81_FR_40856 81 FR 40736 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h)

81 FR 40736 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 120 (June 22, 2016)

Page Range40736-40739
FR Document2016-14713

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40736-40739]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14713]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78089; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-083]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h)

June 16, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on June 8, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h) to: (i) 
Provide a new credit for providing liquidity in securities of all three 
Tapes; (ii) amend the requirements of an existing credit tier provided 
in securities of all three Tapes; (iii) delete text from the preamble 
of Rule 7018(a) and from Rule 7014(h)(5) concerning Consolidated 
Volume; and (iv) make technical corrections to the rule text.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of 
the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend certain credits 
for the use of the order execution and routing services of the Nasdaq 
Market Center by members for all securities priced at $1 or more that 
it trades, and to make clarifying and technical changes to Rule 
7018(a). Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Rules 7018(a) and 
7014(h) to: (i) Provide a new credit for providing liquidity in 
securities of all three Tapes;\3\ (ii) amend the requirements of an 
existing credit tier provided in securities of all three Tapes; (iii) 
delete text from the preamble of Rule 7018(a) and from Rule 7014(h)(5) 
concerning Consolidated Volume;\4\ and (iv) make technical corrections 
to the rule text.
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    \3\ There are three Tapes, which are based on the listing venue 
of the security: Tape C securities are Nasdaq-listed; Tape A 
securities are New York Stock Exchange-listed; and Tape B securities 
are listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq and NYSE.
    \4\ Consolidated Volume is defined as the total consolidated 
volume reported to all consolidated transaction reporting plans by 
all exchanges and trade reporting facilities during a month in 
equity securities, excluding executed orders with a size of less 
than one round lot. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Volume 
and the extent of a member's trading activity, expressed as a 
percentage of, or ratio to, Consolidated Volume, the date of the 
annual reconstitution of the Russell Investments Indexes shall be 
excluded from both total Consolidated Volume and the member's 
trading activity. See Rule 7018(a).
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First Change
    The purpose of the first change is to provide an additional credit 
to members for displayed quotes/orders (other than Supplemental Orders 
or Designated Retail Orders) that provide liquidity. Currently, the 
Exchange provides several credits under Rules 7018(a)(1), (2), and (3), 
each of which apply to securities of a different Tape, in return for 
market-improving behavior. The Exchange is proposing to add a new 
credit tier of $0.00305 per share executed to a member that has shares 
of liquidity provided in all securities during the month representing 
at least 0.60% of Consolidated Volume during the month, through one or 
more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, adds NOM \5\ Market Maker 
liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 
0.10% or more of total industry ADV in the Customer clearing range \6\ 
for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in a month on the Nasdaq 
Options Market, and adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market 
Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-
Penny Pilot Options of 1.50% or more of total industry ADV in the 
Customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in 
a month on the Nasdaq Options Market. Thus, to qualify under the new 
proposed credit tiers under Rule 7018(a)(1), (2) and (3), an Exchange 
member must be a NOM Participant and meet the NOM rebate criteria 
described above, in addition to providing at least 0.60% of 
Consolidated Volume on the Exchange.
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    \5\ NOM is an abbreviation of the ``Nasdaq Options Market.''
    \6\ NOM Chapter XV provides the following defined terms:
    The term ``Customer'' or (``C'') applies to any transaction that 
is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Customer range at 
The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') which is not for the 
account of broker or dealer or for the account of a ``Professional'' 
(as that term is defined in Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48)).
    The term ``NOM Market Maker'' or (``M'') is a Participant that 
has registered as a Market Maker on NOM pursuant to Chapter VII, 
Section 2, and must also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter 
VII, Section 4. In order to receive NOM Market Maker pricing in all 
securities, the Participant must be registered as a NOM Market Maker 
in at least one security.
    The term ``Non-NOM Market Maker'' or (``O'') is a registered 
market maker on another options exchange that is not a NOM Market 
Maker. A Non-NOM Market Maker must append the proper Non-NOM Market 
Maker designation to orders routed to NOM.
    The term ``Firm'' or (``F'') applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a Participant for clearing in the Firm range at OCC.
    The term ``Professional'' or (``P'') means any person or entity 
that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places 
more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial account(s) pursuant to Chapter 
I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional orders shall be appropriately 
marked by Participants.
    The term ``Broker-Dealer'' or (``B'') applies to any transaction 
which is not subject to any of the other transaction fees applicable 
within a particular category.
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Second Change
    The purpose of the second change is to amend the criteria required 
to qualify for an existing credit, which is available

