81_FR_96396 81 FR 96146 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Reflect Updates to the Consolidated Trade Summary, Eliminate Re-Pricing in the Foreign Security Accounting Operation and Make Other Changes

81 FR 96146 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Reflect Updates to the Consolidated Trade Summary, Eliminate Re-Pricing in the Foreign Security Accounting Operation and Make Other Changes

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

Page Range96146-96149
FR Document2016-31472

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96146-96149]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31472]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79655; File No. SR-NSCC-2016-008]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing 
Corporation; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Reflect 
Updates to the Consolidated Trade Summary, Eliminate Re-Pricing in the 
Foreign Security Accounting Operation and Make Other Changes

December 22, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, as amended (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is 
hereby given that on December 15, 2016, National Securities Clearing 
Corporation (``NSCC'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared by the 
clearing agency. 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. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change consists of amendments to NSCC's Rules & 
Procedures (``Rules'') \3\ in order to (i) reflect updates that NSCC 
would make to the Consolidated Trade Summary (referred to herein as the 
``CTS'' and as the ``CTSs'' for more than one CTS), which is provided 
to Members and contains summarized trade obligation information, and 
(ii) eliminate the practice of re-pricing in the Foreign Security 
Accounting Operation. The proposed rule change would amend the 
following Rules: (i) Procedure II, Section H (Consolidated Trade 
Summaries), (ii) Procedure V, Section C (Net Balance Orders) and 
Section E (Consolidated Trade Summaries), (iii) Procedure VI, Section A 
(Introduction), Section B (Trade-for-Trade Foreign Security Receive and 
Deliver Instructions), and Section C (Netted Member-to-Member Receive 
and Deliver Instructions) and (iv) Procedure VII, Section B 
(Consolidated Trade Summary), as described in more detail below. In 
addition, the proposed rule change would make technical changes to 
clarify and correct certain provisions of the foregoing Rules, as 
described in greater detail below.
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    \3\ Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the 
Rules, available at http://dtcc.com/~/media/Files/Downloads/legal/
rules/nscc_rules.pdf.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency 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 clearing agency has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The current CTS \4\ output consists of a main file and two 
supplemental files as well as an additional file that reflects 
transactions in Foreign Securities.\5\ The

[[Page 96147]]

CTS is issued to Members as an iterative report three times a day: 
Beginning with the main CTS, which is issued at approximately 21:00 ET, 
then the first Supplemental CTS, which is issued at approximately 24:00 
ET, and finally, the second Supplemental CTS, which is issued the 
following business day at approximately 12:00 ET. Each iteration of the 
CTS contains the same type of summarized trade obligation information, 
however, depending on the time of day the iteration of the CTS is 
issued, it may be referred to as the ``Consolidated Trade Summary'' (or 
``CTS'') or a ``Supplemental Consolidated Trade Summary.'' Furthermore, 
any information contained in a prior CTS does not appear again in any 
successive CTS, including any later Supplemental CTS.\6\
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    \4\ The CTS is described in Procedure II (Trade Comparison and 
Recording Service), Procedure V (Balance Order Accounting Operation) 
and Procedure VII (CNS Accounting Operation).
    \5\ The Foreign Securities file is a transaction file reporting 
Foreign Securities trades as received. The transactions are netted 
in the foreign netting process to become balance orders, which are 
reported on the CTS. The current CTS reports the netted summary 
records and balance orders on T+1. The revised CTS would report 
Foreign Securities trades on trade date. The revised CTS will report 
both foreign and domestic netted transactions and the associated 
balance orders. By consolidating the Foreign Securities file and CTS 
files, Members would have only one file to support.
    \6\ The trade obligation information in the CTS is Member-
specific; it is not anonymized.
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    NSCC held numerous industry meetings in order to give Members an 
open forum to express their ideas about changes that are needed to the 
CTS. In order to address the Member feedback it received, NSCC would, 
with this proposed rule change: (1) Consolidate the file layouts into 
one common file layout, (2) provide more details in the revised CTSs, 
(3) discontinue a current output format (print image) and introduce a 
more user-friendly format (referred to as comma separated value or 
``CSV'') and an online query tool, (4) simplify the terminology in the 
Rules by referring to each iteration of the CTS as the ``Consolidated 
Trade Summary'' (instead of the way in which the Rules are currently 
drafted to refer to a ``Consolidated Trade Summary'' and a 
``Supplemental Consolidated Trade Summary''), and (5) discontinue the 
Foreign Securities transaction file because information contained in 
that additional file would be reflected in the revised CTSs, each of 
which is described below.
