81_FR_66502 81 FR 66315 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services

81 FR 66315 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 187 (September 27, 2016)

Page Range66315-66317
FR Document2016-23222

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66315-66317]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23222]



[[Page 66315]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78892; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2016-128]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE 
Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services

September 21, 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 September 8, 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 amend the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of 
Fees and Charges for Exchange Services (the ``Fee Schedule'') to adopt 
a new pricing tier and a new execution fee. The Exchange proposes to 
implement the fee changes effective September 8, 2016.\4\ 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\ The Exchange originally filed to amend the Fee Schedule on 
August 31, 2016 (SR-NYSEArca-2016-125) and withdrew such filing on 
September 8, 2016.
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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 amend the Fee Schedule to adopt a new 
pricing tier and a new execution fee. The Exchange proposes to 
implement the fee changes effective September 8, 2016.
Step Up Tier
    The Exchange proposes a new pricing tier--Step Up Tier--for 
securities with a per share price of $1.00 or above.
    As proposed, a new Step Up Tier credit of $0.0029 per share for 
providing liquidity in Tape A and Tape C Securities and $0.0028 per 
share for providing liquidity in Tape B Securities would apply to ETP 
Holders and Market Makers that, on a daily basis, measured monthly
    (i) directly execute providing average daily volume (``ADV'') on 
NYSE Arca in an amount that is an increase of no less than 0.15% of 
United States consolidated average daily volume (``US CADV'') \5\ in 
Tape A, Tape B and Tape C Securities for that month over the ETP 
Holder's or Market Maker's providing ADV in July 2016 (``Baseline 
Month''), and
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    \5\ The Exchange proposes to use the same definition of US CADV 
for purposes of the proposed Step Up pricing tier. Specifically, US 
CADV would mean the United States Consolidated Average Daily Volume 
for transactions reported to the Consolidated Tape, excluding odd 
lots through January 31, 2014 (except for purposes of Lead Market 
Maker pricing), and excludes volume on days when the market closes 
early and on the date of the annual reconstitution of the Russell 
Investments Indexes. Transactions that are not reported to the 
Consolidated Tape are not included in US CADV. See Fee Schedule, 
footnote 3.
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    (ii) set a new Best Bid or Offer (``BBO'') on the Exchange with at 
least 40% of the ETP Holder's or Market Maker's providing ADV.
    For example, an ETP Holder who has a providing ADV of 15 million 
shares in the Baseline Month would be required to execute, at a 
minimum, an additional 9.75 million shares of providing ADV if CADV is 
6.5 billion shares in the billing month, or 0.15% over the Baseline 
Month, for a total providing ADV of 24.75 million shares for the 
billing month. Further, of the 24.75 million shares, at least 9.9 
million shares, or 40% of providing ADV of 24.75 million shares, would 
need to set a new BBO on the Exchange.
    As an incentive for ETP Holders and Market Makers to direct their 
order flow to the Exchange, for the months of September 2016 and 
October 2016 only, the Exchange proposes adopting lower providing ADV 
criteria for ETP Holders and Market Makers to qualify for the proposed 
credit. For the billing month of September 2016 only, the proposed Step 
Up credit would apply to ETP Holders and Market Makers that, on a daily 
basis, measured monthly
    (i) directly execute providing ADV on NYSE Arca in an amount that 
is an increase of no less than 0.045% of US CADV in Tape A, Tape B and 
Tape C Securities for that month over the ETP Holder's or Market 
Maker's providing ADV in the Baseline Month, and
    (ii) set a new BBO on the Exchange with at least 40% of the ETP 
Holder's or Market Maker's providing ADV.
    For example, using the previous example, an ETP Holder who has a 
providing ADV of 15 million shares in the Baseline Month would be 
required to execute, at a minimum, an additional 2.925 million shares 
of providing ADV if CADV is 6.5 billion shares in the billing month, or 
0.045% over the Baseline Month, for a total providing ADV of 17.925 
million shares for the billing month. Further, of the 17.925 million 
shares, at least 7.170 million shares, or 40% of providing ADV of 
17.925 million shares, would need to set a new BBO on the Exchange.
    For the billing month of October 2016 only, the proposed Step Up 
credit would be applicable to ETP Holders and Market Makers that, on a 
daily basis, measured monthly
    (i) directly execute providing ADV on NYSE Arca in an amount that 
is an increase of no less than 0.09% of US CADV in Tape A, Tape B and 
Tape C Securities for that month over the ETP Holder's or Market 
Maker's providing ADV in the Baseline Month, and
    (ii) set a new BBO on the Exchange with at least 40% of the ETP 
Holder's and Market Maker's providing ADV.
    Using the previous example again, an ETP Holder who has a providing 
ADV of 15 million shares in the Baseline Month would be required to 
execute, at a minimum, an additional 5.85 million shares of providing 
ADV if CADV is 6.5 billion shares in the billing month, or 0.09% over 
the Baseline Month, for a total providing ADV of 20.850 million shares 
for the billing month. Further, of the 20.850 million shares, at least 
8.340 million shares, or 40% of providing ADV of 20.850 million shares, 
would need to set a new BBO on the Exchange.
    The Exchange notes that if an ETP Holder or Market Maker qualifies 
for more than one tier in the Fee Schedule, the Exchange would apply 
the most favorable rate available under such tiers.
    The goal of the Step-Up Tier is to incentivize ETP Holders and 
Market Makers to increase the orders sent