[[Page 40737]]

to members for displayed quotes/orders (other than Supplemental Orders 
or Designated Retail Orders) that provide liquidity. Currently, the 
Exchange provides a credit of $0.0029 per share executed in the 
security of any of the Tapes to a member with (i) shares of liquidity 
provided in all securities during the month representing more than 
0.15% of Consolidated Volume during the month, through one or more of 
its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, and (ii) Total Volume, as defined in 
Chapter XV, Section 2, of the Nasdaq Options Market rules, of 125,000 
or more contracts per day in a month executed on the Nasdaq Options 
Market. The Exchange is proposing to change the Total Volume 
requirement of paragraph (ii) of the rule to no longer require 125,000 
or more contracts per day in a month executed on the Nasdaq Options 
Market, but to now require Total Volume of 0.90% or more of total 
industry ADV in the Customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option 
contracts per day in a month on the Nasdaq Options Market.
Third Change
    The purpose of the third change is to delete rule text from the 
preamble of Rule 7018(a) concerning Consolidated Volume. The rule 
currently defines Consolidated Volume as the total consolidated volume 
reported to all consolidated transaction reporting plans by all 
exchanges and trade reporting facilities during a month in equity 
securities, excluding executed orders with a size of less than one 
round lot. The Exchange excludes from the calculations of fees and 
credits that have a Consolidated Volume component all trading that 
occurs on the date of the annual reconstitution of the Russell 
Investments. The annual reconstitution represents a day of abnormal 
trading volume, as the Russell Investment indexes adjust holdings to 
accurately reflect the current state of equity markets and their market 
segments.\7\ Consequently, the Exchange excludes trading occurring on 
the date of the Russell Investment reconstitution in all calculations 
of fees and credits because it is not reflective of a member's normal 
trading. The Exchange expresses this under the rule by stating that, 
``[f]or purposes of calculating Consolidated Volume and the extent of a 
member's trading activity, expressed as a percentage of, or ratio to, 
Consolidated Volume, the date of the annual reconstitution of the 
Russell Investments Indexes shall be excluded from both total 
Consolidated Volume and the member's trading activity.'' The Exchange 
believes that the text stating ``expressed as a percentage of, or ratio 
to, Consolidated Volume'' may be confusing to market participants in 
understanding how the Exchange excludes trading activity on the day of 
the Russell Investment reconstitution because some charges and credits 
under Rule 7018(a) are based on a measure of Consolidated Volume that 
is not a percentage or ratio thereof. Thus, the Exchange seeks to 
clarify that all volume based activity on the date of the Russell 
Investment reconstitution (including trading activity not based on a 
percentage or ratio of Consolidated Volume) is excluded from a member's 
trading activity for determining credit and fee tiers. This proposed 
change will ensure that members understand that all volumes on the day 
of the Russell Investment reconstitution would be excluded for purposes 
of measuring fees and credits.
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    \7\ See https://www.ftserussell.com/research-insights/russell-reconstitution.
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    The Exchange is also deleting an identical definition of 
Consolidated Volume from Rule 7014, which provides rules applicable to 
the Exchange's Market Quality Incentive Programs. The definition of 
Consolidated Volume under Rule 7014(h)(5) is identical to Rule 7018(a). 
In light of the changes to the definition under Rule 7018(a) and to 
avoid duplication in the rules, the Exchange is eliminating the 
identical definition from Rule 7014(h)(5) and is replacing it with text 
that cross references the definition under Rule 7018(a).
Fourth Change
    The Exchange is proposing to make minor technical and corrective 
changes to the rule text. Specifically, the Exchange is adding 
punctuation to certain credit tiers, which was inadvertently omitted 
when the text was adopted. The Exchange is also reorganizing a credit 
tier so that it reads more consistently with other credit tiers under 
the rule. The reorganization of the credit tier does not change how the 
credit tier is applied. Last, the Exchange is deleting from Rules 
7018(a)(2) and (3) text under a credit tier that concerns its 
application during a period that has since expired.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ in particular, in that it provides 
for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges 
among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or 
system which the Exchange operates or controls, and is not designed to 
permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or 
dealers.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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First Change
    The Exchange believes that the proposed $0.00305 per share executed 
credit is reasonable because it is consistent with other credits that 
the Exchange provides to members for displayed quotes/orders (other 
than Supplemental Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that provide 
liquidity. As a general principle, the Exchange chooses to offer 
credits to members in return for market improving behavior. Under Rule 
7018(a), the various credits the Exchange provides for displayed 
quotes/orders require members to significantly contribute to market 
quality by providing certain levels of Consolidated Volume through one 
or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, and volume on NOM. The 
proposed credit will be provided to members that not only contribute to 
the Exchange by providing more than 0.60% of Consolidated Volume 
through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs during the month, 
but also add NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or 
Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.10% or more of total industry ADV in the 
Customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in 
a month on the Nasdaq Options Market, and add Customer, Professional, 
Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny 
Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.50% or more of total 
industry ADV in the Customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option 
contracts per day in a month on the Nasdaq Options Market.
    The Exchange notes that the proposed credit is consistent with 
other credits that it provides for displayed quotes/orders under the 
rule, which range from $0.0015 per share executed to $0.00305 per share 
executed and which apply progressively more stringent requirements in 
return for higher per share executed credits. In this case, the 
proposed requirements to receive the $0.00305 per share executed credit 
are set very high, consistent with the criteria of other $0.00305 per 
share executed credit tiers available under Rule 7018(a). For instance, 
the Exchange provides a $0.00305 per share executed credit in 
securities of any Tape to a member with shares of liquidity provided in 
all securities during the

