Listing Exchange
                                                    (‘‘Committee’’).3 Staff observed, among                 Price Bands by applying Limit States,12               is responsible for declaring a Trading
                                                    other things, that there was a ‘‘liquidity              whereby trading is permitted to                       Pause in an NMS Stock and informing
                                                    crisis’’ with respect to individual stocks,             continue within certain upper and                     the Processor and during a Trading
                                                    whereby market participants widened                     lower limits, and Trading Pauses 13 to                Pause the Processor disseminates
                                                    quote spreads, reduced offered liquidity,               accommodate more fundamental price                    Trading Pause information to the public.
                                                    or withdrew from the markets                            moves in an NMS Stock. An NMS Stock                   During a Trading Pause, no trades in a
                                                    altogether.4 Staff stated that:                         will enter a Limit State if it has a                  NMS Stock may occur, but all bids and
                                                       While the withdrawal of a single                     National Best Offer (‘‘NBO’’) that equals             offers may be displayed. A Trading
                                                    participant may not significantly impact the            the lower price band and does not cross               Pause will conclude in one of two ways.
                                                    entire market, a liquidity crisis can develop           the National Best Bid (‘‘NBB’’), or a NBB             First, if after five minutes from
                                                    if many market participants withdraw at the
                                                    same time. This, in turn, can lead to the
                                                                                                            that equals the upper price band and                  declaration of the Trading Pause the
                                                    breakdown of a fair and orderly price-                  does not cross the NBO. When an NMS                   Primary Listing Exchange has not
                                                    discovery process, and in the extreme case              Stock enters a Limit State, the Processor             declared a Regulatory Halt, it will
                                                    trades can be executed at stub-quotes used by           will disseminate the information by                   initiate established re-opening
                                                    market makers to fulfill their continuous two-          identifying the relevant quotation (i.e., a           procedures. The Trading Pause will
                                                    sided obligations.5                                     NBO that equals the Lower Price Band                  conclude when the Primary Listing
                                                      The Committee, in turn, issued a                      or a NBB that equals the Upper Price                  Exchange reports a Reopening Price.
                                                    series of recommendations based on its                  Band) as a Limit State Quotation,14 and               Alternatively, a Trading Pause will
                                                    analysis of Staff’s findings.6                                                                                conclude if the Primary Listing
                                                                                                            Responses to the Market Events of May 6, 2010’’       Exchange does not report a Reopening
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      3 See  Report of the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC
                                                                                                            (Feb, 18, 2011).                                      Price within ten minutes after the
                                                                                                              7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–
                                                    to the Joint Advisory Committee on Emerging                                                                   declaration of a Trading Pause in a NMS
                                                                                                            67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012).
                                                    Regulatory Issues, ‘‘Findings Regarding the Market        8 See 17 CFR 242.600(b)(47).
                                                                                                                                                                  Stock, and has not declared a Regulatory
                                                    Events of May 6, 2010,’’ dated September 30, 2010,                                                            Halt. When trading resumes after a
                                                                                                              9 As defined by Section I.(N) of the Plan.
                                                    available at http://www.sec.gov/news/studies/2010/
                                                    marketevents-report.pdf.                                  10 As defined by Section I.(T) the Plan.            Trading Pause, the Processor then will
                                                       4 See Report at 5.                                     11 As defined by Section I.(A) the Plan.            update the Prices Bands.
