82_FR_24280 82 FR 24180 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of the GraniteShares Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201

82 FR 24180 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of the GraniteShares Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 100 (May 25, 2017)

Page Range24180-24185
FR Document2017-10688

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 100 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 100 (Thursday, May 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24180-24185]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10688]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80730; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-55]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Listing and Trading of the 
GraniteShares Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201

May 19, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on May 8, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE 
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 
below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory 
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares of the GraniteShares 
Gold Trust under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201. The proposed change is 
available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the 
GraniteShares Gold Trust (``Trust''), under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
8.201.\4\ Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201, the Exchange may propose 
to list and/or trade pursuant to unlisted trading privileges (``UTP'') 
``Commodity-Based Trust Shares.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ On January 3, 2017, the Trust submitted to the Commission 
its draft registration statement on Form S-1 (the ``Registration 
Statement'') under the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a) 
(``Securities Act''). The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, 
enacted on April 5, 2012, added Section 6(e) to the Securities Act. 
Section 6(e) of the Securities Act provides that an ``emerging 
growth company'' may confidentially submit to the Commission a draft 
registration statement for confidential, non-public review by the 
Commission staff prior to public filing, provided that the initial 
confidential submission and all amendments thereto shall be publicly 
filed not later than 21 days before the date on which the issuer 
conducts a road show, as such term is defined in Securities Act Rule 
433(h)(4). An emerging growth company is defined in Section 2(a)(19) 
of the Securities Act as an issuer with less than $1,000,000,000 
total annual gross revenues during its most recently completed 
fiscal year. The Trust meets the definition of an emerging growth 
company and consequently has submitted its Form S-1 Registration 
Statement on a confidential basis with the Commission.
    \5\ Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities issued by a 
trust that represents investors' discrete identifiable and undivided 
beneficial ownership interest in the commodities deposited into the 
Trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Trust will not be registered as an investment company under the 
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,\6\ and is not required to 
register under such act. The Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes 
of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 80a-1.
    \7\ 17 U.S.C. 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Sponsor of the Trust is GraniteShares LLC, a Delaware limited 
liability company. The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee of the 
Trust (the ``Trustee'') \8\ and ICBC Standard Bank PLC is the custodian 
of the Trust (the ``Custodian'').\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day administration 
of the Trust. The responsibilities of the Trustee include (1) 
processing orders for the creation and redemption of Baskets; (2) 
coordinating with the Custodian the receipt and delivery of gold 
transferred to, or by, the Trust in connection with each issuance 
and redemption of Baskets; (3) calculating the net asset value of 
the Trust on each business day; and (4) selling the Trust's gold as 
needed to cover the Trust's expenses. The Trust does not have a 
Board of Directors or persons acting in a similar capacity.
    \9\ The Custodian is responsible for safekeeping the gold owned 
by the Trust. The Custodian is appointed by the Trustee and is 
responsible to the Trustee only. The Custodian will facilitate the 
transfer of gold in and out of the Trust (i) through the unallocated 
gold accounts it may maintain for each Authorized Participant or 
unallocated gold accounts that may be maintained for an Authorized 
Participant by another gold clearing bank, and (ii) through the 
unallocated gold accounts it will maintain for the Trust. The 
Custodian is responsible for allocating specific bars of gold to the 
Trust Allocated Account. As used herein, ``Trust Allocated Account'' 
means the loco London gold account established in the name of the 
Trustee and maintained for the benefit of the Trust by the Custodian 
on an allocated basis pursuant to a written custody agreement 
between the Trustee and the Custodian. The Custodian will provide 
the Trustee with regular reports detailing the gold transfers in and 
out of the Trust Unallocated Account with the Custodian and 
identifying the gold bars held in the Trust Allocated Account.

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

[[Page 24181]]

    The Commission has previously approved listing on the Exchange 
under NYSE Arca Equities Rules 5.2(j)(5) and 8.201 of other precious 
metals and gold-based commodity trusts, including the Merk Gold Trust; 
\10\ ETFS Gold Trust,\11\ ETFS Platinum Trust \12\ and ETFS Palladium 
Trust (collectively, the ``ETFS Trusts''); \13\APMEX Physical-1 oz. 
Gold Redeemable Trust; \14\ Sprott Gold Trust; \15\ SPDR Gold Trust 
(formerly, streetTRACKS Gold Trust); iShares Silver Trust; \16\ iShares 
COMEX Gold Trust; \17\ and Long Dollar Gold Trust.\18\ Prior to their 
listing on the Exchange, the Commission approved listing of the 
streetTRACKS Gold Trust on the New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'') \19\ 
and listing of iShares COMEX Gold Trust and iShares Silver Trust on the 
American Stock Exchange LLC.\20\ In addition, the Commission has 
approved trading of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust and iShares Silver 
Trust on the Exchange pursuant to UTP.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71378 (January 23, 
2014), 79 FR 4786 (January 29, 2014) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-137).
    \11\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59895 (May 8, 2009), 74 
FR 22993 (May 15, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-40).
    \12\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61219 (December 22, 
2009), 74 FR 68886 (December 29, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-95).
    \13\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61220 (December 22, 
2009), 74 FR 68895 (December 29, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-94).
    \14\ Securities Exchange Act Release No 66930 (May 7, 2012), 77 
FR 27817 (May 11, 2012) (SR-NYSEArca-2012-18)
    \15\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61496 (February 4, 
2010), 75 FR 6758 (February 10, 2010) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-113).
    \16\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58956 (November 14, 
2008), 73 FR 71074 (November 24, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2008-124) 
(approving listing on the Exchange of the iShares Silver Trust)).
    \17\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No.56224 (August 8, 
2007), 72 FR 45850 (August 15, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-76) 
(approving listing on the Exchange of the street TRACKS Gold Trust); 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56041 (July 11, 2007), 72 FR 
39114 (July 17, 2007) (SR-NYSEArca-2007-43) (order approving listing 
on the Exchange of iShares COMEX Gold Trust).
    \18\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79518 (December 9, 
2016), 81 FR 90876 (December 15, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-84) (order 
approving listing and trading of shares of the Long Dollar Gold 
Trust).
    \19\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50603 (October 28, 
2004), 69 FR 64614 (November 5, 2004) (SR-NYSE-2004-22) (order 
approving listing of street TRACKS Gold Trust on NYSE).
    \20\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 51058 (January 19, 
2005), 70 FR 3749 (January 26, 2005) (SR-Amex-2004-38) (order 
approving listing of iShares COMEX Gold Trust on the American Stock 
Exchange LLC); 53521 (March 20, 2006), 71 FR 14967 (March 24, 2006) 
(SR-Amex-2005-72) (approving listing on the American Stock Exchange 
LLC of the iShares Silver Trust).
    \21\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 53520 (March 20, 
2006), 71 FR 14977 (March 24, 2006) (SR-PCX-2005-117) (approving 
trading on the Exchange pursuant to UTP of the iShares Silver 
Trust); 51245 (February 23, 2005), 70 FR 10731 (March 4, 2005) (SR-
PCX-2004-117) (approving trading on the Exchange of the streetTRACKS 
Gold Trust pursuant to UTP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange represents that the Shares satisfy the requirements of 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and thereby qualify for listing on the 
Exchange.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ With respect to the application of Rule 10A-3 (17 CFR 
240.10A-3) under the Act, the Trust relies on the exemption 
contained in Rule 10A-3(c)(7).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operation of the Trust \23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ The description of the operation of the Trust, the Shares 
and the gold market contained herein are based, in part, on the 
Registration Statement. See note 4, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The investment objective of the Trust will be for the Shares to 
reflect the performance of the price of gold, less the expenses and 
liabilities of the Trust. The Trust will issue Shares which represent 
units of fractional undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of 
the Trust.
    The Trust will not trade in gold futures, options or swap contracts 
on any futures exchange or over the counter (``OTC''). The Trust will 
not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, ``commodity 
interests'', or any other instruments regulated by the Commodities 
Exchange Act. The Trust will take delivery of physical gold that 
complies with the London Bullion Markets Association (``LBMA'') gold 
delivery rules.
    The Shares are intended to constitute a simple and cost-effective 
means of making an investment similar to an investment in gold. 
Although the Shares are not the exact equivalent of an investment in 
gold, they are intended to provide investors with an alternative that 
allows a level of participation in the gold market through the 
securities market.
Operation of the Gold Market
    The global trade in gold consists of OTC transactions in spot, 
forwards, and options and other derivatives, together with exchange-
traded futures and options.
    The OTC gold market includes spot, forward, and option and other 
derivative transactions conducted on a principal-to-principal basis. 
While this is a global, nearly 24-hour per day market, its main centers 
are London, New York, and Zurich.
    According to the Registration Statement, most OTC market trades are 
cleared through London. The LBMA plays an important role in setting OTC 
gold trading industry standards. A London Good Delivery Bar (as 
described below), which is acceptable for settlement of any OTC 
transaction, will be acceptable for delivery to the Trust in connection 
with the issuance of Baskets.
    The most significant gold futures exchange in the U.S. is COMEX, 
operated by Commodities Exchange, Inc., a subsidiary of New York 
Mercantile Exchange, Inc., and a subsidiary of the Chicago Mercantile 
Exchange Group (the ``CME Group''). Other commodity exchanges include 
the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (``TOCOM''), the Multi Commodity Exchange 
Of India (``MCX''), the Shanghai Futures Exchange, ICE Futures US (the 
``ICE''), and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange.
The London Gold Bullion Market
    According to the Registration Statement, most trading in physical 
gold is conducted on the OTC market, predominantly in London. LBMA 
coordinates various OTC-market activities, including clearing and 
vaulting, acts as the principal intermediary between physical gold 
market participants and the relevant regulators, promotes good trading 
practices and develops standard market documentation. In addition, the 
LBMA promotes refining standards for the gold market by maintaining the 
``London Good Delivery List,'' which identifies refiners of gold that 
have been approved by the LBMA. In the OTC market, gold bars that meet 
the specifications for weight, dimensions, fineness (or purity), 
identifying marks (including the assay stamp of an LBMA-acceptable 
refiner) and appearance described in ``The Good Delivery Rules for Gold 
and Silver Bars'' published by the LBMA are referred to as ``London 
Good Delivery Bars.'' A London Good Delivery Bar (typically called a 
``400 ounce bar'') must contain between 350 and 430 fine troy ounces of 
gold (1 troy ounce = 31.1034768 grams), with a minimum fineness (or 
purity) of 995 parts per 1000 (99.5%), be of good appearance and be 
easy to handle and stack. The fine gold content of a gold bar is 
calculated by multiplying the gross weight of the bar (expressed in 
units of 0.025 troy ounces) by the fineness of the bar. A London