[[Page 40738]]

month representing at least 0.15% of Consolidated Volume during the 
month, through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, and that 
adds NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny 
Pilot Options of 0.90% or more of total industry ADV in the Customer 
clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in a month 
on the Nasdaq Options Market. The Exchange notes that, while the level 
of Consolidated Volume is lower for the existing $0.00305 per share 
executed credit tier, it requires a significantly larger contribution 
to NOM Market Maker liquidity. The proposed new credit tier, however, 
requires a member to also provide a significant level of Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer 
liquidity that the current credit does not. Thus, the proposed new 
$0.00305 per share executed credit tier criteria is similar, in terms 
of the level of contribution that a member must make to the markets, to 
the criteria required to qualify for an existing $0.00305 per share 
executed credit that the Exchange offers. In sum, both of these credit 
tiers have high standards to earn the credit and, in return for meeting 
these high standards, both provide a high credit. For these reasons, 
the Exchange believes that the proposed $0.00305 per share executed 
credit is reasonable.
    The proposed $0.00305 per share executed credit is an equitable 
allocation and is not unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange will 
apply the same credit to all similarly situated members. Thus, if a 
member meets the requirements, it will receive the credit unless it 
qualifies for a higher credit. Moreover, as discussed above, some 
credit tiers require participation on NOM while others do not. As such, 
members will continue to have opportunities to qualify for similar 
credits based on market participation not tied to NOM.
Second Change
    The Exchange believes that the proposed amendment to the 
requirements of an existing credit tier provided in securities of all 
three Tapes is reasonable because it merely replaces a measure of 
activity on NOM with another, both of which represent a significant 
contribution to that market. Specifically, the Exchange is replacing 
the requirement that a member have 125,000 or more contracts per day in 
a month executed on the Nasdaq Option Market with a new requirement 
that a member have 0.90% or more of total industry ADV in the Customer 
clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in a month 
on the Nasdaq Options Market. The Exchange notes that it is more 
precisely targeting market-improving behavior on NOM by replacing the 
fixed requirement of providing a certain number of contracts executed 
per day on NOM with a requirement that fluctuates based on total 
industry ADV in the Customer clearing range for both Equity and ETF 
options contracts per day. Thus, the Exchange is proposing to require 
NOM activity that is more closely correlated to the member's activity 
on NOM as compared to overall industry activity.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed amendment to the 
requirements of an existing credit tier provided in securities of all 
three Tapes is an equitable allocation and is not unfairly 
discriminatory because the Exchange will apply the same credit to all 
similarly situated members. Thus, if a member meets the requirements, 
it will receive the credit unless it qualifies for a higher credit. 
Moreover, as discussed above, some credit tiers require participation 
on NOM while others do not. As such, members will continue to have 
opportunities to qualify for similar credits based on market 
participation not tied to NOM. Also the proposed criteria will allow 
the threshold to fluctuate with industry volume, making it easier to 
achieve in low volume environments and more onerous to meet in high 
volume environments.
Third Change
    The Exchange believes that deleting rule text from the preamble of 
Rule 7018(a) concerning Consolidated Volume and the related change to 
Rule 7014(h)(5) are reasonable because they will help clarify how 
volume related to credit and fee tiers will be handled by the Exchange 
during the annual Russell Indexes reconstitution. Currently, the rule 
text could be interpreted to apply to only a member organization's 
trading activity under a fee or credit tier that is expressed as a 
ratio or percentage of Consolidated Volume. The Exchange believes that 
such an interpretation would undermine the Exchange's intent to exclude 
the abnormal trading activity that occurs on that day. Accordingly, the 
Exchange believes that it is reasonable to remove the potentially 
confusing rule text.
    The Exchange believes that deleting rule text from the preamble of 
Rule 7018(a) concerning Consolidated Volume and the related change to 
Rule 7014(h)(5) are an equitable allocation and are not unfairly 
discriminatory because the proposed changes only serve to clarify the 
application of the rule and does not alter how Consolidated Volume or 
activity for tiers is calculated. Thus, the Exchange will apply the 
same process to all similarly situated member organizations that seek 
to qualify under a fee or credit tier, or rebate under the rules.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In terms of inter-market 
competition, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor 
competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be 
excessive, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more 
favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust 
its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with 
alternative trading systems that have been exempted from compliance 
with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because 
competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because 
market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, 
the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this 
market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited.
    In this instance, the changes to the credits provided for the use 
of the order execution and routing services of the Nasdaq Market Center 
by members for all securities priced at $1 or more that it trades are 
reflective of the intense competition among trading venues in capturing 
order flow. Moreover, the proposed changes do not impose a burden on 
competition because Exchange membership is optional and is also the 
subject of competition from other trading venues. For these reasons, 
the Exchange does not believe that any of the proposed changes will 
impair the ability of members or competing order execution venues to 
maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. Moreover, 
because there are numerous competitive alternatives to the use of the 
Exchange, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market share as a 
result of the changes if they are unattractive to market participants.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

[[Page 40739]]

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\10\
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NASDAQ-2016-083 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2016-083. 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 such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2016-083, and should 
be submitted on or before July 13, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-14713 Filed 6-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                  40736                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2016 / Notices

