81_FR_36469 81 FR 36361 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Implementing the Quoting and Trading Provisions of the Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program Submitted to the Commission Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS Under the Act

81 FR 36361 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Implementing the Quoting and Trading Provisions of the Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program Submitted to the Commission Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS Under the Act

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 108 (June 6, 2016)

Page Range36361-36367
FR Document2016-13208

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36361-36367]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13208]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77947; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2016-76]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Implementing the 
Quoting and Trading Provisions of the Plan To Implement a Tick Size 
Pilot Program Submitted to the Commission Pursuant to Rule 608 of 
Regulation NMS Under the Act

May 31, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on May 20, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to implement the quoting and trading 
provisions of the Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program submitted 
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS \4\ under the 
Act (the ``Plan''). The proposed rule change is substantially similar 
to proposed rule changes recently approved or published by the 
Commission by New York Stock Exchange LLC to adopt NYSE Rules 67(a) and 
67(c)-(e), which also implemented the quoting and trading provisions of 
the Plan.\5\ Therefore, the Exchange has designated this proposal as 
``non-controversial'' and provided the Commission with the notice 
required by Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act.\6\ The proposed rule 
change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the 
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room.
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    \4\ 17 CFR 242.608.
    \5\ See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76229 (October 22, 
2015), 80 FR 66065 (October 28, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-46), as amended 
by Partial Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to the Quoting & Trading Rules 
Proposal. See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77703 (April 25, 
2016), 81 FR 25725 (April 29, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2015-46).
    \6\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to establish rules to require its ETP Holders 
\7\ to comply with the requirements of the Plan to Implement a Tick 
Size Pilot Program (the ``Plan''),\8\ which is designed to study and 
assess the impact of increment conventions on the liquidity and trading 
of the common stocks of small capitalization

[[Page 36362]]

companies. The Exchange proposes changes to its rules for a two-year 
pilot period that coincides with the pilot period for the Plan, which 
is currently scheduled as a two year pilot to begin on October 3, 2016.
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    \7\ The term ETP Holder is defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
1.1(n) to mean a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, 
limited liability company or other organization in good standing 
that has been issued an ETP. An ETP Holder must be a registered 
broker or dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Act. An ETP Holder 
shall agree to be bound by the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws 
and Rules of NYSE Arca Equities, and by all applicable rules and 
regulations of the Commission.
     The term ETP is defined in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 1.1(m) to 
mean an equity trading permit issued by NYSE Arca Equities for 
effecting approved securities transactions on NYSE Arca Equities' 
trading facilities.
    \8\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 74892 (May 6, 
2015), 80 FR 27513 (File No. 4-657) (``Tick Plan Approval Order''). 
See, also, Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 76382 (November 
6, 2015) (File No. 4-657), 80 FR 70284 (File No. 4-657) (November 
13, 2015), which extended the pilot period commencement date from 
May 6, 2015 to October 3, 2016.
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Background
    On August 25, 2014, NYSE Group, Inc., on behalf of Bats BZX 
Exchange, Inc. (f/k/a BATS Exchange, Inc.), Bats BYX Exchange, Inc. (f/
k/a BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.), Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., EDGA 
Exchange, Inc., EDGX Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc. (``FINRA''), NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC, 
the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, New York Stock Exchange LLC, the Exchange 
and NYSE MKT LLC (collectively ``Participants''), filed with the 
Commission, pursuant to Section 11A of the Act \9\ and Rule 608 of 
Regulation NMS thereunder, the Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot 
Program.\10\ The Participants filed the Plan to comply with an order 
issued by the Commission on June 24, 2014 (the ``June 2014 
Order'').\11\ The Plan\12\ was published for comment in the Federal 
Register on November 7, 2014,\13\ and approved by the Commission, as 
modified, on May 6, 2015.\14\
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    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
    \10\ See Letter from Brendon J. Weiss, Vice President, 
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., to Secretary, Commission, dated 
August 25, 2014.
    \11\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72460 (June 24, 
2014), 79 FR 36840 (June 30, 2014).
    \12\ Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this 
rule filing are based on the defined terms of the Plan.
    \13\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 73511 (November 
3, 2014), 79 FR 66423 (File No. 4-657) (Tick Plan Filing).
    \14\ See Tick Plan Approval Order, supra note 8. See, also, 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77277 (March 3, 2016), 81 FR 
12162 (March 8, 2016) (File No. 4-657), which amended the Plan to 
add National Stock Exchange, Inc. as a Participant.
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    The Plan is designed to allow the Commission, market participants, 
and the public to study and assess the impact of increment conventions 
on the liquidity and trading of the common stocks of small 
capitalization companies. The Commission plans to use the Tick Size 
Pilot Program to assess whether wider tick sizes enhance the market 
quality of Pilot Securities for the benefit of issuers and investors. 
Each Participant is required to comply with, and to enforce compliance 
by its ETP Holders, as applicable, with the provisions of the Plan.
    On October 9, 2015, the Operating Committee approved the Exchange's 
proposed rules as model Participant rules that would require compliance 
by a Participant's members with the provisions of the Plan, as 
applicable, and would establish written policies and procedures 
reasonably designed to comply with applicable quoting and trading 
requirements specified in the Plan.\15\ As described more fully below, 
the proposed rules would require ETP Holders to comply with the Plan 
and provide for the widening of quoting and trading increments for 
Pilot Securities, consistent with the Plan.
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    \15\ The Operating Committee is required under Section III(C)(2) 
of the Plan to ``monitor the procedures established pursuant to the 
Plan and advise Participants with respect to any deficiencies, 
problems, or recommendations as the Operating Committee may deem 
appropriate.'' The Operating Committee is also required to 
``establish specifications and procedures for the implementation and 
operation of the Plan that are consistent with the provisions of the 
Plan.''
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    The Tick Size Pilot Program will include stocks of companies with 
$3 billion or less in market capitalization, an average daily trading 
volume of one million shares or less, and a volume weighted average 
price of at least $2.00 for every trading day. The Tick Pilot Program 
will consist of a control group of approximately 1,400 Pilot Securities 
and three test groups with 400 Pilot Securities in each selected by a 
stratified sampling.\16\ During the pilot, Pilot Securities in the 
control group will be quoted at the current tick size increment of 
$0.01 per share and will trade at the currently permitted increments. 
Pilot Securities in the first test group (``Test Group One'') will be 
quoted in $0.05 minimum increments but will continue to trade at any 
price increment that is currently permitted.\17\ Pilot Securities in 
the second test group (``Test Group Two'') will be quoted in $0.05 
minimum increments and will trade at $0.05 minimum increments subject 
to a midpoint exception, a retail investor exception, and a negotiated 
trade exception.\18\ Pilot Securities in the third test group (``Test 
Group Three'') will be subject to the same terms as Test Group Two and 
also will be subject to the ``Trade-at'' requirement to prevent price 
matching by a person not displaying at a price of a Trading Center's 
``Best Protected Bid'' or ``Best Protected Offer,'' unless an 
enumerated exception applies.\19\ In addition to the exceptions 
provided under Test Group Two, an exception for Block Size orders and 
exceptions that closely resemble those under Rule 611 of Regulation NMS 
\20\ will apply to the Trade-at requirement.
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    \16\ See Section V of the Plan for identification of Pilot 
Securities, including criteria for selection and grouping.
    \17\ See Section VI(B) of the Plan. Pilot Securities in Test 
Group One will be subject to a midpoint exception and a retail 
investor exception.
    \18\ See Section VI(C) of the Plan.
    \19\ See Section VI(D) of the Plan.
    \20\ 17 CFR 242.611.
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    The Tick Pilot Program also contains requirements for the 
collection and transmission of data to the Commission and the public. A 
variety of data generated during the Tick Pilot Program will be 
released publicly on an aggregated basis to assist in analyzing the 
impact of wider tick sizes on smaller capitalization stocks.\21\
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    \21\ See Section VII of the Plan.
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Proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.46 (``Rule 7.46'')
    The Plan requires the Exchange to establish, maintain, and enforce 
written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to comply 
with applicable quoting and trading requirements specified in the 
Plan.\22\ Accordingly, the Exchange is proposing new Rule 7.46 to 
require its ETP Holders to comply with the quoting and trading 
provisions of the Plan. The proposed Rule is also designed to ensure 
the Exchange's compliance with the Plan.
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    \22\ The Exchange was also required by the Plan to develop 
appropriate policies and procedures that provide for data collection 
and reporting to the Commission of data described in Appendixes B 
and C of the Plan. See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77484 
(March 31, 2016), 81 FR 20024 (April 6, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-52).
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    Proposed paragraph (a)(1) of new Rule 7.46 would establish the 
following defined terms:
     ``Plan'' means the Tick Size Pilot Plan submitted to the 
Commission pursuant to Rule 608(a)(3) of Regulation NMS under the Act;
     ``Pilot Test Groups'' means the three test groups 
established under the Plan, consisting of 400 Pilot Securities each, 
which satisfy the respective criteria established by the Plan for each 
such test group.
     ``Retail Investor Order'' would mean an agency order or a 
riskless principal order that meets the criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03 
that originates from a natural person and is submitted to the Exchange 
by a retail ETP Holder, provided that no change is made to the terms of 
the order with respect to price or side of market and the order does 
not originate from a trading algorithm or any other computerized 
methodology. A Retail Investor Order may be an odd lot, round lot, or 
partial round lot.\23\
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    \23\ This definition is the approved definition for ``Retail 
Investor Order'' as contemplated by the Plan. It is also the same 
definition as given to ``Retail Orders'' pursuant to the approved 
rules of other national securities exchanges. See, NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.44(a)(3). See, also NYSE MKT Rule 107C(a)(3), NYSE 
Rule 107C(a)(3), BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. Rule 11.24(a)(2) and NASDAQ 
Stock Market LLC Rule 4780(a)(2). The Retail Investor Order 
definition includes any order originating from a natural person and 
is not limited to orders submitted to the Exchange under the 
Exchange's retail liquidity program rule (NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.44). Therefore, any ETP Holder that operates a Trading Center may 
execute against a Retail Investor Order otherwise than on an 
exchange to satisfy the retail investor order exception proposed in 
Rule 7.46.

