82_FR_22132 82 FR 22042 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3x Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3x Shares Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200

82 FR 22042 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3x Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3x Shares Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 90 (May 11, 2017)

Page Range22042-22044
FR Document2017-09522

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 90 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 90 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22042-22044]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09522]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80606; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-05]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Instituting 
Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed 
Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 
3x Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3x Shares Under NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 8.200

May 5, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On January 23, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``NYSE 
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ a 
proposed rule change to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of Direxion 
Daily Crude Oil Bull 3x Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3x 
Shares (each a ``Fund,'' and collectively the ``Funds'') under NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 8.200. The proposed rule change was published for 
comment in the Federal Register on February 7, 2017.\4\ On March 16, 
2017, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\5\ the Commission 
designated a longer period within which to approve the proposed rule 
change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings 
to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change.\6\ The 
Commission has received no comments on the proposed rule change. This 
order institutes proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \7\ 
to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79916 (February 1, 
2017), 82 FR 9608 (``Notice'').
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80265 (March 22, 
2017), 82 FR 14778. The Commission designated May 8, 2017 as the 
date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or 
institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the 
proposed rule change.
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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II. Exchange's Description of the Proposal

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares of the Funds under 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200, Commentary .02, which governs the 
listing and trading of Trust Issued Receipts.\8\ Each Fund is a series 
of the Direxion Shares ETF Trust II (``Trust''), a Delaware statutory 
trust.\9\ The Trust and the Funds are managed and controlled by 
Direxion Asset Management, LLC (``Sponsor'').\10\ Bank of New York 
Mellon will be the custodian and transfer agent for the Funds. U.S. 
Bancorp Fund Services, LLC is the administrator for the Funds. Foreside 
Fund Services, LLC serves as the distributor of the Shares.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Commentary .02 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200 applies to 
Trust Issued Receipts that invest in ``Financial Instruments.'' The 
term ``Financial Instruments,'' as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) 
to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200, means any combination of 
investments, including cash; securities; options on securities and 
indices; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; forward 
contracts; equity caps, collars, and floors; and swap agreements.
    \9\ According to the Exchange, on December 14, 2016, the Trust 
filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 under 
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Funds (File 
No. 333-215091) (``Registration Statement'').
    \10\ According to the Exchange, the Sponsor is registered as a 
commodity pool operator with the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission and is a member of the National Futures Association. See 
Notice, supra note 4, 82 FR at 9608.
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    The Exchange has made the following representations and statements 
in describing the Funds and their investment strategies, including the 
Funds' portfolio holdings and investment restrictions.\11\
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    \11\ The Commission notes that additional information regarding 
the Trust, the Funds, and the Shares, including investment 
strategies, risks, net asset value (``NAV'') calculation, creation 
and redemption procedures, fees, availability of information, 
trading rules and halts, surveillance, information bulletins, 
distributions, and taxes, among other information, is included in 
the Notice and the Registration Statement, as applicable. See Notice 
and Registration Statement, supra notes 4 and 9, respectively.
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A. Investment Objectives of the Funds

    The investment objective of the Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3X 
Shares is to seek, on a daily basis,\12\ investment results that 
correspond (before fees and expenses) to a multiple three times (3x) of 
the daily performance of the Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil Subindex\SM\ (a 
subindex of the Bloomberg Commodity Index\SM\) (``Benchmark'').\13\ The 
investment objective of the Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3X Shares is 
to seek, on a daily basis,\14\ investment results that correspond 
(before fees and expenses) to three times (3x) the inverse of the 
performance of the Benchmark. The Benchmark is intended to reflect the 
performance of crude oil as measured by the price of West Texas 
Intermediate crude oil futures contracts traded on the New York 
Mercantile Exchange (which is part of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange), 
including the impact of rolling,\15\ without regard to income earned on 
cash positions. According to the Exchange, the Funds will not be 
directly linked to the ``spot'' price of crude oil.\16\
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    \12\ According to the Exchange, the Funds do not seek to achieve 
their investment objectives over a period greater than a single 
trading day. The Exchange states that a single trading day is 
measured from the time a Fund calculates its NAV to the time of a 
Fund's next NAV calculation. The Exchange states that the return of 
a Fund for a period longer than a single trading day is the result 
of its return for each day compounded over the period and thus will 
usually differ from a Fund's multiple times the return of the 
Benchmark for the same period. See Notice, supra note 4, 82 FR at 
9609.
    \13\ According to the Exchange, the Benchmark is a ``rolling 
index,'' which means that the index does not take physical 
possession of any commodities. See id. at 9609 n.7.
    \14\ See supra note 12.
    \15\ The Exchange states that futures contracts held by the 
Funds near expiration are generally closed out and replaced by 
contracts with a later expiration as required by the Benchmark. The 
Exchange states that this process is referred to as ``rolling,'' and 
that the Funds do not intend to hold futures contracts through 
expiration, but instead to ``roll'' their respective positions. See 
Notice, supra note 4, 82 FR at 9609 n.8.
    \16\ See id. at 9609.
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B. Investments of the Funds