[[Page 66316]]

directly to NYSE Arca and therefore provide liquidity that supports the 
quality of price discovery and promotes market transparency. The 
Exchange notes that Step Up pricing tiers are not novel. Bats BZX 
Exchange (``BZX'') currently provides Step-Up credits to participants 
on that exchange as an incentive to attract order flow to that 
exchange.\6\
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    \6\ See Step-Up Tiers and Cross-Asset Step-Up Tiers on the BZX 
Fee Schedule at https://www.batstrading.com/support/fee_schedule/bzx/.
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Execution Fee
    The Exchange proposes a new execution fee for participation in an 
Early Open Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading Halt Auction and Closing 
Auction. The proposed fee would apply to securities with a per share 
price of $1.00 or above.
    The Exchange's Fee Schedule currently includes fees applicable to 
executions that result from Market Orders, Auction-Only Orders, Market-
On-Close Orders and Limit-On-Close Orders (``Auction Orders''). All 
other executions (``Non-Auction Orders'') executed in an Early Open 
Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading Halt Auction and Closing Auction 
are not currently charged a fee by the Exchange. The Exchange proposes 
to add a fee of $0.0006 per share that would apply to Non-Auction 
Orders executed in an Early Open Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading 
Halt Auction and Closing Auction.
    The Exchange notes the proposed fee is similar to the fee charged 
by the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'') for Continuous Book \7\ 
orders executed on NASDAQ for the NASDAQ Opening Cross and the NASDAQ 
Closing Cross. NASDAQ currently charges a fee of $0.00085 per share for 
Continuous Book orders in both Opening and Closing Crosses.\8\
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    \7\ Continuous Book includes all quotes and extended hours 
orders eligible to participate in the NASDAQ Opening Cross and 
NASDAQ Closing Cross. See NASDAQ Crossing Network at http://nasdaqtrader.com/Trader.aspx?id=PriceListTrading2.
    \8\ Id.
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    The proposed changes are not otherwise intended to address any 
other problem, and the Exchange is not aware of any significant problem 
that the affected market participants would have in complying with the 
proposed changes.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in 
particular, because it provides for the equitable allocation of 
reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and 
other persons using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate 
between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers. The Exchange believes 
that the proposal does not constitute an inequitable allocation of 
fees, as all similarly situated market participants will be subject to 
the same fees and credits and access to the Exchange's market is 
offered on fair and non-discriminatory terms.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed Step-Up Tier is equitable 
because it is open to all ETP Holders and Market Makers on an equal 
basis and provides credits that are reasonably related to the value to 
an exchange's market quality associated with higher volumes. As stated 
above, the Exchange believes that the Step-Up Tier may incentivize 
market participants to increase the orders sent directly to NYSE Arca 
and therefore provide liquidity that supports the quality of price 
discovery and promotes market transparency. Moreover, the addition of 
the Step-Up Tier would benefit market participants whose increased 
order flow provides meaningful added levels of liquidity thereby 
contributing to the depth and market quality on the Exchange. In 
addition, by offering a Step-Up Tier the Exchange believes more market 
participants may provide increased order flow and more market 
participants would be eligible to receive the proposed credits for 
their orders.
    Further, the Exchange believes that the proposal is reasonable and 
would create an added incentive for ETP Holders and Market Makers to 
execute additional orders on the Exchange. The Exchange believes it is 
reasonable to require that at least 40% of the ETP Holders and Market 
Makers providing ADV set a new BBO on the Exchange as it would create 
an incentive for ETP Holders and Market Makers to improve displayed 
quotes on the Exchange, which would benefit all market participants. 
The Exchange believes that the proposed change is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because providing incentives for orders that 
are executed on a registered national securities exchange would 
contribute to investors' confidence in the fairness of their 
transactions and would benefit all investors by deepening the 
Exchange's liquidity pool, supporting the quality of price discovery, 
promoting market transparency and improving investor protection.
    The Exchange believes that adopting lower providing ADV criteria 
for September 2016 and October 2016 is reasonable because it may allow 
a greater number of ETP Holders and Market Makers to qualify for the 
proposed credits while also providing ETP Holders and Market Makers the 
opportunity to gradually increase their activity in order to qualify 
for the proposed credits. The Exchange believes that adopting lower 
providing ADV criteria for September 2016 and October 2016 is also 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because the lower criteria 
would apply uniformly to all ETP Holders and Market Makers during 
September 2016 and October 2016.
    Volume-based rebates such as the ones currently in place on the 
Exchange, and as proposed herein, have been widely adopted in the cash 
equities markets and are equitable because they are open to all ETP 
Holders and Market Makers on an equal basis and provide additional 
benefits or discounts that are reasonably related to the value to an 
exchange's market quality associated with higher levels of market 
activity, such as higher levels of liquidity provision and/or growth 
patterns, and introduction of higher volumes of orders into the price 
and volume discovery processes.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed execution fee for Non-
Auction Orders participating in an Early Open Auction, Core Open 
Auction, Trading Halt Auction and Closing Auction is consistent with an 
equitable allocation of a reasonable fee and not unfairly 
discriminatory. As noted above, Non-Auction Orders executed in an Early 
Open Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading Halt Auction and Closing 
Auction are not currently charged a fee by the Exchange. The Exchange 
believes the proposed fee is reasonable because Non-Auction Orders 
receive a substantial benefit from executions within the various 
auctions on the Exchange. For example, the Exchange's closing auction 
is a recognized industry benchmark.\11\ Moreover, the proposed fee is 
equitably allocated because the fee would apply to all market 
participants that benefit from such orders participating in the 
auctions. Similarly, the proposed fee is not unfairly discriminatory 
because it would apply to all Non-Auction Orders executed in the 
auctions resulting in a benefit to market quality that such orders 
would