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[[Page 36363]]

     Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order'' \24\ would mean a limit 
order for a Pilot Security that meets the following requirements:
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    \24\ The Plan defines a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order 
(``ISO'') as a limit order for a Pilot Security that, when routed to 
a Trading Center, is identified as an ISO, and simultaneous with the 
routing of the limit order identified as an ISO, one or more 
additional limit orders, as necessary, are routed to execute against 
the full displayed size of any protected bid (in the case of a limit 
order to sell) or the full displayed size of any protected offer (in 
the case of a limit order to buy) for the Pilot Security with a 
price that is equal to the limit price of the limit order identified 
as an ISO. These additional routed orders also must be marked as 
ISOs. See Plan, Section I(MM). Since the Plan allows (i) an order 
that is identified as an ISO to be executed at the price of a 
Protected Quotation (see, Plan, Section VI(D)(8) and proposed Rule 
7.46(a)(e)(4)(C)(ix)) and (ii) an order to execute at the price of a 
Protected Quotation that ``is executed by a trading center that 
simultaneously routed Trade-at ISO to execute against the full 
displayed size of the Protected Quotation that was trade at'' (see, 
Plan, Section VI(D)(9) and proposed Rule 7.46(a)(e)(4)(C)(x)), the 
Exchange proposes to clarify the use of an ISO in connection with 
the Trade-at requirement by adopting, as part of proposed Rule 
7.46(a)(1), a comprehensive definition of ``Trade-at ISO.'' As set 
forth in the Plan and as noted above, the definition of a Trade-at 
ISO used in the Plan does not distinguish ISOs that are compliant 
with Rule 611 or Regulation NMS from ISOs that are compliant with 
Trade-at. The Exchange therefore proposes the separate definition of 
Trade-at ISO contained in proposed Rule 7.46(a). The Exchange 
believes that this proposed definition will further clarify to 
recipients of ISOs in Test Group Three securities whether the ISO 
satisfies the requirements of Rule 611 of Regulation NMS or Trade-
at.
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    (i) When routed to a Trading Center, the limit order is identified 
as a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order; and
    (ii) Simultaneously with the routing of the limit order identified 
as a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order, one or more additional limit 
orders, as necessary, are routed to execute against the full size of 
any protected bid, in the case of a limit order to sell, or the full 
displayed size of any protected offer, in the case of a limit order to 
buy, for the Pilot Security with a price that is better than or equal 
to the limit price of the limit order identified as a Trade-at 
Intermarket Sweep Order. These additional routed orders also must be 
marked as Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Orders.
     Paragraph (a)(1)(E) would provide that all capitalized 
terms not otherwise defined in this rule shall have the meanings set 
forth in the Plan, Regulation NMS under the Act, or Exchange rules, as 
applicable.
    Proposed Paragraph (a)(2) would state that the Exchange is a 
Participant in, and subject to the applicable requirements of, the 
Plan; proposed Paragraph (a)(3) would require ETP Holders to establish, 
maintain and enforce written policies and procedures that are 
reasonably designed to comply with the applicable requirements of the 
Plan, which would allow the Exchange to enforce compliance by its ETP 
Holders with the provisions of the Plan, as required pursuant to 
Section II(B) of the Plan.
    In addition, Paragraph (a)(4) would provide that Exchange systems 
would not display, quote or trade in violation of the applicable 
quoting and trading requirements for a Pilot Security specified in the 
Plan and this proposed rule, unless such quotation or transaction is 
specifically exempted under the Plan.\25\
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    \25\ The Exchange is still evaluating its internal policies and 
procedures to ensure compliance with the Plan, and plans to 
separately propose rules that would address violations of the Plan.
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    The Exchange also proposes to add Rule 7.46(a)(5) to provide for 
the treatment of Pilot Securities that drop below a $1.00 value during 
the Pilot Period.\26\ The Exchange proposes that if the price of a 
Pilot Security drops below $1.00 during regular trading on any given 
business day, such Pilot Security would continue to be subject to the 
Plan and the requirements described below that necessitate ETP Holders 
to comply with the specific quoting and trading obligations for each 
respective Pilot Test Group under the Plan, and would continue to trade 
in accordance with the proposed rules below as if the price of the 
Pilot Security had not dropped below $1.00. However, if the Closing 
Price of a Pilot Security on any given business day is below $1.00, 
such Pilot Security would be moved out of its respective Pilot Test 
Group into the control group (which consists of Pilot Securities not 
placed into a Pilot Test Group), and may then be quoted and traded at 
any price increment that is currently permitted by Exchange rules for 
the remainder of the Pilot Period. Notwithstanding anything contained 
herein to the contrary, the Exchange proposes that, at all times during 
the Pilot Period, Pilot Securities (whether in the control group or any 
Pilot Test Group) would continue to be subject to the data collection 
rules, which are enumerated in Rule 7.46(b).
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    \26\ New York Stock Exchange LLC, on behalf of the Participants, 
submitted a letter to Commission requesting exemption from certain 
provisions of the Plan related to quoting and trading. See letter 
from Elizabeth K. King, NYSE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, 
Commission, dated October 14, 2015 (the ``October Exemption 
Request''). FINRA, also on behalf of the Plan Participants, 
submitted a separate letter to Commission requesting additional 
exemptions from certain provisions of the Plan related to quoting 
and trading. See letter from Marcia E. Asquith, Senior Vice 
President and Corporate Secretary, FINRA, to Robert W. Errett, 
Deputy Secretary, Commission, dated February 23, 2016 (the 
``February Exemption Request,'' and together with the October 
Exemption Request, the ``Exemption Request Letters''). The 
Commission, pursuant to its authority under Rule 608(e) of 
Regulation NMS, granted New York Stock Exchange LLC a limited 
exemption from the requirement to comply with certain provisions of 
the Plan as specified in the Exemption Request Letters and noted 
herein. See letter from David Shillman, Associate Director, Division 
of Trading and Markets, Commission to Sherry Sandler, Associate 
General Counsel, New York Stock Exchange LLC, dated April 25, 2016 
(the ``Exemption Letter''). The Exchange is seeking the same 
exemptions as requested in the Exemption Request Letters, including 
without limitation, an exemption relating to proposed Rule 
7.46(a)(5).
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    The Exchange proposes Rules 7.46(c)-(e), which would require ETP 
Holders to comply with the specific quoting and trading obligations for 
each Pilot Test Group under the Plan. With regard to Pilot Securities 
in Test Group One, proposed Rule 7.46(c) would provide that no ETP 
Holder may display, rank, or accept from any person any displayable or 
non-displayable bids or offers, orders, or indications of interest in 
increments other than $0.05. However, orders priced to trade at the 
midpoint of the National Best Bid and National Best Offer (``NBBO'') or 
Best Protected Bid and Best Protect Offer (``PBBO'') and orders entered 
in the Exchange's Retail Liquidity Program as Retail Price Improvement 
Orders (``Retail Price Improvement Order'') \27\ may be ranked and 
accepted in increments of less than $0.05. Pilot Securities in Test 
Group One may continue to trade at any price increment that is 
currently permitted by NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.6.\28\
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    \27\ A Retail Price Improvement Order consists of non-displayed 
interest in NYSE Arca, Inc.-listed securities that is priced better 
than the Best Protected Bid or Best Protected Offer, as such terms 
are defined in Regulation NMS Rule 600(b)(57), by at least $0.001 
and that is identified as such. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.44(a)(4).
    \28\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.6 describes the minimum price 
variation for quoting and entry of orders in equity securities 
admitted to dealings on the Exchange.
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    With regard to Pilot Securities in Test Group Two, proposed Rule 
7.46(d)(1) would provide that such Pilot Securities would be subject to 
all of the same quoting requirements as described above for Pilot 
Securities in Test Group One, along with the applicable quoting 
exceptions. In addition, proposed Rule 7.46(d)(2) would provide that, 
absent one of the listed exceptions in proposed Rule 7.46(d)(3) 
enumerated below, no ETP Holder may execute orders in any Pilot 
Security in Test Group Two in

[[Page 36364]]

price increments other than $0.05. The $0.05 trading increment would 
apply to all trades, including Brokered Cross Trades.
    Paragraph (d)(3) would set forth further requirements for Pilot 
Securities in Test Group Two. Specifically, ETP Holders trading Pilot 
Securities in Test Group Two would be allowed to trade in increments 
less than $0.05 under the following circumstances:
    (A) Trading may occur at the midpoint between the NBBO or PBBO;
    (B) Retail Investor Orders may be provided with price improvement 
that is at least $0.005 better than the Best Protected Bid or the Best 
Protected Offer;
    (C) Negotiated Trades may trade in increments less than $0.05; and
    (D) Execution of a customer order to comply with NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 5320 \29\ following the execution of a proprietary trade by the 
ETP Holder at an increment other than $0.05, where such proprietary 
trade was permissible pursuant to an exception under the Plan.\30\
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    \29\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320 is the Exchange's Prohibition 
Against Trading Ahead of Customer Orders rule and states:
    (a) Except as provided herein, an ETP Holder that accepts and 
holds an order in an equity security from its own customer or a 
customer of another broker-dealer without immediately executing the 
order is prohibited from trading that security on the same side of 
the market for its own account at a price that would satisfy the 
customer order, unless it immediately thereafter executes the 
customer order up to the size and at the same or better price at 
which it traded for its own account.
    (b) An ETP Holder must have a written methodology in place 
governing the execution and priority of all pending orders that is 
consistent with the requirements of this Rule and NASD Rule 2320. An 
ETP Holder also must ensure that this methodology is consistently 
applied.
    \30\ The Exchange proposes to add this exemption to permit ETP 
Holders to fill a customer order in a Pilot Security at a non-nickel 
increment to comply with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320 under limited 
circumstances. Specifically, the exception would allow the execution 
of a customer order following a proprietary trade by the ETP Holder 
at an increment other than $0.05 in the same security, on the same 
side and at the same price as (or within the prescribed amount of) a 
customer order owed a fill pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320, 
where the triggering proprietary trade was permissible pursuant to 
an exception under the Plan. The Commission granted New York Stock 
Exchange LLC an exemption from Rule 608(c) related to this 
provision. See, the Exemption Letter, supra note 26. The Exchange is 
seeking the same exemptions as requested in the Exemption Request 
Letters. The Exchange believes such an exception best facilitates 
the ability of ETP Holders to continue to protect customer orders 
while retaining the flexibility to engage in proprietary trades that 
comply with an exception to the Plan.
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    Paragraph (e)(1)-(e)(3) would set forth the requirements for Pilot 
Securities in Test Group Three. ETP Holders quoting or trading such 
Pilot Securities would be subject to all of the same quoting and 
trading requirements as described above for Pilot Securities in Test 
Group Two, including the quoting and trading exceptions applicable to 
Test Group Two Pilot Securities. In addition, proposed Paragraph (e)(4) 
would provide for an additional prohibition on Pilot Securities in Test 
Group Three referred to as the ``Trade-at Prohibition.'' \31\ Paragraph 
(e)(4)(B) would provide that, absent one of the listed exceptions in 
proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C) enumerated below, no ETP Holder may execute 
a sell order for a Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the price of a 
Protected Bid or execute a buy order for a Pilot Security in Test Group 
Three at the price of a Protected Offer.
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    \31\ Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(A) would define the ``Trade-at 
Prohibition'' to mean the prohibition against executions by a 
Trading Center of a sell order for a Pilot Security at the price of 
a Protected Bid or the execution of a buy order for a Pilot Security 
at the price of a Protected Offer during regular trading hours.
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    Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C) would allow ETP Holders to execute a 
sell order for a Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the price of a 
Protected Bid or execute a buy order for a Pilot Security in Test Group 
Three at the price of a Protected Offer if any of the following 
circumstances exist:
    (i) The order is executed as agent or riskless principal by an 
independent trading unit, as defined under Rule 200(f) of Regulation 
SHO,\32\ of a Trading Center within an ETP Holder that has a displayed 
quotation as agent or riskless principal, via either a processor or an 
SRO Quotation Feed, at a price equal to the traded-at Protected 
Quotation, that was displayed before the order was received,\33\ but 
only up to the full displayed size of that independent trading unit's 
previously displayed quote; \34\
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    \32\ The Exchange is proposing that, for proposed Rules 
7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) and (ii), a Trading Center operated by a broker-
dealer would mean an independent trading unit, as defined under Rule 
200(f) of Regulation SHO, within such broker-dealer. See, 17 CFR 
242.200.
    Independent trading unit aggregation is available if traders in 
an aggregation unit pursue only the particular trading objective(s) 
or strategy(s) of that aggregation unit and do not coordinate that 
strategy with any other aggregation unit. Therefore, a Trading 
Center cannot rely on quotations displayed by that broker dealer 
from a different independent trading unit. As an example, an agency 
desk of a broker-dealer cannot rely on the quotation of a 
proprietary desk in a separate independent trading unit at that same 
broker-dealer.
    \33\ The Exchange is proposing to adopt this limitation to 
ensure that a Trading Center does not display a quotation after the 
time of order receipt solely for the purpose of trading at the price 
of a protected quotation without routing to that protected 
quotation.
    \34\ This proposed exception to Trade-at would allow a Trading 
Center to execute an order at the Protected Quotation in the same 
capacity in which it has displayed a quotation at a price equal to 
the Protected Quotation and up to the displayed size of such 
displayed quotation.
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    (ii) The order is executed by an independent trading unit, as 
defined under Rule 200(f) of Regulation SHO, of a Trading Center within 
an ETP Holder that has a displayed quotation for the account of that 
Trading Center on a principal (excluding riskless principal \35\) 
basis, via either a processor or an SRO Quotation Feed, at a price 
equal to the traded-at Protected Quotation, that was displayed before 
the order was received, but only up to the full displayed size of that 
independent unit's previously displayed quote; \36\
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    \35\ As described above, proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) would 
establish the circumstances in which a Trading Center displaying an 
order as riskless principal would be permitted to Trade-at the 
Protected Quotation. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes that 
proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C)(ii) would exclude such circumstances.
    \36\ The display exceptions to Trade-at set forth in proposed 
Rules 7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) and (ii) would not permit a broker-dealer to 
trade on the basis of interest it is not responsible for displaying. 
In particular, a broker-dealer that matches orders in the over-the-
counter market shall be deemed to have ``executed'' such orders as a 
Trading Center for purposes of proposed Rule 7.46. Accordingly, if a 
broker-dealer is not displaying a quotation at a price equal to the 
Protected Quotation, it could not submit matched trades to an 
alternative trading center (``ATS'') that was displaying on an 
agency basis the quotation of another ATS subscriber. However, a 
broker-dealer that is displaying, as principal, via either a 
processor or an SRO Quotation Feed, a buy order at the protected 
bid, could internalize a customer sell order up to its displayed 
size. The display exceptions would not permit a non-displayed 
Trading Center to submit matched trades to an ATS that was 
displaying on an agency basis the quotation of another ATS 
subscriber and confirmed [sic] that a broker-dealer would not be 
permitted to trade on the basis of interest that it is not 
responsible for displaying.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (iii) The order is of Block Size \37\ at the time of origin and may 
not be:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ ``Block Size'' is defined in the Plan as an order (1) of at 
least 5,000 shares or (2) for a quantity of stock having a market 
value of at least $100,000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A. an aggregation of non-block orders;
    B. broken into orders smaller than Block Size prior to submitting 
the order to a Trading Center for execution; or
    C. executed on multiple Trading Centers; \38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Once a Block Size order or portion of such Block Size order 
is routed from one Trading Center to another Trading Center in 
compliance with Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, the Block Size order 
would lose the Trade-at exemption provided under proposed Rule 
7.46(e)(4)(C)(iii), unless the Block Size remaining after the first 
route and execution meets the Block Size definition under the Plan 
(see footnote 36). For example, if an exchange has a Protected Bid 
of 3,000 shares, with 2,000 shares in reserve, and receives a 5,000 
share order to sell, the exchange would be able to execute the 
entire 5,000 share order without having to route to an away market 
at any other Protected Bid at the same price. If, however, that 
exchange only has 1,000 shares in reserve, the entire order would 
not be able to be executed on that exchange, and the exchange would 
only be able to execute 3,000 shares and route the rest to away 
markets at other Protected Bids at the same price, before executing 
the 1,000 shares in reserve. The same analysis would hold true at 
the next price point, if the size of the incoming order would exceed 
all available shares at the first price, and the remaining shares to 
be executed would be 5,000 shares or more.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 36365]]