(i) Changes to the CTS and Technical Changes to the CTS-Related Rules
    First, the proposed rule change would consolidate the file layouts 
of the current CTSs into one common file layout that would be used for 
each of the three CTSs that are issued each day. Currently, each of the 
main CTS file, the supplemental CTS file, and the Foreign Securities 
file has its own individual file layout. NSCC would consolidate these 
multiple file layouts into one common file layout in the revised CTS 
file. Having one common layout in the revised CTS would eliminate the 
need for Members to maintain coding for multiple file layouts.
    Second, the proposal would update the CTS output file layout to 
provide Members with additional transparency and clarity regarding 
their trade summary, balance orders and receive and deliver 
instructions, which would help with reconciliation. For example, the 
current CTS output file layout specifies if a security is a CNS 
security or a non-CNS security but does not further clarify the non-CNS 
obligations as guaranteed or not guaranteed. Under the proposal, the 
CTS output file layout would be expanded to include a field for the 
guarantee/not guarantee designation to clearly indicate to users 
whether a trade obligation is guaranteed or not guaranteed. Other 
examples of new fields that would be added include: (1) Netting type to 
describe whether netted (e.g., multilaterally netted or bilaterally 
netted) or trade-for-trade instructions resulted, and (2) a net reason 
code to add clarity as to the netting type.
    Third, Members have also expressed interest in having NSCC change 
the current file format of the CTSs, which are currently available in 
print image format and machine-readable (``MRO'') format. As a result, 
NSCC would discontinue the current print image format while maintaining 
the current MRO format and would also introduce an online query tool. 
The print image format would be replaced by CSV which can be downloaded 
into spreadsheet programs. In addition to the three iterations of the 
CTS that would continue to be distributed to Members, Members would 
also be able to use a new online query tool to search information and 
create their own custom data view and custom reports. The new online 
query tool would enable users to research information that has been 
previously distributed in a CTS. Members have expressed interest in 
this change in file formats and the online query tool which allows 
results to be downloaded to spreadsheet programs.
    Fourth, from a Rules perspective, the terminology in Procedure II, 
Section H, Procedure V, Section E and Procedure VII, Section B would be 
revised, so that each CTS would be referred to as the ``Consolidated 
Trade Summary'' and more than one CTS would be referred to as the 
``Consolidated Trade Summaries.'' The proposed rule change would 
eliminate references to alternate terminology such as ``Supplemental 
Consolidated Trade Summary,'' ``Supplemental Consolidated Trade 
Summaries,'' and ``CTS.'' In addition, conforming changes would be made 
to Procedure V, Section C and Procedure VII, Section B to add phrases 
and terms such as ``next available,'' ``applicable'' and ``prior'' 
before references to ``Consolidated Trade Summary.'' Additional 
technical changes would be made to clarify that the CTS would continue 
to be issued to Members three times a day and would continue to be non-
cumulative; these changes would apply to Procedure II, Section H, 
Procedure V, Section E and Procedure VII, Section B. Procedure VII, 
Section B would also be amended to reflect the change in output format 
of the Consolidated Trade Summaries (specifically, because the print 
image format is being discontinued and the CSV format is being 
introduced, the Rules and terminology must be changed to use 
terminology consistent with the different format).
    Fifth, the Foreign Securities transaction file would be 
discontinued. Information that is currently in this additional file 
would be reflected in the revised CTSs.
    NSCC would continue to issue the CTSs to Members three times a day, 
at approximately the same intervals as it does today.\7\ The revised 
CTSs would continue to be iterative (i.e., any information that 
appeared on prior CTSs would not appear again on any successive CTSs), 
and also continue to be available in MRO format.
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    \7\ The header of the CTS output file would indicate whether the 
CTS is for Cycle 1 (i.e., the one issued at approximately 21:00 ET), 
Cycle 2 (i.e., the one issued at approximately 24:00 ET) or Cycle 3 
(i.e., the one issued at approximately 12:00 ET on the next business 
day).
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(ii) Discontinuation of the Re-Pricing of Foreign Securities and 
Technical Clarifications/Corrections to Procedure VI (Foreign Security 
Accounting Operation)
    Based on Member feedback, NSCC is also proposing to update the code 
associated with NSCC's Foreign Security Accounting Operation, which 
receives and processes Foreign Securities traded over-the-counter and 
settled in U.S. Dollars.\8\ The current foreign netting process 
aggregates Foreign Securities obligations, bilaterally nets these 
obligations and then re-prices these obligations using a uniform 
Settlement Price. As further explained below, NSCC is proposing to no 
longer re-price these Foreign Securities obligations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Procedure VI (Foreign Security Accounting Operation).
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    By way of background, Members often settle their Foreign Securities 
trades bilaterally in the local market prior to receiving the main CTS 
(which contains netted obligations marked to market