                                                  submissions. You should submit only                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     for market-improving behavior. The
                                                  information that you wish to make                       Statement of the Purpose of, and                       Exchange is proposing to add a new
                                                  available publicly. All submissions                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                 credit tier of $0.00305 per share
                                                  should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–                    Change                                                 executed to a member that has shares of
                                                  2016–41 and should be submitted on or                      In its filing with the Commission, the              liquidity provided in all securities
                                                  before July 13, 2016.                                   Exchange included statements                           during the month representing at least
                                                    For the Commission, by the Division of                concerning the purpose of and basis for                0.60% of Consolidated Volume during
                                                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              the proposed rule change and discussed                 the month, through one or more of its
                                                  authority.10                                            any comments it received on the                        Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, adds
                                                                                                          proposed rule change. The text of these                NOM 5 Market Maker liquidity in Penny
                                                  Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                          statements may be examined at the                      Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot
                                                  Deputy Secretary.                                                                                              Options of 0.10% or more of total
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–14715 Filed 6–21–16; 8:45 am]             places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                                                                                                                                 industry ADV in the Customer clearing
                                                                                                          Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                                                                         range 6 for Equity and ETF option
                                                                                                          forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                                                                                                                                 contracts per day in a month on the
                                                                                                          the most significant aspects of such
                                                                                                                                                                 Nasdaq Options Market, and adds
                                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 statements.
                                                                                                                                                                 Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM
                                                  COMMISSION                                              A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer
                                                                                                          Statement of the Purpose of, and                       liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or
                                                  [Release No. 34–78089; File No. SR–                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                 Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.50% or
                                                  NASDAQ–2016–083]                                        Change                                                 more of total industry ADV in the
                                                                                                                                                                 Customer clearing range for Equity and
                                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                      1. Purpose                                             ETF option contracts per day in a month
                                                  NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of                         The purpose of the proposed rule                    on the Nasdaq Options Market. Thus, to
                                                  Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of                   change is to amend certain credits for                 qualify under the new proposed credit
                                                  Proposed Rule Change To Amend                           the use of the order execution and                     tiers under Rule 7018(a)(1), (2) and (3),
                                                  Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h)                               routing services of the Nasdaq Market                  an Exchange member must be a NOM
                                                                                                          Center by members for all securities                   Participant and meet the NOM rebate
                                                  June 16, 2016.                                          priced at $1 or more that it trades, and               criteria described above, in addition to
                                                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  to make clarifying and technical                       providing at least 0.60% of
                                                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934                         changes to Rule 7018(a). Specifically,                 Consolidated Volume on the Exchange.
                                                  (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                 the Exchange proposes to amend Rules
                                                                                                                                                                 Second Change
                                                  notice is hereby given that on June 8,                  7018(a) and 7014(h) to: (i) Provide a
                                                  2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC                       new credit for providing liquidity in                    The purpose of the second change is
                                                  (‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities                securities of all three Tapes;3 (ii) amend             to amend the criteria required to qualify
                                                  and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or                     the requirements of an existing credit                 for an existing credit, which is available
                                                  ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                       tier provided in securities of all three
                                                                                                                                                                    5 NOM is an abbreviation of the ‘‘Nasdaq Options