    (iv) The order is a Retail Investor Order executed with at least 
$0.005 price improvement;
    (v) The order is executed when the Trading Center displaying the 
Protected Quotation that was traded at was experiencing a failure, 
material delay, or malfunction of its systems or equipment;
    (vi) The order is executed as part of a transaction that was not a 
``regular way'' contract;
    (vii) The order is executed as part of a single-priced opening, 
reopening, or closing transaction on the Exchange;
    (viii) The order is executed when a Protected Bid was priced higher 
than a Protected Offer in the Pilot Security in Test Group Three;
    (ix) The order is identified as a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Order; 
\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ In connection with the definition of a Trade-at ISO 
proposed in Rule 7.46(a)(1)(D), this exception refers to the ISO 
that is received by a Trading Center.
    The Exchange proposed an exemption to the Trade-at Prohibition 
for Trade-at ISOs to clarify that an ISO that is received by a 
Trading Center (and which could form the basis of an execution at 
the price of a Protected Quotation pursuant to Section VI(D)(8) of 
the Plan), is identified as a Trade-at ISO. Depending on whether 
Rule 611 of Regulation NMS or the Trade-at requirement applies, an 
ISO may mean that the sender of the ISO has swept better-priced 
Protected Quotations, so that the recipient of that ISO may trade 
through the price of the Protected Quotation (Rule 611 of Regulation 
NMS), or it could mean that the sender of the ISO has swept 
Protected Quotations at the same price that it wishes to execute at 
(in addition to any better-priced quotations), so the recipient of 
that ISO may trade at the price of the Protected Quotation (Trade-
at). Given that the meaning of an ISO may differ under Rule 611 of 
Regulation NMS and Trade-at, the Exchange proposed an exemption to 
the Trade-at Prohibition for Trade-at ISOs so that the recipient of 
an ISO in a Test Group Three security would know, upon receipt of 
that ISO, that the Trading Center that sent the ISO had already 
executed against the full size of displayed quotations at that 
price, e.g., the recipient of that ISO could permissibly trade at 
the price of the Protected Quotation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (x) The order is executed by a Trading Center that simultaneously 
routed Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Orders to execute against the full 
displayed size of the Protected Quotation that was traded at; \40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ In connection with the definition of a Trade-at ISO 
proposed in Rule 7.46(a)(1)(D), this exception refers to the Trading 
Center that routed the ISO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (xi) The order is executed as part of a Negotiated Trade;
    (xii) The order is executed when the Trading Center displaying the 
Protected Quotation that was traded at had displayed, within one second 
prior to execution of the transaction that constituted the Trade-at, a 
Best Protected Bid or Best Protected Offer, as applicable, for the 
Pilot Security in Test Group Three with a price that was inferior to 
the price of the Trade-at transaction;
    (xiii) The order is executed by a Trading Center which, at the time 
of order receipt, the Trading Center had guaranteed an execution at no 
worse than a specified price (a ``stopped order''), where:
    A. The stopped order was for the account of a customer;
    B. The customer agreed to the specified price on an order-by-order 
basis; and
    C. The price of the Trade-at transaction was, for a stopped buy 
order, equal to or less than the National Best Bid in the Pilot 
Security in Test Group Three at the time of execution or, for a stopped 
sell order, equal to or greater than the National Best Offer in the 
Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the time of execution, as long as 
such order is priced at an acceptable increment; \41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ The stopped order exemption in Rule 611 of Regulation NMS 
applies where ``[t]he price of the trade-through transaction was, 
for a stopped buy order, lower than the national best bid in the NMS 
stock at the time of execution or, for a stopped sell order, higher 
than the national best offer in the NMS stock at the time of 
execution'' (see, 17 CFR 242.611(b)(9)). The Trade-at stopped order 
exception applies where ``the price of the Trade-at transaction was, 
for a stopped buy order, equal to the national best bid in the Pilot 
Security at the time of execution or, for a stopped sell order, 
equal to the national best offer in the Pilot Security at the time 
of execution'' (see, Plan, Section VI(D)(12)).
    To illustrate the application of the stopped order exemption as 
it currently operates under Rule 611 of Regulation NMS and as it is 
currently proposed for Trade-at, assume the National Best Bid is 
$10.00 and another protected quote is at $9.95. Under Rule 611 of 
Regulation NMS, a stopped order to buy can be filled at $9.95 and 
the firm does not have to send an ISO to access the protected quote 
at $10.00 since the price of the stopped order must be lower than 
the National Best Bid. For the stopped order to also be executed at 
$9.95 and satisfy the Trade-at requirements, the Trade-at exception 
would have to be revised to allow an order to execute at the price 
of a protected quote which, in this case, could be $9.95.
    Based on the fact that a stopped order would be treated 
differently under the Rule 611 of Regulation NMS exception than 
under the Trade-at exception in the Plan, the Exchange believes that 
it is appropriate to amend the Trade-at stopped order exception in 
the Plan to ensure that the application of this exception would 
produce a consistent result under both Regulation NMS and the Plan. 
Therefore, the Exchange proposes in this proposed Rule 
7.46(e)(4)(C)(xiii) to allow a transaction to satisfy the Trade-at 
requirement if the stopped order price, for a stopped buy order, is 
equal to or less than the National Best Bid, and for a stopped sell 
order, is equal to or greater than the National Best Offer, as long 
as such order is priced at an acceptable increment. The Commission 
granted New York Stock Exchange LLC an exemption from Rule 608(c) 
related to this provision. See, the Exemption Letter, supra note 26. 
The Exchange is seeking the same exemptions as requested in the 
Exemption Request Letters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (xiv) The order is for a fractional share of a Pilot Security in 
Test Group Three, provided that such fractional share order was not the 
result of breaking an order for one or more whole shares of a Pilot 
Security in Test Group Three into orders for fractional shares or was 
not otherwise effected to evade the requirements of the Trade-at 
Prohibition or any other provisions of the Plan; or
    (xv) The order is to correct a bona fide error, which is recorded 
by the Trading Center in its error account.\42\ A bond fide error is 
defined as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ The exceptions to the Trade-at requirement set forth in the 
Plan and in the Exchange's proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C) are, in part, 
based on the exceptions to the trade-through requirement set forth 
in Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, including exceptions for an order 
that is executed as part of a transaction that was not a ``regular 
way'' contract, and an order that is executed as part of a single-
priced opening, reopening, or closing transaction by the Trading 
Center (see, 17 CFR 242.611(b)(2) and (b)(3)). Following the 
adoption of Rule 611 of Regulation NMS and its exceptions, the 
Commission issued exemptive relief that created exceptions from Rule 
611 of Regulation NMS for certain error correction transactions. 
See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55884 (June 8, 2007), 72 FR 
32926 (June 14, 2007); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55883 
(June 8, 2007), 72 FR 32927 (June 14, 2007). The Exchange has 
determined that it is appropriate to incorporate this additional 
exception to the Trade-at Prohibition, as this exception is equally 
applicable in the Trade-at context.
    Accordingly, the Exchange is proposing to exempt certain 
transactions to correct bona fide errors in the execution of 
customer orders from the Trade-at Prohibition, subject to the 
conditions set forth by the SEC's order exempting these transactions 
from Rule 611 of Regulation NMS. The Commission granted New York 
Stock Exchange LLC an exemption from Rule 608(c) related to this 
provision. See, the Exemption Letter, supra note 26. The Exchange is 
seeking the same exemptions as requested in the Exemption Request 
Letters.
    As with the corresponding exception under Rule 611 of Regulation 
NMS, the bona fide error would have to be evidenced by objective 
facts and circumstances, the Trading Center would have to maintain 
documentation of such facts and circumstances and record the 
transaction in its error account. To avail itself of the exemption, 
the Trading Center would have to establish, maintain, and enforce 
written policies and procedures reasonably designed to address the 
occurrence of errors and, in the event of an error, the use and 
terms of a transaction to correct the error in compliance with this 
exemption. Finally, the Trading Center would have to regularly 
surveil to ascertain the effectiveness of its policies and 
procedures to address errors and transactions to correct errors and 
take prompt action to remedy deficiencies in such policies and 
procedures. See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55884 (June 8, 
2007), 72 FR 32926 (June 14, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A. The inaccurate conveyance or execution of any term of an order 
including, but not limited to, price, number of shares or other unit of 
trading; identification of the security; identification of the account 
for which securities are purchased or sold; lost or otherwise misplaced 
order tickets; short sales that were instead sold long or vice versa; 
or the execution of an order on the wrong side of a market;
    B. The unauthorized or unintended purchase, sale, or allocation of