[[Page 96148]]

using the uniform Settlement Prices of such Foreign Securities). There 
is, therefore, a timing mismatch between the Members' settlement of 
Foreign Securities trades that are executed in U.S. Dollars and the 
distribution of the CTS to Members by NSCC. Currently, NSCC re-prices 
these Foreign Securities at the uniform Settlement Prices, creating 
potential cash adjustments that are not guaranteed by NSCC. For 
example, assume there are 10 trades of a Foreign Security which have 
been executed at different contract prices between Member A and Member 
B. First, these 10 trades are aggregated by NSCC so that there is a net 
buy obligation and a net sell obligation between Member A and Member B. 
The Foreign Securities trades may have been executed at different 
contract prices, so, today, NSCC applies the uniform Settlement Price 
to the netted buy obligation and the netted sell obligation. Re-pricing 
can create a cash adjustment for Members; this cash adjustment is not 
guaranteed by NSCC and is a concern for Members. For example, if a 
Member's respective counterparty in a trade becomes insolvent, then the 
solvent Member is liable for the cash adjustment because it is not 
guaranteed by NSCC. With this proposed rule change, the cash adjustment 
and the associated risk due to re-pricing would be eliminated, as 
requested by Members.\9\
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    \9\ A cash adjustment due to netting, however, is still 
possible, and would continue to be not guaranteed; this cash 
adjustment occurs because of the cash differences due to the netting 
process. A cash adjustment due to netting would arise, if, for 
example, Member A sold 5 shares of Security X for $20 and Member B 
bought 5 shares of Security X for $10. In this case, the shares 
would net out to zero, but there would be a cash adjustment of $10.
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    Foreign Securities would continue to be bilaterally netted, but 
would no longer be re-priced at uniform Settlement Prices. Instead, 
they would be bilaterally netted at their contract prices to eliminate 
the risk of a cash adjustment (which is not guaranteed by NSCC) due to 
re-pricing.
    To effectuate this proposed change, NSCC proposes to remove 
language in Procedure VI, Section C that permits NSCC to establish a 
uniform Settlement Price and calculate any related Foreign Security 
Clearance Cash Adjustment associated with the re-pricing. Unlike the 
underlying Foreign Securities transactions (which are settled in the 
local markets and not at NSCC), the payments of any Foreign Security 
Clearance Cash Adjustment (whether due to netting or re-pricing) 
related to those underlying Foreign Securities transactions are made 
through NSCC today and under the proposed rule change, this would 
continue to be the case with respect to Foreign Security Clearance Cash 
Adjustments that arise due to netting. The proposed rule change would 
revise the language in Procedure VI to clearly state that the failure 
of a Member to make payment of the Foreign Security Clearance Cash 
Adjustment with NSCC will cause NSCC to reverse all such cash 
adjustment debits and credits (rather than generally stating this would 
be caused by the failure to ``make settlement with the Corporation''). 
The proposed rule change would further clarify that neither the 
settlement of the underlying transaction nor the payment of the related 
Foreign Security Clearance Cash Adjustment would be guaranteed by NSCC 
(which is also the case today).\10\
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    \10\ Under the proposed rule change, only a Foreign Security 
Clearance Cash Adjustment due to re-pricing would be eliminated. A 
Foreign Security Clearance Cash Adjustment due to netting is still 
possible, so this Procedure is still applicable to such Foreign 
Security Clearance Cash Adjustments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional clarifying changes to Procedure VI include revising the 
reference from ``T+2'' in Section B to ``SD-1'' because Foreign 
Securities transactions are not always settled on T+3 (according to 
local market practices) and thus, are not always compared on T+2, as 
Section B of Procedure VI states. Therefore, using Settlement Date 
(i.e., ``SD'') as the reference point is more appropriate. Furthermore, 
Foreign Securities transactions are reported on the CTSs, which are 
Settlement Date-based. In addition, in Section C, ``produced'' would be 
revised to ``reported,'' because ``reported'' more accurately describes 
what occurs today--that is, NSCC reports the netted Member-to-Member 
receive and deliver instructions. In addition, the proposed rule change 
would make the following corrections: (i) The reference in Section C to 
``Foreign Security Clearing Cash Adjustment'' would be revised to the 
correct term, ``Foreign Security Clearance Cash Adjustment'' and (ii) 
the cross-references to ``Section II'' and ``Section IV'' in Section A 
would be replaced with references to ``Procedure II'' and ``Procedure 
IV,'' respectively.
Implementation Timeframe
    The proposed rule changes would become effective by July 14, 2017. 
After Commission approval of the proposed rule changes, a legend would 
be added to each of Procedures II, V, VI and VII stating that there are 
approved but not yet operative changes to the respective Procedure and 
specifying the applicable section or sections that would be amended by 
the proposed rule change. The legend would state that such changes 
would be operative by July 14, 2017, but if such changes become 
operative before July 14, 2017, NSCC would notify Members by Important 
Notice 30 days before the actual implementation date. The legend would 
also state that underlined and boldface text indicates new text and 