    In seeking to achieve the Funds' investment objectives, the 
Exchange states that the Sponsor will utilize a mathematical approach 
to determine the type, quantity, and mix of investment positions that 
the Sponsor believes, in combination, should produce daily returns 
consistent with the Funds' respective objectives.\17\ The Sponsor would 
rely on a pre-determined model to generate orders that result in 
repositioning the Funds' investments in accordance with their 
respective investment objectives.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See id.
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    According to the Exchange, each Fund will seek to achieve its 
investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions,\18\ 
substantially all of

[[Page 22043]]

its assets in oil futures contracts traded in the U.S. and listed 
options on such contracts (such futures contracts and options are 
collectively referred to as ``Futures Contracts''). The Funds' 
investments in Futures Contracts will be used to produce economically 
``leveraged'' or ``inverse leveraged'' investment results for the 
Funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The Exchange states that the term ``normal market 
conditions'' includes, but is not limited to, the absence of trading 
halts in the applicable financial markets generally; operational 
issues (e.g., systems failure) causing dissemination of inaccurate 
market information; or force majeure type events such as natural or 
manmade disaster, act of God, armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot 
or labor disruption or any similar intervening circumstance. See id. 
at 9609 n.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the event position or accountability limits are reached with 
respect to Futures Contracts,\19\ each Fund may obtain exposure to the 
Benchmark through investment in swap transactions and forward contracts 
referencing the Benchmark or other benchmarks the Sponsor believes 
should be closely correlated to the performance of each Fund's 
benchmark, such as the Energy Select Sector Index or the S&P Oil & Gas 
Exploration & Production Select Industry Index (such swap transactions 
and forward contracts are collectively referred to as ``Financial 
Instruments''). To the extent that the Trust invests in Financial 
Instruments, it would first make use of exchange-traded Financial 
Instruments, if available. If an investment in exchange-traded 
Financial Instruments is unavailable, then the Trust would invest in 
Financial Instruments that clear through derivatives clearing 
organizations that satisfy the Trust's criteria, if available. If an 
investment in cleared Financial Instruments is unavailable, then the 
Trust would invest in other Financial Instruments, including uncleared 
Financial Instruments in the over-the-counter (``OTC'') market. The 
Funds may also invest in Financial Instruments if the market for a 
specific futures contract experiences emergencies (e.g., natural 
disaster, terrorist attack, or an act of God) or disruptions (e.g., a 
trading halt or a flash crash) that prevent or make it impractical for 
a Fund to obtain the appropriate amount of investment exposure using 
Futures Contracts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ According to the Exchange, U.S. futures exchanges have 
established accountability levels and position limits on the maximum 
net long or net short Futures Contracts in commodity interests that 
any person or group of persons under common trading control (other 
than as a hedge, which an investment by a Fund is not) may hold, 
own, or control. These levels and position limits apply to the 
Futures Contracts that each Fund would invest in to meet its 
investment objective. According to the Exchange, in addition to 
accountability levels and position limits, U.S. futures exchanges 
also set daily price fluctuation limits on Futures Contracts. The 
daily price fluctuation limit establishes the maximum amount that 
the price of a Futures Contract may vary either up or down from the 
previous day's settlement price. See id. at 9609.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Funds will invest such that each Fund's exposure to the 
Benchmark will consist substantially of Futures Contracts. The Funds' 
remaining net assets may be invested in cash or cash equivalents and/or 
U.S. Treasury securities or other high credit quality, short-term 
fixed-income or similar securities (such as shares of money market 
funds and collateralized repurchase agreements) for direct investment 
or as collateral for the Funds' investments.
    The Funds do not intend to hold Futures Contracts through 
expiration, but instead to ``roll'' their respective positions.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ The Exchange states that when the market for these 
contracts is such that the prices are higher in the more distant 
delivery months than in the nearer delivery months, the sale during 
the course of the ``rolling process'' of the more nearby contract 
would take place at a price that is lower than the price of the more 
distant contract. This pattern of higher futures prices for longer 
expiration Futures Contracts is referred to as ``contango.'' 
Alternatively, when the market for these contracts is such that the 
prices are higher in the nearer months than in the more distant 
months, the sale during the course of the ``rolling process'' of the 
more nearby contract would take place at a price that is higher than 
the price of the more distant contract. This pattern of higher 
futures prices for shorter expiration futures contracts is referred 
to as ``backwardation.'' According to the Exchange, the presence of 
contango in certain Futures Contracts at the time of rolling could 
adversely affect a Fund with long positions, and positively affect a 
Fund with short positions. Similarly, the presence of backwardation 
in certain futures contracts at the time of rolling such contracts 
could adversely affect a Fund with short positions and positively 
affect a Fund with long positions. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange states that the Funds do not expect to have leveraged 
exposure greater than three times (3x) the Funds' net assets. Thus, the 
maximum margin held at a Future Commission Merchant would not exceed 
three times the margin requirement for either Fund.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange represents that not more than 10% of the net assets of 
a Fund in the aggregate invested in Futures Contracts shall consist of 
Futures Contracts whose principal market is not a member of the 
Intermarket Surveillance Group or is a market with which the Exchange 
does not have in place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.

III. Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove SR-
NYSEArca-2017-05 and Grounds for Disapproval Under Consideration

    The Commission is instituting proceedings pursuant to Section 
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \22\ to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be approved or disapproved. Institution of such 
proceedings is appropriate at this time in view of the legal and policy 
issues raised by the proposed rule change. Institution of proceedings 
does not indicate that the Commission has reached any conclusions with 
respect to any of the issues involved. Rather, as described below, the 
Commission seeks and encourages interested persons to provide comments 
on the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\23\ the Commission is 
providing notice of the grounds for disapproval under consideration. 
The Commission is instituting proceedings to allow for additional 
analysis of the proposed rule change's consistency with Section 6(b)(5) 
of the Act, which requires, among other things, that the rules of a 
national securities exchange be ``designed to prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade,'' and ``to protect investors and the public 
interest.'' \24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Id.
    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the proposal, each Fund will seek to achieve its investment 
objective by investing in Financial Instruments, which, according to 
the Exchange, could include uncleared OTC swap transactions and forward 
contracts.\25\ The Exchange states that each Fund's total portfolio 
composition will be disclosed each business day that the Exchange is 
open for trading on the Funds' Web site. The Web site disclosure will 
include, with respect to the Futures Contracts and Financial 
Instruments, their name, percentage weighting, and value. The 
Commission seeks commenters' views on the sufficiency of the 
information that would be provided with respect to each Fund's 
Financial Instruments, and whether the information will allow market 
participants to value these interests intraday.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See Notice, supra note 4, at 9609.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, under the proposal, the investment objective of the 
Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3X Shares is to seek, on a daily basis, 
investment results that correspond (before fees and expenses) to a 
multiple three times (3x) of the daily performance of the Benchmark, 
and the investment objective of the Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3X 
Shares is to seek, on a daily basis, investment results that correspond 
(before fees and expenses) to three times (3x) the inverse of the 
performance of the Benchmark. The Exchange's filing does not address 
whether the value of the Benchmark will be publicly disseminated, and, 
if

[[Page 22044]]

so, by whom and how often. The Commission seeks commenters' views on 
the sufficiency of the Exchange's discussion regarding dissemination of 
the value of the Benchmark on which the investment objectives of the 
Funds are based.
    Furthermore, in its filing the Exchange fails to include a 
representation that all statements and representations in the proposal 
regarding the applicability of Exchange listing rules specified in the 
proposal shall constitute continued listing requirements for listing 
the Shares on the Exchange.\26\ The Commission seeks commenter's views 
on whether the Exchange's statements in the filing relating to the 
applicability of continued listing requirements for listing and trading 
of the Shares on the Exchange are sufficient to support a determination 
that the listing and trading of the Shares would be consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The Commission notes that the Exchange has made this 
representation in other proposed rule changes to list and trade 
Trust Issued Receipts. See, e.g., Amendment No. 1 to Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 79917 (February 1, 2017), 82 FR 9620 
(February 7, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2017-07), available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-07/nysearca201707-1630210-137426.pdf; Amendment No. 2 to Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
79742 (January 5, 2017), 82 FR 3366 (January 11, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-
2016-173), available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2016-173/nysearca2016173-1678044-149322.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Procedure: Request for Written Comments