[[Page 66317]]

provide. The Exchange believes the proposal to adopt a fee for Non-
Auction Orders executed in an Early Open Auction, Core Open Auction, 
Trading Halt Auction and Closing Auction is reasonable, equitably 
allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because the proposed fee 
would apply to all market participants that participate in the auctions 
and receive an execution. Moreover, the Exchange does not believe that 
the proposed fee would negatively impact participation in the auctions. 
ETP Holders and Market Makers that do not want to be subject to the 
proposed fee would simply cancel their orders and thus can elect to not 
participate in the auctions.
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    \11\ For example, the pricing and valuation of certain indices, 
funds, and derivative products require primary market prints.
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    The Exchange believes that it is subject to significant competitive 
forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement regarding the 
burden on competition.
    For the foregoing reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal 
is consistent with the Act.

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

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\12\ the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change would not impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. Instead, the Exchange believes that the proposal 
to add a new pricing tier would encourage the submission of additional 
liquidity to a public exchange, thereby promoting price discovery and 
transparency and enhancing order execution opportunities for ETP 
Holders and Market Makers. The Exchange believes that this could 
promote competition between the Exchange and other execution venues, 
including those that currently offer similar order types and comparable 
transaction pricing, by encouraging additional orders to be sent to the 
Exchange for execution. Further, the proposed new fee for executions in 
an Early Open Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading Halt Auction and 
Closing Auction is reflective of the value of executions that take 
place within the various auctions on the Exchange on a daily basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, 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 and rebates 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 and credits 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. As a result of all of these considerations, the 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will impair the 
ability of ETP Holders or competing order execution venues to maintain 
their competitive standing in the financial markets.