strikethrough and boldface text indicates deleted text. Additionally, 
the legend would include a reference to the file number of the proposed 
rule change and would state that once operative, the legend would 
automatically be removed from the Rules, and the formatting of the text 
of the changes in the applicable section or sections would 
automatically be revised to reflect that these changes have become 
operative.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended (``Act'') requires, in part, that the Rules be designed to 
promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of securities 
transactions and to protect investors and the public interest.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NSCC believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent with 
the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder 
applicable to NSCC, in particular Section 17(A)(b)(3)(F), because NSCC 
believes that the proposed rule changes would promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions in 
furtherance of the Act.\12\ Specifically, by updating the CTS to 
provide more details and information in one common file layout, the 
proposal would provide Members with more transparency and clarity 
regarding their trade obligations, which would help with reconciliation 
(including, for example, reconciliation of trades for settlement). 
Furthermore, Members would continue to receive the CTS three times a 
day, but would receive the CTS in a more user-friendly format (i.e., 
CSV) in addition to the current MRO format. With the new online query 
tool, Members would also be able to access trade obligation information 
that has been distributed in prior CTSs and customize searches of trade 
obligation information according to their needs. Therefore, NSCC 
believes that these changes to the CTS would make it a more effective 
tool for Members to manage their trade obligations and any associated 
risks, facilitating the protection of investors and the public

[[Page 96149]]

interest from such risks and also promoting the prompt and accurate 
clearance of securities transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NSCC believes that the proposed rule changes associated with the 
Foreign Security Accounting Operation also would promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions in 
furtherance of the Act.\13\ Specifically, the proposed rule change 
would address the timing mismatch between the receipt of the CTS by 
Members and the settlement of Foreign Securities trades in the local 
markets by Members by discontinuing the practice of re-pricing Foreign 
Securities at the uniform Settlement Prices. This change also would 
eliminate the possibility of a cash adjustment due to re-pricing and 
the associated risk that a solvent Member could be liable for the cash 
adjustment if its counterparty defaults because the cash adjustment is 
not guaranteed by NSCC. Therefore, NSCC believes that the proposed rule 
change would promote the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement 
of securities transactions in furtherance of the Act.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Id.
    \14\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, the proposed rule changes to (i) revise the CTS-
related terminology and to make the conforming language changes to the 
affected provisions in the Rules associated with the CTS and (ii) 
correct certain Rules, which have been described in detail above, would 
provide technical accuracy and additional clarity to Members, thereby 
also promoting the prompt and accurate clearance and settlement of 
securities transactions, consistent with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the 
Act.\15\
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    \15\ Id.
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed rule changes associated 
with the CTS would impose any burden on competition that is not 
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the Act, as described 
above.\16\ While the proposed rule changes relating to the CTS would 
require Members to make technological changes and thereby incur costs 
in doing so that may burden the Member competitively, the proposed rule 
changes have been structured to better meet the needs of Members. 
Specifically, the proposed rule changes associated with the CTS would 
meet Members' needs by revising the terminology in the Rules to be 
simpler, modifying the layout of the CTS to be clearer, and providing 
users with more information and transparency. In addition to continuing 
to receive the CTSs three times a day, Members would be able to access 
CTS information by using the online query tool. Moreover, the proposed 
rule changes associated with the CTS are appropriate in that such 
changes reflect Members' feedback. Consequently, NSCC believes that any 
burden on competition derived from the proposed rule changes would be 
necessary and appropriate in support of the beneficial objectives of 
the improvements in the CTS, which would be made in furtherance of the 
Act, as described above. Moreover, NSCC believes any such burden on 
competition derived from the proposed rule changes would not be 
significant because Members have requested these changes and were 
involved in developing the business requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NSCC does not believe that the proposed changes associated with the 
Foreign Security Accounting Operation would have any impact on 
competition. These changes do not require Members to make any coding 
changes or incur costs. Members would continue to accept output from 
NSCC associated with their activity in the Foreign Security Accounting 
Operation as they do today with the difference being that this output 
would no longer reflect the re-pricing discussed in detail above.