[[Page 36366]]

securities, or the failure to follow specific client instructions;
    C. The incorrect entry of data into relevant systems, including 
reliance on incorrect cash positions, withdrawals, or securities 
positions reflected in an account; or
    D. A delay, outage, or failure of a communication system used to 
transmit market data prices or to facilitate the delivery or execution 
of an order.
    Finally, Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(D) would prevent ETP Holders from 
breaking an order into smaller orders or otherwise effecting or 
executing an order to evade the requirements of the Trade-at 
Prohibition or any other provisions of the Plan.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\43\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\44\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. The 
Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Act because it ensures that the Exchange and its ETP Holders would be 
in compliance with a Plan approved by the Commission pursuant to an 
order issued by the Commission in reliance on Section 11A of the 
Act.\45\ Such approved Plan gives the Exchange authority to establish, 
maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures that are 
reasonably designed to comply with applicable quoting and trading 
requirements specified in the Plan. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule change is consistent with the authority granted to it by 
the Plan to establish specifications and procedures for the 
implementation and operation of the Plan that are consistent with the 
provisions of the Plan. Likewise, the Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule change provides interpretations of the Plan that are 
consistent with the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of the 
Act, in particular.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \44\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \45\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, the Exchange is a Participant under the Plan and 
subject, itself, to the provisions of the Plan. The proposed rule 
change ensures that the Exchange's systems would not display or execute 
trading interests outside the requirements specified in such Plan. The 
proposal would also help allow market participants to continue to trade 
NMS Stocks within quoting and trading requirements that are in 
compliance with the Plan, with certainty on how certain orders and 
trading interests would be treated. This, in turn, will help encourage 
market participants to continue to provide liquidity in the 
marketplace.
    Because the Plan supports further examination and analysis on the 
impact of tick sizes on the trading and liquidity of the securities of 
small capitalization companies, and the Commission believes that 
altering tick sizes could result in significant market-wide benefits 
and improvements to liquidity and capital formation, adopting rules 
that enforce compliance by its ETP Holders with the provisions of the 
Plan would help promote liquidity in the marketplace and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and national market system.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed changes are 
being made to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and 
procedures that are reasonably designed to comply with the trading and 
quoting requirements specified in the Plan, of which other equities 
exchanges are also Participants. Other competing national securities 
exchanges are subject to the same trading and quoting requirements 
specified in the Plan. Therefore, the proposed changes would not impose 
any burden on competition, while providing certainty of treatment and 
execution of trading interests on the Exchange to market participants 
in NMS Stocks that are acting in compliance with the requirements 
specified in the Plan.

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

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

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

    The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \46\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\47\ 
Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the 
protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \47\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \48\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),\49\ the Commission 
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \49\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \50\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEARCA-2016-76 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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


[[Page 36367]]


All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEARCA-2016-76. 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-NYSEARCA-2016-76 and should 
be submitted on or before June 27, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\51\
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-13208 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices                                                     36361

                                                public interest, for the protection of                     available publicly. All submissions                    provisions of the Plan.5 Therefore, the
                                                investors, or otherwise in furtherance of                  should refer to File Number SR–                        Exchange has designated this proposal
                                                the purposes of the Act. If the                            NYSEArca–2016–83 and should be                         as ‘‘non-controversial’’ and provided the
                                                Commission takes such action, the                          submitted on or before June 27, 2016.                  Commission with the notice required by
                                                Commission shall institute proceedings                       For the Commission, by the Division of               Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act.6 The
                                                under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act18 to                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             proposed rule change is available on the
                                                determine whether the proposed rule                        authority.19                                           Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
                                                change should be approved or                               Brent J. Fields,                                       at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                disapproved.                                               Secretary.                                             and at the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                                                                                  Reference Room.
                                                IV. Solicitation of Comments                               [FR Doc. 2016–13212 Filed 6–3–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  Interested persons are invited to                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                submit written data, views, and                                                                                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                               Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                including whether the proposed rule                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                Change
                                                change is consistent with the Act.                         COMMISSION                                                In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                               self-regulatory organization included
                                                the following methods:                                     [Release No. 34–77947; File No. SR–                    statements concerning the purpose of,
                                                                                                           NYSEARCA–2016–76]                                      and basis for, the proposed rule change
                                                Electronic Comments
                                                                                                                                                                  and discussed any comments it received
                                                  • Use the Commission’s Internet                          Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                    on the proposed rule change. The text
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                          Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and                       of those statements may be examined at
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                       Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                    the places specified in Item IV below.
                                                  • Send an email to rule-comments@                        Rule Change Implementing the                           The Exchange has prepared summaries,
                                                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                    Quoting and Trading Provisions of the                  set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
                                                NYSEArca–2016–83 on the subject line.                      Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot                    of the most significant parts of such
                                                                                                           Program Submitted to the Commission                    statements.
                                                Paper Comments
                                                                                                           Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                     NMS Under the Act                                      A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                                                                         Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                      May 31, 2016.                                          Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                               Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the               Change
                                                All submissions should refer to File                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                   1. Purpose
                                                Number SR–NYSEArca–2016–83. This                           ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                file number should be included on the                      notice is hereby given that, on May 20,                   The Exchange proposes to establish
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the                 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’                rules to require its ETP Holders 7 to
                                                Commission process and review your                         or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with the                       comply with the requirements of the
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                      Securities and Exchange Commission                     Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot
                                                only one method. The Commission will                       (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                 Program (the ‘‘Plan’’),8 which is
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                      change as described in Items I, II, and                designed to study and assess the impact
                                                Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                     III below, which Items have been                       of increment conventions on the
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                            prepared by the self-regulatory                        liquidity and trading of the common
                                                submission, all subsequent                                 organization. The Commission is                        stocks of small capitalization
                                                amendments, all written statements                         publishing this notice to solicit                         5 See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76229
                                                with respect to the proposed rule                          comments on the proposed rule change                   (October 22, 2015), 80 FR 66065 (October 28, 2015)
                                                change that are filed with the                             from interested persons.                               (SR–NYSE–2015–46), as amended by Partial
                                                Commission, and all written                                                                                       Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to the Quoting &
                                                                                                           I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      Trading Rules Proposal. See, Securities Exchange
                                                communications relating to the
                                                                                                           Statement of the Terms of Substance of                 Act Release No. 77703 (April 25, 2016), 81 FR
                                                proposed rule change between the                                                                                  25725 (April 29, 2016) (SR–NYSE–2015–46).
                                                                                                           the Proposed Rule Change
                                                Commission and any person, other than                                                                                6 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).

                                                those that may be withheld from the                          The Exchange proposes to implement                      7 The term ETP Holder is defined in NYSE Arca

                                                public in accordance with the                              the quoting and trading provisions of                  Equities Rule 1.1(n) to mean a sole proprietorship,
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                                                                               partnership, corporation, limited liability company
                                                                                                           the Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot                or other organization in good standing that has been
                                                available for Web site viewing and                         Program submitted to the Commission                    issued an ETP. An ETP Holder must be a registered
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                        pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation                     broker or dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Act.
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                          NMS 4 under the Act (the ‘‘Plan’’). The                An ETP Holder shall agree to be bound by the
                                                Washington, DC 20549 on official                                                                                  Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Rules of
                                                                                                           proposed rule change is substantially                  NYSE Arca Equities, and by all applicable rules and
                                                business days between the hours of                         similar to proposed rule changes                       regulations of the Commission.
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                     recently approved or published by the                     The term ETP is defined in NYSE Arca Equities
                                                filing also will be available for                          Commission by New York Stock                           Rule 1.1(m) to mean an equity trading permit issued
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                                                                           by NYSE Arca Equities for effecting approved
                                                                                                           Exchange LLC to adopt NYSE Rules                       securities transactions on NYSE Arca Equities’
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                           67(a) and 67(c)–(e), which also                        trading facilities.
                                                received will be posted without change;                    implemented the quoting and trading                       8 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
                                                the Commission does not edit personal                                                                             74892 (May 6, 2015), 80 FR 27513 (File No.
                                                identifying information from                                 19 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                                                                                  4–657) (‘‘Tick Plan Approval Order’’). See, also,
                                                submissions. You should submit only                          1 15
                                                                                                                                                                  Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 76382
                                                                                                                  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                               (November 6, 2015) (File No. 4–657), 80 FR 70284
                                                information that you wish to make                            2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                                                                                                                                  (File No. 4–657) (November 13, 2015), which
                                                                                                             3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                                                                  extended the pilot period commencement date from
                                                  18 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                               4 17 CFR 242.608.                                    May 6, 2015 to October 3, 2016.



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                                                36362                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices

                                                companies. The Exchange proposes                        and would establish written policies                     NMS 20 will apply to the Trade-at
                                                changes to its rules for a two-year pilot               and procedures reasonably designed to                    requirement.
                                                period that coincides with the pilot                    comply with applicable quoting and                          The Tick Pilot Program also contains
                                                period for the Plan, which is currently                 trading requirements specified in the                    requirements for the collection and
                                                scheduled as a two year pilot to begin                  Plan.15 As described more fully below,                   transmission of data to the Commission
                                                on October 3, 2016.                                     the proposed rules would require ETP                     and the public. A variety of data
                                                                                                        Holders to comply with the Plan and                      generated during the Tick Pilot Program
                                                Background
                                                                                                        provide for the widening of quoting and                  will be released publicly on an
                                                   On August 25, 2014, NYSE Group,                      trading increments for Pilot Securities,                 aggregated basis to assist in analyzing
                                                Inc., on behalf of Bats BZX Exchange,                   consistent with the Plan.                                the impact of wider tick sizes on smaller
                                                Inc. (f/k/a BATS Exchange, Inc.), Bats                                                                           capitalization stocks.21
                                                BYX Exchange, Inc. (f/k/a BATS                             The Tick Size Pilot Program will
                                                Y-Exchange, Inc.), Chicago Stock                        include stocks of companies with $3                      Proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.46
                                                Exchange, Inc., EDGA Exchange, Inc.,                    billion or less in market capitalization,                (‘‘Rule 7.46’’)
                                                EDGX Exchange, Inc., Financial                          an average daily trading volume of one                      The Plan requires the Exchange to
                                                Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.                     million shares or less, and a volume                     establish, maintain, and enforce written
                                                (‘‘FINRA’’), NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.,                       weighted average price of at least $2.00                 policies and procedures that are
                                                NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC, the Nasdaq                         for every trading day. The Tick Pilot                    reasonably designed to comply with
                                                Stock Market LLC, New York Stock                        Program will consist of a control group                  applicable quoting and trading
                                                Exchange LLC, the Exchange and NYSE                     of approximately 1,400 Pilot Securities                  requirements specified in the Plan.22
                                                MKT LLC (collectively ‘‘Participants’’),                and three test groups with 400 Pilot                     Accordingly, the Exchange is proposing
                                                filed with the Commission, pursuant to                  Securities in each selected by a                         new Rule 7.46 to require its ETP
                                                Section 11A of the Act 9 and Rule 608                   stratified sampling.16 During the pilot,                 Holders to comply with the quoting and
                                                of Regulation NMS thereunder, the Plan                  Pilot Securities in the control group will               trading provisions of the Plan. The
                                                to Implement a Tick Size Pilot                          be quoted at the current tick size                       proposed Rule is also designed to
                                                Program.10 The Participants filed the                   increment of $0.01 per share and will                    ensure the Exchange’s compliance with
                                                Plan to comply with an order issued by                  trade at the currently permitted                         the Plan.
                                                the Commission on June 24, 2014 (the                    increments. Pilot Securities in the first                   Proposed paragraph (a)(1) of new Rule
                                                ‘‘June 2014 Order’’).11 The Plan12 was                  test group (‘‘Test Group One’’) will be                  7.46 would establish the following
                                                published for comment in the Federal                    quoted in $0.05 minimum increments                       defined terms:
                                                Register on November 7, 2014,13 and                     but will continue to trade at any price                     • ‘‘Plan’’ means the Tick Size Pilot
                                                approved by the Commission, as                          increment that is currently permitted.17                 Plan submitted to the Commission
                                                modified, on May 6, 2015.14                             Pilot Securities in the second test group                pursuant to Rule 608(a)(3) of Regulation
                                                   The Plan is designed to allow the                                                                             NMS under the Act;
                                                                                                        (‘‘Test Group Two’’) will be quoted in
                                                Commission, market participants, and                                                                                • ‘‘Pilot Test Groups’’ means the three
                                                                                                        $0.05 minimum increments and will
                                                the public to study and assess the                                                                               test groups established under the Plan,
                                                                                                        trade at $0.05 minimum increments
                                                impact of increment conventions on the                                                                           consisting of 400 Pilot Securities each,
                                                liquidity and trading of the common                     subject to a midpoint exception, a retail
                                                                                                                                                                 which satisfy the respective criteria
                                                stocks of small capitalization                          investor exception, and a negotiated
                                                                                                                                                                 established by the Plan for each such
                                                companies. The Commission plans to                      trade exception.18 Pilot Securities in the
                                                                                                                                                                 test group.
                                                use the Tick Size Pilot Program to assess               third test group (‘‘Test Group Three’’)                     • ‘‘Retail Investor Order’’ would
                                                whether wider tick sizes enhance the                    will be subject to the same terms as Test                mean an agency order or a riskless
                                                market quality of Pilot Securities for the              Group Two and also will be subject to                    principal order that meets the criteria of
                                                benefit of issuers and investors. Each                  the ‘‘Trade-at’’ requirement to prevent                  FINRA Rule 5320.03 that originates
                                                Participant is required to comply with,                 price matching by a person not                           from a natural person and is submitted
                                                and to enforce compliance by its ETP                    displaying at a price of a Trading                       to the Exchange by a retail ETP Holder,
                                                Holders, as applicable, with the                        Center’s ‘‘Best Protected Bid’’ or ‘‘Best                provided that no change is made to the
                                                provisions of the Plan.                                 Protected Offer,’’ unless an enumerated                  terms of the order with respect to price
                                                   On October 9, 2015, the Operating                    exception applies.19 In addition to the                  or side of market and the order does not
                                                Committee approved the Exchange’s                       exceptions provided under Test Group                     originate from a trading algorithm or
                                                proposed rules as model Participant                     Two, an exception for Block Size orders                  any other computerized methodology. A
                                                rules that would require compliance by                  and exceptions that closely resemble                     Retail Investor Order may be an odd lot,
                                                a Participant’s members with the                        those under Rule 611 of Regulation                       round lot, or partial round lot.23
                                                provisions of the Plan, as applicable,
                                                                                                          15 The Operating Committee is required under             20 17  CFR 242.611.
                                                  9 15  U.S.C. 78k–1.                                   Section III(C)(2) of the Plan to ‘‘monitor the             21 See  Section VII of the Plan.
                                                   10 See Letter from Brendon J. Weiss, Vice            procedures established pursuant to the Plan and             22 The Exchange was also required by the Plan to
                                                President, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., to          advise Participants with respect to any deficiencies,    develop appropriate policies and procedures that
                                                Secretary, Commission, dated August 25, 2014.           problems, or recommendations as the Operating            provide for data collection and reporting to the
                                                   11 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72460     Committee may deem appropriate.’’ The Operating          Commission of data described in Appendixes B and
                                                (June 24, 2014), 79 FR 36840 (June 30, 2014).           Committee is also required to ‘‘establish                C of the Plan. See, Securities Exchange Act Release
                                                   12 Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms     specifications and procedures for the                    No. 77484 (March 31, 2016), 81 FR 20024 (April 6,
                                                used in this rule filing are based on the defined       implementation and operation of the Plan that are        2016) (SR–NYSEArca–2016–52).
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                                                terms of the Plan.                                      consistent with the provisions of the Plan.’’               23 This definition is the approved definition for
                                                                                                          16 See Section V of the Plan for identification of
                                                   13 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.                                                                ‘‘Retail Investor Order’’ as contemplated by the
                                                73511 (November 3, 2014), 79 FR 66423 (File No.         Pilot Securities, including criteria for selection and   Plan. It is also the same definition as given to
                                                4–657) (Tick Plan Filing).                              grouping.                                                ‘‘Retail Orders’’ pursuant to the approved rules of
                                                                                                          17 See Section VI(B) of the Plan. Pilot Securities
                                                   14 See Tick Plan Approval Order, supra note 8.                                                                other national securities exchanges. See, NYSE Arca
                                                See, also, Securities Exchange Act Release No.          in Test Group One will be subject to a midpoint          Equities Rule 7.44(a)(3). See, also NYSE MKT Rule
                                                77277 (March 3, 2016), 81 FR 12162 (March 8,            exception and a retail investor exception.               107C(a)(3), NYSE Rule 107C(a)(3), BATS Y-
                                                                                                          18 See Section VI(C) of the Plan.
                                                2016) (File No. 4–657), which amended the Plan to                                                                Exchange, Inc. Rule 11.24(a)(2) and NASDAQ Stock
                                                add National Stock Exchange, Inc. as a Participant.       19 See Section VI(D) of the Plan.                      Market LLC Rule 4780(a)(2). The Retail Investor



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices                                                       36363

                                                   • Trade-at Intermarket Sweep                             Proposed Paragraph (a)(2) would state                the Pilot Security had not dropped
                                                Order’’ 24 would mean a limit order for                  that the Exchange is a Participant in,                  below $1.00. However, if the Closing
                                                a Pilot Security that meets the following                and subject to the applicable                           Price of a Pilot Security on any given
                                                requirements:                                            requirements of, the Plan; proposed                     business day is below $1.00, such Pilot
                                                   (i) When routed to a Trading Center,                  Paragraph (a)(3) would require ETP                      Security would be moved out of its
                                                the limit order is identified as a Trade-                Holders to establish, maintain and                      respective Pilot Test Group into the
                                                at Intermarket Sweep Order; and                          enforce written policies and procedures                 control group (which consists of Pilot
                                                   (ii) Simultaneously with the routing                  that are reasonably designed to comply                  Securities not placed into a Pilot Test
                                                of the limit order identified as a Trade-                with the applicable requirements of the                 Group), and may then be quoted and
                                                at Intermarket Sweep Order, one or                       Plan, which would allow the Exchange                    traded at any price increment that is
                                                more additional limit orders, as                         to enforce compliance by its ETP                        currently permitted by Exchange rules
                                                necessary, are routed to execute against                 Holders with the provisions of the Plan,                for the remainder of the Pilot Period.
                                                the full size of any protected bid, in the               as required pursuant to Section II(B) of                Notwithstanding anything contained
                                                case of a limit order to sell, or the full               the Plan.                                               herein to the contrary, the Exchange
                                                displayed size of any protected offer, in                   In addition, Paragraph (a)(4) would                  proposes that, at all times during the
                                                the case of a limit order to buy, for the                provide that Exchange systems would                     Pilot Period, Pilot Securities (whether in
                                                Pilot Security with a price that is better               not display, quote or trade in violation                the control group or any Pilot Test
                                                than or equal to the limit price of the                  of the applicable quoting and trading                   Group) would continue to be subject to
                                                limit order identified as a Trade-at                     requirements for a Pilot Security                       the data collection rules, which are
                                                Intermarket Sweep Order. These                           specified in the Plan and this proposed                 enumerated in Rule 7.46(b).
                                                additional routed orders also must be                    rule, unless such quotation or                             The Exchange proposes Rules 7.46(c)–
                                                marked as Trade-at Intermarket Sweep                     transaction is specifically exempted                    (e), which would require ETP Holders to
                                                Orders.                                                  under the Plan.25                                       comply with the specific quoting and
                                                   • Paragraph (a)(1)(E) would provide                      The Exchange also proposes to add                    trading obligations for each Pilot Test
                                                that all capitalized terms not otherwise                                                                         Group under the Plan. With regard to
                                                                                                         Rule 7.46(a)(5) to provide for the
                                                defined in this rule shall have the                                                                              Pilot Securities in Test Group One,
                                                                                                         treatment of Pilot Securities that drop
                                                meanings set forth in the Plan,                                                                                  proposed Rule 7.46(c) would provide
                                                                                                         below a $1.00 value during the Pilot
                                                Regulation NMS under the Act, or                                                                                 that no ETP Holder may display, rank,
                                                                                                         Period.26 The Exchange proposes that if
                                                Exchange rules, as applicable.                                                                                   or accept from any person any
                                                                                                         the price of a Pilot Security drops below
                                                                                                         $1.00 during regular trading on any                     displayable or non-displayable bids or
                                                Order definition includes any order originating
                                                                                                         given business day, such Pilot Security                 offers, orders, or indications of interest
                                                from a natural person and is not limited to orders                                                               in increments other than $0.05.
                                                submitted to the Exchange under the Exchange’s           would continue to be subject to the Plan
                                                retail liquidity program rule (NYSE Arca Equities        and the requirements described below                    However, orders priced to trade at the
                                                Rule 7.44). Therefore, any ETP Holder that operates      that necessitate ETP Holders to comply                  midpoint of the National Best Bid and
                                                a Trading Center may execute against a Retail
                                                                                                         with the specific quoting and trading                   National Best Offer (‘‘NBBO’’) or Best
                                                Investor Order otherwise than on an exchange to                                                                  Protected Bid and Best Protect Offer
                                                satisfy the retail investor order exception proposed     obligations for each respective Pilot Test
                                                in Rule 7.46.                                            Group under the Plan, and would                         (‘‘PBBO’’) and orders entered in the
                                                   24 The Plan defines a Trade-at Intermarket Sweep
                                                                                                         continue to trade in accordance with the                Exchange’s Retail Liquidity Program as
                                                Order (‘‘ISO’’) as a limit order for a Pilot Security
                                                                                                         proposed rules below as if the price of                 Retail Price Improvement Orders
                                                that, when routed to a Trading Center, is identified                                                             (‘‘Retail Price Improvement Order’’) 27
                                                as an ISO, and simultaneous with the routing of the                                                              may be ranked and accepted in
                                                                                                            25 The Exchange is still evaluating its internal
                                                limit order identified as an ISO, one or more
                                                additional limit orders, as necessary, are routed to     policies and procedures to ensure compliance with       increments of less than $0.05. Pilot
                                                execute against the full displayed size of any           the Plan, and plans to separately propose rules that    Securities in Test Group One may
                                                protected bid (in the case of a limit order to sell)     would address violations of the Plan.                   continue to trade at any price increment
                                                or the full displayed size of any protected offer (in       26 New York Stock Exchange LLC, on behalf of the
                                                                                                                                                                 that is currently permitted by NYSE
                                                the case of a limit order to buy) for the Pilot          Participants, submitted a letter to Commission
                                                Security with a price that is equal to the limit price   requesting exemption from certain provisions of the     Arca Equities Rule 7.6.28
                                                of the limit order identified as an ISO. These           Plan related to quoting and trading. See letter from       With regard to Pilot Securities in Test
                                                additional routed orders also must be marked as          Elizabeth K. King, NYSE, to Brent J. Fields,            Group Two, proposed Rule 7.46(d)(1)
                                                ISOs. See Plan, Section I(MM). Since the Plan            Secretary, Commission, dated October 14, 2015 (the      would provide that such Pilot Securities
                                                allows (i) an order that is identified as an ISO to      ‘‘October Exemption Request’’). FINRA, also on
                                                be executed at the price of a Protected Quotation        behalf of the Plan Participants, submitted a separate
                                                                                                                                                                 would be subject to all of the same
                                                (see, Plan, Section VI(D)(8) and proposed Rule           letter to Commission requesting additional              quoting requirements as described
                                                7.46(a)(e)(4)(C)(ix)) and (ii) an order to execute at    exemptions from certain provisions of the Plan          above for Pilot Securities in Test Group
                                                the price of a Protected Quotation that ‘‘is executed    related to quoting and trading. See letter from         One, along with the applicable quoting
                                                by a trading center that simultaneously routed           Marcia E. Asquith, Senior Vice President and            exceptions. In addition, proposed Rule
                                                Trade-at ISO to execute against the full displayed       Corporate Secretary, FINRA, to Robert W. Errett,
                                                size of the Protected Quotation that was trade at’’      Deputy Secretary, Commission, dated February 23,        7.46(d)(2) would provide that, absent
                                                (see, Plan, Section VI(D)(9) and proposed Rule           2016 (the ‘‘February Exemption Request,’’ and           one of the listed exceptions in proposed
                                                7.46(a)(e)(4)(C)(x)), the Exchange proposes to clarify   together with the October Exemption Request, the        Rule 7.46(d)(3) enumerated below, no
                                                the use of an ISO in connection with the Trade-at        ‘‘Exemption Request Letters’’). The Commission,         ETP Holder may execute orders in any
                                                requirement by adopting, as part of proposed Rule        pursuant to its authority under Rule 608(e) of
                                                7.46(a)(1), a comprehensive definition of ‘‘Trade-at     Regulation NMS, granted New York Stock Exchange         Pilot Security in Test Group Two in
                                                ISO.’’ As set forth in the Plan and as noted above,      LLC a limited exemption from the requirement to
                                                the definition of a Trade-at ISO used in the Plan        comply with certain provisions of the Plan as              27 A Retail Price Improvement Order consists of