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

    No written comments were 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 foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) \13\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 
19b-4 \14\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by the Exchange.
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    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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    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) \15\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2016-128 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2016-128. 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-2016-128 and should 
be submitted on or before October 18, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-23222 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices                                           66315

                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     providing ADV criteria for ETP Holders
                                                    COMMISSION                                              Statement of the Purpose of, and the                  and Market Makers to qualify for the
                                                                                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                proposed credit. For the billing month
                                                    [Release No. 34–78892; File No. SR–                     Change                                                of September 2016 only, the proposed
                                                    NYSEArca–2016–128]                                                                                            Step Up credit would apply to ETP
                                                                                                            1. Purpose                                            Holders and Market Makers that, on a
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                        The Exchange proposes to amend the                 daily basis, measured monthly
                                                    Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and                        Fee Schedule to adopt a new pricing tier                 (i) directly execute providing ADV on
                                                    Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                     and a new execution fee. The Exchange                 NYSE Arca in an amount that is an
                                                    Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca                      proposes to implement the fee changes                 increase of no less than 0.045% of US
                                                    Equities Schedule of Fees and                           effective September 8, 2016.                          CADV in Tape A, Tape B and Tape C
                                                    Charges for Exchange Services                                                                                 Securities for that month over the ETP
                                                                                                            Step Up Tier
                                                    September 21, 2016.                                                                                           Holder’s or Market Maker’s providing
                                                                                                               The Exchange proposes a new pricing                ADV in the Baseline Month, and
                                                       Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
                                                                                                            tier—Step Up Tier—for securities with a                  (ii) set a new BBO on the Exchange
                                                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                                                                            per share price of $1.00 or above.                    with at least 40% of the ETP Holder’s
                                                    ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
                                                                                                               As proposed, a new Step Up Tier                    or Market Maker’s providing ADV.
                                                    notice is hereby given that, on
                                                                                                            credit of $0.0029 per share for providing                For example, using the previous
                                                    September 8, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
                                                                                                            liquidity in Tape A and Tape C                        example, an ETP Holder who has a
                                                    ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
                                                                                                            Securities and $0.0028 per share for                  providing ADV of 15 million shares in
                                                    the Securities and Exchange
                                                                                                            providing liquidity in Tape B Securities              the Baseline Month would be required
                                                    Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the
                                                                                                            would apply to ETP Holders and Market                 to execute, at a minimum, an additional
                                                    proposed rule change as described in
                                                                                                            Makers that, on a daily basis, measured               2.925 million shares of providing ADV
                                                    Items I, II, and III below, which Items
                                                                                                            monthly                                               if CADV is 6.5 billion shares in the
                                                    have been prepared by the self-
                                                                                                               (i) directly execute providing average             billing month, or 0.045% over the
                                                    regulatory organization. The
                                                                                                            daily volume (‘‘ADV’’) on NYSE Arca in                Baseline Month, for a total providing
                                                    Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                                                                            an amount that is an increase of no less              ADV of 17.925 million shares for the
                                                    solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                                                                            than 0.15% of United States                           billing month. Further, of the 17.925
                                                    change from interested persons.
                                                                                                            consolidated average daily volume (‘‘US               million shares, at least 7.170 million
                                                    I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       CADV’’) 5 in Tape A, Tape B and Tape                  shares, or 40% of providing ADV of
                                                    Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  C Securities for that month over the ETP              17.925 million shares, would need to set
                                                    the Proposed Rule Change                                Holder’s or Market Maker’s providing                  a new BBO on the Exchange.
                                                                                                            ADV in July 2016 (‘‘Baseline Month’’),                   For the billing month of October 2016
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend the