(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    NSCC has not received or solicited any written comments relating to 
this proposal. NSCC will notify the Commission of any written comments 
it receives.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be 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-NSCC-2016-008 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NSCC-2016-008. 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 NSCC and on 
DTCC's Web site (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx). 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-NSCC-2016-008 and should be 
submitted on or before January 19, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31472 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    96146                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       public in accordance with the                         Procedures (‘‘Rules’’) 3 in order to (i)
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                            provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   reflect updates that NSCC would make
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                      available for Web site viewing and                    to the Consolidated Trade Summary
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                        printing in the Commission’s Public                   (referred to herein as the ‘‘CTS’’ and as
                                                      No written comments were solicited                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                     the ‘‘CTSs’’ for more than one CTS),
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549, on official                     which is provided to Members and
                                                    or received with respect to the proposed
                                                                                                            business days between the hours of                    contains summarized trade obligation
                                                    rule change.
                                                                                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                information, and (ii) eliminate the
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       filing also will be available for                     practice of re-pricing in the Foreign
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     inspection and copying at the principal               Security Accounting Operation. The
                                                    Commission Action                                       office of the Exchange. All comments                  proposed rule change would amend the
                                                      Within 45 days of the date of                         received will be posted without change;               following Rules: (i) Procedure II, Section
                                                    publication of this notice in the Federal               the Commission does not edit personal                 H (Consolidated Trade Summaries), (ii)
                                                    Register or such longer period up to 90                 identifying information from                          Procedure V, Section C (Net Balance
                                                    days (i) as the Commission may                          submissions. You should submit only                   Orders) and Section E (Consolidated
                                                                                                            information that you wish to make                     Trade Summaries), (iii) Procedure VI,
                                                    designate if it finds such longer period
                                                                                                            available publicly. All submissions                   Section A (Introduction), Section B
                                                    to be appropriate and publishes its
                                                                                                            should refer to File Number SR–                       (Trade-for-Trade Foreign Security
                                                    reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
                                                                                                            NYSEMKT–2016–119, and should be                       Receive and Deliver Instructions), and
                                                    the self-regulatory organization
                                                                                                            submitted on or before January 19, 2017.              Section C (Netted Member-to-Member
                                                    consents, the Commission will:
                                                      (A) By order approve or disapprove                      For the Commission, by the Division of              Receive and Deliver Instructions) and
                                                    the proposed rule change, or                            Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            (iv) Procedure VII, Section B
                                                                                                            authority.21                                          (Consolidated Trade Summary), as
                                                      (B) institute proceedings to determine
                                                    whether the proposed rule change                        Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    described in more detail below. In
                                                    should be disapproved.                                  Assistant Secretary.                                  addition, the proposed rule change
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2016–31473 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]          would make technical changes to clarify
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                            BILLING CODE 2011–01–P                                and correct certain provisions of the
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                                                                           foregoing Rules, as described in greater
                                                    submit written data, views, and                                                                               detail below.
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                                                                                  II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                     COMMISSION
                                                                                                                                                                  Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                      [Release No. 34–79655; File No. SR–NSCC–              Proposed Rule Change
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                     2016–008]
                                                    the following methods:                                                                                           In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                                                                            Self-Regulatory Organizations;                        clearing agency included statements
                                                    Electronic Comments                                     National Securities Clearing                          concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                       • Use the Commission’s Internet                      Corporation; Notice of Filing of                      the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Proposed Rule Change To Reflect                       any comments it received on the
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                    Updates to the Consolidated Trade                     proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                       • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Summary, Eliminate Re-Pricing in the                  statements may be examined at the
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 Foreign Security Accounting Operation                 places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    NYSEMKT–2016–119 on the subject                         and Make Other Changes                                clearing agency has prepared
                                                    line.                                                                                                         summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
                                                                                                            December 22, 2016.                                    and C below, of the most significant
                                                    Paper Comments                                             Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                aspects of such statements.
                                                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                                                                                                            amended (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4                    (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
                                                    to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                                                                     Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
                                                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                   thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that
                                                                                                            on December 15, 2016, National                        Proposed Rule Change
                                                    NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                                                                            Securities Clearing Corporation                       1. Purpose
                                                    All submissions should refer to File
                                                                                                            (‘‘NSCC’’) filed with the Securities and                 The current CTS 4 output consists of
                                                    Number SR–NYSEMKT–2016–119. This
                                                                                                            Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’)
                                                    file number should be included on the                                                                         a main file and two supplemental files
                                                                                                            the proposed rule change as described
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                    as well as an additional file that reflects
                                                                                                            in Items I, II and III below, which Items
                                                    Commission process and review your                                                                            transactions in Foreign Securities.5 The
                                                                                                            have been prepared by the clearing
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                            agency. The Commission is publishing                     3 Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined
                                                    only one method. The Commission will
                                                                                                            this notice to solicit comments on the                in the Rules, available at http://dtcc.com/∼/media/
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                                                                            proposed rule change from interested                  Files/Downloads/legal/rules/nscc_rules.pdf.
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                           4 The CTS is described in Procedure II (Trade
                                                                                                            persons.
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                                                                               Comparison and Recording Service), Procedure V
                                                    submission, all subsequent                              I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the                 (Balance Order Accounting Operation) and
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                                                    amendments, all written statements                      Terms of Substance of the Proposed                    Procedure VII (CNS Accounting Operation).
                                                                                                                                                                     5 The Foreign Securities file is a transaction file
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule                       Rule Change
                                                                                                                                                                  reporting Foreign Securities trades as received. The
                                                    change that are filed with the                             The proposed rule change consists of               transactions are netted in the foreign netting
                                                    Commission, and all written                             amendments to NSCC’s Rules &                          process to become balance orders, which are
                                                    communications relating to the                                                                                reported on the CTS. The current CTS reports the
                                                                                                                                                                  netted summary records and balance orders on T+1.
                                                    proposed rule change between the                          21 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          The revised CTS would report Foreign Securities
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                     1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              trades on trade date. The revised CTS will report
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                       2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 both foreign and domestic netted transactions and