[[Page 24182]]

Good Delivery Bar must also bear the stamp of one of the refiners 
identified on the London Good Delivery List.
    Following the enactment of the Financial Markets Act 2012, the 
Prudential Regulation Authority of the Bank of England is responsible 
for regulating most of the financial firms that are active in the 
bullion market, and the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for 
consumer and competition issues. Trading in spot, forwards and 
wholesale deposits in the bullion market is subject to the Non-
Investment Products (``NIPS'') Code adopted by market participants.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ The NIPS Code is available at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/Documents/forex/fxjsc/nipscode1111.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Creation and Redemption of Shares
    The Trust will create and redeem Shares on a continuous basis in 
one or more blocks of 10,000 Shares (a block of 10,000 Shares is called 
a ``Basket''). As described below, the Trust will issue Shares in 
Baskets to certain authorized participants (``Authorized 
Participants'') on an ongoing basis. Baskets of Shares will only be 
issued or redeemed in exchange for an amount of gold determined by the 
Trustee on each day that the Exchange is open for regular trading. No 
Shares will be issued unless the Custodian has allocated to the Trust's 
account the corresponding amount of gold. Initially, a Basket will 
require delivery of 1,000 fine ounces of gold. The amount of gold 
necessary for the creation of a Basket, or to be received upon 
redemption of a Basket, will decrease over the life of the Trust, due 
to the payment or accrual of fees and other expenses or liabilities 
payable by the Trust.
    Baskets may be created or redeemed only by Authorized Participants. 
Orders must be placed by 3:59 p.m. Eastern Time (``E.T.''). The day on 
which a Trust receives a valid purchase or redemption order is the 
order date.
    Each Authorized Participant must be a registered broker-dealer, a 
participant in Depository Trust Corporation (``DTC''), have entered 
into an agreement with the Trustee (the ``Authorized Participant 
Agreement'') and be in a position to transfer gold to, and take 
delivery of gold from, the Custodian through one or more gold accounts. 
The Authorized Participant Agreement provides the procedures for the 
creation and redemption of Baskets and for the delivery of gold in 
connection with such creations or redemptions.
    According to the Registration Statement, Authorized Participants, 
acting on authority of the registered holder of Shares, may surrender 
Baskets of Shares in exchange for the corresponding Basket Amount 
announced by the Trustee. Upon surrender of such Shares and payment of 
the Trustee's applicable fee and of any expenses, taxes or charges 
(such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees), the Trustee will 
deliver to the order of the redeeming Authorized Participant the amount 
of gold corresponding to the redeemed Baskets. Shares can only be 
surrendered for redemption in Baskets of 10,000 Shares each.
    Before surrendering Baskets of Shares for redemption, an Authorized 
Participant must deliver to the Trustee a written request indicating 
the number of Baskets it intends to redeem and the location where it 
would like to take delivery of the gold represented by such Baskets. 
The date the Trustee receives that order determines the Basket Amount 
to be received in exchange. However, orders received by the Trustee 
after 3:59 p.m. Eastern Time (``E.T.'') will be rejected.
    The redemption distribution from the Trust will consist of a credit 
to the redeeming Authorized Participant's unallocated account 
representing the amount of the gold held by the Trust evidenced by the 
Shares being redeemed as of the date of the redemption order.
Net Asset Value
    The NAV of the Trust will be calculated by subtracting the Trust's 
expenses and liabilities on any day from the value of the gold owned by 
the Trust on that day; the NAV per Share will be obtained by dividing 
the NAV of the Trust on a given day by the number of Shares outstanding 
on that day. On each day on which the Exchange is open for regular 
trading, the Trustee will determine the NAV as promptly as practicable 
after 4:00 p.m. E.T. The Trustee will value the Trust's gold on the 
basis of LBMA Gold Price PM. If there is no LBMA Gold Price PM on any 
day, the Trustee is authorized to use the most recently announced LBMA 
Gold Price or another publicly available price as instructed by the 
Sponsor based on the Sponsor's determination that it fairly represents 
the value of the gold held by the Trust.
    The NAV per Share will be calculated by taking the current price of 
the Trust's total assets, subtracting any liabilities, and dividing by 
the total number of Shares outstanding. The offering of the Trust's 
Shares is a ``best efforts'' offering, which means that the Authorized 
Participants are not required to purchase a specific number or dollar 
amount of Shares. Authorized Participants will not receive from the 
Sponsor, the Trust or any affiliates any fee or other compensation in 
connection with the offering of the Shares.
Secondary Market Trading
    While the Trust seeks to reflect generally the performance of the 
price of gold less the Trust's expenses and liabilities, Shares may 
trade at, above or below their NAV. The NAV of Shares will fluctuate 
with changes in the market value of the Trust's assets. The trading 
prices of Shares will fluctuate in accordance with changes in their NAV 
as well as market supply and demand. The amount of the discount or 
premium in the trading price relative to the NAV may be influenced by 
non-concurrent trading hours between the major gold markets and the 
Exchange. While the Shares trade on the Exchange until 4:00 p.m. E.T., 
liquidity in the market for gold may be reduced after the close of the 
major world gold markets, including London, Zurich and COMEX. As a 
result, during this time, trading spreads, and the resulting premium or 
discount, on Shares may widen.
Availability of Information Regarding Gold
    Currently, the Consolidated Tape Plan does not provide for 
dissemination of the spot price of a commodity such as gold over the 
Consolidated Tape. However, there will be disseminated over the 
Consolidated Tape the last sale price for the Shares, as is the case 
for all equity securities traded on the Exchange (including exchange-
traded funds). In addition, there is a considerable amount of 
information about gold and gold markets available on public Web sites 
and through professional and subscription services.
    Investors may obtain gold pricing information on a 24-hour basis 
based on the spot price for an ounce of Gold from various financial 
information service providers, such as Reuters and Bloomberg.
    Reuters and Bloomberg, for example, provide at no charge on their 
Web sites delayed information regarding the spot price of Gold and last 
sale prices of Gold futures, as well as information about news and 
developments in the gold market. Reuters and Bloomberg also offer a 
professional service to subscribers for a fee that provides information 
on Gold prices directly from market participants. Complete real-time 
data for Gold futures and options prices traded on the COMEX are 
available by subscription from Reuters and Bloomberg. There are a 
variety of