    The Commission requests that interested persons provide written 
submissions of their views, data, and arguments with respect to the 
issues identified above, as well as any other concerns they may have 
with the proposal. In particular, the Commission invites the written 
views of interested persons concerning whether the proposal is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) or any other provision of the Act, or 
the rules and regulations thereunder. Although there do not appear to 
be any issues relevant to approval or disapproval that would be 
facilitated by an oral presentation of views, data, and arguments, the 
Commission will consider, pursuant to Rule 19b-4, any request for an 
opportunity to make an oral presentation.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, as amended by the Securities 
Act Amendments of 1975, Pub. L. 94-29 (June 4, 1975), grants the 
Commission flexibility to determine what type of proceeding--either 
oral or notice and opportunity for written comments--is appropriate 
for consideration of a particular proposal by a self-regulatory 
organization. See Securities Act Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm. on 
Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th Cong., 1st 
Sess. 30 (1975).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments regarding whether the proposal should be approved or 
disapproved by June 12, 2017. Any person who wishes to file a rebuttal 
to any other person's submission must file that rebuttal by June 26, 
2017. The Commission asks that commenters address the sufficiency of 
the Exchange's statements in support of the proposal, which are set 
forth in the Notice,\28\ in addition to any other comments they may 
wish to submit about the proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-05 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Numbers SR-NYSEArca-2017-05. 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-2017-05 and should 
be submitted on or before June 12, 2017 Rebuttal comments should be 
submitted by June 26, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\29\
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    \29\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-09522 Filed 5-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    22042                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 90 / Thursday, May 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Nos. 2, 3, and 4, be, and it hereby is,                 the Act 7 to determine whether to                        results that correspond (before fees and
                                                    approved.                                               approve or disapprove the proposed                       expenses) to a multiple three times (3x)
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                rule change.                                             of the daily performance of the
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                                                                       Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil SubindexSM
                                                                                                            II. Exchange’s Description of the
                                                    authority.35                                                                                                     (a subindex of the Bloomberg
                                                                                                            Proposal
                                                    Eduardo A. Aleman,                                                                                               Commodity IndexSM) (‘‘Benchmark’’).13
                                                    Assistant Secretary.                                       The Exchange proposes to list and                     The investment objective of the
                                                                                                            trade Shares of the Funds under NYSE                     Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bear 3X
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–09530 Filed 5–10–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            Arca Equities Rule 8.200, Commentary                     Shares is to seek, on a daily basis,14
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                            .02, which governs the listing and                       investment results that correspond
                                                                                                            trading of Trust Issued Receipts.8 Each                  (before fees and expenses) to three times
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 Fund is a series of the Direxion Shares                  (3x) the inverse of the performance of
                                                    COMMISSION                                              ETF Trust II (‘‘Trust’’), a Delaware                     the Benchmark. The Benchmark is
                                                                                                            statutory trust.9 The Trust and the                      intended to reflect the performance of
                                                    [Release No. 34–80606; File No. SR–                     Funds are managed and controlled by                      crude oil as measured by the price of
                                                    NYSEArca-2017–05]                                       Direxion Asset Management, LLC                           West Texas Intermediate crude oil
                                                                                                            (‘‘Sponsor’’).10 Bank of New York                        futures contracts traded on the New
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                     Mellon will be the custodian and                         York Mercantile Exchange (which is
                                                    Arca, Inc.; Order Instituting                           transfer agent for the Funds. U.S.                       part of the Chicago Mercantile
                                                    Proceedings To Determine Whether To                     Bancorp Fund Services, LLC is the                        Exchange), including the impact of
                                                    Approve or Disapprove a Proposed                        administrator for the Funds. Foreside                    rolling,15 without regard to income
                                                    Rule Change To List and Trade Shares                    Fund Services, LLC serves as the                         earned on cash positions. According to
                                                    of Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3x                     distributor of the Shares.                               the Exchange, the Funds will not be
                                                    Shares and Direxion Daily Crude Oil                        The Exchange has made the following                   directly linked to the ‘‘spot’’ price of
                                                    Bear 3x Shares Under NYSE Arca                          representations and statements in                        crude oil.16
                                                    Equities Rule 8.200                                     describing the Funds and their
                                                                                                            investment strategies, including the                     B. Investments of the Funds
                                                    May 5, 2017.
                                                                                                            Funds’ portfolio holdings and                              In seeking to achieve the Funds’
                                                    I. Introduction                                         investment restrictions.11                               investment objectives, the Exchange
                                                       On January 23, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc.                                                                          states that the Sponsor will utilize a
                                                                                                            A. Investment Objectives of the Funds
                                                    (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed                                                                            mathematical approach to determine the
                                                    with the Securities and Exchange                           The investment objective of the                       type, quantity, and mix of investment
                                                    Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                   Direxion Daily Crude Oil Bull 3X Shares                  positions that the Sponsor believes, in
                                                    to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities                 is to seek, on a daily basis,12 investment               combination, should produce daily
                                                    Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule                                                                        returns consistent with the Funds’
                                                                                                              7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
                                                    19b–4 thereunder,3 a proposed rule                                                                               respective objectives.17 The Sponsor
                                                                                                              8 Commentary    .02 to NYSE Arca Equities Rule
                                                    change to list and trade shares                                                                                  would rely on a pre-determined model
                                                                                                            8.200 applies to Trust Issued Receipts that invest
                                                    (‘‘Shares’’) of Direxion Daily Crude Oil                in ‘‘Financial Instruments.’’ The term ‘‘Financial       to generate orders that result in
                                                    Bull 3x Shares and Direxion Daily                       Instruments,’’ as defined in Commentary .02(b)(4) to     repositioning the Funds’ investments in
                                                    Crude Oil Bear 3x Shares (each a                        NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200, means any                 accordance with their respective
                                                                                                            combination of investments, including cash;              investment objectives.
                                                    ‘‘Fund,’’ and collectively the ‘‘Funds’’)               securities; options on securities and indices; futures
                                                    under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.200.                    contracts; options on futures contracts; forward           According to the Exchange, each
                                                    The proposed rule change was                            contracts; equity caps, collars, and floors; and swap    Fund will seek to achieve its investment
                                                    published for comment in the Federal                    agreements.                                              objectives by investing, under normal
                                                                                                              9 According to the Exchange, on December 14,
                                                    Register on February 7, 2017.4 On                                                                                market conditions,18 substantially all of
                                                                                                            2016, the Trust filed with the Commission a
                                                    March 16, 2017, pursuant to Section                     registration statement on Form S–1 under the
                                                    19(b)(2) of the Act,5 the Commission                    Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the      of its return for each day compounded over the
                                                                                                            Funds (File No. 333–215091) (‘‘Registration              period and thus will usually differ from a Fund’s
                                                    designated a longer period within which                                                                          multiple times the return of the Benchmark for the
                                                                                                            Statement’’).
                                                    to approve the proposed rule change,                      10 According to the Exchange, the Sponsor is           same period. See Notice, supra note 4, 82 FR at
                                                    disapprove the proposed rule change, or                 registered as a commodity pool operator with the
                                                                                                                                                                     9609.
                                                                                                                                                                        13 According to the Exchange, the Benchmark is
                                                    institute proceedings to determine                      Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is a
                                                                                                                                                                     a ‘‘rolling index,’’ which means that the index does
                                                    whether to disapprove the proposed                      member of the National Futures Association. See
                                                                                                                                                                     not take physical possession of any commodities.
                                                    rule change.6 The Commission has                        Notice, supra note 4, 82 FR at 9608.
                                                                                                              11 The Commission notes that additional                See id. at 9609 n.7.
                                                    received no comments on the proposed                    information regarding the Trust, the Funds, and the
                                                                                                                                                                        14 See supra note 12.