                                                  change as described in Items I, II, and                 Tapes; (iii) delete text from the
                                                                                                                                                                 Market.’’
                                                  III, below, which Items have been                       preamble of Rule 7018(a) and from Rule                    6 NOM Chapter XV provides the following
                                                  prepared by the Exchange. The                           7014(h)(5) concerning Consolidated                     defined terms:
                                                  Commission is publishing this notice to                 Volume;4 and (iv) make technical                          The term ‘‘Customer’’ or (‘‘C’’) applies to any
                                                  solicit comments on the proposed rule                   corrections to the rule text.                          transaction that is identified by a Participant for
                                                                                                                                                                 clearing in the Customer range at The Options
                                                  change from interested persons.
                                                                                                          First Change                                           Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) which is not for the
                                                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                              account of broker or dealer or for the account of a
                                                                                                            The purpose of the first change is to                ‘‘Professional’’ (as that term is defined in Chapter
                                                  Statement of the Terms of the Substance                 provide an additional credit to members                I, Section 1(a)(48)).
                                                  of the Proposed Rule Change                             for displayed quotes/orders (other than                   The term ‘‘NOM Market Maker’’ or (‘‘M’’) is a
                                                                                                          Supplemental Orders or Designated                      Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on
                                                     The Exchange proposes to amend                                                                              NOM pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must
                                                  Rules 7018(a) and 7014(h) to: (i) Provide               Retail Orders) that provide liquidity.                 also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter
                                                  a new credit for providing liquidity in                 Currently, the Exchange provides                       VII, Section 4. In order to receive NOM Market
                                                                                                          several credits under Rules 7018(a)(1),                Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must
                                                  securities of all three Tapes; (ii) amend                                                                      be registered as a NOM Market Maker in at least one
                                                  the requirements of an existing credit                  (2), and (3), each of which apply to                   security.
                                                  tier provided in securities of all three                securities of a different Tape, in return                 The term ‘‘Non-NOM Market Maker’’ or (‘‘O’’) is
                                                                                                                                                                 a registered market maker on another options
                                                  Tapes; (iii) delete text from the                          3 There are three Tapes, which are based on the     exchange that is not a NOM Market Maker. A Non-
                                                  preamble of Rule 7018(a) and from Rule                  listing venue of the security: Tape C securities are   NOM Market Maker must append the proper Non-
                                                  7014(h)(5) concerning Consolidated                      Nasdaq-listed; Tape A securities are New York          NOM Market Maker designation to orders routed to
                                                  Volume; and (iv) make technical                         Stock Exchange-listed; and Tape B securities are       NOM.
                                                  corrections to the rule text.                           listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq and NYSE.           The term ‘‘Firm’’ or (‘‘F’’) applies to any
                                                                                                             4 Consolidated Volume is defined as the total       transaction that is identified by a Participant for
                                                     The text of the proposed rule change                 consolidated volume reported to all consolidated       clearing in the Firm range at OCC.
                                                  is available on the Exchange’s Web site                 transaction reporting plans by all exchanges and          The term ‘‘Professional’’ or (‘‘P’’) means any
                                                                                                          trade reporting facilities during a month in equity    person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in
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                                                  at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at                                                                         securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in
                                                                                                          securities, excluding executed orders with a size of
                                                  the principal office of the Exchange, and               less than one round lot. For purposes of calculating   listed options per day on average during a calendar
                                                  at the Commission’s Public Reference                    Consolidated Volume and the extent of a member’s       month for its own beneficial account(s) pursuant to
                                                  Room.                                                   trading activity, expressed as a percentage of, or     Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional orders
                                                                                                          ratio to, Consolidated Volume, the date of the         shall be appropriately marked by Participants.
                                                                                                          annual reconstitution of the Russell Investments          The term ‘‘Broker-Dealer’’ or (‘‘B’’) applies to any
                                                    10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            Indexes shall be excluded from both total              transaction which is not subject to any of the other
                                                    1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                Consolidated Volume and the member’s trading           transaction fees applicable within a particular
                                                    2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   activity. See Rule 7018(a).                            category.