[[Page 24183]]

other public Web sites providing information on gold, ranging from 
those specializing in precious metals to sites maintained by major 
newspapers. In addition, the LBMA Gold Price is publicly available at 
no charge at www.lbma.org.uk.
Availability of Information
    The intraday indicative value (``IIV'') per Share for the Shares 
will be disseminated by one or more major market data vendors. The IIV 
will be calculated based on the amount of gold held by the Trust and a 
price of gold derived from updated bids and offers indicative of the 
spot price of gold.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ The IIV on a per Share basis disseminated during the Core 
Trading Session should not be viewed as a real-time update of the 
NAV, which is calculated once a day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Web site for the Trust (www.graniteshares.com) will contain the 
following information, on a per Share basis, for the Trust: (a) The 
mid-point of the bid-ask price \26\ at the close of trading (``Bid/Ask 
Price''), and a calculation of the premium or discount of such price 
against such NAV; and (b) data in chart format displaying the frequency 
distribution of discounts and premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against the 
NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar 
quarters. The Web site for the Trust will also provide the Trust's 
prospectus. Finally, the Trust's Web site will provide the last sale 
price of the Shares as traded in the U.S. market. In addition, 
information regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares 
will be continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day 
on brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Information 
regarding the previous day's closing price and trading volume 
information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial 
section of newspapers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ The bid-ask price of the Shares will be determined using 
the highest bid and lowest offer on the Consolidated Tape as of the 
time of calculation of the closing day NAV.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Criteria for Initial and Continued Listing
    The Trust will be subject to the criteria in NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 8.201(e) for initial and continued listing of the Shares.
    A minimum of two Baskets or 20,000 Shares will be required to be 
outstanding at the start of trading, which is equivalent to 2,000 fine 
ounces of gold or about $2.4m as of April 2017. The Exchange believes 
that the anticipated minimum number of Shares outstanding at the start 
of trading is sufficient to provide adequate market liquidity.
Trading Rules
    The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, thus 
rendering trading in the Trust subject to the Exchange's existing rules 
governing the trading of equity securities. Trading in the Shares on 
the Exchange will occur in accordance with NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.34(a). The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions 
in the Shares during all trading sessions. As provided in NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.6, Commentary .03, the minimum price variation 
(``MPV'') for quoting and entry of orders in equity securities traded 
on the NYSE Arca Marketplace is $0.01, with the exception of securities 
that are priced less than $1.00 for which the MPV for order entry is 
$0.0001.
    Further, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 sets forth certain 
restrictions on ETP Holders acting as registered Market Makers in the 
Shares to facilitate surveillance. Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
8.201(g), an ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the 
Shares is required to provide the Exchange with information relating to 
its trading in the underlying gold, related futures or options on 
futures, or any other related derivatives. Commentary .04 of NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 6.3 requires an ETP Holder acting as a registered Market 
Maker, and its affiliates, in the Shares to establish, maintain and 
enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent 
the misuse of any material nonpublic information with respect to such 
products, any components of the related products, any physical asset or 
commodity underlying the product, applicable currencies, underlying 
indexes, related futures or options on futures, and any related 
derivative instruments (including the Shares).
    As a general matter, the Exchange has regulatory jurisdiction over 
its ETP Holders and their associated persons, which include any person 
or entity controlling an ETP Holder. A subsidiary or affiliate of an 
ETP Holder that does business only in commodities or futures contracts 
would not be subject to Exchange jurisdiction, but the Exchange could 
obtain information regarding the activities of such subsidiary or 
affiliate through surveillance sharing agreements with regulatory 
organizations of which such subsidiary or affiliate is a member.
    With respect to trading halts, the Exchange may consider all 
relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt or suspend 
trading in the Shares. Trading on the Exchange in the Shares may be 
halted because of market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of 
the Exchange, make trading in the Shares inadvisable. These may 
include: (1) The extent to which conditions in the underlying gold 
market have caused disruptions and/or lack of trading, or (2) whether 
other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the 
maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition, 
trading in Shares will be subject to trading halts caused by 
extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange's ``circuit 
breaker'' rule.\27\ The Exchange will halt trading in the Shares if the 
NAV of the Trust is not calculated or disseminated daily. The Exchange 
may halt trading during the day in which an interruption occurs to the 
dissemination of the IIV, as described above. If the interruption to 
the dissemination of the IIV persists past the trading day in which it 
occurs, the Exchange will halt trading no later than the beginning of 
the trading day following the interruption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surveillance
    The Exchange represents that trading in the Shares will be subject 
to the existing trading surveillances administered by the Exchange, as 
well as cross-market surveillances administered by the Financial 
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') on behalf of the Exchange, 
which are designed to detect violations of Exchange rules and 
applicable federal securities laws.\28\ The Exchange represents that 
these procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of 
the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations 
of Exchange rules and federal securities laws applicable to trading on 
the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ FINRA conducts cross-market surveillances on behalf of the 
Exchange pursuant to a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange 
is responsible for FINRA's performance under this regulatory 
services agreement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The surveillances referred to above generally focus on detecting 
securities trading outside their normal patterns, which could be 
indicative of manipulative or other violative activity. When such 
situations are detected, surveillance analysis follows and 
investigations are opened, where appropriate, to review the behavior of 
all relevant parties for all relevant trading violations.
    The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, will 
communicate as needed regarding trading in the Shares with other 
markets and other entities that are members of the ISG, and the 
Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of the Exchange, or both, may

[[Page 24184]]

obtain trading information regarding trading in the Shares from such 
markets and other entities. In addition, the Exchange may obtain 
information regarding trading in the Shares from markets and other 
entities that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has in 
place a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ For a list of the current members of ISG, see 
www.isgportal.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Also, pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(g), the Exchange is 
able to obtain information regarding trading in the Shares and the 
underlying gold, gold futures contracts, options on gold futures, or 
any other gold derivative, through ETP Holders acting as registered 
Market Makers, in connection with such ETP Holders' proprietary or 
customer trades through ETP Holders which they effect on any relevant 
market.
    In addition, the Exchange also has a general policy prohibiting the 
distribution of material, non-public information by its employees.
    All statements and representations made in this filing regarding 
(a) the description of the portfolio, (b) limitations on portfolio 
holdings or reference assets, or (c) the applicability of Exchange 
listing rules specified in this rule filing shall constitute continued 
listing requirements for listing the Shares of the Trust on the 
Exchange.
    The issuer has represented to the Exchange that it will advise the 
Exchange of any failure by the Trust to comply with the continued 
listing requirements, and, pursuant to its obligations under Section 
19(g)(1) of the Act, the Exchange will monitor for compliance with the 
continued listing requirements. If the Trust is not in compliance with 
the applicable listing requirements, the Exchange will commence 
delisting procedures under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(m).
Information Bulletin
    Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform its 
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics 
and risks associated with trading the Shares. Specifically, the 
Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (1) The procedures for 
purchases and redemptions of Shares in Baskets (including noting that 
Shares are not individually redeemable); (2) NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
9.2(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders to 
learn the essential facts relating to every customer prior to trading 
the Shares; (3) how information regarding the IIV is disseminated; (4) 
the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a prospectus to investors 
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the 
confirmation of a transaction; (5) the possibility that trading spreads 
and the resulting premium or discount on the Shares may widen as a 
result of reduced liquidity of gold trading during the Core and Late 
Trading Sessions after the close of the major world gold markets; and 
(6) trading information. For example, the Information Bulletin will 
advise ETP Holders, prior to the commencement of trading, of the 
prospectus delivery requirements applicable to the Trust. The Exchange 
notes that investors purchasing Shares directly from the Trust (by 
delivery of the Creation Basket Deposit) will receive a prospectus. ETP 
Holders purchasing Shares from the Trust for resale to investors will 
deliver a prospectus to such investors.
    In addition, the Information Bulletin will reference that the Trust 
is subject to various fees and expenses as will be described in the 
Registration Statement. The Information Bulletin will also reference 
the fact that there is no regulated source of last sale information 
regarding physical gold, that the Commission has no jurisdiction over 
the trading of gold as a physical commodity, and that the CFTC has 
regulatory jurisdiction over the trading of gold futures contracts and 
options on gold futures contracts.
    The Information Bulletin will also discuss any relief, if granted, 
by the Commission or the staff from any rules under the Act.
2. Statutory Basis
    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the 
requirement under Section 6(b)(5) \30\ that an exchange have rules that 
are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices in that the 
Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant to the 
initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
8.201. The Exchange has in place surveillance procedures that are 
adequate to properly monitor trading in the Shares in all trading 
sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and 
applicable federal securities laws. The Exchange may obtain information 
via ISG from other exchanges that are members of ISG or with which the 
Exchange has entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing 
agreement.
    The proposed rule change is designed to promote just and equitable 
principles of trade and to protect investors and the public interest in 
that there is a considerable amount of gold price and gold market 
information available on public Web sites and through professional and 
subscription services. Investors may obtain on a 24-hour basis gold 
pricing information based on the spot price for an ounce of gold from 
various financial information service providers. Investors may obtain 
gold pricing information based on the spot price for an ounce of gold 
from various financial information service providers. Current spot 
prices also are generally available with bid/ask spreads from gold 
bullion dealers. In addition, the Trust's Web site will provide pricing 
information for gold spot prices and the Shares. Market prices for the 
Shares will be available from a variety of sources including brokerage 
firms, information Web sites and other information service providers. 
The NAV of the Trust will be published by the Sponsor on each day that 
the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading and will be posted on the 
Trust's Web site. The IIV relating to the Shares will be widely 
disseminated by one or more major market data vendors at least every 15 
seconds during the Core Trading Session. In addition, the LBMA Gold 
Price is publicly available at no charge at www.lbma.org.uk. The 
Trust's Web site will also provide the Trust's prospectus, as well as 
the two most recent reports to stockholders. In addition, information 
regarding market price and trading volume of the Shares will be 
continually available on a real-time basis throughout the day on 
brokers' computer screens and other electronic services. Information 
regarding the previous day's closing price and trading volume 
information for the Shares will be published daily in the financial 
section of newspapers.
    The proposed rule change is designed to perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest in that it will facilitate the listing and trading of 
an additional type of exchange-traded product that will enhance 
competition among market participants, to the benefit of investors and 
the marketplace. As noted above, the Exchange has in place surveillance 
procedures relating to trading in the Shares and may obtain information 
via ISG from other

[[Page 24185]]

exchanges that are members of ISG or with which the Exchange has 
entered into a comprehensive surveillance sharing agreement. In 
addition, as noted above, investors will have ready access to 
information regarding gold pricing.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the 
proposed rule change will enhance competition by accommodating Exchange 
trading of an additional exchange-traded product relating to physical 
gold.