                                                does not distinguish ISOs that are compliant with        specified in the Exemption Request Letters and          non-displayed interest in NYSE Arca, Inc.-listed
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                                                Rule 611 or Regulation NMS from ISOs that are            noted herein. See letter from David Shillman,           securities that is priced better than the Best
                                                compliant with Trade-at. The Exchange therefore          Associate Director, Division of Trading and             Protected Bid or Best Protected Offer, as such terms
                                                proposes the separate definition of Trade-at ISO         Markets, Commission to Sherry Sandler, Associate        are defined in Regulation NMS Rule 600(b)(57), by
                                                contained in proposed Rule 7.46(a). The Exchange         General Counsel, New York Stock Exchange LLC,           at least $0.001 and that is identified as such. See
                                                believes that this proposed definition will further      dated April 25, 2016 (the ‘‘Exemption Letter’’). The    NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.44(a)(4).
                                                clarify to recipients of ISOs in Test Group Three        Exchange is seeking the same exemptions as                 28 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.6 describes the

                                                securities whether the ISO satisfies the                 requested in the Exemption Request Letters,             minimum price variation for quoting and entry of
                                                requirements of Rule 611 of Regulation NMS or            including without limitation, an exemption relating     orders in equity securities admitted to dealings on
                                                Trade-at.                                                to proposed Rule 7.46(a)(5).                            the Exchange.



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                                                36364                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices

                                                price increments other than $0.05. The                   for Pilot Securities in Test Group Two,                    (ii) The order is executed by an
                                                $0.05 trading increment would apply to                   including the quoting and trading                        independent trading unit, as defined
                                                all trades, including Brokered Cross                     exceptions applicable to Test Group                      under Rule 200(f) of Regulation SHO, of
                                                Trades.                                                  Two Pilot Securities. In addition,                       a Trading Center within an ETP Holder
                                                   Paragraph (d)(3) would set forth                      proposed Paragraph (e)(4) would                          that has a displayed quotation for the
                                                further requirements for Pilot Securities                provide for an additional prohibition on                 account of that Trading Center on a
                                                in Test Group Two. Specifically, ETP                     Pilot Securities in Test Group Three                     principal (excluding riskless
                                                Holders trading Pilot Securities in Test                 referred to as the ‘‘Trade-at                            principal 35) basis, via either a processor
                                                Group Two would be allowed to trade                      Prohibition.’’ 31 Paragraph (e)(4)(B)                    or an SRO Quotation Feed, at a price
                                                in increments less than $0.05 under the                  would provide that, absent one of the                    equal to the traded-at Protected
                                                following circumstances:                                 listed exceptions in proposed Rule                       Quotation, that was displayed before the
                                                   (A) Trading may occur at the                          7.46(e)(4)(C) enumerated below, no ETP                   order was received, but only up to the
                                                midpoint between the NBBO or PBBO;                       Holder may execute a sell order for a                    full displayed size of that independent
                                                   (B) Retail Investor Orders may be                     Pilot Security in Test Group Three at the                unit’s previously displayed quote; 36
                                                provided with price improvement that                     price of a Protected Bid or execute a buy                  (iii) The order is of Block Size 37 at the
                                                is at least $0.005 better than the Best                  order for a Pilot Security in Test Group                 time of origin and may not be:
                                                Protected Bid or the Best Protected                      Three at the price of a Protected Offer.                   A. an aggregation of non-block orders;
                                                Offer;                                                      Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C) would                       B. broken into orders smaller than
                                                   (C) Negotiated Trades may trade in                    allow ETP Holders to execute a sell                      Block Size prior to submitting the order
                                                increments less than $0.05; and                          order for a Pilot Security in Test Group
                                                   (D) Execution of a customer order to                                                                           to a Trading Center for execution; or
                                                                                                         Three at the price of a Protected Bid or                   C. executed on multiple Trading
                                                comply with NYSE Arca Equities Rule                      execute a buy order for a Pilot Security
                                                5320 29 following the execution of a                                                                              Centers; 38
                                                                                                         in Test Group Three at the price of a
                                                proprietary trade by the ETP Holder at                   Protected Offer if any of the following                     35 As described above, proposed Rule
                                                an increment other than $0.05, where                     circumstances exist:                                     7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) would establish the circumstances in
                                                such proprietary trade was permissible                      (i) The order is executed as agent or                 which a Trading Center displaying an order as
                                                pursuant to an exception under the                       riskless principal by an independent                     riskless principal would be permitted to Trade-at
                                                Plan.30                                                                                                           the Protected Quotation. Accordingly, the Exchange
                                                                                                         trading unit, as defined under Rule                      proposes that proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C)(ii) would
                                                   Paragraph (e)(1)–(e)(3) would set forth               200(f) of Regulation SHO,32 of a Trading                 exclude such circumstances.
                                                the requirements for Pilot Securities in                 Center within an ETP Holder that has a                      36 The display exceptions to Trade-at set forth in
                                                Test Group Three. ETP Holders quoting                    displayed quotation as agent or riskless                 proposed Rules 7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) and (ii) would not
                                                or trading such Pilot Securities would                   principal, via either a processor or an                  permit a broker-dealer to trade on the basis of
                                                be subject to all of the same quoting and                                                                         interest it is not responsible for displaying. In
                                                                                                         SRO Quotation Feed, at a price equal to                  particular, a broker-dealer that matches orders in
                                                trading requirements as described above                  the traded-at Protected Quotation, that                  the over-the-counter market shall be deemed to
                                                                                                         was displayed before the order was                       have ‘‘executed’’ such orders as a Trading Center for
                                                   29 NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320 is the                                                                         purposes of proposed Rule 7.46. Accordingly, if a
                                                                                                         received,33 but only up to the full
                                                Exchange’s Prohibition Against Trading Ahead of                                                                   broker-dealer is not displaying a quotation at a price
                                                Customer Orders rule and states:                         displayed size of that independent                       equal to the Protected Quotation, it could not
                                                   (a) Except as provided herein, an ETP Holder that     trading unit’s previously displayed                      submit matched trades to an alternative trading
                                                accepts and holds an order in an equity security         quote; 34                                                center (‘‘ATS’’) that was displaying on an agency
                                                from its own customer or a customer of another                                                                    basis the quotation of another ATS subscriber.
                                                broker-dealer without immediately executing the             31 Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(A) would define the
                                                                                                                                                                  However, a broker-dealer that is displaying, as
                                                order is prohibited from trading that security on the                                                             principal, via either a processor or an SRO
                                                                                                         ‘‘Trade-at Prohibition’’ to mean the prohibition
                                                same side of the market for its own account at a                                                                  Quotation Feed, a buy order at the protected bid,
                                                                                                         against executions by a Trading Center of a sell
                                                price that would satisfy the customer order, unless                                                               could internalize a customer sell order up to its
                                                                                                         order for a Pilot Security at the price of a Protected
                                                it immediately thereafter executes the customer          Bid or the execution of a buy order for a Pilot          displayed size. The display exceptions would not
                                                order up to the size and at the same or better price     Security at the price of a Protected Offer during        permit a non-displayed Trading Center to submit
                                                at which it traded for its own account.                  regular trading hours.                                   matched trades to an ATS that was displaying on
                                                   (b) An ETP Holder must have a written                    32 The Exchange is proposing that, for proposed       an agency basis the quotation of another ATS
                                                methodology in place governing the execution and                                                                  subscriber and confirmed [sic] that a broker-dealer
                                                                                                         Rules 7.46(e)(4)(C)(i) and (ii), a Trading Center
                                                priority of all pending orders that is consistent with   operated by a broker-dealer would mean an                would not be permitted to trade on the basis of
                                                the requirements of this Rule and NASD Rule 2320.        independent trading unit, as defined under Rule          interest that it is not responsible for displaying.
                                                An ETP Holder also must ensure that this                                                                             37 ‘‘Block Size’’ is defined in the Plan as an order
                                                                                                         200(f) of Regulation SHO, within such broker-
                                                methodology is consistently applied.                     dealer. See, 17 CFR 242.200.                             (1) of at least 5,000 shares or (2) for a quantity of
                                                   30 The Exchange proposes to add this exemption
                                                                                                            Independent trading unit aggregation is available     stock having a market value of at least $100,000.
                                                to permit ETP Holders to fill a customer order in        if traders in an aggregation unit pursue only the           38 Once a Block Size order or portion of such