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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2016 / Notices                                             40737

                                                  to members for displayed quotes/orders                  from both total Consolidated Volume                      provides for the equitable allocation of
                                                  (other than Supplemental Orders or                      and the member’s trading activity.’’ The                 reasonable dues, fees and other charges
                                                  Designated Retail Orders) that provide                  Exchange believes that the text stating                  among members and issuers and other
                                                  liquidity. Currently, the Exchange                      ‘‘expressed as a percentage of, or ratio                 persons using any facility or system
                                                  provides a credit of $0.0029 per share                  to, Consolidated Volume’’ may be                         which the Exchange operates or
                                                  executed in the security of any of the                  confusing to market participants in                      controls, and is not designed to permit
                                                  Tapes to a member with (i) shares of                    understanding how the Exchange                           unfair discrimination between
                                                  liquidity provided in all securities                    excludes trading activity on the day of                  customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
                                                  during the month representing more                      the Russell Investment reconstitution
                                                                                                                                                                   First Change
                                                  than 0.15% of Consolidated Volume                       because some charges and credits under
                                                  during the month, through one or more                   Rule 7018(a) are based on a measure of                      The Exchange believes that the
                                                  of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, and                  Consolidated Volume that is not a                        proposed $0.00305 per share executed
                                                  (ii) Total Volume, as defined in Chapter                percentage or ratio thereof. Thus, the                   credit is reasonable because it is
                                                  XV, Section 2, of the Nasdaq Options                    Exchange seeks to clarify that all                       consistent with other credits that the
                                                  Market rules, of 125,000 or more                        volume based activity on the date of the                 Exchange provides to members for
                                                  contracts per day in a month executed                   Russell Investment reconstitution                        displayed quotes/orders (other than
                                                  on the Nasdaq Options Market. The                       (including trading activity not based on                 Supplemental Orders or Designated
                                                  Exchange is proposing to change the                     a percentage or ratio of Consolidated                    Retail Orders) that provide liquidity. As
                                                  Total Volume requirement of paragraph                   Volume) is excluded from a member’s                      a general principle, the Exchange
                                                  (ii) of the rule to no longer require                   trading activity for determining credit                  chooses to offer credits to members in
                                                  125,000 or more contracts per day in a                  and fee tiers. This proposed change will                 return for market improving behavior.
                                                  month executed on the Nasdaq Options                    ensure that members understand that all                  Under Rule 7018(a), the various credits
                                                  Market, but to now require Total                        volumes on the day of the Russell                        the Exchange provides for displayed
                                                  Volume of 0.90% or more of total                        Investment reconstitution would be                       quotes/orders require members to
                                                  industry ADV in the Customer clearing                   excluded for purposes of measuring fees                  significantly contribute to market
                                                  range for Equity and ETF option                         and credits.                                             quality by providing certain levels of
                                                  contracts per day in a month on the                        The Exchange is also deleting an                      Consolidated Volume through one or
                                                  Nasdaq Options Market.                                  identical definition of Consolidated                     more of its Nasdaq Market Center
                                                                                                          Volume from Rule 7014, which provides                    MPIDs, and volume on NOM. The
                                                  Third Change                                                                                                     proposed credit will be provided to
                                                                                                          rules applicable to the Exchange’s
                                                     The purpose of the third change is to                Market Quality Incentive Programs. The                   members that not only contribute to the
                                                  delete rule text from the preamble of                   definition of Consolidated Volume                        Exchange by providing more than
                                                  Rule 7018(a) concerning Consolidated                    under Rule 7014(h)(5) is identical to                    0.60% of Consolidated Volume through
                                                  Volume. The rule currently defines                      Rule 7018(a). In light of the changes to                 one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center
                                                  Consolidated Volume as the total                        the definition under Rule 7018(a) and to                 MPIDs during the month, but also add
                                                  consolidated volume reported to all                     avoid duplication in the rules, the                      NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny
                                                  consolidated transaction reporting plans                Exchange is eliminating the identical                    Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot
                                                  by all exchanges and trade reporting                    definition from Rule 7014(h)(5) and is                   Options of 0.10% or more of total
                                                  facilities during a month in equity                     replacing it with text that cross                        industry ADV in the Customer clearing
                                                  securities, excluding executed orders                   references the definition under Rule                     range for Equity and ETF option
                                                  with a size of less than one round lot.                 7018(a).                                                 contracts per day in a month on the
                                                  The Exchange excludes from the                                                                                   Nasdaq Options Market, and add
                                                  calculations of fees and credits that have              Fourth Change                                            Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM
                                                  a Consolidated Volume component all                        The Exchange is proposing to make                     Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer
                                                  trading that occurs on the date of the                  minor technical and corrective changes                   liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or
                                                  annual reconstitution of the Russell                    to the rule text. Specifically, the                      Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.50% or
                                                  Investments. The annual reconstitution                  Exchange is adding punctuation to                        more of total industry ADV in the
                                                  represents a day of abnormal trading                    certain credit tiers, which was                          Customer clearing range for Equity and
                                                  volume, as the Russell Investment                       inadvertently omitted when the text was                  ETF option contracts per day in a month
                                                  indexes adjust holdings to accurately                   adopted. The Exchange is also                            on the Nasdaq Options Market.
                                                  reflect the current state of equity                     reorganizing a credit tier so that it reads                 The Exchange notes that the proposed
                                                  markets and their market segments.7                     more consistently with other credit tiers                credit is consistent with other credits
                                                  Consequently, the Exchange excludes                     under the rule. The reorganization of the                that it provides for displayed quotes/
                                                  trading occurring on the date of the                    credit tier does not change how the                      orders under the rule, which range from
                                                  Russell Investment reconstitution in all                credit tier is applied. Last, the Exchange               $0.0015 per share executed to $0.00305
                                                  calculations of fees and credits because                is deleting from Rules 7018(a)(2) and (3)                per share executed and which apply
                                                  it is not reflective of a member’s normal               text under a credit tier that concerns its               progressively more stringent
                                                  trading. The Exchange expresses this                    application during a period that has                     requirements in return for higher per
                                                  under the rule by stating that, ‘‘[f]or                 since expired.                                           share executed credits. In this case, the
                                                  purposes of calculating Consolidated                                                                             proposed requirements to receive the
                                                  Volume and the extent of a member’s                     2. Statutory Basis                                       $0.00305 per share executed credit are
                                                                                                                                                                   set very high, consistent with the
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                                                  trading activity, expressed as a                           The Exchange believes that its
                                                  percentage of, or ratio to, Consolidated                proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                 criteria of other $0.00305 per share
                                                  Volume, the date of the annual                          of the Act,8 in general, and furthers the                executed credit tiers available under
                                                  reconstitution of the Russell                           objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)               Rule 7018(a). For instance, the Exchange
                                                  Investments Indexes shall be excluded                   of the Act,9 in particular, in that it                   provides a $0.00305 per share executed
                                                                                                                                                                   credit in securities of any Tape to a
                                                    7 See https://www.ftserussell.com/research-             8 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                  member with shares of liquidity
                                                  insights/russell-reconstitution.                          9 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).                       provided in all securities during the