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

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

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

    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 the 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-NYSEArca-2017-55 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2017-55. 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-2017-55, and should 
be submitted on or before June 15, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-10688 Filed 5-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



     24180                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices

     designed to help effectively manage the                   For the Commission, by the Division of              A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
     Clearing Agencies’ risk exposures,                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            Statement of the Purpose of, and the
     including their credit exposure to                      authority.25                                          Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
     participants, arising from their payment,               Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    Change
     clearing, and settlement processes,                     Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                                   1. Purpose
     consistent with Rule 17Ad–22(e)(3)(i).                  [FR Doc. 2017–10690 Filed 5–24–17; 8:45 am]
                                                             BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                   The Exchange proposes to list and
        Finally, the Commission believes that                                                                      trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of the
     the proposal is consistent with Rule                                                                          GraniteShares Gold Trust (‘‘Trust’’),
     17Ad–22(e)(18) under the Act, which                                                                           under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201.4
                                                             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
     requires, in part, that the Clearing                                                                          Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201,
                                                             COMMISSION
     Agencies ‘‘establish, implement,                                                                              the Exchange may propose to list and/
     maintain and enforce written policies                   [Release No. 34–80730; File No. SR–
                                                                                                                   or trade pursuant to unlisted trading
     and procedures reasonably designed to                   NYSEArca–2017–55]
                                                                                                                   privileges (‘‘UTP’’) ‘‘Commodity-Based
     . . . [e]stablish objective, risk-based,                                                                      Trust Shares.5
     and publicly disclosed criteria for                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                                             Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed                 The Trust will not be registered as an
     participation, which . . . require                                                                            investment company under the
     participants to have sufficient financial               Rule Change Relating to the Listing
                                                             and Trading of the GraniteShares Gold                 Investment Company Act of 1940, as
     resources and robust operational                                                                              amended,6 and is not required to
                                                             Trust Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
     capacity to meet obligations arising from                                                                     register under such act. The Trust is not
                                                             8.201
     participation in the clearing agency, and                                                                     a commodity pool for purposes of the
     monitor compliance with such                            May 19, 2017.                                         Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.7
     participation requirements on an                           Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the                 The Sponsor of the Trust is
     ongoing basis.’’ 22 As described above,                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                  GraniteShares LLC, a Delaware limited
     the proposal would provide more                         ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3                liability company. The Bank of New
     description regarding the Clearing                      notice is hereby given that, on May 8,                York Mellon is the trustee of the Trust
     Agencies’ authority to review additional                2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’               (the ‘‘Trustee’’) 8 and ICBC Standard
     reporting from members regarding their                  or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with the                      Bank PLC is the custodian of the Trust
     financial or operational condition and                  Securities and Exchange Commission                    (the ‘‘Custodian’’).9
     the financial information of any Indirect               (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
     Member. Because such authority could                    change as described in Items I and II                    4 On January 3, 2017, the Trust submitted to the

     enable the Clearing Agencies to better                  below, which Items have been prepared                 Commission its draft registration statement on Form
                                                                                                                   S–1 (the ‘‘Registration Statement’’) under the
     determine whether the member has                        by the self-regulatory organization. The              Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77a) (‘‘Securities
     sufficient financial resources and                      Commission is publishing this notice to               Act’’). The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act,
     monitor compliance with the Clearing                    solicit comments on the proposed rule                 enacted on April 5, 2012, added Section 6(e) to the
     Agencies’ financial requirements on an                  change from interested persons.                       Securities Act. Section 6(e) of the Securities Act
                                                                                                                   provides that an ‘‘emerging growth company’’ may
     ongoing basis, the Commission believes
                                                             I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     confidentially submit to the Commission a draft
     this requirement is consistent with Rule                                                                      registration statement for confidential, non-public
                                                             Statement of the Terms of Substance of
     17Ad–22(e)(18).                                                                                               review by the Commission staff prior to public
                                                             the Proposed Rule Change                              filing, provided that the initial confidential
     III. Conclusion                                            The Exchange proposes to list and                  submission and all amendments thereto shall be
                                                                                                                   publicly filed not later than 21 days before the date
                                                             trade shares of the GraniteShares Gold                on which the issuer conducts a road show, as such
        On the basis of the foregoing, the
                                                             Trust under NYSE Arca Equities Rule                   term is defined in Securities Act Rule 433(h)(4). An
     Commission finds that the Proposed
                                                             8.201. The proposed change is available               emerging growth company is defined in Section
     Rule Changes are consistent with the                                                                          2(a)(19) of the Securities Act as an issuer with less
                                                             on the Exchange’s Web site at
     requirements of the Act, in particular                                                                        than $1,000,000,000 total annual gross revenues
                                                             www.nyse.com, at the principal office of              during its most recently completed fiscal year. The
     the requirements of Section 17A of the
                                                             the Exchange, and at the Commission’s                 Trust meets the definition of an emerging growth
     Act 23 and the rules and regulations
                                                             Public Reference Room.                                company and consequently has submitted its Form
     promulgated thereunder.                                                                                       S–1 Registration Statement on a confidential basis
        It is therefore ordered, pursuant to                 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                    with the Commission.
     Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that                       Statement of the Purpose of, and                         5 Commodity-Based Trust Shares are securities

                                                             Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                issued by a trust that represents investors’ discrete
     proposed rule changes SR–DTC–2017–                                                                            identifiable and undivided beneficial ownership
     002, SR–FICC–2017–006, and SR–                          Change                                                interest in the commodities deposited into the
     NSCC–2017–002 be and hereby are                            In its filing with the Commission, the             Trust.
                                                                                                                      6 15 U.S.C. 80a–1.
     APPROVED as of the date of this order                   self-regulatory organization included                    7 17 U.S.C. 1.
     or the date of a notice by the                          statements concerning the purpose of,                    8 The Trustee is responsible for the day-to-day
     Commission authorizing the Clearing                     and basis for, the proposed rule change               administration of the Trust. The responsibilities of
     Agencies to implement their advance                     and discussed any comments it received                the Trustee include (1) processing orders for the
     notice proposals (SR–DTC–2017–801,                      on the proposed rule change. The text                 creation and redemption of Baskets; (2)
                                                             of those statements may be examined at                coordinating with the Custodian the receipt and
     SR–FICC–2017–804, and SR–NSCC–                                                                                delivery of gold transferred to, or by, the Trust in
     2017–801) that are consistent with the                  the places specified in Item IV below.                connection with each issuance and redemption of
     Proposed Rule Changes, whichever is                     The Exchange has prepared summaries,                  Baskets; (3) calculating the net asset value of the
     later.24                                                set forth in sections A, B, and C below,              Trust on each business day; and (4) selling the
                                                             of the most significant parts of such                 Trust’s gold as needed to cover the Trust’s
                                                                                                                   expenses. The Trust does not have a Board of
       22 17  CFR 240.17Ad–22(e)(18).                        statements.                                           Directors or persons acting in a similar capacity.
       23 15  U.S.C. 78q–1.                                                                                           9 The Custodian is responsible for safekeeping the
                                                               25 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
        24 In approving the proposed rule change, the                                                              gold owned by the Trust. The Custodian is
                                                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
     Commission considered the proposals’ impact on                                                                appointed by the Trustee and is responsible to the
                                                               2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
     efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15                                                            Trustee only. The Custodian will facilitate the
     U.S.C. 78c(f).                                            3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 transfer of gold in and out of the Trust (i) through



VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00086   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM   25MYN1


                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices                                            24181