                                                                                                            and                                                   only, the proposed Step Up credit
                                                    NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees
                                                                                                               (ii) set a new Best Bid or Offer                   would be applicable to ETP Holders and
                                                    and Charges for Exchange Services (the
                                                                                                            (‘‘BBO’’) on the Exchange with at least               Market Makers that, on a daily basis,
                                                    ‘‘Fee Schedule’’) to adopt a new pricing
                                                                                                            40% of the ETP Holder’s or Market                     measured monthly
                                                    tier and a new execution fee. The                                                                                (i) directly execute providing ADV on
                                                    Exchange proposes to implement the fee                  Maker’s providing ADV.
                                                                                                               For example, an ETP Holder who has                 NYSE Arca in an amount that is an
                                                    changes effective September 8, 2016.4                                                                         increase of no less than 0.09% of US
                                                    The proposed rule change is available                   a providing ADV of 15 million shares in
                                                                                                            the Baseline Month would be required                  CADV in Tape A, Tape B and Tape C
                                                    on the Exchange’s Web site at                                                                                 Securities for that month over the ETP
                                                    www.nyse.com, at the principal office of                to execute, at a minimum, an additional
                                                                                                            9.75 million shares of providing ADV if               Holder’s or Market Maker’s providing
                                                    the Exchange, and at the Commission’s                                                                         ADV in the Baseline Month, and
                                                    Public Reference Room.                                  CADV is 6.5 billion shares in the billing
                                                                                                            month, or 0.15% over the Baseline                        (ii) set a new BBO on the Exchange
                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      Month, for a total providing ADV of                   with at least 40% of the ETP Holder’s
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                        24.75 million shares for the billing                  and Market Maker’s providing ADV.
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  month. Further, of the 24.75 million                     Using the previous example again, an
                                                    Change                                                  shares, at least 9.9 million shares, or               ETP Holder who has a providing ADV
                                                                                                            40% of providing ADV of 24.75 million                 of 15 million shares in the Baseline
                                                      In its filing with the Commission, the                                                                      Month would be required to execute, at
                                                    self-regulatory organization included                   shares, would need to set a new BBO on
                                                                                                            the Exchange.                                         a minimum, an additional 5.85 million
                                                    statements concerning the purpose of,                                                                         shares of providing ADV if CADV is 6.5
                                                    and basis for, the proposed rule change                    As an incentive for ETP Holders and
                                                                                                            Market Makers to direct their order flow              billion shares in the billing month, or
                                                    and discussed any comments it received                                                                        0.09% over the Baseline Month, for a
                                                    on the proposed rule change. The text                   to the Exchange, for the months of
                                                                                                            September 2016 and October 2016 only,                 total providing ADV of 20.850 million
                                                    of those statements may be examined at                                                                        shares for the billing month. Further, of
                                                    the places specified in Item IV below.                  the Exchange proposes adopting lower
                                                                                                                                                                  the 20.850 million shares, at least 8.340
                                                    The Exchange has prepared summaries,                      5 The Exchange proposes to use the same             million shares, or 40% of providing
                                                    set forth in sections A, B, and C below,                definition of US CADV for purposes of the proposed    ADV of 20.850 million shares, would
                                                    of the most significant parts of such
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            Step Up pricing tier. Specifically, US CADV would     need to set a new BBO on the Exchange.
                                                    statements.                                             mean the United States Consolidated Average Daily        The Exchange notes that if an ETP
                                                                                                            Volume for transactions reported to the
                                                                                                            Consolidated Tape, excluding odd lots through         Holder or Market Maker qualifies for
                                                      1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                               January 31, 2014 (except for purposes of Lead         more than one tier in the Fee Schedule,
                                                      2 15  U.S.C. 78a.
                                                       3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                            Market Maker pricing), and excludes volume on         the Exchange would apply the most
                                                                                                            days when the market closes early and on the date     favorable rate available under such tiers.
                                                       4 The Exchange originally filed to amend the Fee     of the annual reconstitution of the Russell
                                                    Schedule on August 31, 2016 (SR–NYSEArca–               Investments Indexes. Transactions that are not
                                                                                                                                                                     The goal of the Step-Up Tier is to
                                                    2016–125) and withdrew such filing on September         reported to the Consolidated Tape are not included    incentivize ETP Holders and Market
                                                    8, 2016.                                                in US CADV. See Fee Schedule, footnote 3.             Makers to increase the orders sent