                                                    rule change. This order institutes                      Shares, including investment strategies, risks, net
                                                                                                                                                                        15 The Exchange states that futures contracts held

                                                    proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of                asset value (‘‘NAV’’) calculation, creation and          by the Funds near expiration are generally closed
                                                                                                            redemption procedures, fees, availability of             out and replaced by contracts with a later
                                                      35 17                                                 information, trading rules and halts, surveillance,      expiration as required by the Benchmark. The
                                                            CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                                     Exchange states that this process is referred to as
                                                      1 15                                                  information bulletins, distributions, and taxes,
                                                           U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                                                                         ‘‘rolling,’’ and that the Funds do not intend to hold
                                                      2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
                                                                                                            among other information, is included in the Notice
                                                                                                            and the Registration Statement, as applicable. See       futures contracts through expiration, but instead to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                                                                            ‘‘roll’’ their respective positions. See Notice, supra
                                                                                                            Notice and Registration Statement, supra notes 4
                                                      4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79916
                                                                                                            and 9, respectively.                                     note 4, 82 FR at 9609 n.8.
                                                    (February 1, 2017), 82 FR 9608 (‘‘Notice’’).              12 According to the Exchange, the Funds do not            16 See id. at 9609.
                                                      5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).                                                                                            17 See id.
                                                                                                            seek to achieve their investment objectives over a
                                                      6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80265       period greater than a single trading day. The               18 The Exchange states that the term ‘‘normal

                                                    (March 22, 2017), 82 FR 14778. The Commission           Exchange states that a single trading day is             market conditions’’ includes, but is not limited to,
                                                    designated May 8, 2017 as the date by which the         measured from the time a Fund calculates its NAV         the absence of trading halts in the applicable
                                                    Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or       to the time of a Fund’s next NAV calculation. The        financial markets generally; operational issues (e.g.,
                                                    institute proceedings to determine whether to           Exchange states that the return of a Fund for a          systems failure) causing dissemination of inaccurate
                                                    disapprove, the proposed rule change.                   period longer than a single trading day is the result    market information; or force majeure type events



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 90 / Thursday, May 11, 2017 / Notices                                                         22043