        The Commission has previously                        LLC.20 In addition, the Commission has                 derivative transactions conducted on a
     approved listing on the Exchange under                  approved trading of the streetTRACKS                   principal-to-principal basis. While this
     NYSE Arca Equities Rules 5.2(j)(5) and                  Gold Trust and iShares Silver Trust on                 is a global, nearly 24-hour per day
     8.201 of other precious metals and gold-                the Exchange pursuant to UTP.21                        market, its main centers are London,
     based commodity trusts, including the                     The Exchange represents that the                     New York, and Zurich.
     Merk Gold Trust; 10 ETFS Gold Trust,11                  Shares satisfy the requirements of NYSE                   According to the Registration
     ETFS Platinum Trust 12 and ETFS                         Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and thereby                   Statement, most OTC market trades are
     Palladium Trust (collectively, the                      qualify for listing on the Exchange.22                 cleared through London. The LBMA
     ‘‘ETFS Trusts’’); 13APMEX Physical-1                                                                           plays an important role in setting OTC
                                                             Operation of the Trust 23
     oz. Gold Redeemable Trust; 14 Sprott                                                                           gold trading industry standards. A
     Gold Trust; 15 SPDR Gold Trust                             The investment objective of the Trust               London Good Delivery Bar (as described
     (formerly, streetTRACKS Gold Trust);                    will be for the Shares to reflect the                  below), which is acceptable for
     iShares Silver Trust; 16 iShares COMEX                  performance of the price of gold, less                 settlement of any OTC transaction, will
     Gold Trust; 17 and Long Dollar Gold                     the expenses and liabilities of the Trust.             be acceptable for delivery to the Trust
     Trust.18 Prior to their listing on the                  The Trust will issue Shares which                      in connection with the issuance of
     Exchange, the Commission approved                       represent units of fractional undivided                Baskets.
     listing of the streetTRACKS Gold Trust                  beneficial interest in and ownership of                   The most significant gold futures
     on the New York Stock Exchange                          the Trust.                                             exchange in the U.S. is COMEX,
     (‘‘NYSE’’) 19 and listing of iShares                       The Trust will not trade in gold                    operated by Commodities Exchange,
     COMEX Gold Trust and iShares Silver                     futures, options or swap contracts on                  Inc., a subsidiary of New York
     Trust on the American Stock Exchange                    any futures exchange or over the                       Mercantile Exchange, Inc., and a
                                                             counter (‘‘OTC’’). The Trust will not                  subsidiary of the Chicago Mercantile
     the unallocated gold accounts it may maintain for       hold or trade in commodity futures                     Exchange Group (the ‘‘CME Group’’).
     each Authorized Participant or unallocated gold         contracts, ‘‘commodity interests’’, or any             Other commodity exchanges include the
     accounts that may be maintained for an Authorized       other instruments regulated by the                     Tokyo Commodity Exchange
     Participant by another gold clearing bank, and (ii)     Commodities Exchange Act. The Trust
     through the unallocated gold accounts it will                                                                  (‘‘TOCOM’’), the Multi Commodity
     maintain for the Trust. The Custodian is responsible    will take delivery of physical gold that               Exchange Of India (‘‘MCX’’), the
     for allocating specific bars of gold to the Trust       complies with the London Bullion                       Shanghai Futures Exchange, ICE Futures
     Allocated Account. As used herein, ‘‘Trust              Markets Association (‘‘LBMA’’) gold                    US (the ‘‘ICE’’), and the Dubai Gold &
     Allocated Account’’ means the loco London gold          delivery rules.
     account established in the name of the Trustee and                                                             Commodities Exchange.
     maintained for the benefit of the Trust by the             The Shares are intended to constitute
     Custodian on an allocated basis pursuant to a           a simple and cost-effective means of                   The London Gold Bullion Market
     written custody agreement between the Trustee and       making an investment similar to an                        According to the Registration
     the Custodian. The Custodian will provide the           investment in gold. Although the Shares                Statement, most trading in physical gold
     Trustee with regular reports detailing the gold
     transfers in and out of the Trust Unallocated           are not the exact equivalent of an                     is conducted on the OTC market,
     Account with the Custodian and identifying the          investment in gold, they are intended to               predominantly in London. LBMA
     gold bars held in the Trust Allocated Account.          provide investors with an alternative                  coordinates various OTC-market
        10 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71378
                                                             that allows a level of participation in the            activities, including clearing and
     (January 23, 2014), 79 FR 4786 (January 29, 2014)
     (SR–NYSEArca–2013–137).
                                                             gold market through the securities                     vaulting, acts as the principal
        11 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59895         market.                                                intermediary between physical gold
     (May 8, 2009), 74 FR 22993 (May 15, 2009) (SR–
                                                             Operation of the Gold Market                           market participants and the relevant
     NYSEArca–2009–40).                                                                                             regulators, promotes good trading
        12 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61219           The global trade in gold consists of                 practices and develops standard market
     (December 22, 2009), 74 FR 68886 (December 29,          OTC transactions in spot, forwards, and
     2009) (SR–NYSEArca–2009–95).                                                                                   documentation. In addition, the LBMA
        13 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61220
                                                             options and other derivatives, together                promotes refining standards for the gold
     (December 22, 2009), 74 FR 68895 (December 29,          with exchange-traded futures and                       market by maintaining the ‘‘London
     2009) (SR–NYSEArca–2009–94).                            options.                                               Good Delivery List,’’ which identifies
        14 Securities Exchange Act Release No 66930            The OTC gold market includes spot,                   refiners of gold that have been approved
     (May 7, 2012), 77 FR 27817 (May 11, 2012) (SR–          forward, and option and other
     NYSEArca–2012–18)                                                                                              by the LBMA. In the OTC market, gold
        15 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61496                                                                bars that meet the specifications for
                                                                20 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
     (February 4, 2010), 75 FR 6758 (February 10, 2010)
                                                             51058 (January 19, 2005), 70 FR 3749 (January 26,
                                                                                                                    weight, dimensions, fineness (or purity),
     (SR–NYSEArca–2009–113).                                                                                        identifying marks (including the assay
        16 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 58956
                                                             2005) (SR–Amex–2004–38) (order approving listing
                                                             of iShares COMEX Gold Trust on the American            stamp of an LBMA-acceptable refiner)
     (November 14, 2008), 73 FR 71074 (November 24,          Stock Exchange LLC); 53521 (March 20, 2006), 71
     2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2008–124) (approving listing                                                                and appearance described in ‘‘The Good
                                                             FR 14967 (March 24, 2006) (SR–Amex–2005–72)
     on the Exchange of the iShares Silver Trust)).          (approving listing on the American Stock Exchange      Delivery Rules for Gold and Silver Bars’’
        17 See Securities Exchange Act Release No.56224
                                                             LLC of the iShares Silver Trust).                      published by the LBMA are referred to
     (August 8, 2007), 72 FR 45850 (August 15, 2007)            21 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.         as ‘‘London Good Delivery Bars.’’ A
     (SR–NYSEArca–2007–76) (approving listing on the         53520 (March 20, 2006), 71 FR 14977 (March 24,
     Exchange of the street TRACKS Gold Trust);
                                                                                                                    London Good Delivery Bar (typically
                                                             2006) (SR–PCX–2005–117) (approving trading on
     Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56041 (July 11,     the Exchange pursuant to UTP of the iShares Silver     called a ‘‘400 ounce bar’’) must contain
     2007), 72 FR 39114 (July 17, 2007) (SR–NYSEArca–        Trust); 51245 (February 23, 2005), 70 FR 10731         between 350 and 430 fine troy ounces
     2007–43) (order approving listing on the Exchange       (March 4, 2005) (SR–PCX–2004–117) (approving           of gold (1 troy ounce = 31.1034768
     of iShares COMEX Gold Trust).                           trading on the Exchange of the streetTRACKS Gold       grams), with a minimum fineness (or
        18 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79518     Trust pursuant to UTP).
     (December 9, 2016), 81 FR 90876 (December 15,              22 With respect to the application of Rule 10A–     purity) of 995 parts per 1000 (99.5%), be
     2016) (SR–NYSEArca–2016–84) (order approving            3 (17 CFR 240.10A–3) under the Act, the Trust          of good appearance and be easy to
     listing and trading of shares of the Long Dollar Gold   relies on the exemption contained in Rule 10A–         handle and stack. The fine gold content
     Trust).                                                 3(c)(7).                                               of a gold bar is calculated by
        19 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 50603        23 The description of the operation of the Trust,

     (October 28, 2004), 69 FR 64614 (November 5, 2004)      the Shares and the gold market contained herein are
                                                                                                                    multiplying the gross weight of the bar
     (SR–NYSE–2004–22) (order approving listing of           based, in part, on the Registration Statement. See     (expressed in units of 0.025 troy ounces)
     street TRACKS Gold Trust on NYSE).                      note 4, supra.                                         by the fineness of the bar. A London


VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00087   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM   25MYN1