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                                                    66316                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices

                                                    directly to NYSE Arca and therefore                     6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,10 in                    transparency and improving investor
                                                    provide liquidity that supports the                     particular, because it provides for the                 protection.
                                                    quality of price discovery and promotes                 equitable allocation of reasonable dues,                   The Exchange believes that adopting
                                                    market transparency. The Exchange                       fees, and other charges among its                       lower providing ADV criteria for
                                                    notes that Step Up pricing tiers are not                members, issuers and other persons                      September 2016 and October 2016 is
                                                    novel. Bats BZX Exchange (‘‘BZX’’)                      using its facilities and does not unfairly              reasonable because it may allow a
                                                    currently provides Step-Up credits to                   discriminate between customers,                         greater number of ETP Holders and
                                                    participants on that exchange as an                     issuers, brokers or dealers. The                        Market Makers to qualify for the
                                                    incentive to attract order flow to that                 Exchange believes that the proposal                     proposed credits while also providing
                                                    exchange.6                                              does not constitute an inequitable                      ETP Holders and Market Makers the
                                                                                                            allocation of fees, as all similarly                    opportunity to gradually increase their
                                                    Execution Fee                                                                                                   activity in order to qualify for the
                                                                                                            situated market participants will be
                                                       The Exchange proposes a new                          subject to the same fees and credits and                proposed credits. The Exchange believes
                                                    execution fee for participation in an                   access to the Exchange’s market is                      that adopting lower providing ADV
                                                    Early Open Auction, Core Open                           offered on fair and non-discriminatory                  criteria for September 2016 and October
                                                    Auction, Trading Halt Auction and                       terms.                                                  2016 is also equitable and not unfairly
                                                    Closing Auction. The proposed fee                          The Exchange believes that the                       discriminatory because the lower
                                                    would apply to securities with a per                    proposed Step-Up Tier is equitable                      criteria would apply uniformly to all
                                                    share price of $1.00 or above.                          because it is open to all ETP Holders                   ETP Holders and Market Makers during
                                                       The Exchange’s Fee Schedule                                                                                  September 2016 and October 2016.
                                                                                                            and Market Makers on an equal basis
                                                    currently includes fees applicable to                                                                              Volume-based rebates such as the
                                                                                                            and provides credits that are reasonably
                                                    executions that result from Market                                                                              ones currently in place on the Exchange,
                                                                                                            related to the value to an exchange’s
                                                    Orders, Auction-Only Orders, Market-                                                                            and as proposed herein, have been
                                                                                                            market quality associated with higher
                                                    On-Close Orders and Limit-On-Close                                                                              widely adopted in the cash equities
                                                                                                            volumes. As stated above, the Exchange
                                                    Orders (‘‘Auction Orders’’). All other                                                                          markets and are equitable because they
                                                                                                            believes that the Step-Up Tier may
                                                    executions (‘‘Non-Auction Orders’’)                                                                             are open to all ETP Holders and Market
                                                                                                            incentivize market participants to
                                                    executed in an Early Open Auction,                                                                              Makers on an equal basis and provide
                                                    Core Open Auction, Trading Halt                         increase the orders sent directly to
                                                                                                            NYSE Arca and therefore provide                         additional benefits or discounts that are
                                                    Auction and Closing Auction are not                                                                             reasonably related to the value to an
                                                    currently charged a fee by the Exchange.                liquidity that supports the quality of
                                                                                                            price discovery and promotes market                     exchange’s market quality associated
                                                    The Exchange proposes to add a fee of                                                                           with higher levels of market activity,
                                                    $0.0006 per share that would apply to                   transparency. Moreover, the addition of
                                                                                                            the Step-Up Tier would benefit market                   such as higher levels of liquidity
                                                    Non-Auction Orders executed in an                                                                               provision and/or growth patterns, and
                                                    Early Open Auction, Core Open                           participants whose increased order flow
                                                                                                            provides meaningful added levels of                     introduction of higher volumes of orders
                                                    Auction, Trading Halt Auction and                                                                               into the price and volume discovery
                                                    Closing Auction.                                        liquidity thereby contributing to the
                                                                                                            depth and market quality on the                         processes.
                                                       The Exchange notes the proposed fee                                                                             The Exchange believes that the