                                                a Pilot Security at a non-nickel increment to comply     particular trading objective(s) or strategy(s) of that   Block Size order is routed from one Trading Center
                                                with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320 under limited          aggregation unit and do not coordinate that strategy     to another Trading Center in compliance with Rule
                                                circumstances. Specifically, the exception would         with any other aggregation unit. Therefore, a            611 of Regulation NMS, the Block Size order would
                                                allow the execution of a customer order following        Trading Center cannot rely on quotations displayed       lose the Trade-at exemption provided under
                                                a proprietary trade by the ETP Holder at an              by that broker dealer from a different independent       proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C)(iii), unless the Block
                                                increment other than $0.05 in the same security, on      trading unit. As an example, an agency desk of a         Size remaining after the first route and execution
                                                the same side and at the same price as (or within        broker-dealer cannot rely on the quotation of a          meets the Block Size definition under the Plan (see
                                                the prescribed amount of) a customer order owed          proprietary desk in a separate independent trading       footnote 36). For example, if an exchange has a
                                                a fill pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5320,         unit at that same broker-dealer.                         Protected Bid of 3,000 shares, with 2,000 shares in
                                                where the triggering proprietary trade was                  33 The Exchange is proposing to adopt this            reserve, and receives a 5,000 share order to sell, the
                                                permissible pursuant to an exception under the           limitation to ensure that a Trading Center does not      exchange would be able to execute the entire 5,000
                                                Plan. The Commission granted New York Stock              display a quotation after the time of order receipt      share order without having to route to an away
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                                                Exchange LLC an exemption from Rule 608(c)               solely for the purpose of trading at the price of a      market at any other Protected Bid at the same price.
                                                related to this provision. See, the Exemption Letter,    protected quotation without routing to that              If, however, that exchange only has 1,000 shares in
                                                supra note 26. The Exchange is seeking the same          protected quotation.                                     reserve, the entire order would not be able to be
                                                exemptions as requested in the Exemption Request            34 This proposed exception to Trade-at would          executed on that exchange, and the exchange would
                                                Letters. The Exchange believes such an exception         allow a Trading Center to execute an order at the        only be able to execute 3,000 shares and route the
                                                best facilitates the ability of ETP Holders to           Protected Quotation in the same capacity in which        rest to away markets at other Protected Bids at the
                                                continue to protect customer orders while retaining      it has displayed a quotation at a price equal to the     same price, before executing the 1,000 shares in
                                                the flexibility to engage in proprietary trades that     Protected Quotation and up to the displayed size of      reserve. The same analysis would hold true at the
                                                comply with an exception to the Plan.                    such displayed quotation.                                next price point, if the size of the incoming order



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices                                                           36365

                                                   (iv) The order is a Retail Investor                    applicable, for the Pilot Security in Test                provided that such fractional share
                                                Order executed with at least $0.005                       Group Three with a price that was                         order was not the result of breaking an
                                                price improvement;                                        inferior to the price of the Trade-at                     order for one or more whole shares of
                                                   (v) The order is executed when the                     transaction;                                              a Pilot Security in Test Group Three
                                                Trading Center displaying the Protected                      (xiii) The order is executed by a                      into orders for fractional shares or was
                                                Quotation that was traded at was                          Trading Center which, at the time of                      not otherwise effected to evade the
                                                experiencing a failure, material delay, or                order receipt, the Trading Center had                     requirements of the Trade-at Prohibition
                                                malfunction of its systems or                             guaranteed an execution at no worse                       or any other provisions of the Plan; or
                                                equipment;                                                than a specified price (a ‘‘stopped                          (xv) The order is to correct a bona fide
                                                   (vi) The order is executed as part of                  order’’), where:                                          error, which is recorded by the Trading
                                                a transaction that was not a ‘‘regular                       A. The stopped order was for the                       Center in its error account.42 A bond
                                                way’’ contract;                                           account of a customer;                                    fide error is defined as:
                                                   (vii) The order is executed as part of                    B. The customer agreed to the                             A. The inaccurate conveyance or
                                                a single-priced opening, reopening, or                    specified price on an order-by-order                      execution of any term of an order
                                                closing transaction on the Exchange;                      basis; and                                                including, but not limited to, price,
                                                   (viii) The order is executed when a                       C. The price of the Trade-at                           number of shares or other unit of
                                                Protected Bid was priced higher than a                    transaction was, for a stopped buy                        trading; identification of the security;
                                                Protected Offer in the Pilot Security in                  order, equal to or less than the National                 identification of the account for which
                                                Test Group Three;                                         Best Bid in the Pilot Security in Test                    securities are purchased or sold; lost or
                                                   (ix) The order is identified as a Trade-               Group Three at the time of execution or,                  otherwise misplaced order tickets; short
                                                at Intermarket Sweep Order; 39                            for a stopped sell order, equal to or                     sales that were instead sold long or vice
                                                   (x) The order is executed by a Trading                 greater than the National Best Offer in                   versa; or the execution of an order on
                                                Center that simultaneously routed                         the Pilot Security in Test Group Three                    the wrong side of a market;
                                                Trade-at Intermarket Sweep Orders to                      at the time of execution, as long as such                    B. The unauthorized or unintended
                                                execute against the full displayed size of                order is priced at an acceptable                          purchase, sale, or allocation of
                                                the Protected Quotation that was traded                   increment; 41
                                                at; 40                                                       (xiv) The order is for a fractional share                 42 The exceptions to the Trade-at requirement set

                                                   (xi) The order is executed as part of                  of a Pilot Security in Test Group Three,                  forth in the Plan and in the Exchange’s proposed
                                                                                                                                                                    Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C) are, in part, based on the
                                                a Negotiated Trade;                                                                                                 exceptions to the trade-through requirement set
                                                                                                             41 The stopped order exemption in Rule 611 of
                                                   (xii) The order is executed when the                                                                             forth in Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, including
                                                                                                          Regulation NMS applies where ‘‘[t]he price of the
                                                Trading Center displaying the Protected                   trade-through transaction was, for a stopped buy
                                                                                                                                                                    exceptions for an order that is executed as part of
                                                Quotation that was traded at had                                                                                    a transaction that was not a ‘‘regular way’’ contract,
                                                                                                          order, lower than the national best bid in the NMS
                                                                                                                                                                    and an order that is executed as part of a single-
                                                displayed, within one second prior to                     stock at the time of execution or, for a stopped sell
                                                                                                                                                                    priced opening, reopening, or closing transaction by
                                                execution of the transaction that                         order, higher than the national best offer in the
                                                                                                                                                                    the Trading Center (see, 17 CFR 242.611(b)(2) and
                                                                                                          NMS stock at the time of execution’’ (see, 17 CFR
                                                constituted the Trade-at, a Best                                                                                    (b)(3)). Following the adoption of Rule 611 of
                                                                                                          242.611(b)(9)). The Trade-at stopped order
                                                                                                                                                                    Regulation NMS and its exceptions, the
                                                Protected Bid or Best Protected Offer, as                 exception applies where ‘‘the price of the Trade-at
                                                                                                                                                                    Commission issued exemptive relief that created
                                                                                                          transaction was, for a stopped buy order, equal to
                                                                                                                                                                    exceptions from Rule 611 of Regulation NMS for
                                                would exceed all available shares at the first price,     the national best bid in the Pilot Security at the
                                                                                                                                                                    certain error correction transactions. See, Securities
                                                and the remaining shares to be executed would be          time of execution or, for a stopped sell order, equal
                                                                                                                                                                    Exchange Act Release No. 55884 (June 8, 2007), 72
                                                5,000 shares or more.                                     to the national best offer in the Pilot Security at the
                                                                                                                                                                    FR 32926 (June 14, 2007); Securities Exchange Act
                                                   39 In connection with the definition of a Trade-
                                                                                                          time of execution’’ (see, Plan, Section VI(D)(12)).
                                                                                                                                                                    Release No. 55883 (June 8, 2007), 72 FR 32927 (June
                                                at ISO proposed in Rule 7.46(a)(1)(D), this                  To illustrate the application of the stopped order
                                                                                                                                                                    14, 2007). The Exchange has determined that it is
                                                                                                          exemption as it currently operates under Rule 611
                                                exception refers to the ISO that is received by a                                                                   appropriate to incorporate this additional exception
                                                                                                          of Regulation NMS and as it is currently proposed
                                                Trading Center.                                                                                                     to the Trade-at Prohibition, as this exception is
                                                                                                          for Trade-at, assume the National Best Bid is $10.00
                                                   The Exchange proposed an exemption to the                                                                        equally applicable in the Trade-at context.
                                                                                                          and another protected quote is at $9.95. Under Rule
                                                Trade-at Prohibition for Trade-at ISOs to clarify that    611 of Regulation NMS, a stopped order to buy can            Accordingly, the Exchange is proposing to
                                                an ISO that is received by a Trading Center (and          be filled at $9.95 and the firm does not have to send     exempt certain transactions to correct bona fide
                                                which could form the basis of an execution at the         an ISO to access the protected quote at $10.00 since      errors in the execution of customer orders from the
                                                price of a Protected Quotation pursuant to Section        the price of the stopped order must be lower than         Trade-at Prohibition, subject to the conditions set
                                                VI(D)(8) of the Plan), is identified as a Trade-at ISO.   the National Best Bid. For the stopped order to also      forth by the SEC’s order exempting these
                                                Depending on whether Rule 611 of Regulation NMS           be executed at $9.95 and satisfy the Trade-at             transactions from Rule 611 of Regulation NMS. The
                                                or the Trade-at requirement applies, an ISO may           requirements, the Trade-at exception would have to        Commission granted New York Stock Exchange LLC
                                                mean that the sender of the ISO has swept better-         be revised to allow an order to execute at the price      an exemption from Rule 608(c) related to this
                                                priced Protected Quotations, so that the recipient of     of a protected quote which, in this case, could be        provision. See, the Exemption Letter, supra note 26.
                                                that ISO may trade through the price of the               $9.95.                                                    The Exchange is seeking the same exemptions as
                                                Protected Quotation (Rule 611 of Regulation NMS),            Based on the fact that a stopped order would be        requested in the Exemption Request Letters.
                                                or it could mean that the sender of the ISO has           treated differently under the Rule 611 of Regulation         As with the corresponding exception under Rule
                                                swept Protected Quotations at the same price that         NMS exception than under the Trade-at exception           611 of Regulation NMS, the bona fide error would
                                                it wishes to execute at (in addition to any better-       in the Plan, the Exchange believes that it is             have to be evidenced by objective facts and
                                                priced quotations), so the recipient of that ISO may      appropriate to amend the Trade-at stopped order           circumstances, the Trading Center would have to
                                                trade at the price of the Protected Quotation (Trade-     exception in the Plan to ensure that the application      maintain documentation of such facts and
                                                at). Given that the meaning of an ISO may differ          of this exception would produce a consistent result       circumstances and record the transaction in its error
                                                under Rule 611 of Regulation NMS and Trade-at,            under both Regulation NMS and the Plan.                   account. To avail itself of the exemption, the
                                                the Exchange proposed an exemption to the Trade-          Therefore, the Exchange proposes in this proposed         Trading Center would have to establish, maintain,
                                                at Prohibition for Trade-at ISOs so that the recipient    Rule 7.46(e)(4)(C)(xiii) to allow a transaction to        and enforce written policies and procedures
                                                of an ISO in a Test Group Three security would            satisfy the Trade-at requirement if the stopped order     reasonably designed to address the occurrence of
                                                know, upon receipt of that ISO, that the Trading          price, for a stopped buy order, is equal to or less       errors and, in the event of an error, the use and
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                                                Center that sent the ISO had already executed             than the National Best Bid, and for a stopped sell        terms of a transaction to correct the error in
                                                against the full size of displayed quotations at that     order, is equal to or greater than the National Best      compliance with this exemption. Finally, the
                                                price, e.g., the recipient of that ISO could              Offer, as long as such order is priced at an              Trading Center would have to regularly surveil to
                                                permissibly trade at the price of the Protected           acceptable increment. The Commission granted              ascertain the effectiveness of its policies and
                                                Quotation.                                                New York Stock Exchange LLC an exemption from             procedures to address errors and transactions to
                                                   40 In connection with the definition of a Trade-       Rule 608(c) related to this provision. See, the           correct errors and take prompt action to remedy
                                                at ISO proposed in Rule 7.46(a)(1)(D), this               Exemption Letter, supra note 26. The Exchange is          deficiencies in such policies and procedures. See,
                                                exception refers to the Trading Center that routed        seeking the same exemptions as requested in the           Securities Exchange Act Release No. 55884 (June 8,
                                                the ISO.                                                  Exemption Request Letters.                                2007), 72 FR 32926 (June 14, 2007).



