81_FR_34518 81 FR 34414 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options Pricing at Chapter XV, Section 2

81 FR 34414 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options Pricing at Chapter XV, Section 2

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 104 (May 31, 2016)

Page Range34414-34419
FR Document2016-12669

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34414-34419]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12669]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77892; File No. SR-BX-2016-027]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 
Pricing at Chapter XV, Section 2

May 24, 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 19, 2016, NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') \3\ 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.
    \3\ The Exchange notes that it has legally changed its name to 
NASDAQ BX, Inc. with the state of Delaware and filed Form 1 
reflecting the change, and is in the process of changing its rules 
to reflect the new name.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend its Options Pricing at Chapter XV, 
Section 2, entitled ``BX Options Market--Fees and Rebates,'' which 
governs pricing for BX members using the BX Options Market (``BX 
Options''). The Exchange proposes to modify certain fees (per executed 
contract) applicable [sic] the Select Symbol Options Tier Schedule for 
certain Penny Pilot \4\ Options (each a ``Select Symbol'' and together 
the ``Select Symbols'').
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    \4\ The Penny Pilot was established in June 2012 and extended in 
2015. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 67256 (June 26, 
2012), 77 FR 39277 (July 2, 2012) (SR-BX-2012-030) (order approving 
BX option rules and establishing Penny Pilot); and 75326 (June 29, 
2015), 80 FR 38481 (July 6, 2015) (SR-BX-2015-037) (notice of filing 
and immediate effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through June 
30, 2016).
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqomxbx.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 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 proposes to amend its Chapter XV, Section 2, to modify 
the fees \5\ schedule to adopt a Fee to Add Liquidity in the Select 
Symbol Options \6\

[[Page 34415]]

Tier Schedule for certain Penny Pilot Options. The proposed Fee to Add 
Liquidity would apply to BX Options Market Maker \7\ trading with Non-
Customer \8\ or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.\9\
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    \5\ Fees are per executed contract. BX Chapter XV, Section 2(1).
    \6\ Select Symbols represent some of the highest volume Penny 
Pilot Options traded on the Exchange and in the U.S. The following 
are Select Symbols: ASHR, DIA, DXJ, EEM, EFA, EWJ, EWT, EWW, EWY, 
EWZ, FAS, FAZ, FXE, FXI, FXP, GDX, GLD, HYG, IWM, IYR, KRE, OIH, 
QID, QLD, QQQ, RSX, SDS, SKF, SLV, SPY, SRS, SSO, TBT, TLT, TNA, 
TZA, UNG, URE, USO, UUP, UVXY, UYG, VXX, XHB, XLB, XLE, XLF, XLI, 
XLK, XLP, XLU, XLV, XLY, XME, XOP, XRT.
    \7\ BX Options Market Makers may also be referred to as ``Market 
Makers''. The term ``BX Options Market Maker'' or (``M'') means a 
Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on BX Options 
pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good 
standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive 
Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be 
registered as a BX Options Market Maker in at least one security. BX 
Chapter XV.
    \8\ Note 1 to Chapter XV, Section 2, states: ``\1\A Non-Customer 
includes a Professional, Broker-Dealer and Non-BX Options Market 
Maker.''
    \9\ The term ``Firm'' or (``F'') applies to any transaction that 
is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Firm range at 
OCC. BX Chapter XV.
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    Currently, Chapter XV, Section 2, subsection (1), contains a Select 
Symbols Options Tier Schedule that has four tiers; and one fee for BX 
Options Market Maker to add liquidity in Select Symbols Options in a 
footnote (the ``footnote'').\10\ The Exchange proposes to delete the 
footnote and to add a Fee to Add Liquidity as a fifth column in the 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule. The proposed fees are reduced as 
the Tiers increase from Tier 1 through Tier 4, as discussed in detail 
below.
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    \10\ The current footnote states:  BX Options Market 
Maker fee to add liquidity in Select Symbols Options will be $0.04 
when trading with Firm, Non-Customer, or BX Options Market Maker.
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Change 1--Penny Pilot Options: Add Fee To Add Liquidity Column to 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule

    In Change 1, the Exchange proposes modifications to convert the 
current footnoted Fee to Add Liquidity to a fifth column in the Select 
Symbols Options Tier Schedule that is graduated per Tiers 1 through 4. 
The proposed change will not amend the criteria to qualify for the 
existing tiers. The proposed change keeps the $0.04 fee that is in the 
current footnote and makes it applicable to Tier 3, while proposing new 
graduated fees for the other three Tiers.
    Specifically, the Exchange proposes to add a fifth column, Fee to 
Add Liquidity, to the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule when BX 
Options Market Maker trades with Non-Customer or BX Options Market 
Maker, or Firm. This column will include graduated fees that range from 
$0.14 for Tier 1 to $0.00 for Tier 4,\11\ as follows.
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    \11\ As discussed, Tier 4 requires bringing the highest amount 
of liquidity to the Exchange.
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    Tier 1 in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule is currently 
where a BX Participant (``Participant'') executes less than 0.05% of 
total industry customer equity and exchange traded fund (``ETF'') 
option average daily volume (``ADV'') contracts per month. Tier 1 
ranges from a $0.00 rebate to a $0.44 fee, with a proposed $0.14 Fee to 
Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer 
or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.\12\
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    \12\ Currently, there is also a $0.44 Fee to Add Liquidity when 
BX Options Market Maker is trading with Customer. This fee remains 
unchanged.
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    Tier 2 in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule is currently 
where Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total industry 
customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 2 ranges 
from a $0.25 rebate to a $0.44 fee, with a proposed $0.10 Fee to Add 
Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or 
BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.\13\
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    \13\ Currently, there is also a $0.44 Fee to Add Liquidity when 
BX Options Market Maker is trading with Customer. This fee remains 
unchanged.
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    Tier 3 in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule is currently 
where Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry customer 
equity and ETF option ADV contracts per month. Tier 3 ranges from a 
$0.37 rebate to a $0.40 fee, with a proposed $0.04 Fee to Add Liquidity 
when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options 
Market Maker, or Firm.\14\ The proposed $0.04 Fee to Add Liquidity is 
the same as the fee in the current footnote, except as proposed the fee 
is graduated according to the four Tiers.
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    \14\ Currently, there is also a $0.40 Fee to Add Liquidity when 
BX Options Market Maker is trading with Customer. This fee remains 
unchanged.
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    Tier 4 in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule is currently 
where Participant executes more than 10,000 BX Price Improvement 
Auction (``PRISM'') \15\ Agency Contracts per month; or Participant 
executes BX Options Market Maker volume of 0.30% or more of total 
industry customer equity and ETF options ADV per month. If a 
Participant qualifies for Tier 4 the rates applicable to this tier will 
supersede any other Select Symbols tier rates that the Participant may 
qualify for. Tier 4 ranges from a $0.37 rebate to a $0.29 fee, with a 
proposed $0.00 Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is 
trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.\16\
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    \15\ PRISM is a Price Improvement Mechanism for all-electronic 
BX Options whereby a buy and sell order may be submitted in one 
order message to initiate an auction at a stop price and seek 
potential price improvement. Options are traded electronically on BX 
Options, and all options participants may respond to a PRISM 
Auction, the duration of which is set at 200 milliseconds. PRISM 
includes auto-match functionality in which a Participant (an 
``Initiating Participant'') may electronically submit for execution 
an order it represents as agent on behalf of customer, broker 
dealer, or any other entity (``PRISM Order'') against principal 
interest or against any other order it represents as agent (an 
``Initiating Order'') provided it submits the PRISM Order for 
electronic execution into the PRISM Auction. See Chapter VI, Section 
9; and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76301 (October 29, 2015), 
80 FR 68347 (November 4, 2015) (SR-BX-2015-032) (order approving 
PRISM on BX).
    \16\ Currently, there is also a $0.29 Fee to Add Liquidity when 
BX Options Market Maker is trading with Customer. This fee remains 
unchanged.
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    Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1) reflecting the proposed Select 
Symbols Options Tier Schedule, with a new Fee to Add Liquidity when BX 
Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market 
Maker, or Firm, will read as follows:

Sec. 2 BX Options Market--Fees and Rebates

    The following charges shall apply to the use of the order execution 
and routing services of the BX Options market for all securities.
    (1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on the BX Options Market:
* * * * *

[[Page 34416]]



                                      Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule
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                                                                     Rebate to
                                   Rebate to add    Fee to add        remove       Fee to remove    Fee to add
                                     liquidity       liquidity       liquidity       liquidity       liquidity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When:                                   Customer      BX Options        Customer      BX Options      BX Options
                                                    Market Maker                    Market Maker    Market Maker
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trading with:                       Non-customer        Customer    Non-customer        Customer    Non-customer
                                   or BX Options                   or BX Options                   or BX Options
                                   Market Maker,                   Market Maker,                   Market Maker,
                                         or Firm                    Customer, or                         or Firm
                                                                            Firm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tier 1:
    Participant executes less              $0.00           $0.44           $0.00           $0.42           $0.14
     than 0.05% of total
     industry customer equity
     and ETF option ADV
     contracts per month........
Tier 2:
    Participant executes 0.05%              0.10            0.44            0.25            0.42            0.10
     to less than 0.15% of total
     industry customer equity
     and ETF option ADV
     contracts per month........
Tier 3:
    Participant executes 0.15%              0.20            0.40            0.37            0.39            0.04
     or more of total industry
     customer equity and ETF
     option ADV contracts per
     month......................
Tier 4:
    Participant executes greater            0.25            0.29            0.37            0.25            0.00
     than 10,000 PRISM Agency
     Contracts per month; or
     Participant executes BX
     Options Market Maker volume
     of 0.30% or more of total
     industry customer equity
     and ETF options ADV per
     month......................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BX Options Select Symbol List
    The following are Select Symbols: ASHR, DIA, DXJ, EEM, EFA, EWJ, 
EWT, EWW, EWY, EWZ, FAS, FAZ, FXE, FXI, FXP, GDX, GLD, HYG, IWM, IYR, 
KRE, OIH, QID, QLD, QQQ, RSX, SDS, SKF, SLV, SPY, SRS, SSO, TBT, TLT, 
TNA, TZA, UNG, URE, USO, UUP, UVXY, UYG, VXX, XHB, XLB, XLE, XLF, XLI, 
XLK, XLP, XLU, XLV, XLY, XME, XOP, XRT
     Firm fee to add liquidity and fee to remove liquidity in 
Select Symbols Options will be $0.33 per contract, regardless of 
counterparty.
     Non-Customer fee to add liquidity and fee to remove 
liquidity in Select Symbols Options will be $0.46 per contract, 
regardless of counterparty.
     BX Options Market Maker fee to remove liquidity in Select 
Symbols Options will be $0.46 per contract when trading with Firm, Non-
Customer, or BX Options Market Maker.
     Customer fee to add liquidity in Select Symbols Options 
when contra to another Customer is $0.33 per contract.
     Volume from all products listed on BX Options will apply 
to the Select Symbols Options Tiers.
* * * * *
    The Exchange is proposing fees changes and adopting in the Select 
Symbols Options Tier Schedule a graduated Fee to Add Liquidity when BX 
Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market 
Maker, or Firm. The Exchange believes that this will provide incentives 
for execution of more contracts, and in particular Select Symbols 
Options contracts, on the BX Options Market. The proposed Fee to Add 
Liquidity incentivizes execution of Select Symbol Options Contracts on 
the Exchange by the fee being lower for each subsequent higher-level 
Tier.
    The Exchange also believes that its proposal should provide 
increased opportunities for participation in executions on the 
Exchange, facilitating the ability of the Exchange to bring together 
participants and encourage more robust competition for orders.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal to amend its Pricing 
Schedule is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,\17\ in general, 
and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of the 
Act,\18\ 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 not designed to permit unfair 
discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4), (5).
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    The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their 
preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining 
prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation 
NMS, while adopting a series of steps to improve the current market 
model, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in 
determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current 
regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably successful in 
promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most 
important to investors and listed companies.'' \19\
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    \19\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 29, 2005), 
70 FR 37496 at 37499 (File No. S7-10-04) (``Regulation NMS Adopting 
Release'') [sic].
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    Likewise, in NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission 
\20\ (``NetCoalition'') the D.C. Circuit upheld the Commission's use of 
a market-based approach in evaluating the fairness of market data fees 
against a challenge claiming that Congress mandated a cost-based 
approach.\21\ As the court emphasized, the Commission ``intended in 
Regulation NMS that `market forces, rather than regulatory 
requirements' play a role in determining the market data . . . to be 
made available to investors and at what cost.'' \22\
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    \20\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010).
    \21\ See id. at 534-535.
    \22\ See id. at 537.

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[[Page 34417]]

    Further, ``[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is 
`fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market 
system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-dealers that 
act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of 
where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to 
take its market share percentages for granted' because `no exchange 
possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of 
order flow from broker dealers'. . . .'' \23\ Although the court and 
the SEC were discussing the cash equities markets, the Exchange 
believes that these views apply with equal force to the options 
markets.
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    \23\ See id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Act Commission 
at [sic] Release No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770 at 74782-
74783 (December 9, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-21)).
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    The Exchange proposes to amend its Chapter XV, Section 2, to modify 
certain fees to adopt Fee to Add Liquidity in the Select Symbol Options 
Tier Schedule for certain Penny Pilot Options. The proposed Fee to Add 
Liquidity in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule would, as 
discussed, apply where BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. The Exchange believes 
that its proposal is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly 
discriminatory and should provide increased opportunities for 
participation in executions on the Exchange, facilitating the ability 
of the Exchange to bring together participants and encourage more 
robust competition for orders.

Change 1--Penny Pilot Options: Add Fee To Add Liquidity Column To 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule

    In Change 1, the Exchange proposes modifications to convert the 
current footnoted Fee to Add Liquidity \24\ to a fifth column in the 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule. The proposed Fee to Add Liquidity 
is graduated according to Tiers 1 through 4 in the Select Symbols 
Options Tier Schedule. The proposed change keeps the current $0.04 fee 
applicable to Tier 3, and indicates that the fee is reduced as 
additional liquidity is brought to the Exchange according to Tiers 1 
through 4 in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule.
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    \24\ The current footnote states:  BX Options Market 
Maker fee to add liquidity in Select Symbols Options will be $0.04 
when trading with Firm, Non-Customer, or BX Options Market Maker.
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    Specifically, the Exchange proposes four graduated fees that range 
from $0.14 for Tier 1 to $0.00 for Tier 4.
    Tier 1 \25\ currently ranges from a $0.00 rebate to a $0.44 fee. 
The Exchange is proposing in Tier 1 the largest $0.14 Fee to Add 
Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or 
BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. Tier 2 currently ranges from a $0.25 
rebate to a $0.44 fee. The Exchange is proposing in Tier 2 a $0.10 Fee 
to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. Tier 3 ranges from a 
$0.37 rebate to a $0.40 fee. The Exchange is proposing in Tier 3 a 
$0.04 Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with 
Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. The proposed $0.04 
Fee to Add Liquidity is the same as the fee in the current footnote, 
except as proposed the fee is graduated according to the four Tiers. 
Tier 4 currently ranges from a $0.37 rebate to a $0.29 fee. In Tier 4, 
the Exchange is proposing the smallest $0.00 Fee to Add Liquidity when 
BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options 
Market Maker, or Firm.
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    \25\ Each of the four applicable Tiers, which do not change, are 
described above.
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    The proposed rule change is reasonable because it continues to 
encourage market participant behavior through the fees and rebates 
system, which is an accepted methodology among options exchanges.\26\ 
Converting the current footnote regarding Fee to Add Liquidity when BX 
Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market 
Maker, or Firm to the graduated Fee to Add Liquidity is reasonable 
because of the nature of Select Symbol options. These are the most 
heavily traded options on the Exchange as well as in the industry. By 
graduating the proposed Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market 
Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm, 
the Exchange is promoting transactions in Select Symbol Options and 
further promoting options liquidity on the Exchange.
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    \26\ See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other options 
exchanges, including, but not limited to, NASDAQ Options Market 
(``NOM''), NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx''), and Chicago Board Options 
Exchange (``CBOE'').
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed Fee to Add Liquidity in the 
Select Symbol Options Tier Schedule is reasonable because it is not a 
novel, untested structure. Rather, the proposed Fee to Add Liquidity is 
a graduated fees and rebate structure that is similar to what is 
offered by other options markets \27\ and is similar to the Exchange's 
existing Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule.\28\ The proposed fee 
schedule is, as discussed, graduated according to four Tiers. Thus, the 
highest proposed Fee to Add Liquidity is applicable to Tier 1, which 
requires the least amount or [sic] liquidity, and the lowest proposed 
Fee to Add Liquidity is applicable to Tier 4, which requires the 
greatest amount of liquidity. The Exchange believes that the higher 
fees in Tier 1 and 2 (as opposed to the footnote fee of $0.04, which is 
proposed in Tier 3) are reasonable because they continue to incentivize 
bringing liquidity to the Exchange while enabling the Exchange to 
recoup some of its costs.
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    \27\ See, e.g., MIAX Options Exchange (``MIAX'').
    \28\ See, e.g., in the Exchange's current Select Symbols Options 
Tier Schedule: The Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker 
is trading with Customer, and the Rebate to Add Liquidity when 
Customer is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or 
Firm. BX Chapter XV, Section 2(1).
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    The proposed Fee to Add Liquidity that varies according to Tiers in 
the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule clearly reflects the 
progressively increasing nature of Participant executions structured 
for the purpose of attracting order flow to the Exchange. This 
encourages market participant behavior through progressive tiered fees 
and rebates using an accepted methodology among options exchanges.
    The Exchange is proposing changes to its fees schedule and adopting 
in the Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule a graduated Fee to Add 
Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or 
BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. The Exchange believes that this will 
provide incentives for execution of more contracts, and in particular 
Select Symbols Options contracts, on the BX Options Market. The 
proposed Fee to Add Liquidity incentivizes execution of Select Symbol 
Options Contracts on the Exchange by such fee being lower for each 
subsequent higher Tier.
    The Exchange also believes that its proposal should provide 
increased opportunities for participation in executions on the 
Exchange, facilitating the ability of the Exchange to bring together 
participants and encourage more robust competition for orders.
    Establishing the proposed Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options 
Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market Maker, 
or Firm is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. This is because 
the Exchange's proposal to add the noted Fee to Add Liquidity in the 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule will apply uniformly to all 
similarly situated

[[Page 34418]]

Participants. The fee and rebate schedule as proposed continues to 
reflect differentiation among different market participants. The 
Exchange believes that the differentiation is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory, as well as reasonable, because transactions of 
a BX Options Market Maker must constitute a course of dealings 
reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a fair and 
orderly market, and BX Options Market Makers should not make bids or 
offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such 
course of dealings. All Market Makers are designated as specialists on 
BX Options for all purposes under the Exchange Act or Rules 
thereunder.\29\
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    \29\ See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled ``Obligations of 
Market Makers.'' See also Chapter VII, Section 2.
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    The Exchange believes that by making the proposed changes it is 
continuing to incentivize Participants to execute more volume on the 
Exchange to further enhance liquidity in this market.

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. Specifically, the Exchange does 
not believe that its proposal to make changes to its Select Symbols 
Options Tiers Schedule to adopt the Fee to Add Liquidity when BX 
Options Market Maker is trading with Non-Customer or BX Options Market 
Maker, or Firm will impose any undue burden on competition, as 
discussed below.
    The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which many 
sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do 
send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or 
rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or 
inadequate. Additionally, new competitors have entered the market and 
still others are reportedly entering the market shortly. These market 
forces ensure that the Exchange's fees and rebates remain competitive 
with the fee structures at other trading platforms. In that sense, the 
Exchange's proposal is actually pro-competitive because the Exchange is 
simply continuing its fees and rebates for Penny Pilot Options in the 
Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule, and is establishing a graduated 
Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm in [sic] in order to 
remain competitive in the current environment.
    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 terms of intra-market competition, the Exchange notes that price 
differentiation among different market participants operating on the 
Exchange (e.g., Customer and BX Options Market Maker) is reasonable. 
Customer activity, for example, enhances liquidity on the Exchange for 
the benefit of all market participants and benefits all market 
participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts 
market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants 
(particularly in response to pricing) in turn facilitates tighter 
spreads, which may cause an additional corresponding increase in order 
flow from other market participants.
    Moreover, unlike others [sic] market participants each BX Options 
Market Maker commits to various obligations. These obligations include, 
for example, transactions of a BX Market Maker must constitute a course 
of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to the maintenance of a 
fair and orderly market, and BX Market Makers should not make bids or 
offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with such 
course of dealings.\30\
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    \30\ See Chapter VII, Section 5.
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    In this instance, the proposed changes to the fees to establish a 
Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading with Non-
Customer or BX Options Market Maker, or Firm in the Select Symbols 
Options Tiers Schedule, does not impose a burden on competition because 
the Exchange's execution and routing services are completely voluntary 
and subject to extensive competition both from other exchanges and from 
off-exchange venues. If the changes proposed herein are unattractive to 
market participants, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market 
share as a result.
    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. 
Additionally, the changes proposed herein are pro-competitive to the 
extent that they continue to allow the Exchange to promote and maintain 
order executions.

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

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\31\ the Exchange 
has designated this proposal as establishing or changing a due, fee, or 
other charge imposed by the self-regulatory organization on any person, 
whether or not the person is a member of the self-regulatory 
organization, which renders the proposed rule change effective upon 
filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (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

[[Page 34419]]

     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BX-2016-027 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2016-027. 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-BX-2016-027 and should be 
submitted on or before June 21, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-12669 Filed 5-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                34414                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices

                                                B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       only one method. The Commission will                     ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                Statement on Burden on Competition                      post all comments on the Commission’s                    change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                   The Exchange does not believe that                   Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                   III, below, which Items have been
                                                the proposed rule change will impose                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                          prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                any burden on competition that is not                   submission, all subsequent                               Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 amendments, all written statements                       solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                of the purposes of the Act. The                         with respect to the proposed rule                        change from interested persons.
                                                Exchange believes that the proposed                     change that are filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                 I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                rule change will facilitate the listing and             Commission, and all written
                                                                                                                                                                 Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                trading of additional types of actively                 communications relating to the
                                                                                                                                                                 the Proposed Rule Change
                                                managed exchange-traded funds that                      proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                        Commission and any person, other than                       The Exchange proposes to amend its
                                                will enhance competition among market                                                                            Options Pricing at Chapter XV, Section
                                                participants, to the benefit of investors               those that may be withheld from the
                                                                                                        public in accordance with the                            2, entitled ‘‘BX Options Market—Fees
                                                and the marketplace.                                                                                             and Rebates,’’ which governs pricing for
                                                                                                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       available for Web site viewing and                       BX members using the BX Options
                                                Statement on Comments on the                            printing in the Commission’s Public                      Market (‘‘BX Options’’). The Exchange
                                                Proposed Rule Change Received From                      Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                        proposes to modify certain fees (per
                                                Members, Participants or Others                         Washington, DC 20549, on official                        executed contract) applicable [sic] the
                                                  Written comments were neither                         business days between the hours of                       Select Symbol Options Tier Schedule
                                                solicited nor received.                                 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                   for certain Penny Pilot 4 Options (each
                                                                                                        filing also will be available for                        a ‘‘Select Symbol’’ and together the
                                                III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       inspection and copying at the principal                  ‘‘Select Symbols’’).
                                                Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     office of Nasdaq. All comments received                     The text of the proposed rule change
                                                Commission Action                                       will be posted without change; the                       is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                   Within 45 days of the date of                        Commission does not edit personal                        at http://nasdaqomxbx.cchwallstreet
                                                publication of this notice in the Federal               identifying information from                             .com/, at the principal office of the
                                                Register or within such longer period                   submissions. You should submit only                      Exchange, and at the Commission’s
                                                up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may                 information that you wish to make                        Public Reference Room.
                                                designate if it finds such longer period                available publicly. All submissions                      II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                to be appropriate and publishes its                     should refer to File Number SR–                          Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which              NASDAQ–2016–071 and should be                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                the self-regulatory organization                        submitted on or before June 21, 2016.                    Change
                                                consents, the Commission will:                            For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                   (A) By order approve or disapprove                   Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                                                                                    In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                such proposed rule change, or                           authority.29                                             Exchange included statements
                                                   (B) institute proceedings to determine               Robert W. Errett,                                        concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                whether the proposed rule change                                                                                 the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                                                                        Deputy Secretary.
                                                should be disapproved.                                                                                           any comments it received on the
                                                                                                        [FR Doc. 2016–12670 Filed 5–27–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                 proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                IV. Solicitation of Comments                            BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                 statements may be examined at the
                                                   Interested persons are invited to                                                                             places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                submit written data, views, and                                                                                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                arguments concerning the foregoing,                     COMMISSION                                               forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                including whether the proposed rule                                                                              the most significant aspects of such
                                                change, as modified by Amendment No.                    [Release No. 34–77892; File No. SR–BX–                   statements.
                                                1, is consistent with the Act. Comments                 2016–027]
                                                                                                                                                                 A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                may be submitted by any of the                          Self-Regulatory Organizations;                           Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                following methods:                                      NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                Electronic Comments                                     Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                      Change
                                                  • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Rule Change To Amend Options                             1. Purpose
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Pricing at Chapter XV, Section 2
                                                                                                                                                                    The Exchange proposes to amend its
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                    May 24, 2016.                                            Chapter XV, Section 2, to modify the
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                        Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                   fees 5 schedule to adopt a Fee to Add
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934                          Liquidity in the Select Symbol Options 6
                                                NASDAQ–2016–071 on the subject line.                    (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                Paper Comments                                          notice is hereby given that on May 19,                      4 The Penny Pilot was established in June 2012

                                                                                                        2016, NASDAQ BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’ or                         and extended in 2015. See Securities Exchange Act
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                  ‘‘Exchange’’) 3 filed with the Securities                Release Nos. 67256 (June 26, 2012), 77 FR 39277
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
                                                                                                                                                                 (July 2, 2012) (SR–BX–2012–030) (order approving
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                                    BX option rules and establishing Penny Pilot); and
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                 75326 (June 29, 2015), 80 FR 38481 (July 6, 2015)
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                29 17  CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            (SR–BX–2015–037) (notice of filing and immediate
                                                All submissions should refer to File                      1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                effectiveness extending the Penny Pilot through
                                                Number SR–NASDAQ–2016–071. This                            2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   June 30, 2016).
                                                                                                           3 The Exchange notes that it has legally changed         5 Fees are per executed contract. BX Chapter XV,
                                                file number should be included on the
                                                                                                        its name to NASDAQ BX, Inc. with the state of            Section 2(1).
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the              Delaware and filed Form 1 reflecting the change,            6 Select Symbols represent some of the highest
                                                Commission process and review your                      and is in the process of changing its rules to reflect   volume Penny Pilot Options traded on the
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                   the new name.                                            Exchange and in the U.S. The following are Select



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices                                                      34415

                                                Tier Schedule for certain Penny Pilot                      Specifically, the Exchange proposes to                Tier 4 in the Select Symbols Options
                                                Options. The proposed Fee to Add                        add a fifth column, Fee to Add                        Tier Schedule is currently where
                                                Liquidity would apply to BX Options                     Liquidity, to the Select Symbols Options              Participant executes more than 10,000
                                                Market Maker 7 trading with Non-                        Tier Schedule when BX Options Market                  BX Price Improvement Auction
                                                Customer 8 or BX Options Market                         Maker trades with Non-Customer or BX                  (‘‘PRISM’’) 15 Agency Contracts per
                                                Maker, or Firm.9                                        Options Market Maker, or Firm. This                   month; or Participant executes BX
                                                   Currently, Chapter XV, Section 2,                    column will include graduated fees that               Options Market Maker volume of 0.30%
                                                subsection (1), contains a Select                       range from $0.14 for Tier 1 to $0.00 for              or more of total industry customer
                                                Symbols Options Tier Schedule that has                  Tier 4,11 as follows.                                 equity and ETF options ADV per month.
                                                four tiers; and one fee for BX Options                     Tier 1 in the Select Symbols Options               If a Participant qualifies for Tier 4 the
                                                Market Maker to add liquidity in Select                 Tier Schedule is currently where a BX                 rates applicable to this tier will
                                                Symbols Options in a footnote (the                      Participant (‘‘Participant’’) executes less           supersede any other Select Symbols tier
                                                ‘‘footnote’’).10 The Exchange proposes to               than 0.05% of total industry customer                 rates that the Participant may qualify
                                                delete the footnote and to add a Fee to                 equity and exchange traded fund                       for. Tier 4 ranges from a $0.37 rebate to
                                                Add Liquidity as a fifth column in the                  (‘‘ETF’’) option average daily volume                 a $0.29 fee, with a proposed $0.00 Fee
                                                Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule.                   (‘‘ADV’’) contracts per month. Tier 1                 to Add Liquidity when BX Options
                                                The proposed fees are reduced as the                    ranges from a $0.00 rebate to a $0.44 fee,            Market Maker is trading with Non-
                                                Tiers increase from Tier 1 through Tier                 with a proposed $0.14 Fee to Add                      Customer or BX Options Market Maker,
                                                4, as discussed in detail below.                        Liquidity when BX Options Market                      or Firm.16
                                                Change 1—Penny Pilot Options: Add                       Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                    Chapter XV, Section 2 subsection (1)
                                                Fee To Add Liquidity Column to Select                   BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.12                   reflecting the proposed Select Symbols
                                                Symbols Options Tier Schedule                              Tier 2 in the Select Symbols Options               Options Tier Schedule, with a new Fee
                                                                                                        Tier Schedule is currently where                      to Add Liquidity when BX Options
                                                   In Change 1, the Exchange proposes
                                                                                                        Participant executes 0.05% to less than               Market Maker is trading with Non-
                                                modifications to convert the current
                                                                                                        0.15% of total industry customer equity               Customer or BX Options Market Maker,
                                                footnoted Fee to Add Liquidity to a fifth
                                                                                                        and ETF option ADV contracts per                      or Firm, will read as follows:
                                                column in the Select Symbols Options
                                                                                                        month. Tier 2 ranges from a $0.25 rebate
                                                Tier Schedule that is graduated per                                                                           Sec. 2 BX Options Market—Fees and
                                                                                                        to a $0.44 fee, with a proposed $0.10
                                                Tiers 1 through 4. The proposed change                                                                        Rebates
                                                                                                        Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options
                                                will not amend the criteria to qualify for
                                                                                                        Market Maker is trading with Non-                       The following charges shall apply to
                                                the existing tiers. The proposed change
                                                                                                        Customer or BX Options Market Maker,                  the use of the order execution and
                                                keeps the $0.04 fee that is in the current
                                                footnote and makes it applicable to Tier                or Firm.13                                            routing services of the BX Options
                                                3, while proposing new graduated fees                      Tier 3 in the Select Symbols Options               market for all securities.
                                                for the other three Tiers.                              Tier Schedule is currently where                        (1) Fees for Execution of Contracts on
                                                                                                        Participant executes 0.15% or more of                 the BX Options Market:
                                                Symbols: ASHR, DIA, DXJ, EEM, EFA, EWJ, EWT,
                                                                                                        total industry customer equity and ETF
                                                                                                        option ADV contracts per month. Tier 3                *     *     *    *      *
                                                EWW, EWY, EWZ, FAS, FAZ, FXE, FXI, FXP, GDX,
                                                GLD, HYG, IWM, IYR, KRE, OIH, QID, QLD, QQQ,            ranges from a $0.37 rebate to a $0.40 fee,
                                                RSX, SDS, SKF, SLV, SPY, SRS, SSO, TBT, TLT,            with a proposed $0.04 Fee to Add
                                                                                                                                                                 15 PRISM is a Price Improvement Mechanism for