                                                    is similar to the fee charged by the                    Exchange. In addition, by offering a
                                                                                                            Step-Up Tier the Exchange believes                      proposed execution fee for Non-Auction
                                                    NASDAQ Stock Market LLC                                                                                         Orders participating in an Early Open
                                                    (‘‘NASDAQ’’) for Continuous Book 7                      more market participants may provide
                                                                                                            increased order flow and more market                    Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading
                                                    orders executed on NASDAQ for the                                                                               Halt Auction and Closing Auction is
                                                    NASDAQ Opening Cross and the                            participants would be eligible to receive
                                                                                                            the proposed credits for their orders.                  consistent with an equitable allocation
                                                    NASDAQ Closing Cross. NASDAQ                                                                                    of a reasonable fee and not unfairly
                                                    currently charges a fee of $0.00085 per                    Further, the Exchange believes that
                                                                                                                                                                    discriminatory. As noted above, Non-
                                                    share for Continuous Book orders in                     the proposal is reasonable and would
                                                                                                                                                                    Auction Orders executed in an Early
                                                    both Opening and Closing Crosses.8                      create an added incentive for ETP
                                                                                                                                                                    Open Auction, Core Open Auction,
                                                       The proposed changes are not                         Holders and Market Makers to execute
                                                                                                                                                                    Trading Halt Auction and Closing
                                                    otherwise intended to address any other                 additional orders on the Exchange. The
                                                                                                                                                                    Auction are not currently charged a fee
                                                    problem, and the Exchange is not aware                  Exchange believes it is reasonable to
                                                                                                                                                                    by the Exchange. The Exchange believes
                                                    of any significant problem that the                     require that at least 40% of the ETP
                                                                                                                                                                    the proposed fee is reasonable because
                                                    affected market participants would have                 Holders and Market Makers providing
                                                                                                                                                                    Non-Auction Orders receive a
                                                    in complying with the proposed                          ADV set a new BBO on the Exchange as
                                                                                                                                                                    substantial benefit from executions
                                                    changes.                                                it would create an incentive for ETP
                                                                                                                                                                    within the various auctions on the
                                                                                                            Holders and Market Makers to improve
                                                    2. Statutory Basis                                                                                              Exchange. For example, the Exchange’s
                                                                                                            displayed quotes on the Exchange,
                                                       The Exchange believes that the                                                                               closing auction is a recognized industry
                                                                                                            which would benefit all market
                                                    proposed rule change is consistent with                                                                         benchmark.11 Moreover, the proposed
                                                                                                            participants. The Exchange believes that
                                                    Section 6(b) of the Act,9 in general, and               the proposed change is equitable and                    fee is equitably allocated because the fee
                                                    furthers the objectives of Sections                     not unfairly discriminatory because                     would apply to all market participants
                                                                                                            providing incentives for orders that are                that benefit from such orders
                                                      6 See Step-Up Tiers and Cross-Asset Step-Up
                                                                                                            executed on a registered national                       participating in the auctions. Similarly,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Tiers on the BZX Fee Schedule at https://
                                                                                                            securities exchange would contribute to                 the proposed fee is not unfairly
                                                    www.batstrading.com/support/fee_schedule/bzx/.                                                                  discriminatory because it would apply
                                                      7 Continuous Book includes all quotes and             investors’ confidence in the fairness of
                                                                                                            their transactions and would benefit all                to all Non-Auction Orders executed in
                                                    extended hours orders eligible to participate in the
                                                    NASDAQ Opening Cross and NASDAQ Closing                 investors by deepening the Exchange’s                   the auctions resulting in a benefit to
                                                    Cross. See NASDAQ Crossing Network at http://           liquidity pool, supporting the quality of               market quality that such orders would
                                                    nasdaqtrader.com/
                                                    Trader.aspx?id=PriceListTrading2.                       price discovery, promoting market                         11 For example, the pricing and valuation of
                                                      8 Id.
                                                                                                                                                                    certain indices, funds, and derivative products
                                                      9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                     10 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).                     require primary market prints.