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                                                36366                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices

                                                securities, or the failure to follow                     requirements specified in such Plan.                   19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 46 and Rule
                                                specific client instructions;                            The proposal would also help allow                     19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.47 Because the
                                                  C. The incorrect entry of data into                    market participants to continue to trade               proposed rule change does not: (i)
                                                relevant systems, including reliance on                  NMS Stocks within quoting and trading                  Significantly affect the protection of
                                                incorrect cash positions, withdrawals,                   requirements that are in compliance                    investors or the public interest; (ii)
                                                or securities positions reflected in an                  with the Plan, with certainty on how                   impose any significant burden on
                                                account; or                                              certain orders and trading interests                   competition; and (iii) become operative
                                                  D. A delay, outage, or failure of a                    would be treated. This, in turn, will                  prior to 30 days from the date on which
                                                communication system used to transmit                    help encourage market participants to                  it was filed, or such shorter time as the
                                                market data prices or to facilitate the                  continue to provide liquidity in the                   Commission may designate, if
                                                delivery or execution of an order.                       marketplace.                                           consistent with the protection of
                                                  Finally, Proposed Rule 7.46(e)(4)(D)                                                                          investors and the public interest, the
                                                would prevent ETP Holders from                             Because the Plan supports further
                                                                                                         examination and analysis on the impact                 proposed rule change has become
                                                breaking an order into smaller orders or                                                                        effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
                                                otherwise effecting or executing an                      of tick sizes on the trading and liquidity
                                                                                                         of the securities of small capitalization              of the Act and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii)
                                                order to evade the requirements of the                                                                          thereunder.
                                                Trade-at Prohibition or any other                        companies, and the Commission
                                                                                                         believes that altering tick sizes could                   A proposed rule change filed under
                                                provisions of the Plan.                                                                                         Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 48 normally does not
                                                                                                         result in significant market-wide
                                                2. Statutory Basis                                       benefits and improvements to liquidity                 become operative prior to 30 days after
                                                                                                         and capital formation, adopting rules                  the date of the filing. However, pursuant
                                                   The Exchange believes that its
                                                                                                         that enforce compliance by its ETP                     to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),49 the Commission
                                                proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
                                                                                                         Holders with the provisions of the Plan                may designate a shorter time if such
                                                of the Act,43 in general, and furthers the
                                                                                                         would help promote liquidity in the                    action is consistent with the protection
                                                objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,44
                                                                                                         marketplace and perfect the mechanism                  of investors and the public interest.
                                                in particular, in that it is designed to
                                                                                                         of a free and open market and national                    At any time within 60 days of the
                                                prevent fraudulent and manipulative
                                                                                                         market system.                                         filing of such proposed rule change, the
                                                acts and practices, to promote just and
                                                                                                                                                                Commission summarily may
                                                equitable principles of trade, to remove                 B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                impediments to and perfect the                           Statement on Burden on Competition                     it appears to the Commission that such
                                                mechanism of a free and open market
                                                                                                                                                                action is necessary or appropriate in the
                                                and a national market system, and, in                       The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                                                                                public interest, for the protection of
                                                general, to protect investors and the                    the proposed rule change will impose
                                                                                                                                                                investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
                                                public interest. The Exchange believes                   any burden on competition that is not
                                                                                                                                                                the purposes of the Act. If the
                                                that the proposed rule change is                         necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                                                                                                                                Commission takes such action, the
                                                consistent with the Act because it                       of the purposes of the Act. The
                                                                                                                                                                Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                ensures that the Exchange and its ETP                    proposed changes are being made to
                                                                                                                                                                under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 50 of the Act to
                                                Holders would be in compliance with a                    establish, maintain, and enforce written
                                                                                                                                                                determine whether the proposed rule
                                                Plan approved by the Commission                          policies and procedures that are
                                                                                                                                                                change should be approved or
                                                pursuant to an order issued by the                       reasonably designed to comply with the
                                                                                                                                                                disapproved.
                                                Commission in reliance on Section 11A                    trading and quoting requirements
                                                of the Act.45 Such approved Plan gives                   specified in the Plan, of which other                  IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                the Exchange authority to establish,                     equities exchanges are also Participants.                Interested persons are invited to
                                                maintain, and enforce written policies                   Other competing national securities                    submit written data, views, and
                                                and procedures that are reasonably                       exchanges are subject to the same                      arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                designed to comply with applicable                       trading and quoting requirements                       including whether the proposed rule
                                                quoting and trading requirements                         specified in the Plan. Therefore, the                  change is consistent with the Act.
                                                specified in the Plan. The Exchange                      proposed changes would not impose                      Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                believes that the proposed rule change                   any burden on competition, while                       the following methods:
                                                is consistent with the authority granted                 providing certainty of treatment and
                                                to it by the Plan to establish                           execution of trading interests on the                  Electronic Comments
                                                specifications and procedures for the                    Exchange to market participants in NMS                    • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                implementation and operation of the                      Stocks that are acting in compliance                   comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                Plan that are consistent with the                        with the requirements specified in the                 rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                provisions of the Plan. Likewise, the                    Plan.                                                     • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                Exchange believes that the proposed                                                                             sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                                                                         C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                rule change provides interpretations of                                                                         NYSEARCA–2016–76 on the subject
                                                                                                         Statement on Comments on the
                                                the Plan that are consistent with the                                                                           line.
                                                                                                         Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                Act, in general, and furthers the
                                                                                                         Members, Participants, or Others                       Paper Comments
                                                objectives of the Act, in particular.
                                                   Furthermore, the Exchange is a                          No written comments were solicited                     • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                Participant under the Plan and subject,                  or received with respect to the proposed               to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                itself, to the provisions of the Plan. The               rule change.                                           and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                proposed rule change ensures that the                                                                           NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                Exchange’s systems would not display                     III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                or execute trading interests outside the                 Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     46 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
                                                                                                         Commission Action                                       47 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
                                                  43 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                                                                           48 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
                                                  44 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                  The Exchange has filed the proposed                   49 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
                                                  45 15 U.S.C. 78k–1.                                    rule change pursuant to Section                         50 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).




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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2016 / Notices                                                    36367

                                                All submissions should refer to File                      with the Securities and Exchange                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                Number SR–NYSEARCA–2016–76. This                          Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                  COMMISSION
                                                file number should be included on the                     to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the                Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule              [Release No. 34–77949; File No. SR–
                                                Commission process and review your                        19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                     NYSEMKT–2016–56]
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                     change to amend its rules relating to
                                                only one method. The Commission will                      pre-opening indications and opening                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                     procedures. The proposed rule change                   MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and
                                                Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                    was published for comment in the                       Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           Federal Register on May 3, 2016.3 The                  Rule Change Implementing the
                                                submission, all subsequent                                Commission has received no comments                    Quoting and Trading Provisions of the
                                                amendments, all written statements                        on the proposed rule change.                           Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot
                                                with respect to the proposed rule                                                                                Program Submitted to the Commission
                                                change that are filed with the                               Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 4 provides              Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation
                                                Commission, and all written                               that, within 45 days of the publication                NMS Under the Act
                                                communications relating to the                            of notice of the filing of a proposed rule
                                                proposed rule change between the                          change, or within such longer period up                May 31, 2016.
                                                Commission and any person, other than                     to 90 days as the Commission may                          Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                those that may be withheld from the                       designate if it finds such longer period               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                public in accordance with the                             to be appropriate and publishes its                    ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       reasons for so finding or as to which the              notice is hereby given that on May 20,
                                                available for Web site viewing and                        self-regulatory organization consents,                 2016, NYSE MKT LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                       the Commission shall either approve the                or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed with the
                                                Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                         proposed rule change, disapprove the                   Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                Washington, DC 20549 on official                          proposed rule change, or institute                     (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                business days between the hours of                        proceedings to determine whether the                   change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                                                                           III below, which Items have been
                                                                                                          proposed rule change should be
                                                filing also will be available for                                                                                prepared by the self-regulatory
                                                                                                          disapproved. The 45th day after
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                                                                          organization. The Commission is
                                                                                                          publication of the notice for this
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments                                                                             publishing this notice to solicit
                                                                                                          proposed rule change is June 17, 2016.                 comments on the proposed rule change
                                                received will be posted without change;                   The Commission is extending this 45-
                                                the Commission does not edit personal                                                                            from interested persons.
                                                                                                          day time period.
                                                identifying information from                                                                                     I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                submissions. You should submit only                          The Commission finds that it is
                                                                                                                                                                 Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                information that you wish to make                         appropriate to designate a longer period
                                                                                                                                                                 the Proposed Rule Change
                                                available publicly. All submissions                       within which to take action on the
                                                should refer to File Number SR–                           proposed rule change so that it has                       The Exchange proposes to implement
                                                NYSEARCA–2016–76 and should be                            sufficient time to consider the proposed               the quoting and trading provisions of
                                                submitted on or before June 27, 2016.                     rule change. Accordingly, the                          the Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot
                                                                                                          Commission, pursuant to Section                        Program submitted to the Commission
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                19(b)(2) of the Act,5 designates August                pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation
                                                authority.51                                              1, 2016, as the date by which the                      NMS 4 under the Act (the ‘‘Plan’’). The
                                                Brent J. Fields,                                          Commission should either approve or                    proposed rule change is substantially
                                                                                                          disapprove or institute proceedings to                 similar to proposed rule changes
                                                Secretary.
                                                                                                          determine whether to disapprove the                    recently approved or published by the
                                                [FR Doc. 2016–13208 Filed 6–3–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                 Commission by New York Stock
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    proposed rule change (File Number SR–
                                                                                                                                                                 Exchange LLC to adopt NYSE Rules
                                                                                                          NYSEMKT–2016–49).
                                                                                                                                                                 67(a) and 67(c)–(e), which also
                                                                                                            For the Commission, by the Division of               implemented the quoting and trading
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                   Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated             provisions of the Plan.5 Therefore, the
                                                COMMISSION                                                authority.6                                            Exchange has designated this proposal
                                                [Release No. 34–77951; File No. SR–                       Brent J. Fields,                                       as ‘‘non-controversial’’ and provided the
                                                NYSEMKT–2016–49]                                          Secretary.                                             Commission with the notice required by
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2016–13211 Filed 6–3–16; 8:45 am]             Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) under the Act.6 The
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                                                                              proposed rule change is available on the
                                                MKT LLC; Notice of Designation of a                       BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                 Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com,
                                                Longer Period for Commission Action                                                                              at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                on a Proposed Rule Change Amending
                                                the Definition of ‘‘Block’’ for Purposes                                                                           1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                of Rule 72(d)—Equities and the Size of                                                                             2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                a Proposed Cross Transaction Eligible                                                                              3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
sradovich on DSK3TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                for the Cross Function in Rule 76—                                                                                 4 17 CFR 242.608.
                                                                                                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                Equities                                                                                                           5 See, Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76229
                                                                                                            2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                  (October 22, 2015), 80 FR 66065 (October 28, 2015)
                                                May 31, 2016.                                               3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77734      (SR–NYSE–2015–46), as amended by Partial
                                                                                                                                                                 Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to the Quoting &
                                                   On April 22, 2016, NYSE MKT LLC                        (Apr. 27, 2016), 81 FR 26598.
                                                                                                                                                                 Trading Rules Proposal. See, Securities Exchange
                                                (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) filed                        4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                                                                                                                                 Act Release No. 77703 (April 25, 2016), 81 FR
                                                                                                            5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                                                                                                                                 25725 (April 29, 2016) (SR–NYSE–2015–46).
                                                  51 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                              6 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(31).                              6 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).




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Document Created: 2016-06-04 00:16:44
Document Modified: 2016-06-04 00:16:44
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 36361 

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