                                                       5 Report at 6.                                         12 As defined by Section I.(C) the Plan.               The Exchange believes that the Limit
                                                       6 See Summary Report of the Committee,                 13 As defined by Section I.(Y) the Plan.            Up-Limit Down Plan has been
                                                    ‘‘Recommendations Regarding Regulatory                    14 As defined by Section I.(D) the Plan.            successful at addressing extraordinary


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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices                                                       30383

                                                    volatility in the markets, through its                  permissible rate. As consequence, any                  than Designated Retail Orders, as
                                                    combination of price bands and trading                  additional fee for removal of liquidity                defined in Rule 7018) when the LULD
                                                    pauses. A fundamental underpinning to                   would exceed that limit. Exchanges are                 Liquidity Symbol security enters a Limit
                                                    re-establishing a less volatile and stable              not so constrained, however, in level of               State based on an NBO that equals the
                                                    market in times of market stress is                     rebate provided for liquidity.                         lower price band and does not cross the
                                                    liquidity. As quoted above, Staff                          The Exchange agrees with the                        NBB (‘‘Limit Down Limit State’’). To be
                                                    observed that a liquidity crisis arising                Committee that more must be done to                    eligible, the market maker must be
                                                    from the withdrawal of market                           encourage liquidity during times of                    registered as a market maker for the
                                                    participants can lead to the breakdown                  market stress, and providing market                    LULD Liquidity Symbol. The Exchange
                                                    of a fair and orderly price-discovery                   participants with incentives to provide                believes the incentive will promote
                                                    process.15 There is great risk to market                liquidity may further that goal. While                 liquidity in LULD Liquidity Symbols
                                                    participants when markets are volatile                  the Exchange is limited in the level of                during times of significant price
                                                    and many firms employ their own                         fee-based disincentives that it can assess             declines in those securities, which is
                                                    versions of a trading pause to withdraw                 for liquidity removal during turbulent                 typically a time when buy liquidity is
                                                    from the markets as risk mitigation.16 In               markets, the Exchange is able to adopt                 scarce. The rebate will be provided to
                                                    its analysis of the flash crash, Staff                  incentives to address the Committee’s                  all buy orders entered by an Exchange
                                                    observed that the markets suffered                      concern that there are insufficient                    market maker priced at or higher than
                                                    significant reductions in liquidity as                  incentives to market participants to                   the Lower Price Band of the Limit Down
                                                    prices fell, particularly evidenced by a                provide displayed liquidity in such                    Limit State entered after initiation
                                                    significant reduction in buy-side market                markets. Specifically, the Exchange is                 thereof until its conclusion, and that
                                                    depth. The lack of adequate incentives                  proposing to provide two new                           add liquidity at any time during
                                                    to address such liquidity crisis is a                   incentives that are focused on                         continuous trading.21 Similarly, for
                                                    concern of the Committee, which noted                   promoting liquidity when a LULD                        LULD Liquidity Symbol securities
                                                    in its report that ‘‘incentives to display              Liquidity Symbol is in a Limit State,                  priced $1 or more the Exchange will
                                                    liquidity may be deficient in [a] normal                Straddle State, or a Trading Pause. 20                 provide the $0.0010 per share executed
                                                    market, and are seriously deficient in                  The Exchange has selected a group of                   rebate to Exchange market makers that
                                                    turbulent markets.’’ 17 Arising from this               200 LULD Liquidity Symbols that are                    enter displayed orders to buy (other
                                                    concern, the Committee recommended                      Exchange-listed stocks and ETFs of                     than Designated Retail Orders, as
                                                    that the CFTC and SEC ‘‘consider                        various sizes based on market                          defined in Rule 7018) when the LULD
                                                    incentives to supply liquidity that vary                capitalization. In selecting the                       Liquidity Symbol security enters a
                                                    with market conditions.’’ 18                            securities, the Exchange first considered              Straddle State based on an NBB that is
                                                                                                            how individual Exchange-listed                         below the lower price band (‘‘Limit
                                                    Proposal                                                securities were impacted on particularly               Down Straddle State’’). To be eligible,