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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                                     96147

                                                    CTS is issued to Members as an iterative                for Members to maintain coding for                    VII, Section B to add phrases and terms
                                                    report three times a day: Beginning with                multiple file layouts.                                such as ‘‘next available,’’ ‘‘applicable’’
                                                    the main CTS, which is issued at                           Second, the proposal would update                  and ‘‘prior’’ before references to
                                                    approximately 21:00 ET, then the first                  the CTS output file layout to provide                 ‘‘Consolidated Trade Summary.’’
                                                    Supplemental CTS, which is issued at                    Members with additional transparency                  Additional technical changes would be
                                                    approximately 24:00 ET, and finally, the                and clarity regarding their trade                     made to clarify that the CTS would
                                                    second Supplemental CTS, which is                       summary, balance orders and receive                   continue to be issued to Members three
                                                    issued the following business day at                    and deliver instructions, which would                 times a day and would continue to be
                                                    approximately 12:00 ET. Each iteration                  help with reconciliation. For example,                non-cumulative; these changes would
                                                    of the CTS contains the same type of                    the current CTS output file layout                    apply to Procedure II, Section H,
                                                    summarized trade obligation                             specifies if a security is a CNS security             Procedure V, Section E and Procedure
                                                    information, however, depending on the                  or a non-CNS security but does not                    VII, Section B. Procedure VII, Section B
                                                    time of day the iteration of the CTS is                 further clarify the non-CNS obligations               would also be amended to reflect the
                                                    issued, it may be referred to as the                    as guaranteed or not guaranteed. Under                change in output format of the
                                                    ‘‘Consolidated Trade Summary’’ (or                      the proposal, the CTS output file layout              Consolidated Trade Summaries
                                                    ‘‘CTS’’) or a ‘‘Supplemental                            would be expanded to include a field                  (specifically, because the print image
                                                    Consolidated Trade Summary.’’                           for the guarantee/not guarantee                       format is being discontinued and the
                                                    Furthermore, any information contained                  designation to clearly indicate to users              CSV format is being introduced, the
                                                    in a prior CTS does not appear again in                 whether a trade obligation is guaranteed              Rules and terminology must be changed
                                                    any successive CTS, including any later                 or not guaranteed. Other examples of                  to use terminology consistent with the
                                                    Supplemental CTS.6                                      new fields that would be added include:               different format).
                                                       NSCC held numerous industry                          (1) Netting type to describe whether                     Fifth, the Foreign Securities
                                                    meetings in order to give Members an                    netted (e.g., multilaterally netted or                transaction file would be discontinued.
                                                    open forum to express their ideas about                 bilaterally netted) or trade-for-trade                Information that is currently in this
                                                    changes that are needed to the CTS. In                  instructions resulted, and (2) a net                  additional file would be reflected in the
                                                    order to address the Member feedback it                 reason code to add clarity as to the                  revised CTSs.
                                                    received, NSCC would, with this                         netting type.                                            NSCC would continue to issue the
                                                    proposed rule change: (1) Consolidate                      Third, Members have also expressed                 CTSs to Members three times a day, at
                                                    the file layouts into one common file                   interest in having NSCC change the                    approximately the same intervals as it
                                                    layout, (2) provide more details in the                 current file format of the CTSs, which                does today.7 The revised CTSs would
                                                    revised CTSs, (3) discontinue a current                 are currently available in print image                continue to be iterative (i.e., any
                                                    output format (print image) and                         format and machine-readable (‘‘MRO’’)                 information that appeared on prior CTSs
                                                    introduce a more user-friendly format                   format. As a result, NSCC would                       would not appear again on any
                                                    (referred to as comma separated value or                discontinue the current print image                   successive CTSs), and also continue to
                                                    ‘‘CSV’’) and an online query tool, (4)                  format while maintaining the current                  be available in MRO format.
                                                    simplify the terminology in the Rules by                MRO format and would also introduce
                                                    referring to each iteration of the CTS as               an online query tool. The print image                 (ii) Discontinuation of the Re-Pricing of
                                                    the ‘‘Consolidated Trade Summary’’                      format would be replaced by CSV which                 Foreign Securities and Technical
                                                    (instead of the way in which the Rules                  can be downloaded into spreadsheet                    Clarifications/Corrections to Procedure
                                                    are currently drafted to refer to a                     programs. In addition to the three                    VI (Foreign Security Accounting
                                                    ‘‘Consolidated Trade Summary’’ and a                    iterations of the CTS that would                      Operation)
                                                    ‘‘Supplemental Consolidated Trade                       continue to be distributed to Members,                   Based on Member feedback, NSCC is
                                                    Summary’’), and (5) discontinue the                     Members would also be able to use a                   also proposing to update the code
                                                    Foreign Securities transaction file                     new online query tool to search                       associated with NSCC’s Foreign
                                                    because information contained in that                   information and create their own                      Security Accounting Operation, which
                                                    additional file would be reflected in the               custom data view and custom reports.                  receives and processes Foreign
                                                    revised CTSs, each of which is                          The new online query tool would enable                Securities traded over-the-counter and
                                                    described below.                                        users to research information that has                settled in U.S. Dollars.8 The current
                                                                                                            been previously distributed in a CTS.                 foreign netting process aggregates
                                                    (i) Changes to the CTS and Technical                    Members have expressed interest in this
                                                    Changes to the CTS-Related Rules                                                                              Foreign Securities obligations,
                                                                                                            change in file formats and the online                 bilaterally nets these obligations and
                                                       First, the proposed rule change would                query tool which allows results to be                 then re-prices these obligations using a
                                                    consolidate the file layouts of the                     downloaded to spreadsheet programs.                   uniform Settlement Price. As further
                                                    current CTSs into one common file                          Fourth, from a Rules perspective, the              explained below, NSCC is proposing to
                                                    layout that would be used for each of                   terminology in Procedure II, Section H,               no longer re-price these Foreign
                                                    the three CTSs that are issued each day.                Procedure V, Section E and Procedure                  Securities obligations.
                                                    Currently, each of the main CTS file, the               VII, Section B would be revised, so that                 By way of background, Members often
                                                    supplemental CTS file, and the Foreign                  each CTS would be referred to as the                  settle their Foreign Securities trades
                                                    Securities file has its own individual                  ‘‘Consolidated Trade Summary’’ and                    bilaterally in the local market prior to
                                                    file layout. NSCC would consolidate                     more than one CTS would be referred to                receiving the main CTS (which contains
                                                    these multiple file layouts into one                    as the ‘‘Consolidated Trade
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                                                                                                                                                                  netted obligations marked to market
                                                    common file layout in the revised CTS                   Summaries.’’ The proposed rule change
                                                    file. Having one common layout in the                   would eliminate references to alternate                  7 The header of the CTS output file would
                                                    revised CTS would eliminate the need                    terminology such as ‘‘Supplemental                    indicate whether the CTS is for Cycle 1 (i.e., the one
                                                                                                            Consolidated Trade Summary,’’                         issued at approximately 21:00 ET), Cycle 2 (i.e., the
                                                    the associated balance orders. By consolidating the     ‘‘Supplemental Consolidated Trade                     one issued at approximately 24:00 ET) or Cycle 3
                                                    Foreign Securities file and CTS files, Members                                                                (i.e., the one issued at approximately 12:00 ET on
                                                    would have only one file to support.                    Summaries,’’ and ‘‘CTS.’’ In addition,                the next business day).
                                                      6 The trade obligation information in the CTS is      conforming changes would be made to                      8 See Procedure VI (Foreign Security Accounting