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                                                  40738                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2016 / Notices

                                                  month representing at least 0.15% of                    contracts per day in a month on the                    rule and does not alter how
                                                  Consolidated Volume during the month,                   Nasdaq Options Market. The Exchange                    Consolidated Volume or activity for
                                                  through one or more of its Nasdaq                       notes that it is more precisely targeting              tiers is calculated. Thus, the Exchange
                                                  Market Center MPIDs, and that adds                      market-improving behavior on NOM by                    will apply the same process to all
                                                  NOM Market Maker liquidity in Penny                     replacing the fixed requirement of                     similarly situated member organizations
                                                  Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot                    providing a certain number of contracts                that seek to qualify under a fee or credit
                                                  Options of 0.90% or more of total                       executed per day on NOM with a                         tier, or rebate under the rules.
                                                  industry ADV in the Customer clearing                   requirement that fluctuates based on
                                                                                                                                                                 B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  range for Equity and ETF option                         total industry ADV in the Customer
                                                                                                                                                                 Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                  contracts per day in a month on the                     clearing range for both Equity and ETF
                                                  Nasdaq Options Market. The Exchange                     options contracts per day. Thus, the                      The Exchange does not believe that
                                                  notes that, while the level of                          Exchange is proposing to require NOM                   the proposed rule change will impose
                                                  Consolidated Volume is lower for the                    activity that is more closely correlated               any burden on competition not
                                                  existing $0.00305 per share executed                    to the member’s activity on NOM as                     necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                  credit tier, it requires a significantly                compared to overall industry activity.                 of the purposes of the Act. In terms of
                                                  larger contribution to NOM Market                          The Exchange believes that the                      inter-market competition, the Exchange
                                                  Maker liquidity. The proposed new                       proposed amendment to the                              notes that it operates in a highly
                                                  credit tier, however, requires a member                 requirements of an existing credit tier                competitive market in which market
                                                  to also provide a significant level of                  provided in securities of all three Tapes              participants can readily favor competing
                                                  Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM                   is an equitable allocation and is not                  venues if they deem fee levels at a
                                                  Market Maker, and/or Broker-Dealer                      unfairly discriminatory because the                    particular venue to be excessive, or
                                                  liquidity that the current credit does                  Exchange will apply the same credit to                 rebate opportunities available at other
                                                  not. Thus, the proposed new $0.00305                    all similarly situated members. Thus, if               venues to be more favorable. In such an
                                                  per share executed credit tier criteria is              a member meets the requirements, it                    environment, the Exchange must
                                                  similar, in terms of the level of                       will receive the credit unless it qualifies            continually adjust its fees to remain
                                                  contribution that a member must make                    for a higher credit. Moreover, as                      competitive with other exchanges and
                                                  to the markets, to the criteria required                discussed above, some credit tiers                     with alternative trading systems that
                                                  to qualify for an existing $0.00305 per                 require participation on NOM while                     have been exempted from compliance
                                                  share executed credit that the Exchange                 others do not. As such, members will                   with the statutory standards applicable
                                                  offers. In sum, both of these credit tiers              continue to have opportunities to                      to exchanges. Because competitors are
                                                  have high standards to earn the credit                  qualify for similar credits based on                   free to modify their own fees in
                                                  and, in return for meeting these high                   market participation not tied to NOM.                  response, and because market
                                                  standards, both provide a high credit.                  Also the proposed criteria will allow the              participants may readily adjust their
                                                  For these reasons, the Exchange believes                threshold to fluctuate with industry                   order routing practices, the Exchange
                                                  that the proposed $0.00305 per share                    volume, making it easier to achieve in                 believes that the degree to which fee
                                                  executed credit is reasonable.                          low volume environments and more                       changes in this market may impose any
                                                     The proposed $0.00305 per share                      onerous to meet in high volume                         burden on competition is extremely
                                                  executed credit is an equitable                         environments.                                          limited.
                                                  allocation and is not unfairly                                                                                    In this instance, the changes to the
                                                                                                          Third Change                                           credits provided for the use of the order
                                                  discriminatory because the Exchange
                                                  will apply the same credit to all                         The Exchange believes that deleting                  execution and routing services of the
                                                  similarly situated members. Thus, if a                  rule text from the preamble of Rule                    Nasdaq Market Center by members for
                                                  member meets the requirements, it will                  7018(a) concerning Consolidated                        all securities priced at $1 or more that
                                                  receive the credit unless it qualifies for              Volume and the related change to Rule                  it trades are reflective of the intense
                                                  a higher credit. Moreover, as discussed                 7014(h)(5) are reasonable because they                 competition among trading venues in
                                                  above, some credit tiers require                        will help clarify how volume related to                capturing order flow. Moreover, the
                                                  participation on NOM while others do                    credit and fee tiers will be handled by                proposed changes do not impose a
                                                  not. As such, members will continue to                  the Exchange during the annual Russell                 burden on competition because
                                                  have opportunities to qualify for similar               Indexes reconstitution. Currently, the                 Exchange membership is optional and is
                                                  credits based on market participation                   rule text could be interpreted to apply                also the subject of competition from
                                                  not tied to NOM.                                        to only a member organization’s trading                other trading venues. For these reasons,
                                                                                                          activity under a fee or credit tier that is            the Exchange does not believe that any
                                                  Second Change                                           expressed as a ratio or percentage of                  of the proposed changes will impair the
                                                     The Exchange believes that the                       Consolidated Volume. The Exchange                      ability of members or competing order
                                                  proposed amendment to the                               believes that such an interpretation                   execution venues to maintain their
                                                  requirements of an existing credit tier                 would undermine the Exchange’s intent                  competitive standing in the financial
                                                  provided in securities of all three Tapes               to exclude the abnormal trading activity               markets. Moreover, because there are
                                                  is reasonable because it merely replaces                that occurs on that day. Accordingly,                  numerous competitive alternatives to
                                                  a measure of activity on NOM with                       the Exchange believes that it is                       the use of the Exchange, it is likely that
                                                  another, both of which represent a                      reasonable to remove the potentially                   the Exchange will lose market share as
                                                  significant contribution to that market.                confusing rule text.                                   a result of the changes if they are
                                                  Specifically, the Exchange is replacing                   The Exchange believes that deleting
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                                                                                                                                                                 unattractive to market participants.
                                                  the requirement that a member have                      rule text from the preamble of Rule
                                                  125,000 or more contracts per day in a                  7018(a) concerning Consolidated                        C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  month executed on the Nasdaq Option                     Volume and the related change to Rule                  Statement on Comments on the
                                                  Market with a new requirement that a                    7014(h)(5) are an equitable allocation                 Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                  member have 0.90% or more of total                      and are not unfairly discriminatory                    Members, Participants, or Others
                                                  industry ADV in the Customer clearing                   because the proposed changes only                        No written comments were either
                                                  range for Equity and ETF option                         serve to clarify the application of the                solicited or received.