                                                       The Exchange is proposing to                         volatile days, and when a Limit State,                 the market maker must be registered as
                                                    implement a new rebate program                          Straddle State or Trading Pause                        a market maker for the LULD Liquidity
                                                    designed to provide incentive to market                 occurred, with a particular focus on                   Symbol. The rebate will be provided to
                                                    participants to provide liquidity during                liquidity. From this pool of potential                 all buy orders entered by an Exchange
                                                    Limit States, Straddle States and                       LULD Liquidity Symbols, the Exchange                   market maker priced at or higher than
                                                    Trading Pause [sic] in a select group of                next eliminated very low volume stocks                 the Lower Price Band of the Limit Down
                                                    NMS Stocks chosen by the Exchange                       that frequently have LULD bands based                  Straddle State entered after initiation
                                                    (‘‘LULD Liquidity Symbols’’). The new                   on bid-ask midpoint rather than a trade                thereof until its conclusion, and that
                                                    incentive program is being proposed in                  price. Last, the Exchange used stratified              receive an execution any time after the
                                                    light of the Committee’s                                random sampling of the remaining pool                  order is entered during regular market
                                                    recommendation that exchanges adopt a                   of potential LULD Liquidity Symbols to                 hours, except for executions received in
                                                    ‘‘peak load’’ pricing model as a solution               assure that the stocks represented a                   subsequent Halt Crosses or Closing
                                                    to encouraging liquidity during                         wide range of market capitalization                    Cross. The Exchange will use the time
                                                    turbulent markets.19 In its purest form,                levels. The Exchange may add to or                     that it receives the message from the
                                                    a peak load pricing model increases                     modify the list of securities covered by               Processor that a LULD Liquidity Symbol
                                                    both fees and rebates to improve                        the Limit Up-Limit Down Pricing                        is in a Limit Down Limit State or Limit
                                                    liquidity. A higher access fee in                       Program. To the extent the Exchange                    Down Straddle State as the time at
                                                    comparison to other exchanges may                       determines to modify the list of LULD                  which the rebate is available, and the
                                                    discourage entry of aggressive liquidity-               Liquidity Symbol, it will file a rule                  message from the Processor that the
                                                    removing trades. By contrast, a higher                  change proposal with the Commission.                   security has emerged from the Limit
                                                    rebate in comparison to other markets                   In selecting new LULD Liquidity                        Down Limit State or Limit Down
                                                    may encourage entry of liquidity-                       Symbols, the Exchange will apply the                   Straddle State as the time at which the
                                                    providing limit orders. Under                           same criteria used in selecting the initial            rebate is no longer available.
                                                    Regulation NMS, exchanges are limited                   group of LULD Liquidity Symbols.                          The following is an example of how
                                                    in level of access fees that they may                      First, for LULD Liquidity Symbol                    the rebate will be applied. For this
                                                    assess their members. The Exchange’s                    securities priced $1 or more the                       example market maker refers to an
                                                    access fee schedule under Rule 7018(a)                  Exchange is adopting an incentive in the               Exchange market maker registered in
                                                                                                            form of a $0.0010 per share executed
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    provides that, under certain                                                                                   symbol ABC. Assume symbol ABC has
                                                    circumstances, removal of displayed                     rebate to Exchange market makers that                  a lower price band of $10.00 and is a
                                                    liquidity is assessed as the highest                    enter displayed orders to buy (other                   LULD Liquidity Symbol. Further
                                                                                                              20 The Exchange notes that nothing proposed in          21 Orders are considered to have added liquidity
                                                      15 See Supra note 6.
                                                      16 See
                                                                                                            this rule change will alter how the Exchange           if they are posted on the Exchange book and are
                                                             Report at 36.                                  handles quotes and orders in compliance with           executed during continuous trading. Executions
                                                      17 See Supra note 6 at 9.
                                                                                                            Regulation NMS, including member obligations           during a Halt, IPO, Open, and Closing Crosses are
                                                      18 Id.
                                                                                                            with respect to avoiding quotes and orders that lock   note considered to have added or removed