                                                    Member-specific; it is not anonymized.                  Procedure V, Section C and Procedure                  Operation).



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                                                    96148                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                    using the uniform Settlement Prices of                  today and under the proposed rule                     section or sections that would be
                                                    such Foreign Securities). There is,                     change, this would continue to be the                 amended by the proposed rule change.
                                                    therefore, a timing mismatch between                    case with respect to Foreign Security                 The legend would state that such
                                                    the Members’ settlement of Foreign                      Clearance Cash Adjustments that arise                 changes would be operative by July 14,
                                                    Securities trades that are executed in                  due to netting. The proposed rule                     2017, but if such changes become
                                                    U.S. Dollars and the distribution of the                change would revise the language in                   operative before July 14, 2017, NSCC
                                                    CTS to Members by NSCC. Currently,                      Procedure VI to clearly state that the                would notify Members by Important
                                                    NSCC re-prices these Foreign Securities                 failure of a Member to make payment of                Notice 30 days before the actual
                                                    at the uniform Settlement Prices,                       the Foreign Security Clearance Cash                   implementation date. The legend would
                                                    creating potential cash adjustments that                Adjustment with NSCC will cause                       also state that underlined and boldface
                                                    are not guaranteed by NSCC. For                         NSCC to reverse all such cash                         text indicates new text and
                                                    example, assume there are 10 trades of                  adjustment debits and credits (rather                 strikethrough and boldface text
                                                    a Foreign Security which have been                      than generally stating this would be                  indicates deleted text. Additionally, the
                                                    executed at different contract prices                   caused by the failure to ‘‘make                       legend would include a reference to the
                                                    between Member A and Member B.                          settlement with the Corporation’’). The               file number of the proposed rule change
                                                    First, these 10 trades are aggregated by                proposed rule change would further                    and would state that once operative, the
                                                    NSCC so that there is a net buy                         clarify that neither the settlement of the            legend would automatically be removed
                                                    obligation and a net sell obligation                    underlying transaction nor the payment                from the Rules, and the formatting of the
                                                    between Member A and Member B. The                      of the related Foreign Security                       text of the changes in the applicable
                                                    Foreign Securities trades may have been                 Clearance Cash Adjustment would be                    section or sections would automatically
                                                    executed at different contract prices, so,              guaranteed by NSCC (which is also the                 be revised to reflect that these changes
                                                    today, NSCC applies the uniform                         case today).10                                        have become operative.
                                                    Settlement Price to the netted buy                         Additional clarifying changes to
                                                                                                            Procedure VI include revising the                     2. Statutory Basis
                                                    obligation and the netted sell obligation.
                                                    Re-pricing can create a cash adjustment                 reference from ‘‘T+2’’ in Section B to                   Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Securities
                                                    for Members; this cash adjustment is not                ‘‘SD–1’’ because Foreign Securities                   Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
                                                    guaranteed by NSCC and is a concern                     transactions are not always settled on                (‘‘Act’’) requires, in part, that the Rules
                                                    for Members. For example, if a                          T+3 (according to local market                        be designed to promote the prompt and
                                                    Member’s respective counterparty in a                   practices) and thus, are not always                   accurate clearance and settlement of
                                                                                                            compared on T+2, as Section B of                      securities transactions and to protect
                                                    trade becomes insolvent, then the
                                                                                                            Procedure VI states. Therefore, using                 investors and the public interest.11
                                                    solvent Member is liable for the cash
                                                                                                            Settlement Date (i.e., ‘‘SD’’) as the                    NSCC believes that the proposed rule
                                                    adjustment because it is not guaranteed                                                                       changes are consistent with the
                                                    by NSCC. With this proposed rule                        reference point is more appropriate.
                                                                                                            Furthermore, Foreign Securities                       requirements of the Act and the rules
                                                    change, the cash adjustment and the                                                                           and regulations thereunder applicable to
                                                    associated risk due to re-pricing would                 transactions are reported on the CTSs,
                                                                                                            which are Settlement Date-based. In                   NSCC, in particular Section
                                                    be eliminated, as requested by                                                                                17(A)(b)(3)(F), because NSCC believes
                                                    Members.9                                               addition, in Section C, ‘‘produced’’
                                                                                                            would be revised to ‘‘reported,’’ because             that the proposed rule changes would
                                                       Foreign Securities would continue to
                                                                                                            ‘‘reported’’ more accurately describes                promote the prompt and accurate
                                                    be bilaterally netted, but would no
                                                                                                            what occurs today—that is, NSCC                       clearance and settlement of securities
                                                    longer be re-priced at uniform                                                                                transactions in furtherance of the Act.12
                                                    Settlement Prices. Instead, they would                  reports the netted Member-to-Member
                                                                                                            receive and deliver instructions. In                  Specifically, by updating the CTS to
                                                    be bilaterally netted at their contract                                                                       provide more details and information in
                                                    prices to eliminate the risk of a cash                  addition, the proposed rule change
                                                                                                            would make the following corrections:                 one common file layout, the proposal
                                                    adjustment (which is not guaranteed by                                                                        would provide Members with more
                                                    NSCC) due to re-pricing.                                (i) The reference in Section C to
                                                                                                            ‘‘Foreign Security Clearing Cash                      transparency and clarity regarding their
                                                       To effectuate this proposed change,
                                                                                                            Adjustment’’ would be revised to the                  trade obligations, which would help
                                                    NSCC proposes to remove language in
                                                                                                            correct term, ‘‘Foreign Security                      with reconciliation (including, for
                                                    Procedure VI, Section C that permits
                                                                                                            Clearance Cash Adjustment’’ and (ii) the              example, reconciliation of trades for
                                                    NSCC to establish a uniform Settlement
                                                                                                            cross-references to ‘‘Section II’’ and                settlement). Furthermore, Members
                                                    Price and calculate any related Foreign
                                                                                                            ‘‘Section IV’’ in Section A would be                  would continue to receive the CTS three
                                                    Security Clearance Cash Adjustment
                                                                                                            replaced with references to ‘‘Procedure               times a day, but would receive the CTS
                                                    associated with the re-pricing. Unlike
                                                                                                            II’’ and ‘‘Procedure IV,’’ respectively.              in a more user-friendly format (i.e., CSV)
                                                    the underlying Foreign Securities
                                                                                                                                                                  in addition to the current MRO format.
                                                    transactions (which are settled in the                  Implementation Timeframe                              With the new online query tool,
                                                    local markets and not at NSCC), the                       The proposed rule changes would                     Members would also be able to access
                                                    payments of any Foreign Security                        become effective by July 14, 2017. After              trade obligation information that has
                                                    Clearance Cash Adjustment (whether                      Commission approval of the proposed                   been distributed in prior CTSs and
                                                    due to netting or re-pricing) related to                rule changes, a legend would be added                 customize searches of trade obligation
                                                    those underlying Foreign Securities                     to each of Procedures II, V, VI and VII               information according to their needs.
                                                    transactions are made through NSCC                      stating that there are approved but not
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                                                                                                                                                                  Therefore, NSCC believes that these
                                                       9 A cash adjustment due to netting, however, is
                                                                                                            yet operative changes to the respective               changes to the CTS would make it a
                                                    still possible, and would continue to be not            Procedure and specifying the applicable               more effective tool for Members to
                                                    guaranteed; this cash adjustment occurs because of                                                            manage their trade obligations and any
                                                    the cash differences due to the netting process. A        10 Under the proposed rule change, only a Foreign
                                                                                                                                                                  associated risks, facilitating the
                                                    cash adjustment due to netting would arise, if, for     Security Clearance Cash Adjustment due to re-
                                                    example, Member A sold 5 shares of Security X for       pricing would be eliminated. A Foreign Security
                                                                                                                                                                  protection of investors and the public
                                                    $20 and Member B bought 5 shares of Security X          Clearance Cash Adjustment due to netting is still
                                                                                                                                                                    11 15    U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F).
                                                    for $10. In this case, the shares would net out to      possible, so this Procedure is still applicable to
                                                    zero, but there would be a cash adjustment of $10.      such Foreign Security Clearance Cash Adjustments.       12 Id.