                                                TNA, TZA, UNG, URE, USO, UUP, UVXY, UYG,                                                                      all-electronic BX Options whereby a buy and sell
                                                VXX, XHB, XLB, XLE, XLF, XLI, XLK, XLP, XLU,            Liquidity when BX Options Market                      order may be submitted in one order message to
                                                XLV, XLY, XME, XOP, XRT.                                Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                 initiate an auction at a stop price and seek potential
                                                   7 BX Options Market Makers may also be referred
                                                                                                        BX Options Market Maker, or Firm.14                   price improvement. Options are traded
                                                to as ‘‘Market Makers’’. The term ‘‘BX Options          The proposed $0.04 Fee to Add                         electronically on BX Options, and all options
                                                Market Maker’’ or (‘‘M’’) means a Participant that                                                            participants may respond to a PRISM Auction, the
                                                has registered as a Market Maker on BX Options          Liquidity is the same as the fee in the               duration of which is set at 200 milliseconds. PRISM
                                                pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also       current footnote, except as proposed the              includes auto-match functionality in which a
                                                remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter VII,        fee is graduated according to the four                Participant (an ‘‘Initiating Participant’’) may
                                                Section 4. In order to receive Market Maker pricing     Tiers.                                                electronically submit for execution an order it
                                                in all securities, the Participant must be registered                                                         represents as agent on behalf of customer, broker
                                                as a BX Options Market Maker in at least one                                                                  dealer, or any other entity (‘‘PRISM Order’’) against
                                                                                                          11 As discussed, Tier 4 requires bringing the
                                                security. BX Chapter XV.                                                                                      principal interest or against any other order it
                                                   8 Note 1 to Chapter XV, Section 2, states: ‘‘1A      highest amount of liquidity to the Exchange.          represents as agent (an ‘‘Initiating Order’’) provided
                                                                                                          12 Currently, there is also a $0.44 Fee to Add
                                                Non-Customer includes a Professional, Broker-                                                                 it submits the PRISM Order for electronic execution
                                                Dealer and Non-BX Options Market Maker.’’               Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading     into the PRISM Auction. See Chapter VI, Section 9;
                                                   9 The term ‘‘Firm’’ or (‘‘F’’) applies to any        with Customer. This fee remains unchanged.            and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76301
                                                                                                          13 Currently, there is also a $0.44 Fee to Add      (October 29, 2015), 80 FR 68347 (November 4, 2015)
                                                transaction that is identified by a Participant for
                                                clearing in the Firm range at OCC. BX Chapter XV.       Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading     (SR–BX–2015–032) (order approving PRISM on
                                                   10 The current footnote states: • BX Options         with Customer. This fee remains unchanged.            BX).
                                                Market Maker fee to add liquidity in Select Symbols       14 Currently, there is also a $0.40 Fee to Add         16 Currently, there is also a $0.29 Fee to Add

                                                Options will be $0.04 when trading with Firm, Non-      Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading     Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading
                                                Customer, or BX Options Market Maker.                   with Customer. This fee remains unchanged.            with Customer. This fee remains unchanged.
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                                                34416                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices

                                                                                                                    SELECT SYMBOLS OPTIONS TIER SCHEDULE
                                                                                                                                                                                    Rebate to
                                                                                                                                         Rebate to add           Fee to add                          Fee to remove       Fee to add
                                                                                                                                                                                     remove
                                                                                                                                           liquidity              liquidity                             liquidity         liquidity
                                                                                                                                                                                     liquidity

                                                                                      When:                                                Customer             BX Options          Customer            BX Options      BX Options
                                                                                                                                                               Market Maker                            Market Maker    Market Maker

                                                                                 Trading with:                                           Non-customer             Customer        Non-customer          Customer       Non-customer
                                                                                                                                         or BX Options                            or BX Options                        or BX Options
                                                                                                                                         Market Maker,                            Market Maker,                        Market Maker,
                                                                                                                                             or Firm                              Customer, or                             or Firm
                                                                                                                                                                                      Firm

                                                Tier 1:
                                                     Participant executes less than 0.05% of total industry
                                                        customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per
                                                        month ........................................................................              $0.00                $0.44               $0.00            $0.42              $0.14
                                                Tier 2:
                                                     Participant executes 0.05% to less than 0.15% of total
                                                        industry customer equity and ETF option ADV con-
                                                        tracts per month ........................................................                    0.10                  0.44               0.25             0.42                0.10
                                                Tier 3:
                                                     Participant executes 0.15% or more of total industry
                                                        customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per
                                                        month ........................................................................               0.20                  0.40               0.37             0.39                0.04
                                                Tier 4:
                                                     Participant executes greater than 10,000 PRISM
                                                        Agency Contracts per month; or Participant exe-
                                                        cutes BX Options Market Maker volume of 0.30%
                                                        or more of total industry customer equity and ETF
                                                        options ADV per month .............................................                          0.25                  0.29               0.37             0.25                0.00