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 27, 2016 / Notices                                                66317

                                                    provide. The Exchange believes the                         with other exchanges and with                         Electronic Comments
                                                    proposal to adopt a fee for Non-Auction                    alternative trading systems that have
                                                    Orders executed in an Early Open                           been exempted from compliance with                       • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                    Auction, Core Open Auction, Trading                        the statutory standards applicable to                 comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    Halt Auction and Closing Auction is                        exchanges. Because competitors are free               rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    reasonable, equitably allocated and not                    to modify their own fees and credits in                  • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                    unfairly discriminatory because the                        response, and because market                          sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                    proposed fee would apply to all market                     participants may readily adjust their                 NYSEArca–2016–128 on the subject
                                                    participants that participate in the                       order routing practices, the Exchange                 line.
                                                    auctions and receive an execution.                         believes that the degree to which fee
                                                    Moreover, the Exchange does not                            changes in this market may impose any                 Paper Comments
                                                    believe that the proposed fee would                        burden on competition is extremely
                                                    negatively impact participation in the                                                                             • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                                                                               limited. As a result of all of these                  to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                    auctions. ETP Holders and Market                           considerations, the Exchange does not
                                                    Makers that do not want to be subject                                                                            and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                                                                               believe that the proposed changes will                NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                    to the proposed fee would simply cancel
                                                                                                               impair the ability of ETP Holders or
                                                    their orders and thus can elect to not
                                                                                                               competing order execution venues to                   All submissions should refer to File
                                                    participate in the auctions.
                                                      The Exchange believes that it is                         maintain their competitive standing in                Number SR–NYSEArca–2016–128. This
                                                    subject to significant competitive forces,                 the financial markets.                                file number should be included on the
                                                    as described below in the Exchange’s                                                                             subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                                                                               C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    statement regarding the burden on                                                                                Commission process and review your
                                                                                                               Statement on Comments on the
                                                    competition.                                                                                                     comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                               Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                      For the foregoing reasons, the                           Members, Participants, or Others                      only one method. The Commission will
                                                    Exchange believes that the proposal is                                                                           post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                    consistent with the Act.                                     No written comments were solicited                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          or received with respect to the proposed              rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                         rule change.                                          submission, all subsequent
                                                                                                                                                                     amendments, all written statements
                                                      In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                                                                                     with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    the Act,12 the Exchange believes that the                  Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                                                                                                                                     change that are filed with the
                                                    proposed rule change would not impose                      Commission Action
                                                    any burden on competition that is not                                                                            Commission, and all written
                                                    necessary or appropriate in furtherance                       The foregoing rule change is effective             communications relating to the
                                                    of the purposes of the Act. Instead, the                   upon filing pursuant to Section                       proposed rule change between the
                                                    Exchange believes that the proposal to                     19(b)(3)(A) 13 of the Act and                         Commission and any person, other than
                                                    add a new pricing tier would encourage                     subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 14                  those that may be withheld from the
                                                    the submission of additional liquidity to                  thereunder, because it establishes a due,             public in accordance with the
                                                    a public exchange, thereby promoting                       fee, or other charge imposed by the                   provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    price discovery and transparency and                       Exchange.                                             available for Web site viewing and
                                                    enhancing order execution                                     At any time within 60 days of the                  printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    opportunities for ETP Holders and                          filing of such proposed rule change, the              Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    Market Makers. The Exchange believes                       Commission summarily may                              Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    that this could promote competition                        temporarily suspend such rule change if               business days between the hours of
                                                    between the Exchange and other                             it appears to the Commission that such                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                    execution venues, including those that                     action is necessary or appropriate in the             filing also will be available for
                                                    currently offer similar order types and                    public interest, for the protection of                inspection and copying at the principal
                                                    comparable transaction pricing, by                         investors, or otherwise in furtherance of             office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                    encouraging additional orders to be sent                   the purposes of the Act. If the                       received will be posted without change;
                                                    to the Exchange for execution. Further,                    Commission takes such action, the                     the Commission does not edit personal
                                                    the proposed new fee for executions in                                                                           identifying information from
                                                                                                               Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                    an Early Open Auction, Core Open                                                                                 submissions. You should submit only
                                                                                                               under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 15 of the Act to
                                                    Auction, Trading Halt Auction and                                                                                information that you wish to make
                                                                                                               determine whether the proposed rule
                                                    Closing Auction is reflective of the
                                                                                                               change should be approved or                          available publicly. All submissions
                                                    value of executions that take place
                                                                                                               disapproved.                                          should refer to File Number SR–
                                                    within the various auctions on the
                                                                                                                                                                     NYSEArca–2016–128 and should be
                                                    Exchange on a daily basis.                                 IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                      Finally, the Exchange notes that it                                                                            submitted on or before October 18,
                                                    operates in a highly competitive market                      Interested persons are invited to                   2016.
                                                    in which market participants can                           submit written data, views, and                         For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    readily favor competing venues if they                     arguments concerning the foregoing,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    deem fee levels at a particular venue to                   including whether the proposed rule                   authority.16
                                                    be excessive or rebate opportunities                       change is consistent with the Act.                    Robert W. Errett,
                                                    available at other venues to be more                       Comments may be submitted by any of                   Deputy Secretary.
                                                    favorable. In such an environment, the                     the following methods:                                [FR Doc. 2016–23222 Filed 9–26–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    Exchange must continually adjust its
                                                                                                                                                                     BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    fees and rebates to remain competitive                       13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                                                                                                                 14 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
                                                      12 15                                                                                                            16 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                              U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).                                  15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).




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Document Created: 2016-09-27 01:18:58
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 01:18:58
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 66315 

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