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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 250 / Thursday, December 29, 2016 / Notices                                                96149

                                                    interest from such risks and also                           information and transparency. In                      change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    promoting the prompt and accurate                           addition to continuing to receive the                 Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                    clearance of securities transactions.                       CTSs three times a day, Members would                 the following methods:
                                                       NSCC believes that the proposed rule                     be able to access CTS information by
                                                    changes associated with the Foreign                                                                               Electronic Comments
                                                                                                                using the online query tool. Moreover,
                                                    Security Accounting Operation also                          the proposed rule changes associated                     • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                    would promote the prompt and accurate                       with the CTS are appropriate in that                  comment form
                                                    clearance and settlement of securities                      such changes reflect Members’ feedback.                  (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml);
                                                    transactions in furtherance of the Act.13                   Consequently, NSCC believes that any                  or
                                                    Specifically, the proposed rule change                      burden on competition derived from the                   • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                    would address the timing mismatch                           proposed rule changes would be                        sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                    between the receipt of the CTS by                           necessary and appropriate in support of               NSCC–2016–008 on the subject line.
                                                    Members and the settlement of Foreign                       the beneficial objectives of the                      Paper Comments
                                                    Securities trades in the local markets by                   improvements in the CTS, which would
                                                    Members by discontinuing the practice                       be made in furtherance of the Act, as                    • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                    of re-pricing Foreign Securities at the                     described above. Moreover, NSCC                       to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                    uniform Settlement Prices. This change                      believes any such burden on                           Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    also would eliminate the possibility of                     competition derived from the proposed                 Washington, DC 20549.
                                                    a cash adjustment due to re-pricing and                     rule changes would not be significant                 All submissions should refer to File
                                                    the associated risk that a solvent                          because Members have requested these                  Number SR–NSCC–2016–008. This file
                                                    Member could be liable for the cash                         changes and were involved in                          number should be included on the
                                                    adjustment if its counterparty defaults                     developing the business requirements.                 subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                    because the cash adjustment is not                            NSCC does not believe that the                      Commission process and review your
                                                    guaranteed by NSCC. Therefore, NSCC                         proposed changes associated with the                  comments more efficiently, please use
                                                    believes that the proposed rule change                      Foreign Security Accounting Operation                 only one method. The Commission will
                                                    would promote the prompt and accurate                       would have any impact on competition.                 post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                    clearance and settlement of securities                      These changes do not require Members                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    transactions in furtherance of the Act.14                   to make any coding changes or incur                   rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                       Additionally, the proposed rule                          costs. Members would continue to                      submission, all subsequent
                                                    changes to (i) revise the CTS-related                       accept output from NSCC associated                    amendments, all written statements
                                                    terminology and to make the                                 with their activity in the Foreign                    with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    conforming language changes to the                          Security Accounting Operation as they                 change that are filed with the
                                                    affected provisions in the Rules                            do today with the difference being that               Commission, and all written
                                                    associated with the CTS and (ii) correct                    this output would no longer reflect the               communications relating to the
                                                    certain Rules, which have been                              re-pricing discussed in detail above.                 proposed rule change between the
                                                    described in detail above, would                                                                                  Commission and any person, other than
                                                    provide technical accuracy and                              (C) Clearing Agency’s Statement on                    those that may be withheld from the
                                                    additional clarity to Members, thereby                      Comments on the Proposed Rule                         public in accordance with the
                                                    also promoting the prompt and accurate                      Change Received From Members,                         provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    clearance and settlement of securities                      Participants, or Others                               available for Web site viewing and
                                                    transactions, consistent with Section                         NSCC has not received or solicited                  printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.15                                  any written comments relating to this                 Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                                                                                proposal. NSCC will notify the                        Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    (B) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
                                                                                                                Commission of any written comments it                 business days between the hours of
                                                    Burden on Competition
                                                                                                                receives.                                             10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                      NSCC does not believe that the                                                                                  filing also will be available for
                                                    proposed rule changes associated with                       III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                                                                                      inspection and copying at the principal
                                                    the CTS would impose any burden on                          Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for
                                                                                                                                                                      office of NSCC and on DTCC’s Web site
                                                    competition that is not necessary or                        Commission Action
                                                                                                                                                                      (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-
                                                    appropriate in furtherance of the Act, as                      Within 45 days of the date of                      filings.aspx). All comments received
                                                    described above.16 While the proposed                       publication of this notice in the Federal             will be posted without change; the
                                                    rule changes relating to the CTS would                      Register or within such longer period                 Commission does not edit personal
                                                    require Members to make technological                       up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may               identifying information from
                                                    changes and thereby incur costs in                          designate if it finds such longer period              submissions. You should submit only
                                                    doing so that may burden the Member                         to be appropriate and publishes its                   information that you wish to make
                                                    competitively, the proposed rule                            reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which            available publicly. All submissions
                                                    changes have been structured to better                      the self-regulatory organization                      should refer to File Number SR–NSCC–
                                                    meet the needs of Members.                                  consents, the Commission will:                        2016–008 and should be submitted on
                                                    Specifically, the proposed rule changes                        (A) By order approve or disapprove                 or before January 19, 2017.
                                                    associated with the CTS would meet                          such proposed rule change, or
                                                                                                                                                                        For the Commission, by the Division of
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                                                    Members’ needs by revising the                                 (B) institute proceedings to determine
                                                                                                                                                                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    terminology in the Rules to be simpler,                     whether the proposed rule change
                                                                                                                                                                      authority.17
                                                    modifying the layout of the CTS to be                       should be disapproved.
                                                                                                                                                                      Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                    clearer, and providing users with more                      IV. Solicitation of Comments                          Assistant Secretary.
                                                      13 Id.                                                      Interested persons are invited to                   [FR Doc. 2016–31472 Filed 12–28–16; 8:45 am]
                                                      14 Id.                                                    submit written data, views and                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                      15 Id.                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                      16 15    U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(I).                           including whether the proposed rule                     17 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2016-12-29 01:59:00
Document Modified: 2016-12-29 01:59:00
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 96146 

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