                                                BX Options Select Symbol List                                           Market Maker, or Firm. The Exchange                            The Commission and the courts have
                                                   The following are Select Symbols:                                    believes that this will provide                             repeatedly expressed their preference
                                                ASHR, DIA, DXJ, EEM, EFA, EWJ, EWT,                                     incentives for execution of more                            for competition over regulatory
                                                EWW, EWY, EWZ, FAS, FAZ, FXE, FXI,                                      contracts, and in particular Select                         intervention in determining prices,
                                                FXP, GDX, GLD, HYG, IWM, IYR, KRE,                                      Symbols Options contracts, on the BX                        products, and services in the securities
                                                OIH, QID, QLD, QQQ, RSX, SDS, SKF,                                      Options Market. The proposed Fee to                         markets. In Regulation NMS, while
                                                SLV, SPY, SRS, SSO, TBT, TLT, TNA,                                      Add Liquidity incentivizes execution of                     adopting a series of steps to improve the
                                                TZA, UNG, URE, USO, UUP, UVXY,                                          Select Symbol Options Contracts on the                      current market model, the Commission
                                                UYG, VXX, XHB, XLB, XLE, XLF, XLI,                                      Exchange by the fee being lower for                         highlighted the importance of market
                                                XLK, XLP, XLU, XLV, XLY, XME, XOP,                                      each subsequent higher-level Tier.                          forces in determining prices and SRO
                                                XRT                                                                                                                                 revenues and, also, recognized that
                                                                                                                          The Exchange also believes that its
                                                   • Firm fee to add liquidity and fee to                               proposal should provide increased
                                                                                                                                                                                    current regulation of the market system
                                                remove liquidity in Select Symbols                                                                                                  ‘‘has been remarkably successful in
                                                                                                                        opportunities for participation in
                                                Options will be $0.33 per contract,                                                                                                 promoting market competition in its
                                                                                                                        executions on the Exchange, facilitating
                                                regardless of counterparty.                                                                                                         broader forms that are most important to
                                                                                                                        the ability of the Exchange to bring
                                                   • Non-Customer fee to add liquidity                                  together participants and encourage
                                                                                                                                                                                    investors and listed companies.’’ 19
                                                and fee to remove liquidity in Select                                                                                                  Likewise, in NetCoalition v. Securities
                                                                                                                        more robust competition for orders.                         and Exchange Commission 20
                                                Symbols Options will be $0.46 per
                                                contract, regardless of counterparty.                                   2. Statutory Basis                                          (‘‘NetCoalition’’) the D.C. Circuit upheld
                                                   • BX Options Market Maker fee to                                                                                                 the Commission’s use of a market-based
                                                remove liquidity in Select Symbols                                         The Exchange believes that its                           approach in evaluating the fairness of
                                                Options will be $0.46 per contract when                                 proposal to amend its Pricing Schedule                      market data fees against a challenge
                                                trading with Firm, Non-Customer, or BX                                  is consistent with Section 6(b) of the                      claiming that Congress mandated a cost-
                                                Options Market Maker.                                                   Act,17 in general, and furthers the                         based approach.21 As the court
                                                   • Customer fee to add liquidity in                                   objectives of Section 6(b)(4) and (b)(5) of                 emphasized, the Commission ‘‘intended
                                                Select Symbols Options when contra to                                   the Act,18 in particular, in that it                        in Regulation NMS that ‘market forces,
                                                another Customer is $0.33 per contract.                                 provides for the equitable allocation of                    rather than regulatory requirements’
                                                   • Volume from all products listed on                                 reasonable dues, fees and other charges                     play a role in determining the market
                                                BX Options will apply to the Select                                     among members and issuers and other                         data . . . to be made available to
                                                Symbols Options Tiers.                                                  persons using any facility or system                        investors and at what cost.’’ 22
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                                                *     *     *     *    *                                                which the Exchange operates or
                                                   The Exchange is proposing fees                                       controls, and is not designed to permit                        19 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808

                                                changes and adopting in the Select                                      unfair discrimination between                               (June 29, 2005), 70 FR 37496 at 37499 (File No. S7–
                                                                                                                                                                                    10–04) (‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’) [sic].
                                                Symbols Options Tier Schedule a                                         customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.                       20 NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir.
                                                graduated Fee to Add Liquidity when                                                                                                 2010).
                                                BX Options Market Maker is trading                                        17 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                       21 See id. at 534–535.

                                                with Non-Customer or BX Options                                           18 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4), (5).                               22 See id. at 537.




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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices                                                   34417

                                                   Further, ‘‘[n]o one disputes that                      Tier 1 25 currently ranges from a $0.00              Exchange’s existing Select Symbols
                                                competition for order flow is ‘fierce.’                 rebate to a $0.44 fee. The Exchange is                 Options Tier Schedule.28 The proposed
                                                . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n the U.S.              proposing in Tier 1 the largest $0.14 Fee              fee schedule is, as discussed, graduated
                                                national market system, buyers and                      to Add Liquidity when BX Options                       according to four Tiers. Thus, the
                                                sellers of securities, and the broker-                  Market Maker is trading with Non-                      highest proposed Fee to Add Liquidity
                                                dealers that act as their order-routing                 Customer or BX Options Market Maker,                   is applicable to Tier 1, which requires
                                                agents, have a wide range of choices of                 or Firm. Tier 2 currently ranges from a                the least amount or [sic] liquidity, and
                                                where to route orders for execution’;                   $0.25 rebate to a $0.44 fee. The                       the lowest proposed Fee to Add
                                                [and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its               Exchange is proposing in Tier 2 a $0.10                Liquidity is applicable to Tier 4, which
                                                market share percentages for granted’                   Fee to Add Liquidity when BX Options                   requires the greatest amount of
                                                because ‘no exchange possesses a                        Market Maker is trading with Non-                      liquidity. The Exchange believes that
                                                monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in                   Customer or BX Options Market Maker,                   the higher fees in Tier 1 and 2 (as
                                                the execution of order flow from broker                 or Firm. Tier 3 ranges from a $0.37                    opposed to the footnote fee of $0.04,
                                                dealers’. . . .’’ 23 Although the court                 rebate to a $0.40 fee. The Exchange is                 which is proposed in Tier 3) are
                                                and the SEC were discussing the cash                    proposing in Tier 3 a $0.04 Fee to Add                 reasonable because they continue to
                                                equities markets, the Exchange believes                 Liquidity when BX Options Market                       incentivize bringing liquidity to the
                                                that these views apply with equal force                 Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                  Exchange while enabling the Exchange
                                                to the options markets.                                 BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. The                  to recoup some of its costs.
                                                   The Exchange proposes to amend its                   proposed $0.04 Fee to Add Liquidity is                    The proposed Fee to Add Liquidity
                                                Chapter XV, Section 2, to modify certain                the same as the fee in the current                     that varies according to Tiers in the
                                                fees to adopt Fee to Add Liquidity in the               footnote, except as proposed the fee is                Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule
                                                Select Symbol Options Tier Schedule                     graduated according to the four Tiers.                 clearly reflects the progressively
                                                                                                        Tier 4 currently ranges from a $0.37                   increasing nature of Participant
                                                for certain Penny Pilot Options. The
                                                                                                        rebate to a $0.29 fee. In Tier 4, the                  executions structured for the purpose of
                                                proposed Fee to Add Liquidity in the
                                                                                                        Exchange is proposing the smallest                     attracting order flow to the Exchange.
                                                Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule
                                                                                                        $0.00 Fee to Add Liquidity when BX                     This encourages market participant
                                                would, as discussed, apply where BX
                                                                                                        Options Market Maker is trading with                   behavior through progressive tiered fees
                                                Options Market Maker is trading with
                                                                                                        Non-Customer or BX Options Market                      and rebates using an accepted
                                                Non-Customer or BX Options Market
                                                                                                        Maker, or Firm.                                        methodology among options exchanges.
                                                Maker, or Firm. The Exchange believes                                                                             The Exchange is proposing changes to
                                                                                                          The proposed rule change is
                                                that its proposal is reasonable,                                                                               its fees schedule and adopting in the
                                                                                                        reasonable because it continues to
                                                equitable, and not unfairly                                                                                    Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule a
                                                                                                        encourage market participant behavior
                                                discriminatory and should provide                       through the fees and rebates system,                   graduated Fee to Add Liquidity when
                                                increased opportunities for participation               which is an accepted methodology                       BX Options Market Maker is trading
                                                in executions on the Exchange,                          among options exchanges.26 Converting                  with Non-Customer or BX Options
                                                facilitating the ability of the Exchange to             the current footnote regarding Fee to                  Market Maker, or Firm. The Exchange
                                                bring together participants and                         Add Liquidity when BX Options Market                   believes that this will provide
                                                encourage more robust competition for                   Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                  incentives for execution of more
                                                orders.                                                 BX Options Market Maker, or Firm to                    contracts, and in particular Select
                                                Change 1—Penny Pilot Options: Add                       the graduated Fee to Add Liquidity is                  Symbols Options contracts, on the BX
                                                Fee To Add Liquidity Column To Select                   reasonable because of the nature of                    Options Market. The proposed Fee to
                                                Symbols Options Tier Schedule                           Select Symbol options. These are the                   Add Liquidity incentivizes execution of
                                                                                                        most heavily traded options on the                     Select Symbol Options Contracts on the
                                                   In Change 1, the Exchange proposes                   Exchange as well as in the industry. By                Exchange by such fee being lower for
                                                modifications to convert the current                    graduating the proposed Fee to Add                     each subsequent higher Tier.
                                                footnoted Fee to Add Liquidity 24 to a                  Liquidity when BX Options Market                          The Exchange also believes that its
                                                fifth column in the Select Symbols                      Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                  proposal should provide increased
                                                Options Tier Schedule. The proposed                     BX Options Market Maker, or Firm, the                  opportunities for participation in
                                                Fee to Add Liquidity is graduated                       Exchange is promoting transactions in                  executions on the Exchange, facilitating
                                                according to Tiers 1 through 4 in the                   Select Symbol Options and further                      the ability of the Exchange to bring
                                                Select Symbols Options Tier Schedule.                   promoting options liquidity on the                     together participants and encourage
                                                The proposed change keeps the current                   Exchange.                                              more robust competition for orders.
                                                $0.04 fee applicable to Tier 3, and                       The Exchange believes that the                          Establishing the proposed Fee to Add
                                                indicates that the fee is reduced as                    proposed Fee to Add Liquidity in the                   Liquidity when BX Options Market
                                                additional liquidity is brought to the                  Select Symbol Options Tier Schedule is                 Maker is trading with Non-Customer or
                                                Exchange according to Tiers 1 through                   reasonable because it is not a novel,                  BX Options Market Maker, or Firm is
                                                4 in the Select Symbols Options Tier                    untested structure. Rather, the proposed               equitable and not unfairly
                                                Schedule.                                               Fee to Add Liquidity is a graduated fees               discriminatory. This is because the
                                                   Specifically, the Exchange proposes                  and rebate structure that is similar to                Exchange’s proposal to add the noted
                                                four graduated fees that range from                     what is offered by other options                       Fee to Add Liquidity in the Select
                                                $0.14 for Tier 1 to $0.00 for Tier 4.                   markets 27 and is similar to the                       Symbols Options Tier Schedule will
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                                                                                                                                                               apply uniformly to all similarly situated
                                                   23 See id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Act     25 Each of the four applicable Tiers, which do not