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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 22, 2016 / Notices                                                 40739

                                                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the                          Washington, DC 20549 on official                       II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        business days between the hours of                     Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  Commission Action                                          10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                     The foregoing rule change has become                    filing also will be available for                      Change
                                                  effective pursuant to Section                              inspection and copying at the principal                   In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                  19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.10                              office of the Exchange. All comments                   Exchange included statements
                                                     At any time within 60 days of the                       received will be posted without change;                concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                  filing of the proposed rule change, the                    the Commission does not edit personal                  the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                  Commission summarily may                                   identifying information from                           any comments it received on the
                                                  temporarily suspend such rule change if                    submissions. You should submit only                    proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                  it appears to the Commission that such                     information that you wish to make                      statements may be examined at the
                                                  action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                 available publicly. All submissions                    places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                  the public interest; (ii) for the protection               should refer to File Number SR–                        Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                  of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                        NASDAQ–2016–083, and should be                         forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                  furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                    submitted on or before July 13, 2016.                  the most significant aspects of such
                                                  If the Commission takes such action, the                     For the Commission, by the Division of               statements.
                                                  Commission shall institute proceedings                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                             authority.11
                                                                                                                                                                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  to determine whether the proposed rule                                                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                  should be approved or disapproved.                         Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                                                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                             Deputy Secretary.                                      Change
                                                  IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                             [FR Doc. 2016–14713 Filed 6–21–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    Interested persons are invited to                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Purpose
                                                  submit written data, views, and                                                                                      The Exchange proposes to amend its
                                                  arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                               Fees Schedule with respect to the
                                                  including whether the proposed rule                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                Linkage Routing fee.3 By way of
                                                  change is consistent with the Act.                         COMMISSION                                             background, the Linkage Routing fee is
                                                  Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                               assessed to all orders routed pursuant to
                                                  the following methods:                                     [Release No. 34–78090; File No. SR–C2–                 the Options Order Protection and
                                                  Electronic Comments                                        2016–008]                                              Locked/Crossed Market Plan. The
                                                                                                                                                                    Linkage Routing fee is currently $0.70
                                                    • Use the Commission’s Internet                          Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2                      per contract plus applicable Taker fees.
                                                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                          Options Exchange, Incorporated;                        The Exchange proposes to waive the
                                                  rules/sro.shtml); or                                       Notice of Filing and Immediate                         Linkage Routing fee and Taker fees for
                                                    • Send an email to rule-comments@                        Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule To                    orders that are routed to another
                                                  sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                    Amend the Fees Schedule                                Exchange if entered on (i) a prior
                                                  NASDAQ–2016–083 on the subject line.                                                                              business day or (ii) prior to 8:30 a.m.
                                                                                                             June 16, 2016.
                                                  Paper Comments                                                                                                    CST on the same business day.
                                                                                                                Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                    The Exchange notes that trades on the
                                                     • Send paper comments in triplicate                     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                   open involve the matching of pre-
                                                  to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                      ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                 opening orders and quotes and orders
                                                  Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                              notice is hereby given that on June 10,                resting in the book from the prior
                                                  Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                 2016, C2 Options Exchange,                             business day and therefore, in effect, no
                                                  All submissions should refer to File                       Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘C2’’)              Maker or Taker activity is occurring. As
                                                  Number SR–NASDAQ–2016–083. This                            filed with the Securities and Exchange                 such, the Exchange currently waives the
                                                  file number should be included on the                      Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the                    fees for trades on the open. The
                                                  subject line if email is used. To help the                 proposed rule change as described in                   Exchange would similarly like to waive
                                                  Commission process and review your                         Items I, II, and III below, which Items                the Linkage Routing fee and applicable
                                                  comments more efficiently, please use                      have been prepared by the Exchange.                    Taker fees for (i) pre-opening orders that
                                                  only one method. The Commission will                       The Commission is publishing this                      are submitted by 8:30 a.m. CST and (ii)
                                                  post all comments on the Commission’s                      notice to solicit comments on the                      for orders resting in the book from a
                                                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                     proposed rule change from interested                   prior business day that link away to
                                                  rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                            persons.                                               another Exchange. The Exchange notes
                                                  submission, all subsequent                                                                                        that pre-opening orders submitted by
                                                                                                             I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      8:30 a.m. CST and orders resting in the
                                                  amendments, all written statements                         Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                  with respect to the proposed rule                                                                                 book from a prior business day may
                                                                                                             the Proposed Rule Change                               potentially be linked away after being
                                                  change that are filed with the
                                                  Commission, and all written                                   The Exchange proposes to amend its                  exposed during the opening process
                                                  communications relating to the                             Fees Schedule. The text of the proposed                pursuant to C2 Rule 6.11.4 The
                                                  proposed rule change between the                           rule change is available on the                        Exchange notes that it does not wish to
                                                  Commission and any person, other than                      Exchange’s Web site (http://                           assess Linkage or transaction fees for
                                                                                                                                                                    these orders however, as no Maker or
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                                                  those that may be withheld from the                        www.c2exchange.com/Legal/), at the
                                                  public in accordance with the                              Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, and                Taker activity is occurring.
                                                  provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                        at the Commission’s Public Reference                   Additionally, the Exchange notes that
                                                  available for Web site viewing and                         Room.                                                    3 The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee
                                                  printing in the Commission’s Public                                                                               change on June 1, 2016 (SR–C2–2016–006). On June
                                                  Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                            11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                           10, 2016, the Exchange withdrew that filing and
                                                                                                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                               replaced it with SR–C2–2016–008.
                                                    10 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                           2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                    4 See C2 Rule 6.11.




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Document Created: 2016-06-22 01:05:33
Document Modified: 2016-06-22 01:05:33
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 40736 

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