                                                      19 Id.                                                or cross the markets.                                  liquidity.



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                                                    30384                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices

                                                    assume the Exchange is the only market                   orders are eligible to receive the $0.0005              significant drop in a relatively short
                                                    with a displayed offer at $10.00 for 300                 per share executed rebate                               time. It has been the Exchange’s
                                                    shares and the Exchange has received                                                                             observation that Limit Down Limit
                                                                                                             2. Statutory Basis
                                                    the message from the Processor that                                                                              States and Limit Down Straddle States
                                                    ABC is in a Limit Down Limit State.                         The Exchange believes that the                       on the lower band are often
                                                    Market maker #1 enters a 1,000 share                     proposed rule change is consistent with                 characterized by a significant disparity
                                                    displayable buy order priced at $10.00.                  Section 6 of the Act,23 in general, and                 between the number of buyers and
                                                    Market maker #1’s order trades against                   furthers the objectives of Sections                     sellers. Orders that provide buy side
                                                    the 300 shares offered and the                           6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,24 in                    liquidity promote price discovery and
                                                    remaining 700 shares post to the                         particular, in that it provides for the                 help to normalize trading. The proposed
                                                    Exchange’s book at $10.00. The Bid on                    equitable allocation of reasonable dues,                rebate is designed to support buy side
                                                    the Exchange is now $10.00. The 700                      fees and other charges among members                    liquidity during Limit Down Limit
                                                    shares from market maker #1 are eligible                 and issuers and other persons using any                 States and Limit Down Straddle States
                                                    to receive the additional $0.0010 rebate                 facility or system which the Exchange                   in LULD Liquidity Symbols by
                                                    per share executed when adding                           operates or controls, and is designed to                providing market makers with an
                                                                                                             prevent fraudulent and manipulative                     incentive to provide bids at or above the
                                                    liquidity. Market maker #2 enters a 200
                                                                                                             acts and practices, to promote just and                 Limit Down Price band. The proposed
                                                    share displayable buy order at $10.00.
                                                                                                             equitable principles of trade, to foster                rebate may also provide incentive to
                                                    The 200 shares are also eligible to
                                                                                                             cooperation and coordination with                       Members to register as market makers in
                                                    receive the additional $0.0010 rebate
                                                                                                             persons engaged in regulating, clearing,                the LULD Liquidity Symbols so that
                                                    when adding liquidity. The Exchange                      settling, processing information with
                                                    receives the message from the Processor                                                                          they may avail themselves of the rebate,
                                                                                                             respect to, and facilitating transactions               thereby potentially improving overall
                                                    that the security has emerged from the                   in securities, to remove impediments to
                                                    Limit Down Limit State. Market maker                                                                             market quality in such securities.
                                                                                                             and perfect the mechanism of a free and                 Moreover, the Exchange believes that
                                                    #3 enters a 100 share displayable buy                    open market and a national market                       the proposed $0.0010 per share
                                                    order at $10.00. The 100 shares are not                  system, and, in general, to protect                     executed rebate is reasonable because it
                                                    eligible to receive the additional                       investors and the public interest; and                  is consistent with rebates of other
                                                    $0.0010 rebate since the Exchange has                    are not designed to permit unfair                       market quality incentive programs
                                                    already received the message from the                    discrimination between customers,                       under Rule 7014. While the Exchange
                                                    Processor that the security has emerged                  issuers, brokers, or dealers. As a general              acknowledges that the $0.0010 per share
                                                    from the Limit Down Limit State.                         principle, the Exchange applies rebates                 executed rebate is significantly higher
                                                    Market maker #1 and #2’s posted orders                   and reduced fees in an effort to promote                than provided by most incentive
                                                    are still eligible to receive the $0.0010                beneficial market-improving behavior                    programs under Rule 7014, which
                                                    per share rebate if the orders add                       among market participants. Under Rule                   provide additional rebates ranging from
                                                    liquidity at a later point.                              7014, the Exchange currently provides                   $0.0001 to $0.0004 per share executed,
                                                       Second, the Exchange is proposing to                  four Market Quality Incentive Programs                  the Exchange notes that the Lead Market
                                                    provide an incentive to all market                       that are designed to improve the                        Maker (‘‘LMM’’) Program under Rule
                                                    participants that enter Orders in an                     markets by providing rebates and                        7014 provides rebates in Qualified
                                                    LULD Liquidity Symbol during a                           reduced fees as incentive to market                     Securities to LMMs for adding
                                                    Trading Pause and receive an execution                   participants. The proposed Limit Up-                    displayed liquidity ranging from
                                                    of that Order. The Exchange will                         Limit Down Pricing Program is                           $0.0040 to $0.0046 per share executed,
                                                    provide a $0.0005 per share executed                     consistent with these other market-                     depending on the qualification criteria
                                                    rebate, which will be provided upon                      improving programs because it is                        met.25 The rebate under the LMM
                                                    execution of the eligible Order in the                   designed to promote liquidity when                      Program is provided in lieu of the
                                                    reopening process at the conclusion of                   liquidity is scarce and most needed. The                rebates provided under Rule 7018(a) for
                                                    the Trading Pause. The rebate will be                    proposed program is also consistent                     providing displayed liquidity, which are
                                                    provided in lieu of the fee assessed                     with recommendations made by the                        as high as $0.00305 per share executed.
                                                    under Rule 7018(f) for execution of                      Committee to support trading during                     Thus, the lowest effective rebate
                                                    quotes and orders executed halt                          events when there is a shortage of                      available to a LMM under the LMM
                                                    crosses.22 Unlike the proposed $0.0010                   liquidity. The Exchange is proposing to                 Program is $0.00095 ($0.0040—
                                                    per share executed rebate, which                         offer the program for a period no less                  $0.00305). Consequently, the Exchange
                                                    focuses on providing incentive to                        than six months from its adoption so                    believes that the proposed $0.0010 per
                                                    Exchange Market Makers to provide                        that it can measure the effectiveness of                share executed rebate is reasonable
                                                    liquidity when the price of a LULD                       the rebates.                                            because it is similar to the rebates
                                                    Liquidity Symbol has dropped                                                                                     provided under the LMM Program.
                                                                                                             Market Maker Rebate                                        The Exchange believes that the
                                                    significantly, this proposed $0.0005 per
                                                                                                               The Exchange believes that the                        proposed rebate is an equitable
                                                    share executed rebate targets all market
                                                                                                             proposed $0.0010 per share executed                     allocation and is not unfairly
                                                    participants during a Trading Pause.
                                                                                                             rebate is reasonable because it rewards                 discriminatory because the Exchange
                                                    The Exchange will use the time at
                                                                                                             market makers for providing liquidity                   will provide the same rebate to all
                                                    which it declares a Trading Pause in the
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                                                                                                             when the price of a security is falling                 similarly situated market makers. The
                                                    LULD Liquidity Symbol up to the point                    significantly and many market                           Exchange believes that limiting the
                                                    at which it completes the halt cross in                  participants have withdrawn. As                         $0.0010 per share executed rebate to
                                                    the security as the time during which                    discussed above, a stock that is in a                   registered market makers is an equitable
                                                                                                             Limit Down Limit State or Limit Down                    allocation and is not unfairly
                                                      22 Under Rule 7018(f), a member is assessed a
                                                                                                             Straddle State has experienced a                        discriminatory because the incentive
                                                    $0.0010 per share executed fee for any quote or
                                                    order that receives an execution in a halt cross,                                                                may encourage Members to register as
                                                                                                              23 15   U.S.C. 78f.
                                                    which includes a Limit Up-Limit Down trading
                                                    pause halt cross.                                         24 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).                        25 See   Rule 7014(d) and (e).



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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices                                               30385

                                                    market makers in LULD Liquidity                            the $0.0010 per share executed fee                  improve market quality for all market
                                                    Symbols. Market makers have certain                        assessed for executions in halt crosses,            participants by promoting price
                                                    quoting and pricing obligations 26 for                     including a Limit Up-Limit Down                     discovery for LULD Liquidity Symbols
                                                    the securities in which they are                           trading pause halt cross. As a                      that have triggered Limit Up-Limit
                                                    registered; however, such obligations do                   consequence, a member that qualifies                Down processes, and other exchanges
                                                    not require them to enter buy orders                       for the proposed new rebate will receive            are free to offer similar programs. If
                                                    priced at or higher than the Lower Price                   a net benefit of $0.0015 per share                  successful, the proposed Limit Up-Limit
                                                    Band of the Limit Down Limit State or                      executed. The Exchange notes that this              Down Pricing Program may promote
                                                    Limit Down Straddle State. The                             net benefit is similar to the net benefit           competition among exchanges to
                                                    proposed $0.0010 per share executed                        provided LMMs under the LMM                         provide incentives of their own to
                                                    rebate is designed to incentivize market                   Program. Specifically, an LMM that                  address low liquidity in NMS Stocks
                                                    makers to provide liquidity in LULD                        meets the highest performance criteria              during a Limit Up-Limit Down process.
                                                    Liquidity Symbols for which they are                       under the LMM Program is eligible to                Further, the Exchange does not believe
                                                    registered as market makers at a price                     receive no charge for executions in the             that the proposed incentive program
                                                    higher than they would otherwise be                        Halt Cross, Opening Cross and Closing               imposes a burden on competition
                                                    obligated in order to satisfy their market                 Cross. In certain circumstances, a                  among market participants because
                                                    making obligations. Moreover, an                           member may be assessed a charge of                  participation in the market during a
                                                    increased number of market makers                          $0.0015 per share executed for                      Limit Up-Limit Down Limit State,
                                                    registered in LULD Liquidity Symbols                       participation in the Opening and                    Straddle State, or Trading Pause is
                                                    may increase the potential for improved                    Closing Crosses. Thus, the net benefit              completely voluntary. Moreover, the
                                                    liquidity in LULD Liquidity Symbols                        provided by the proposed $0.0005 per                proposed incentive program will not be
                                                    during Limit States, and may improve                       share executed rebate is reasonable. The            a burden on competition among market
                                                    overall market quality in LULD                             Exchange believes that the proposed                 participants because the Exchange is
                                                    Liquidity Symbols because of market                        $0.0005 per share executed rebate is an             offering a rebate to all members that
                                                    makers’ quoting and pricing obligations,                   equitable allocation and is not unfairly            qualify under the program. The
                                                    which would benefit all market                             discriminatory because the Exchange                 Exchange notes that it is limiting the
                                                    participants that trade LULD Liquidity                     will provide the rebate to all members              $0.0010 per share executed rebate to
                                                    Symbols.                                                   that provide orders during a Trading                Exchange market makers registered in
                                                                                                               Pause in a LULD Liquidity Symbol that               LULD Liquidity Symbols as an incentive
                                                    Trading Pause Rebate
                                                                                                               receive an execution                                to such market makers to provide
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                                                                              liquidity priced better than they
                                                    proposed $0.0005 per share executed                        B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                                                                                   otherwise would be required to do so as
                                                    rebate provided to members that enter                      Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                                                                                                                                   market makers. In addition, the proposal
                                                    Orders in a LULD Liquidity Symbol                             The Exchange does not believe that               may incentivize market participants to
                                                    during a Trading Pause and receive an                      the proposed rule change will impose                register as market makers with the
                                                    execution of that Order is reasonable                      any burden on competition not                       Exchange. Providing incentive to
                                                    because it may provide incentive to all                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance             members to become market makers will
                                                    market participants to provide liquidity                   of the purposes of the Act. In terms of             benefit all market participants trading in
                                                    during a Trading Pause in the securities                   inter-market competition, the Exchange              LULD Liquidity Symbols for the reasons
                                                    of the program. The Exchange believes                      notes that it operates in a highly                  discussed above. In this regard, all
                                                    that all participants that provide                         competitive market in which market                  member firms may register as market
                                                    liquidity during a Trading Pause should                    participants can readily favor competing            makers in the LULD Liquidity Symbols
                                                    be rewarded for taking on the risk of                      venues if they deem fee levels at a                 if they choose to meet the qualification
                                                    entering orders during a volatile market.                  particular venue to be excessive, or                criteria. Accordingly, the Exchange does
                                                    These orders promote price discovery,                      rebate opportunities available at other             not believe that the proposed changes
                                                    which may in turn help reestablish                         venues to be more favorable. In such an             will impair the ability of members or
                                                    normal trading in a security covered by                    environment, the Exchange must                      competing order execution venues to
                                                    the program. Moreover, the Exchange                        continually adjust its fees to remain               maintain their competitive standing in
                                                    believes that the proposed $0.0005 per                     competitive with other exchanges and                the financial markets.
                                                    share executed rebate is reasonable                        with alternative trading systems that
                                                    because it is consistent with rebates of                   have been exempted from compliance                  C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    other market quality incentive programs                    with the statutory standards applicable             Statement on Comments on the
                                                    under Rule 7014, which provide                             to exchanges. Because competitors are               Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                    additional rebates ranging from $0.0001                    free to modify their own fees in                    Members, Participants, or Others
                                                    to $0.0004 per share executed. Unlike                      response, and because market                          No written comments were either
                                                    those rebates, which are provided in                       participants may readily adjust their               solicited or received.
                                                    addition to any fee or other rebate the                    order routing practices, the Exchange
                                                    member may receive under Rule 7018,                        believes that the degree to which fee               III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                    the proposed $0.0005 per share                             changes in this market may impose any               Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                    executed rebate is provided in lieu of                     burden on competition is extremely                  Commission Action
                                                                                                               limited.
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                                                                                                                                                                      The foregoing rule change has become
                                                      26 Rule 4613 requires market maker to be willing            In this instance, the Exchange is                effective pursuant to Section
                                                    to buy and sell a security that it is registered as such   offering rebates in an effort to improve
                                                    on a continuous basis during regular market hours
                                                                                                                                                                   19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.27
                                                    and to enter and maintain a two-sided trading              market quality during times of high                    At any time within 60 days of the
                                                    interest that is identified to the Exchange as the         volatility. The Exchange does not                   filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                    interest meeting the obligation and is displayed in        believe that the proposed change will               Commission summarily may
                                                    the Exchange’s quotation montage at all times.             place a burden on inter-market
                                                    Exchange market makers must also adhere to
                                                                                                                                                                   temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                    certain pricing obligations in their registered            competition because the Limit Up-Limit
                                                    securities, as established by Rule 4613.                   Down Pricing Program is designed to                   27 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).



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                                                    30386                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices

                                                    it appears to the Commission that such                     All submissions should refer to File               (‘‘SCCP’’).3 Upon completion of the
                                                    action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in              Number SR–NASDAQ–2016–065 and                         Transaction (the ‘‘Closing’’), the
                                                    the public interest; (ii) for the protection            should be submitted on or before June                 Exchange’s indirect parent company,
                                                    of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                     6, 2016.                                              U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc. (‘‘U.S.
                                                    furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                   For the Commission, by the Division of              Exchange Holdings’’), will become a
                                                    If the Commission takes such action, the                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            direct subsidiary of Nasdaq. The
                                                    Commission shall institute proceedings                  authority.28                                          Exchange will therefore become an
                                                    to determine whether the proposed rule                  Robert W. Errett,                                     indirect subsidiary of Nasdaq and, in
                                                    should be approved or disapproved.                      Deputy Secretary.                                     addition to the Exchange’s current
                                                                                                                                                                  affiliation with International Securities
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                            [FR Doc. 2016–11411 Filed 5–13–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                  Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’) and ISE
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                                                                           Mercury, LLC (‘‘ISE Mercury’’), an
                                                    submit written data, views, and                                                                               affiliate of NASDAQ Exchange, Phlx
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               Exchange, BX Exchange, BSECC and
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                     COMMISSION                                            SCCP through common, ultimate
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                                                                            ownership by Nasdaq. Nasdaq will
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           become the ultimate parent of the
                                                    the following methods:                                  [Release No. 34–77795; File No. SR–ISE
                                                                                                                                                                  Exchange.4
                                                                                                            Gemini–2016–05]
                                                    Electronic Comments                                                                                              In order to effect the Transaction, the
                                                                                                            Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE                    Exchange hereby seeks the
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Gemini, LLC; Notice of Filing of                      Commission’s approval of the following:
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Proposed Rule Change Relating to a                    (i) That certain corporate resolutions
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                    Corporate Transaction Involving Its                   that were previously established by
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Indirect Parent                                       entities that will cease to be non-U.S.
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                       upstream owners of the Exchange after
                                                    NASDAQ–2016–065 on the subject line.                    May 10, 2016.                                         the Transaction will cease to be
                                                                                                               Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the                considered rules of the Exchange upon
                                                    Paper Comments
                                                                                                            Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                  Closing; (ii) that certain governing
                                                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                  ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                documents of Nasdaq will be considered
                                                    to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities               notice is hereby given that on April 28,              rules of the Exchange upon Closing; (iii)
                                                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                   2016 ISE Gemini, LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’                that the Third Amended and Restated
                                                    NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                         or ‘‘ISE Gemini’’) filed with the                     Trust Agreement (the ‘‘Trust
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                    Securities and Exchange Commission                    Agreement’’) that currently exists among
                                                    Number SR–NASDAQ–2016–065. This                         (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                    International Securities Exchange
                                                    file number should be included on the                   change, as described in Items I, II, and              Holdings, Inc. (‘‘ISE Holdings’’), U.S.