                                                    its assets in oil futures contracts traded                 The Funds will invest such that each                   appropriate at this time in view of the
                                                    in the U.S. and listed options on such                   Fund’s exposure to the Benchmark will                    legal and policy issues raised by the
                                                    contracts (such futures contracts and                    consist substantially of Futures                         proposed rule change. Institution of
                                                    options are collectively referred to as                  Contracts. The Funds’ remaining net                      proceedings does not indicate that the
                                                    ‘‘Futures Contracts’’). The Funds’                       assets may be invested in cash or cash                   Commission has reached any
                                                    investments in Futures Contracts will be                 equivalents and/or U.S. Treasury                         conclusions with respect to any of the
                                                    used to produce economically                             securities or other high credit quality,                 issues involved. Rather, as described
                                                    ‘‘leveraged’’ or ‘‘inverse leveraged’’                   short-term fixed-income or similar                       below, the Commission seeks and
                                                    investment results for the Funds.                        securities (such as shares of money                      encourages interested persons to
                                                       In the event position or accountability               market funds and collateralized                          provide comments on the proposed rule
                                                    limits are reached with respect to                       repurchase agreements) for direct                        change.
                                                    Futures Contracts,19 each Fund may                       investment or as collateral for the                         Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
                                                    obtain exposure to the Benchmark                         Funds’ investments.                                      Act,23 the Commission is providing
                                                    through investment in swap                                 The Funds do not intend to hold                        notice of the grounds for disapproval
                                                    transactions and forward contracts                       Futures Contracts through expiration,                    under consideration. The Commission is
                                                    referencing the Benchmark or other                       but instead to ‘‘roll’’ their respective                 instituting proceedings to allow for
                                                    benchmarks the Sponsor believes                          positions.20                                             additional analysis of the proposed rule
                                                    should be closely correlated to the                        The Exchange states that the Funds do                  change’s consistency with Section
                                                    performance of each Fund’s benchmark,                    not expect to have leveraged exposure                    6(b)(5) of the Act, which requires,
                                                    such as the Energy Select Sector Index                   greater than three times (3x) the Funds’                 among other things, that the rules of a
                                                    or the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration &                       net assets. Thus, the maximum margin                     national securities exchange be
                                                    Production Select Industry Index (such                   held at a Future Commission Merchant                     ‘‘designed to prevent fraudulent and
                                                    swap transactions and forward contracts                  would not exceed three times the                         manipulative acts and practices, to
                                                    are collectively referred to as ‘‘Financial              margin requirement for either Fund.21                    promote just and equitable principles of
                                                    Instruments’’). To the extent that the                     The Exchange represents that not                       trade,’’ and ‘‘to protect investors and the
                                                    Trust invests in Financial Instruments,                  more than 10% of the net assets of a                     public interest.’’ 24
                                                    it would first make use of exchange-                     Fund in the aggregate invested in                           Under the proposal, each Fund will
                                                    traded Financial Instruments, if                         Futures Contracts shall consist of                       seek to achieve its investment objective
                                                    available. If an investment in exchange-                 Futures Contracts whose principal                        by investing in Financial Instruments,
                                                    traded Financial Instruments is                          market is not a member of the                            which, according to the Exchange, could
                                                    unavailable, then the Trust would invest                 Intermarket Surveillance Group or is a                   include uncleared OTC swap
                                                    in Financial Instruments that clear                      market with which the Exchange does                      transactions and forward contracts.25
                                                                                                             not have in place a comprehensive                        The Exchange states that each Fund’s
                                                    through derivatives clearing
                                                                                                             surveillance sharing agreement.                          total portfolio composition will be
                                                    organizations that satisfy the Trust’s
                                                                                                                                                                      disclosed each business day that the
                                                    criteria, if available. If an investment in              III. Proceedings To Determine Whether                    Exchange is open for trading on the
                                                    cleared Financial Instruments is                         To Approve or Disapprove SR–                             Funds’ Web site. The Web site
                                                    unavailable, then the Trust would invest                 NYSEArca–2017–05 and Grounds for                         disclosure will include, with respect to
                                                    in other Financial Instruments,                          Disapproval Under Consideration                          the Futures Contracts and Financial
                                                    including uncleared Financial
                                                                                                                The Commission is instituting                         Instruments, their name, percentage
                                                    Instruments in the over-the-counter
                                                                                                             proceedings pursuant to Section                          weighting, and value. The Commission
                                                    (‘‘OTC’’) market. The Funds may also
                                                                                                             19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 22 to determine                   seeks commenters’ views on the
                                                    invest in Financial Instruments if the
                                                                                                             whether the proposed rule change                         sufficiency of the information that
                                                    market for a specific futures contract
                                                                                                             should be approved or disapproved.                       would be provided with respect to each
                                                    experiences emergencies (e.g., natural
                                                                                                             Institution of such proceedings is                       Fund’s Financial Instruments, and
                                                    disaster, terrorist attack, or an act of
                                                                                                                                                                      whether the information will allow
                                                    God) or disruptions (e.g., a trading halt                   20 The Exchange states that when the market for
                                                                                                                                                                      market participants to value these
                                                    or a flash crash) that prevent or make it                these contracts is such that the prices are higher in    interests intraday.
                                                    impractical for a Fund to obtain the                     the more distant delivery months than in the nearer
                                                                                                             delivery months, the sale during the course of the          In addition, under the proposal, the
                                                    appropriate amount of investment
                                                                                                             ‘‘rolling process’’ of the more nearby contract would    investment objective of the Direxion
                                                    exposure using Futures Contracts.                        take place at a price that is lower than the price of    Daily Crude Oil Bull 3X Shares is to
                                                                                                             the more distant contract. This pattern of higher        seek, on a daily basis, investment results
                                                    such as natural or manmade disaster, act of God,         futures prices for longer expiration Futures
                                                    armed conflict, act of terrorism, riot or labor          Contracts is referred to as ‘‘contango.’’                that correspond (before fees and
                                                    disruption or any similar intervening circumstance.      Alternatively, when the market for these contracts       expenses) to a multiple three times (3x)
                                                    See id. at 9609 n.11.                                    is such that the prices are higher in the nearer         of the daily performance of the
                                                       19 According to the Exchange, U.S. futures            months than in the more distant months, the sale         Benchmark, and the investment
                                                    exchanges have established accountability levels         during the course of the ‘‘rolling process’’ of the
                                                                                                             more nearby contract would take place at a price         objective of the Direxion Daily Crude
                                                    and position limits on the maximum net long or net
                                                    short Futures Contracts in commodity interests that      that is higher than the price of the more distant        Oil Bear 3X Shares is to seek, on a daily
                                                    any person or group of persons under common              contract. This pattern of higher futures prices for      basis, investment results that
                                                    trading control (other than as a hedge, which an         shorter expiration futures contracts is referred to as   correspond (before fees and expenses) to
                                                                                                             ‘‘backwardation.’’ According to the Exchange, the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    investment by a Fund is not) may hold, own, or                                                                    three times (3x) the inverse of the
                                                    control. These levels and position limits apply to       presence of contango in certain Futures Contracts
                                                    the Futures Contracts that each Fund would invest        at the time of rolling could adversely affect a Fund     performance of the Benchmark. The
                                                    in to meet its investment objective. According to the    with long positions, and positively affect a Fund        Exchange’s filing does not address
                                                    Exchange, in addition to accountability levels and       with short positions. Similarly, the presence of         whether the value of the Benchmark
                                                    position limits, U.S. futures exchanges also set daily   backwardation in certain futures contracts at the
                                                                                                             time of rolling such contracts could adversely affect    will be publicly disseminated, and, if
                                                    price fluctuation limits on Futures Contracts. The
                                                    daily price fluctuation limit establishes the            a Fund with short positions and positively affect a
                                                                                                             Fund with long positions. See id.                         23 Id.
                                                    maximum amount that the price of a Futures
                                                                                                                21 See id.                                             24 15    U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                    Contract may vary either up or down from the
                                                    previous day’s settlement price. See id. at 9609.           22 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).                             25 See    Notice, supra note 4, at 9609.



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                                                    22044                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 90 / Thursday, May 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                    so, by whom and how often. The                            Interested persons are invited to                   should refer to File Number SR–
                                                    Commission seeks commenters’ views                      submit written data, views, and                       NYSEArca–2017–05 and should be
                                                    on the sufficiency of the Exchange’s                    arguments regarding whether the                       submitted on or before June 12, 2017
                                                    discussion regarding dissemination of                   proposal should be approved or                        Rebuttal comments should be submitted
                                                    the value of the Benchmark on which                     disapproved by June 12, 2017. Any                     by June 26, 2017.
                                                    the investment objectives of the Funds                  person who wishes to file a rebuttal to                 For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    are based.                                              any other person’s submission must file               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                       Furthermore, in its filing the                       that rebuttal by June 26, 2017. The                   authority.29
                                                    Exchange fails to include a                             Commission asks that commenters                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                    representation that all statements and                  address the sufficiency of the                        Assistant Secretary.
                                                    representations in the proposal                         Exchange’s statements in support of the               [FR Doc. 2017–09522 Filed 5–10–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    regarding the applicability of Exchange                 proposal, which are set forth in the                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    listing rules specified in the proposal                 Notice,28 in addition to any other
                                                    shall constitute continued listing                      comments they may wish to submit
                                                    requirements for listing the Shares on                  about the proposed rule change.                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    the Exchange.26 The Commission seeks                      Comments may be submitted by any                    COMMISSION
                                                    commenter’s views on whether the                        of the following methods:
                                                    Exchange’s statements in the filing                                                                           [Release No. 34–80610; File No. SR–MSRB–
                                                                                                            Electronic Comments                                   2017–01]
                                                    relating to the applicability of continued
                                                    listing requirements for listing and                      • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                                                                            comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                                    trading of the Shares on the Exchange                                                                         Municipal Securities Rulemaking
                                                    are sufficient to support a determination               rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                    that the listing and trading of the Shares                • Send an email to rule-comments@                   Board; Notice of Withdrawal of a
                                                                                                            sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–               Proposed Rule Change To Add New
                                                    would be consistent with Section 6(b)(5)                                                                      MSRB Rule G–49, on Transactions
                                                                                                            NYSEArca–2017–05 on the subject line.
                                                    of the Act.                                                                                                   Below the Minimum Denomination of
                                                                                                            Paper Comments                                        an Issue, to the Rules of the MSRB,
                                                    IV. Procedure: Request for Written
                                                    Comments                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                and To Rescind Paragraph (f), on
                                                                                                            to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                 Minimum Denominations, From MSRB
                                                       The Commission requests that                                                                               Rule G–15
                                                                                                            Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    interested persons provide written
                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                    submissions of their views, data, and                                                                         May 5, 2017.
                                                    arguments with respect to the issues                    All submissions should refer to File                     On January 24, 2017, the Municipal
                                                    identified above, as well as any other                  Numbers SR–NYSEArca–2017–05. This                     Securities Rulemaking Board (‘‘MSRB’’)
                                                    concerns they may have with the                         file number should be included on the                 filed with the Securities and Exchange
                                                    proposal. In particular, the Commission                 subject line if email is used. To help the            Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
                                                    invites the written views of interested                 Commission process and review your                    to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                                                                                            comments more efficiently, please use
                                                    persons concerning whether the                                                                                Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange
                                                                                                            only one method. The Commission will
                                                    proposal is consistent with Section                                                                           Act’’ or ‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
                                                                                                            post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                    6(b)(5) or any other provision of the Act,                                                                    thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
                                                                                                            Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    or the rules and regulations thereunder.                                                                      add new MSRB Rule G–49, on
                                                                                                            rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    Although there do not appear to be any                                                                        transactions below the minimum
                                                                                                            submission, all subsequent
                                                    issues relevant to approval or                                                                                denomination of an issue, to the rules of
                                                                                                            amendments, all written statements
                                                    disapproval that would be facilitated by                                                                      the MSRB, and, in MSRB Rule G–15, on
                                                                                                            with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    an oral presentation of views, data, and                                                                      confirmation, clearance, settlement, and
                                                                                                            change that are filed with the
                                                    arguments, the Commission will                                                                                other uniform practice requirements
                                                                                                            Commission, and all written
                                                    consider, pursuant to Rule 19b-4, any                                                                         with respect to transactions with
                                                                                                            communications relating to the
                                                    request for an opportunity to make an                                                                         customers, to rescind paragraph (f), on
                                                                                                            proposed rule change between the
                                                    oral presentation.27                                                                                          minimum denominations. The proposed
                                                                                                            Commission and any person, other than
                                                                                                                                                                  rule change was published for comment
                                                                                                            those that may be withheld from the
                                                       26 The Commission notes that the Exchange has
                                                                                                                                                                  in the Federal Register on February 9,
                                                    made this representation in other proposed rule         public in accordance with the
                                                                                                                                                                  2017.3 The Commission received four
                                                    changes to list and trade Trust Issued Receipts. See,   provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    e.g., Amendment No. 1 to Securities Exchange Act                                                              comment letters on the proposal.4 On
                                                                                                            available for Web site viewing and
                                                    Release No. 79917 (February 1, 2017), 82 FR 9620                                                              March 21, 2017, pursuant to Section
                                                                                                            printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    (February 7, 2017) (SR–NYSEArca-2017–07),                                                                     19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,5 the MSRB
                                                    available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-          Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                    nysearca-2017-07/nysearca201707-1630210-                Washington, DC 20549, on official                       29 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).
                                                    137426.pdf; Amendment No. 2 to Securities               business days between the hours of                      1 15
                                                    Exchange Act Release No. 79742 (January 5, 2017),                                                                    U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    82 FR 3366 (January 11, 2017) (SR–NYSEArca–
                                                                                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.

                                                    2016–173), available at: https://www.sec.gov/           filing also will be available for                       3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79978

                                                    comments/sr-nysearca-2016-173/nysearca2016173-          inspection and copying at the principal               (February 6, 2017), 82 FR 10123.
                                                    1678044-149322.pdf.                                                                                             4 See letters from Leslie M. Norwood, Managing
                                                                                                            office of the Exchange. All comments
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                                                       27 Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, as amended by the                                                          Director and Associate General Counsel, Securities
                                                                                                            received will be posted without change;               Industry and Financial Markets Association, dated
                                                    Securities Act Amendments of 1975, Pub. L. 94–29
                                                    (June 4, 1975), grants the Commission flexibility to    the Commission does not edit personal                 March 2, 2017; Mike Nichols, Chief Executive
                                                    determine what type of proceeding—either oral or        identifying information from                          Officer, Bond Dealers of America, dated March 2,
                                                    notice and opportunity for written comments—is          submissions. You should submit only                   2017; Paige W. Pierce, President and Chief
                                                    appropriate for consideration of a particular                                                                 Executive Officer, RW Smith, dated March 3, 2017;
                                                                                                            information that you wish to make                     and James J. Angel, Associate Professor of Finance,
                                                    proposal by a self-regulatory organization. See
                                                    Securities Act Amendments of 1975, Senate Comm.         available publicly. All submissions                   Georgetown University, McDonough School of
                                                    on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, S. Rep. No.                                                              Business, dated March 7, 2017.
                                                    75, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).                     28 See   supra note 4.                                 5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).




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Document Created: 2017-05-11 00:15:18
Document Modified: 2017-05-11 00:15:18
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 Citation82 FR 22042 

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