                                                Commission at [sic] Release No. 59039 (December         change, are described above.                             28 See, e.g., in the Exchange’s current Select
                                                2, 2008), 73 FR 74770 at 74782–74783 (December            26 See, e.g., fee and rebate schedules of other
                                                                                                                                                               Symbols Options Tier Schedule: The Fee to Add
                                                9, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2006–21)).                        options exchanges, including, but not limited to,      Liquidity when BX Options Market Maker is trading
                                                   24 The current footnote states: • BX Options         NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’), NASDAQ                with Customer, and the Rebate to Add Liquidity
                                                Market Maker fee to add liquidity in Select Symbols     PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’), and Chicago Board Options         when Customer is trading with Non-Customer or
                                                Options will be $0.04 when trading with Firm, Non-      Exchange (‘‘CBOE’’).                                   BX Options Market Maker, or Firm. BX Chapter XV,
                                                Customer, or BX Options Market Maker.                     27 See, e.g., MIAX Options Exchange (‘‘MIAX’’).      Section 2(1).



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                                                34418                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices

                                                Participants. The fee and rebate                        [sic] in order to remain competitive in                competition because the Exchange’s
                                                schedule as proposed continues to                       the current environment.                               execution and routing services are
                                                reflect differentiation among different                    The Exchange does not believe that                  completely voluntary and subject to
                                                market participants. The Exchange                       the proposed rule change will impose                   extensive competition both from other
                                                believes that the differentiation is                    any burden on competition not                          exchanges and from off-exchange
                                                equitable and not unfairly                              necessary or appropriate in furtherance                venues. If the changes proposed herein
                                                discriminatory, as well as reasonable,                  of the purposes of the Act. In terms of                are unattractive to market participants,
                                                because transactions of a BX Options                    inter-market competition, the Exchange                 it is likely that the Exchange will lose
                                                Market Maker must constitute a course                   notes that it operates in a highly                     market share as a result.
                                                of dealings reasonably calculated to                    competitive market in which market                        Accordingly, the Exchange does not
                                                contribute to the maintenance of a fair                 participants can readily favor competing               believe that the proposed changes will
                                                and orderly market, and BX Options                      venues if they deem fee levels at a                    impair the ability of members or
                                                Market Makers should not make bids or                   particular venue to be excessive, or                   competing order execution venues to
                                                offers or enter into transactions that are              rebate opportunities available at other                maintain their competitive standing in
                                                inconsistent with such course of                        venues to be more favorable. In such an                the financial markets. Additionally, the
                                                dealings. All Market Makers are                         environment, the Exchange must                         changes proposed herein are pro-
                                                designated as specialists on BX Options                 continually adjust its fees to remain                  competitive to the extent that they
                                                for all purposes under the Exchange Act                 competitive with other exchanges and                   continue to allow the Exchange to
                                                or Rules thereunder.29                                  with alternative trading systems that                  promote and maintain order executions.
                                                  The Exchange believes that by making                  have been exempted from compliance
                                                                                                        with the statutory standards applicable                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                the proposed changes it is continuing to
                                                                                                        to exchanges. Because competitors are                  Statement on Comments on the
                                                incentivize Participants to execute more
                                                                                                        free to modify their own fees in                       Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                volume on the Exchange to further
                                                                                                        response, and because market                           Members, Participants, or Others
                                                enhance liquidity in this market.
                                                                                                        participants may readily adjust their                    No written comments were either
                                                B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       order routing practices, the Exchange                  solicited or received.
                                                Statement on Burden on Competition                      believes that the degree to which fee
                                                                                                        changes in this market may impose any                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                   The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                        burden on competition is extremely                     Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                the proposed rule change will impose
                                                                                                        limited.                                               Commission Action
                                                any burden on competition not
                                                necessary or appropriate in furtherance                    In terms of intra-market competition,                  Pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of
                                                of the purposes of the Act. Specifically,               the Exchange notes that price                          the Act,31 the Exchange has designated
                                                the Exchange does not believe that its                  differentiation among different market                 this proposal as establishing or changing
                                                proposal to make changes to its Select                  participants operating on the Exchange                 a due, fee, or other charge imposed by
                                                Symbols Options Tiers Schedule to                       (e.g., Customer and BX Options Market                  the self-regulatory organization on any
                                                adopt the Fee to Add Liquidity when                     Maker) is reasonable. Customer activity,               person, whether or not the person is a
                                                BX Options Market Maker is trading                      for example, enhances liquidity on the                 member of the self-regulatory
                                                with Non-Customer or BX Options                         Exchange for the benefit of all market                 organization, which renders the
                                                Market Maker, or Firm will impose any                   participants and benefits all market                   proposed rule change effective upon
                                                undue burden on competition, as                         participants by providing more trading                 filing.
                                                discussed below.                                        opportunities, which attracts market                      At any time within 60 days of the
                                                   The Exchange operates in a highly                    makers. An increase in the activity of                 filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                competitive market in which many                        these market participants (particularly                Commission summarily may
                                                sophisticated and knowledgeable                         in response to pricing) in turn facilitates            temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                market participants can readily and do                  tighter spreads, which may cause an                    it appears to the Commission that such
                                                send order flow to competing exchanges                  additional corresponding increase in                   action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in
                                                if they deem fee levels or rebate                       order flow from other market                           the public interest; (ii) for the protection
                                                incentives at a particular exchange to be               participants.                                          of investors; or (iii) otherwise in
                                                excessive or inadequate. Additionally,                     Moreover, unlike others [sic] market                furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                                                new competitors have entered the                        participants each BX Options Market                    If the Commission takes such action, the
                                                market and still others are reportedly                  Maker commits to various obligations.                  Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                entering the market shortly. These                      These obligations include, for example,                to determine whether the proposed rule
                                                market forces ensure that the Exchange’s                transactions of a BX Market Maker must                 should be approved or disapproved.
                                                fees and rebates remain competitive                     constitute a course of dealings
                                                                                                        reasonably calculated to contribute to                 IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                with the fee structures at other trading
                                                platforms. In that sense, the Exchange’s                the maintenance of a fair and orderly                    Interested persons are invited to
                                                proposal is actually pro-competitive                    market, and BX Market Makers should                    submit written data, views and
                                                because the Exchange is simply                          not make bids or offers or enter into                  arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                continuing its fees and rebates for Penny               transactions that are inconsistent with                including whether the proposed rule
                                                Pilot Options in the Select Symbols                     such course of dealings.30                             change is consistent with the Act.
                                                Options Tier Schedule, and is                              In this instance, the proposed changes              Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                                                                        to the fees to establish a Fee to Add
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                establishing a graduated Fee to Add                                                                            the following methods:
                                                Liquidity when BX Options Market                        Liquidity when BX Options Market
                                                                                                        Maker is trading with Non-Customer or                  Electronic Comments
                                                Maker is trading with Non-Customer or
                                                BX Options Market Maker, or Firm in                     BX Options Market Maker, or Firm in                      • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                        the Select Symbols Options Tiers                       comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                   29 See Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled              Schedule, does not impose a burden on                  rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                ‘‘Obligations of Market Makers.’’ See also Chapter
                                                VII, Section 2.                                          30 See   Chapter VII, Section 5.                        31 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2016 / Notices                                                    34419