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the              III below, which items have been                      Exchange Holdings, and the Trustees (as
                                                    Commission process and review your                      prepared by the self-regulatory                       defined therein) with respect to the ‘‘ISE
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use                   organization. The Commission is                       Trust’’ will cease to be considered rules
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                    publishing this notice to solicit                     of the Exchange upon Closing and,
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                   comments on the proposed rule change                  thereafter, that the parties to the Trust
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                  from interested persons.                              Agreement would be permitted to take
                                                    rules/sro.shtml).                                                                                             the corporate steps necessary to repeal
                                                                                                            I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     the Trust Agreement and dissolve the
                                                       Copies of the submission, all
                                                                                                            Statement of the Terms of the Substance               ISE Trust; (iv) to amend and restate the
                                                    subsequent amendments, all written
                                                                                                            of the Proposed Rule Change                           Second Amended and Restated
                                                    statements with respect to the proposed
                                                    rule change that are filed with the                        The Exchange is hereby filing with                 Certificate of Incorporation of ISE
                                                    Commission, and all written                             the U.S. Securities and Exchange                      Holdings (‘‘ISE Holdings COI’’) to
                                                    communications relating to the                          Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a                         eliminate provisions relating to the
                                                    proposed rule change between the                        proposed rule change (the ‘‘Proposed                  Trust Agreement and the ISE Trust and,
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                   Rule Change’’) in connection with a                   in this respect, to reinstate certain text
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                     proposed business transaction (the                    of the ISE Holdings COI that existed
                                                    public in accordance with the                           ‘‘Transaction’’) involving the Exchange’s             prior to Deutsche Börse’s ownership of
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     ultimate, indirect, non-U.S. upstream                 ISE Holdings; (v) to amend and restate
                                                    available for Web site viewing and                      owners, Deutsche Börse AG (‘‘Deutsche                the Second Amended and Restated
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                     Börse’’) and Eurex Frankfurt AG (‘‘Eurex             Bylaws of ISE Holdings (the ‘‘ISE
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                       Frankfurt’’), and Nasdaq, Inc.                        Holdings Bylaws’’) to waive certain
                                                    Washington, DC 20549, on official                       (‘‘Nasdaq’’). Nasdaq is the parent                    voting and ownership restrictions in the
                                                    business days between the hours of                      company of The NASDAQ Stock Market                    ISE Holdings COI to permit Nasdaq to
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  LLC (‘‘NASDAQ Exchange’’), NASDAQ                     indirectly own 100% of the outstanding
                                                    filing also will be available for
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                                                                                                            PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx Exchange’’),                            3 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 58179
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                 NASDAQ BX, Inc. (‘‘BX Exchange’’),                    (July 17, 2008), 73 FR 42874 (July 23, 2008) (SR–
                                                    office of the Exchange. All comments                    Boston Stock Exchange Clearing                        Phlx–2008–31); 58324 (August 7, 2008), 73 FR
                                                    received will be posted without change;                 Corporation (‘‘BSECC’’) and Stock                     46936 (August 12, 2008) (SR–BSE–2008–02; SR–
                                                    the Commission does not edit personal                   Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia                  BSE–2008–23; SR–BSE–2008–25; SR–BSECC–2008–
                                                    identifying information from                                                                                  01).
                                                                                                                                                                     4 The Exchange’s current affiliates, ISE and ISE
                                                    submissions. You should submit only                       28 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          Mercury, have submitted nearly identical proposed
                                                    information that you wish to make                         1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              rule changes. See SR–ISE–2016–11 and SR–
                                                    available publicly.                                       2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 ISEMercury–2016–10.



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Document Created: 2016-05-14 01:16:50
Document Modified: 2016-05-14 01:16:50
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 30381 

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