     24182                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices

     Good Delivery Bar must also bear the                    acting on authority of the registered                 to purchase a specific number or dollar
     stamp of one of the refiners identified                 holder of Shares, may surrender Baskets               amount of Shares. Authorized
     on the London Good Delivery List.                       of Shares in exchange for the                         Participants will not receive from the
       Following the enactment of the                        corresponding Basket Amount                           Sponsor, the Trust or any affiliates any
     Financial Markets Act 2012, the                         announced by the Trustee. Upon                        fee or other compensation in connection
     Prudential Regulation Authority of the                  surrender of such Shares and payment                  with the offering of the Shares.
     Bank of England is responsible for                      of the Trustee’s applicable fee and of
                                                                                                                   Secondary Market Trading
     regulating most of the financial firms                  any expenses, taxes or charges (such as
     that are active in the bullion market,                  stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or                   While the Trust seeks to reflect
     and the Financial Conduct Authority is                  fees), the Trustee will deliver to the                generally the performance of the price of
     responsible for consumer and                            order of the redeeming Authorized                     gold less the Trust’s expenses and
     competition issues. Trading in spot,                    Participant the amount of gold                        liabilities, Shares may trade at, above or
     forwards and wholesale deposits in the                  corresponding to the redeemed Baskets.                below their NAV. The NAV of Shares
     bullion market is subject to the Non-                   Shares can only be surrendered for                    will fluctuate with changes in the
     Investment Products (‘‘NIPS’’) Code                     redemption in Baskets of 10,000 Shares                market value of the Trust’s assets. The
     adopted by market participants.24                       each.                                                 trading prices of Shares will fluctuate in
                                                                Before surrendering Baskets of Shares              accordance with changes in their NAV
     Creation and Redemption of Shares                       for redemption, an Authorized                         as well as market supply and demand.
        The Trust will create and redeem                     Participant must deliver to the Trustee               The amount of the discount or premium
     Shares on a continuous basis in one or                  a written request indicating the number               in the trading price relative to the NAV
     more blocks of 10,000 Shares (a block of                of Baskets it intends to redeem and the               may be influenced by non-concurrent
     10,000 Shares is called a ‘‘Basket’’). As               location where it would like to take                  trading hours between the major gold
     described below, the Trust will issue                   delivery of the gold represented by such              markets and the Exchange. While the
     Shares in Baskets to certain authorized                 Baskets. The date the Trustee receives                Shares trade on the Exchange until 4:00
     participants (‘‘Authorized Participants’’)              that order determines the Basket                      p.m. E.T., liquidity in the market for
     on an ongoing basis. Baskets of Shares                  Amount to be received in exchange.                    gold may be reduced after the close of
     will only be issued or redeemed in                      However, orders received by the Trustee               the major world gold markets, including
     exchange for an amount of gold                          after 3:59 p.m. Eastern Time (‘‘E.T.’’)               London, Zurich and COMEX. As a
     determined by the Trustee on each day                   will be rejected.                                     result, during this time, trading spreads,
     that the Exchange is open for regular                      The redemption distribution from the               and the resulting premium or discount,
     trading. No Shares will be issued unless                Trust will consist of a credit to the                 on Shares may widen.
     the Custodian has allocated to the                      redeeming Authorized Participant’s
                                                                                                                   Availability of Information Regarding
     Trust’s account the corresponding                       unallocated account representing the
                                                                                                                   Gold
     amount of gold. Initially, a Basket will                amount of the gold held by the Trust
     require delivery of 1,000 fine ounces of                evidenced by the Shares being                            Currently, the Consolidated Tape Plan
     gold. The amount of gold necessary for                  redeemed as of the date of the                        does not provide for dissemination of
     the creation of a Basket, or to be                      redemption order.                                     the spot price of a commodity such as
     received upon redemption of a Basket,                                                                         gold over the Consolidated Tape.
                                                             Net Asset Value                                       However, there will be disseminated
     will decrease over the life of the Trust,
                                                                The NAV of the Trust will be                       over the Consolidated Tape the last sale
     due to the payment or accrual of fees
                                                             calculated by subtracting the Trust’s                 price for the Shares, as is the case for
     and other expenses or liabilities payable
                                                             expenses and liabilities on any day from              all equity securities traded on the
     by the Trust.
                                                             the value of the gold owned by the Trust              Exchange (including exchange-traded
        Baskets may be created or redeemed
                                                             on that day; the NAV per Share will be                funds). In addition, there is a
     only by Authorized Participants. Orders
                                                             obtained by dividing the NAV of the                   considerable amount of information
     must be placed by 3:59 p.m. Eastern
                                                             Trust on a given day by the number of                 about gold and gold markets available
     Time (‘‘E.T.’’). The day on which a Trust
                                                             Shares outstanding on that day. On each               on public Web sites and through
     receives a valid purchase or redemption
                                                             day on which the Exchange is open for                 professional and subscription services.
     order is the order date.
        Each Authorized Participant must be                  regular trading, the Trustee will                        Investors may obtain gold pricing
     a registered broker-dealer, a participant               determine the NAV as promptly as                      information on a 24-hour basis based on
     in Depository Trust Corporation                         practicable after 4:00 p.m. E.T. The                  the spot price for an ounce of Gold from
     (‘‘DTC’’), have entered into an                         Trustee will value the Trust’s gold on                various financial information service
     agreement with the Trustee (the                         the basis of LBMA Gold Price PM. If                   providers, such as Reuters and
     ‘‘Authorized Participant Agreement’’)                   there is no LBMA Gold Price PM on any                 Bloomberg.
                                                             day, the Trustee is authorized to use the                Reuters and Bloomberg, for example,
     and be in a position to transfer gold to,
                                                             most recently announced LBMA Gold                     provide at no charge on their Web sites
     and take delivery of gold from, the
                                                             Price or another publicly available price             delayed information regarding the spot
     Custodian through one or more gold
                                                             as instructed by the Sponsor based on                 price of Gold and last sale prices of Gold
     accounts. The Authorized Participant
                                                             the Sponsor’s determination that it                   futures, as well as information about
     Agreement provides the procedures for
                                                             fairly represents the value of the gold               news and developments in the gold
     the creation and redemption of Baskets
                                                             held by the Trust.                                    market. Reuters and Bloomberg also
     and for the delivery of gold in
                                                                The NAV per Share will be calculated               offer a professional service to
     connection with such creations or
                                                             by taking the current price of the Trust’s            subscribers for a fee that provides
     redemptions.
                                                             total assets, subtracting any liabilities,            information on Gold prices directly
        According to the Registration
                                                             and dividing by the total number of                   from market participants. Complete real-
     Statement, Authorized Participants,
                                                             Shares outstanding. The offering of the               time data for Gold futures and options
       24 The NIPS Code is available at http://              Trust’s Shares is a ‘‘best efforts’’                  prices traded on the COMEX are
     www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/Documents/              offering, which means that the                        available by subscription from Reuters
     forex/fxjsc/nipscode1111.pdf.                           Authorized Participants are not required              and Bloomberg. There are a variety of


VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00088   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM   25MYN1


                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices                                                    24183