                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   COMMISSION                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                BX–2016–027 on the subject line.                                                                                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                          [Release No. 34–77890; File No. SR–                   Change
                                                Paper Comments
                                                                                                          NASDAQ–2016–072])                                        In its filing with the Commission,
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                          Nasdaq included statements concerning
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                    the purpose of, and basis for, the
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                             NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of                    proposed rule change and discussed any
                                                                                                          Filing of Proposed Rule Change, as                    comments it received on the proposed
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                                                                          Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto,                  rule change. The text of these statements
                                                All submissions should refer to File                      Relating to the Listing and Trading of                may be examined at the places specified
                                                Number SR–BX–2016–027. This file                          the Shares of the Amplify Dow Theory                  in Item IV below. Nasdaq has prepared
                                                number should be included on the                          Forecasts Buy List ETF of Amplify ETF                 summaries, set forth in Sections A, B,
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the                Trust                                                 and C below, of the most significant
                                                Commission process and review your                                                                              aspects of such statements.
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                     May 24, 2016.
                                                only one method. The Commission will                         Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934                       Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                          (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,2               Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                          notice is hereby given that on May 10,                Change
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                submission, all subsequent                                2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC                     1. Purpose
                                                amendments, all written statements                        (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                                                                          Securities and Exchange Commission                       The Exchange proposes to list and
                                                with respect to the proposed rule                                                                               trade the Shares of the Fund under
                                                                                                          (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                change that are filed with the                                                                                  Nasdaq Rule 5735, which governs the
                                                                                                          rule change as described in in Items I
                                                Commission, and all written                               and II below, which Items have been                   listing and trading of Managed Fund
                                                communications relating to the                            prepared by Nasdaq. On May 20, 2016,                  Shares 4 on the Exchange. The Fund will
                                                proposed rule change between the                          the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to                 be an actively-managed exchange-traded
                                                Commission and any person, other than                     the proposed rule change. The                         fund (‘‘ETF’’). The Shares will be
                                                those that may be withheld from the                                                                             offered by the Trust, which was
                                                                                                          Commission is publishing this notice, as
                                                public in accordance with the                                                                                   established as a Massachusetts business
                                                                                                          modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto,
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                             trust on January 6, 2015.5 The Trust is
                                                                                                          to solicit comments on the proposed
                                                available for Web site viewing and                                                                              registered with the Commission as an
                                                                                                          rule change from interested persons.
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                                                                             investment company and has filed a
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                         I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     registration statement on Form N–1A
                                                Washington, DC 20549, on official                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of                (‘‘Registration Statement’’) with the
                                                                                                          the Proposed Rule Change                              Commission.6 The Fund will be a series
                                                business days between the hours of
                                                                                                                                                                of the Trust.
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                       Nasdaq proposes to list and trade the                 Amplify Investments LLC will be the
                                                filing also will be available for                         shares of the Amplify Dow Theory                      investment adviser (‘‘Adviser’’) to the
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                   Forecasts Buy List ETF (the ‘‘Fund’’) of              Fund. The following will serve as
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments                      Amplify ETF Trust (the ‘‘Trust’’) under               investment sub-advisers (each, a ‘‘Sub-
                                                received will be posted without change;                   Nasdaq Rule 5735 (‘‘Managed Fund                      Adviser’’) to the Fund: Horizon
                                                the Commission does not edit personal                     Shares’’).3 The shares of the Fund are                Investment Services, LLC (‘‘Horizon’’)
                                                identifying information from                              collectively referred to herein as the                and Penserra Capital Management LLC
                                                submissions. You should submit only                       ‘‘Shares.’’                                           (‘‘Penserra’’). Quasar Distributors LLC
                                                information that you wish to make                            The text of the proposed rule change
                                                available publicly. All submissions                       is available at http://                                  4 A Managed Fund Share is a security that

                                                should refer to File Number SR–BX–                        nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/, at Nasdaq’s                represents an interest in an investment company
                                                2016–027 and should be submitted on                       principal office, and at the                          registered under the Investment Company Act of
                                                                                                          Commission’s Public Reference Room.                   1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-1) (the ‘‘1940 Act’’) organized
                                                or before June 21, 2016.                                                                                        as an open-end investment company or similar
                                                                                                                                                                entity that invests in a portfolio of securities
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                    1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                             selected by its investment adviser consistent with
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                  2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.                                its investment objectives and policies. In contrast,
                                                authority.32                                                 3 The Commission approved Nasdaq Rule 5735 in      an open-end investment company that issues Index
                                                                                                          Securities Exchange Act Release No. 57962 (June       Fund Shares, listed and traded on the Exchange
                                                Robert W. Errett,                                                                                               under Nasdaq Rule 5705, seeks to provide
                                                                                                          13, 2008), 73 FR 35175 (June 20, 2008) (SR–
                                                Deputy Secretary.                                         NASDAQ–2008–039). There are already multiple          investment results that correspond generally to the
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–12669 Filed 5–27–16; 8:45 am]               actively-managed funds listed on the Exchange; see,   price and yield performance of a specific foreign or
                                                                                                          e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 72506      domestic stock index, fixed income securities index
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    (July 1, 2014), 79 FR 38631 (July 8, 2014) (SR–       or combination thereof.
                                                                                                                                                                   5 The Commission has issued an order, upon
                                                                                                          NASDAQ–2014–050) (order approving listing and
                                                                                                          trading of First Trust Strategic Income ETF); 69464   which the Trust may rely, granting certain
                                                                                                          (April 26, 2013), 78 FR 25774 (May 2, 2013) (SR–      exemptive relief under the 1940 Act. See
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          NASDAQ–2013–036) (order approving listing and         Investment Company Act Release No. 31582 (April
                                                                                                          trading of First Trust Senior Loan Fund); 66489       28, 2015) (File No. 812–14423) (the ‘‘Exemptive
                                                                                                          (February 29, 2012), 77 FR 13379 (March 6, 2012)      Relief’’).
                                                                                                          (SR–NASDAQ–2012–004) (order approving listing            6 See Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to

                                                                                                          and trading of WisdomTree Emerging Markets            Registration Statement on Form N 1A for the Trust,
                                                                                                          Corporate Bond Fund). The Exchange believes the       dated May 5, 2016 (File Nos. 333 207937 and 811
                                                                                                          proposed rule change raises no significant issues     23108). The descriptions of the Fund and the
                                                                                                          not previously addressed in those prior               Shares contained herein are based, in part, on
                                                  32 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            Commission orders.                                    information in the Registration Statement.



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Document Created: 2016-05-28 03:57:19
Document Modified: 2016-05-28 03:57:19
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 34414 

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