     other public Web sites providing                        Trading Rules                                         view of the Exchange, make trading in
     information on gold, ranging from those                    The Exchange deems the Shares to be                the Shares inadvisable. These may
     specializing in precious metals to sites                equity securities, thus rendering trading             include: (1) The extent to which
     maintained by major newspapers. In                      in the Trust subject to the Exchange’s                conditions in the underlying gold
     addition, the LBMA Gold Price is                        existing rules governing the trading of               market have caused disruptions and/or
     publicly available at no charge at                      equity securities. Trading in the Shares              lack of trading, or (2) whether other
     www.lbma.org.uk.                                        on the Exchange will occur in                         unusual conditions or circumstances
                                                             accordance with NYSE Arca Equities                    detrimental to the maintenance of a fair
     Availability of Information                                                                                   and orderly market are present. In
                                                             Rule 7.34(a). The Exchange has
        The intraday indicative value (‘‘IIV’’)                                                                    addition, trading in Shares will be
                                                             appropriate rules to facilitate
     per Share for the Shares will be                                                                              subject to trading halts caused by
                                                             transactions in the Shares during all
     disseminated by one or more major                                                                             extraordinary market volatility pursuant
                                                             trading sessions. As provided in NYSE
     market data vendors. The IIV will be                                                                          to the Exchange’s ‘‘circuit breaker’’
                                                             Arca Equities Rule 7.6, Commentary .03,
     calculated based on the amount of gold                                                                        rule.27 The Exchange will halt trading in
                                                             the minimum price variation (‘‘MPV’’)
     held by the Trust and a price of gold                                                                         the Shares if the NAV of the Trust is not
                                                             for quoting and entry of orders in equity
     derived from updated bids and offers                                                                          calculated or disseminated daily. The
                                                             securities traded on the NYSE Arca
     indicative of the spot price of gold.25                                                                       Exchange may halt trading during the
        The Web site for the Trust                           Marketplace is $0.01, with the exception
                                                                                                                   day in which an interruption occurs to
     (www.graniteshares.com) will contain                    of securities that are priced less than
                                                                                                                   the dissemination of the IIV, as
     the following information, on a per                     $1.00 for which the MPV for order entry
                                                                                                                   described above. If the interruption to
     Share basis, for the Trust: (a) The mid-                is $0.0001.
                                                                                                                   the dissemination of the IIV persists
                                                                Further, NYSE Arca Equities Rule
     point of the bid-ask price 26 at the close                                                                    past the trading day in which it occurs,
                                                             8.201 sets forth certain restrictions on
     of trading (‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’), and a                                                                         the Exchange will halt trading no later
                                                             ETP Holders acting as registered Market
     calculation of the premium or discount                                                                        than the beginning of the trading day
                                                             Makers in the Shares to facilitate
     of such price against such NAV; and (b)                                                                       following the interruption.
                                                             surveillance. Under NYSE Arca Equities
     data in chart format displaying the
                                                             Rule 8.201(g), an ETP Holder acting as                Surveillance
     frequency distribution of discounts and
                                                             a registered Market Maker in the Shares                  The Exchange represents that trading
     premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against
                                                             is required to provide the Exchange                   in the Shares will be subject to the
     the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for
                                                             with information relating to its trading              existing trading surveillances
     each of the four previous calendar
                                                             in the underlying gold, related futures               administered by the Exchange, as well
     quarters. The Web site for the Trust will
                                                             or options on futures, or any other                   as cross-market surveillances
     also provide the Trust’s prospectus.
                                                             related derivatives. Commentary .04 of                administered by the Financial Industry
     Finally, the Trust’s Web site will
                                                             NYSE Arca Equities Rule 6.3 requires an               Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) on
     provide the last sale price of the Shares
                                                             ETP Holder acting as a registered Market              behalf of the Exchange, which are
     as traded in the U.S. market. In
                                                             Maker, and its affiliates, in the Shares to           designed to detect violations of
     addition, information regarding market
                                                             establish, maintain and enforce written               Exchange rules and applicable federal
     price and trading volume of the Shares
                                                             policies and procedures reasonably                    securities laws.28 The Exchange
     will be continually available on a real-
                                                             designed to prevent the misuse of any                 represents that these procedures are
     time basis throughout the day on
                                                             material nonpublic information with                   adequate to properly monitor Exchange
     brokers’ computer screens and other
                                                             respect to such products, any                         trading of the Shares in all trading
     electronic services. Information
                                                             components of the related products, any               sessions and to deter and detect
     regarding the previous day’s closing
                                                             physical asset or commodity underlying                violations of Exchange rules and federal
     price and trading volume information
                                                             the product, applicable currencies,                   securities laws applicable to trading on
     for the Shares will be published daily in
                                                             underlying indexes, related futures or                the Exchange.
     the financial section of newspapers.
                                                             options on futures, and any related                      The surveillances referred to above
     Criteria for Initial and Continued Listing              derivative instruments (including the                 generally focus on detecting securities
        The Trust will be subject to the                     Shares).                                              trading outside their normal patterns,
     criteria in NYSE Arca Equities Rule                        As a general matter, the Exchange has              which could be indicative of
     8.201(e) for initial and continued listing              regulatory jurisdiction over its ETP                  manipulative or other violative activity.
     of the Shares.                                          Holders and their associated persons,                 When such situations are detected,
        A minimum of two Baskets or 20,000                   which include any person or entity                    surveillance analysis follows and
     Shares will be required to be                           controlling an ETP Holder. A subsidiary               investigations are opened, where
     outstanding at the start of trading,                    or affiliate of an ETP Holder that does               appropriate, to review the behavior of
     which is equivalent to 2,000 fine ounces                business only in commodities or futures               all relevant parties for all relevant
     of gold or about $2.4m as of April 2017.                contracts would not be subject to                     trading violations.
     The Exchange believes that the                          Exchange jurisdiction, but the Exchange                  The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf of
     anticipated minimum number of Shares                    could obtain information regarding the                the Exchange, or both, will
     outstanding at the start of trading is                  activities of such subsidiary or affiliate            communicate as needed regarding
     sufficient to provide adequate market                   through surveillance sharing agreements               trading in the Shares with other markets
     liquidity.                                              with regulatory organizations of which                and other entities that are members of
                                                             such subsidiary or affiliate is a member.             the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on
       25 The IIV on a per Share basis disseminated             With respect to trading halts, the                 behalf of the Exchange, or both, may
     during the Core Trading Session should not be           Exchange may consider all relevant
     viewed as a real-time update of the NAV, which is       factors in exercising its discretion to                 27 See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
     calculated once a day.                                  halt or suspend trading in the Shares.                  28 FINRA   conducts cross-market surveillances on
       26 The bid-ask price of the Shares will be                                                                  behalf of the Exchange pursuant to a regulatory
     determined using the highest bid and lowest offer
                                                             Trading on the Exchange in the Shares                 services agreement. The Exchange is responsible for
     on the Consolidated Tape as of the time of              may be halted because of market                       FINRA’s performance under this regulatory services
     calculation of the closing day NAV.                     conditions or for reasons that, in the                agreement.



VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00089   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM     25MYN1


     24184                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices

     obtain trading information regarding                     regarding the IIV is disseminated; (4) the             rules and applicable federal securities
     trading in the Shares from such markets                  requirement that ETP Holders deliver a                 laws. The Exchange may obtain
     and other entities. In addition, the                     prospectus to investors purchasing                     information via ISG from other
     Exchange may obtain information                          newly issued Shares prior to or                        exchanges that are members of ISG or
     regarding trading in the Shares from                     concurrently with the confirmation of a                with which the Exchange has entered
     markets and other entities that are                      transaction; (5) the possibility that                  into a comprehensive surveillance
     members of ISG or with which the                         trading spreads and the resulting                      sharing agreement.
     Exchange has in place a comprehensive                    premium or discount on the Shares may                     The proposed rule change is designed
     surveillance sharing agreement.29                        widen as a result of reduced liquidity of              to promote just and equitable principles
        Also, pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities                  gold trading during the Core and Late                  of trade and to protect investors and the
     Rule 8.201(g), the Exchange is able to                   Trading Sessions after the close of the                public interest in that there is a
     obtain information regarding trading in                  major world gold markets; and (6)                      considerable amount of gold price and
     the Shares and the underlying gold, gold                 trading information. For example, the                  gold market information available on
     futures contracts, options on gold                       Information Bulletin will advise ETP                   public Web sites and through
     futures, or any other gold derivative,                   Holders, prior to the commencement of                  professional and subscription services.
     through ETP Holders acting as                            trading, of the prospectus delivery                    Investors may obtain on a 24-hour basis
     registered Market Makers, in connection                  requirements applicable to the Trust.                  gold pricing information based on the
     with such ETP Holders’ proprietary or                    The Exchange notes that investors                      spot price for an ounce of gold from
     customer trades through ETP Holders                      purchasing Shares directly from the                    various financial information service
     which they effect on any relevant                        Trust (by delivery of the Creation Basket              providers. Investors may obtain gold
     market.                                                  Deposit) will receive a prospectus. ETP                pricing information based on the spot
        In addition, the Exchange also has a                  Holders purchasing Shares from the                     price for an ounce of gold from various
     general policy prohibiting the                           Trust for resale to investors will deliver             financial information service providers.
     distribution of material, non-public                     a prospectus to such investors.                        Current spot prices also are generally
     information by its employees.                               In addition, the Information Bulletin               available with bid/ask spreads from gold
        All statements and representations                    will reference that the Trust is subject               bullion dealers. In addition, the Trust’s
     made in this filing regarding (a) the                    to various fees and expenses as will be                Web site will provide pricing
     description of the portfolio, (b)                        described in the Registration Statement.               information for gold spot prices and the
     limitations on portfolio holdings or                     The Information Bulletin will also                     Shares. Market prices for the Shares will
     reference assets, or (c) the applicability               reference the fact that there is no                    be available from a variety of sources
     of Exchange listing rules specified in                   regulated source of last sale information              including brokerage firms, information
     this rule filing shall constitute                        regarding physical gold, that the                      Web sites and other information service
     continued listing requirements for                       Commission has no jurisdiction over the                providers. The NAV of the Trust will be
     listing the Shares of the Trust on the                   trading of gold as a physical commodity,               published by the Sponsor on each day
     Exchange.                                                and that the CFTC has regulatory                       that the NYSE Arca is open for regular
        The issuer has represented to the                     jurisdiction over the trading of gold                  trading and will be posted on the Trust’s
     Exchange that it will advise the                         futures contracts and options on gold                  Web site. The IIV relating to the Shares
     Exchange of any failure by the Trust to                  futures contracts.                                     will be widely disseminated by one or
     comply with the continued listing                           The Information Bulletin will also                  more major market data vendors at least
     requirements, and, pursuant to its                       discuss any relief, if granted, by the                 every 15 seconds during the Core
     obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the                Commission or the staff from any rules                 Trading Session. In addition, the LBMA
     Act, the Exchange will monitor for                       under the Act.                                         Gold Price is publicly available at no
     compliance with the continued listing                                                                           charge at www.lbma.org.uk. The Trust’s
                                                              2. Statutory Basis
     requirements. If the Trust is not in                                                                            Web site will also provide the Trust’s
     compliance with the applicable listing                      The basis under the Act for this                    prospectus, as well as the two most
     requirements, the Exchange will                          proposed rule change is the requirement                recent reports to stockholders. In
     commence delisting procedures under                      under Section 6(b)(5) 30 that an                       addition, information regarding market
     NYSE Arca Equities Rule 5.5(m).                          exchange have rules that are designed to               price and trading volume of the Shares
                                                              prevent fraudulent and manipulative                    will be continually available on a real-
     Information Bulletin                                     acts and practices, to promote just and                time basis throughout the day on
        Prior to the commencement of                          equitable principles of trade, to remove               brokers’ computer screens and other
     trading, the Exchange will inform its                    impediments to, and perfect the                        electronic services. Information
     ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin                   mechanism of a free and open market                    regarding the previous day’s closing
     of the special characteristics and risks                 and, in general, to protect investors and              price and trading volume information
     associated with trading the Shares.                      the public interest.                                   for the Shares will be published daily in
     Specifically, the Information Bulletin                      The Exchange believes that the                      the financial section of newspapers.
     will discuss the following: (1) The                      proposed rule change is designed to                       The proposed rule change is designed
     procedures for purchases and                             prevent fraudulent and manipulative                    to perfect the mechanism of a free and
     redemptions of Shares in Baskets                         acts and practices in that the Shares will             open market and, in general, to protect
     (including noting that Shares are not                    be listed and traded on the Exchange                   investors and the public interest in that
     individually redeemable); (2) NYSE                       pursuant to the initial and continued                  it will facilitate the listing and trading
     Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a), which                         listing criteria in NYSE Arca Equities                 of an additional type of exchange-traded
     imposes a duty of due diligence on its                   Rule 8.201. The Exchange has in place                  product that will enhance competition
     ETP Holders to learn the essential facts                 surveillance procedures that are                       among market participants, to the
     relating to every customer prior to                      adequate to properly monitor trading in                benefit of investors and the marketplace.
     trading the Shares; (3) how information                  the Shares in all trading sessions and to              As noted above, the Exchange has in
                                                              deter and detect violations of Exchange                place surveillance procedures relating to
      29 For a list of the current members of ISG, see                                                               trading in the Shares and may obtain
     www.isgportal.org.                                        30 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                             information via ISG from other


VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001    PO 00000   Frm 00090    Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM   25MYN1


                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 100 / Thursday, May 25, 2017 / Notices                                                       24185

     exchanges that are members of ISG or                    All submissions should refer to File                   to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
     with which the Exchange has entered                     Number SR–NYSEArca–2017–55. This                       Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
     into a comprehensive surveillance                       file number should be included on the                  19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
     sharing agreement. In addition, as noted                subject line if email is used. To help the             change to list and trade shares of the
     above, investors will have ready access                 Commission process and review your                     Bitcoin Investment Trust under NYSE
     to information regarding gold pricing.                  comments more efficiently, please use                  Arca Equities Rule 8.201. The proposed
                                                             only one method. The Commission will                   rule change was published for comment
     B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                              in the Federal Register on February 9,
                                                             post all comments on the Commission’s
     Statement on Burden on Competition                                                                             2017.3
                                                             Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
       The Exchange does not believe that                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           On March 22, 2017, pursuant to
     the proposed rule change will impose                    submission, all subsequent                             section 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the
     any burden on competition that is not                   amendments, all written statements                     Commission designated a longer period
     necessary or appropriate in furtherance                 with respect to the proposed rule                      within which to approve the proposed
     of the purposes of the Act. The                         change that are filed with the                         rule change, disapprove the proposed
     Exchange believes the proposed rule                     Commission, and all written                            rule change, or institute proceedings to
     change will enhance competition by                      communications relating to the                         determine whether to approve or
     accommodating Exchange trading of an                    proposed rule change between the                       disapprove the proposed rule change.5
     additional exchange-traded product                      Commission and any person, other than                  On April 6, 2017, the Exchange filed
     relating to physical gold.                              those that may be withheld from the                    with the Commission Amendment No. 1
                                                             public in accordance with the                          to the proposed rule change. On April
     C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                              21, 2017, the Commission published
                                                             provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
     Statement on Comments on the                                                                                   notice of Amendment No. 1 and
                                                             available for Web site viewing and
     Proposed Rule Change Received From                                                                             instituted proceedings to determine
                                                             printing in the Commission’s Public
     Members, Participants, or Others                                                                               whether to approve or disapprove the
                                                             Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
       No written comments were solicited                    Washington, DC 20549, on official                      proposed rule change, as modified by
     or received with respect to the proposed                business days between the hours of                     Amendment No. 1.6 The Commission
     rule change.                                            10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                 has received four comment letters on
                                                             filing also will be available for                      the proposed rule change.7
     III. Date of Effectiveness of the                                                                                 On May 11, 2017, the Exchange filed
                                                             inspection and copying at the principal
     Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                                                                            with the Commission Amendment No. 2
                                                             office of the Exchange. All comments
     Commission Action                                                                                              to the proposed rule change as
                                                             received will be posted without change;
       Within 45 days of the date of                         the Commission does not edit personal                  described in Items I and II below, which
     publication of this notice in the Federal               identifying information from                           Items have been prepared by the
     Register or within such longer period                   submissions. You should submit only                    Exchange. The Commission is
     up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may                 information that you wish to make                      publishing this notice to solicit
     designate if it finds such longer period                available publicly. All submissions                    comments on the proposed rule change,
     to be appropriate and publishes its                     should refer to File Number SR–                        as modified by Amendment No. 2, from
     reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which              NYSEArca–2017–55, and should be                        interested persons.8
     the self-regulatory organization                        submitted on or before June 15, 2017.                    1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
     consents, the Commission will:                            For the Commission, by the Division of                 2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.
       (A) By order approve or disapprove                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79955

     the proposed rule change, or                            authority.31                                           (Feb. 3, 2017), 82 FR 10086 (Feb. 9, 2017).
                                                                                                                       4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
       (B) institute proceedings to determine                Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                                       5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80297
     whether the proposed rule change                        Assistant Secretary.                                   (Mar. 22, 2017), 82 FR 15408 (Mar. 28, 2017).
     should be disapproved.                                  [FR Doc. 2017–10688 Filed 5–24–17; 8:45 am]               6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80502

     IV. Solicitation of Comments                            BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                 (Apr. 21, 2017), 82 FR 19398 (Apr. 27, 2017)
                                                                                                                    (‘‘Order Instituting Proceedings’’).
       Interested persons are invited to                                                                               7 See Letters from Joseph Stephen White (Feb. 5,

     submit written data, views, and                                                                                2017); Anonymous (Feb. 8, 2017); Mark T.
                                                             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                Williams, Finance Professor, Boston University
     arguments concerning the foregoing,                     COMMISSION                                             (Mar. 13, 2017); Clark J. Haley (Apr. 17, 2017). All
     including whether the proposed rule                                                                            comments on the proposed rule change are
     change is consistent with the Act.                      [Release No. 34–80729; File No. SR–                    available on the Commission’s Web site at https://
     Comments may be submitted by any of                     NYSEArca–2017–06]                                      www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-06/
                                                                                                                    nysearca201706.htm.
     the following methods:                                  Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                       8 In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange, among

     Electronic Comments                                     Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of                        other things: (a) Noted the filing, on May 4, 2017,
                                                                                                                    of Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement
                                                             Amendment No. 2 to a Proposed Rule
       • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Change Relating to the Listing and
                                                                                                                    (as defined below) (see section II.A.1, infra (note 10
     comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                              under heading ‘‘Purpose’’); (b) updated information
                                                             Trading of Shares of the Bitcoin                       relating to the components of the XBX Index and
     rules/sro.shtml); or                                    Investment Trust Under NYSE Arca                       trade volumes thereon (see section II.A.1, infra
       • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Equities Rule 8.201                                    (discussion in subheading ‘‘Bitcoin Exchanges’’));
     sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                                                                        (c) revised information and statistics relating to the
                                                                                                                    trading volumes on, and market shares of, the
     NYSEArca–2017–55 on the subject line.                   May 19, 2017.
                                                                                                                    largest U.S. dollar denominated bitcoin exchanges
                                                                On January 25, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc.                (see section II.A.1, infra (table entitled ‘‘Eight
     Paper Comments
                                                             (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed                  Largest U.S. Dollar-Denominated Bitcoin Exchanges
       • Send paper comments in triplicate                   with the Securities and Exchange                       by Trade Volume’’ under subheading ‘‘Bitcoin
                                                                                                                    Exchanges’’)); and (d) added or modified
     to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                  information relating to in-kind and in-cash creation
     Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                                  and redemption of Shares (as defined below) (see
     Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                31 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                      Continued




VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:04 May 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00091    Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25MYN1.SGM   25MYN1



Document Created: 2018-11-08 08:53:16
Document Modified: 2018-11-08 08:53:16
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 24180 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR