82_FR_50091 82 FR 49884 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and Trade Shares of The Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E

82 FR 49884 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Approving a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and Trade Shares of The Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 207 (October 27, 2017)

Page Range49884-49886
FR Document2017-23371

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 207 (Friday, October 27, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49884-49886]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23371]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81918; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2017-98]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Approving a 
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List 
and Trade Shares of The Gold Trust Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E

October 23, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On August 30, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to 
list and trade shares of The Gold Trust under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E. 
The proposed rule change was published for comment in the Federal 
Register on September 15, 2017.\3\ On September 28, 2017, the Exchange 
filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\4\ The Commission 
has not received any comments on the proposed rule change. This order 
approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81568 (Sep. 11, 
2017), 82 FR 43417.
    \4\ Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change replaces and 
supersedes the original filing in its entirety. In Amendment No. 1, 
the Exchange: (1) Provided additional information regarding the 
futures exchanges that trade in gold futures contracts and which of 
those exchanges are members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group 
(``ISG''); (2) stated that the net asset value (``NAV'') of the 
Trust will be published by the Sponsor (as defined herein) by 5:30 
p.m., Eastern time on each day that the NYSE Arca is open for 
regular trading and will be posted on the Trust's Web site; (3) 
clarified that the intraday indicative value (``IIV'') per Share for 
the Shares will be widely disseminated by one or more major market 
data vendors at least every 15 seconds during the Exchange's Core 
Trading Session (as defined in the Exchange's rules; and (4) stated 
that the Web site for the Trust will provide the two most recent 
reports to stockholders. Amendment No. 1 also made non-substantive, 
technical amendments. Amendment No. 1 is available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-98/nysearca201798-2614707-161129.pdf. Amendment No. 1 is not subject to notice and comment 
because it is a technical amendment that does not materially alter 
the substance of the proposed rule change or raise any novel 
regulatory issues.
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II. The Description of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by 
Amendment No. 1 5
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    \5\ A more detailed description of the Trust and the Shares, as 
well as investment risks, creation and redemption procedures, NAV 
calculation, availability of information and fees, among other 
things, is included in the Registration Statement, infra note 7, and 
in Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
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    The Exchange proposes to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of The 
Gold Trust (``Trust''), a series of the World Currency Gold Trust 
(``WCGT''),\6\ under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E.\7\ NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E 
governs the listing and trading, or trading pursuant to unlisted 
trading privileges, of Commodity-Based Trust Shares on the Exchange.\8\
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    \6\ According to the Exchange, WCGT is a Delaware statutory 
trust consisting of multiple series, each of which issues common 
units of beneficial interest, which represent units of fractional 
undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of such series. The 
term of WCGT and each series will be perpetual (unless terminated 
earlier in certain circumstances).
    \7\ On August 29, 2017, WCGT submitted to the Commission its 
draft registration statement on Form S-1 with respect to the Trust 
(``Registration Statement'') under the Securities Act of 1933 
(``1933 Act'').
    \8\ A ``Commodity-Based Trust Share'' is a security (a) that is 
issued by a trust that holds a specified commodity deposited with 
the trust; (b) that is issued by such trust in a specified aggregate 
minimum number in return for a deposit of a quantity of the 
underlying commodity; and (c) that, when aggregated in the same 
specified minimum number, may be redeemed at a holder's request by 
such trust which will deliver to the redeeming holder the quantity 
of the underlying commodity. See NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E(c)(1).
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    The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect 
the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the expenses of the 
Trust's operations. The Trust will not trade in gold futures, options, 
or swap contracts on any futures exchange or over the counter. The 
Trust will not hold or trade in commodity futures contracts, commodity 
interests, or any other instruments regulated by the Commodity Exchange 
Act. The Trust will take delivery of physical gold that complies with 
the London Bullion Market Association (``LBMA'') gold delivery rules. 
According to the Exchange, the Shares, which are Commodity Based Trust 
Shares, will represent investors' discrete identifiable and undivided 
beneficial ownership interest in the commodities deposited into the 
Trust.
    The sponsor of the Trust is WGC USA Asset Management Company, LLC 
(``Sponsor''). The sole trustee of WCGT is Delaware Trust Company. BNY 
Mellon Asset Servicing, a division of The Bank of New York Mellon 
(``BNYM''), will be the Trust's administrator and transfer agent. BNYM 
will serve as the custodian of the Trust's cash, if any. A bank will 
serve as the custodian of the Trust's gold.

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the Exchange's 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, to list and trade 
the Shares is consistent with the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.\9\ In 
particular, the Commission finds that the proposal, as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, is consistent with Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the 
Act,\10\ which sets forth Congress' finding that it is in the public 
interest and appropriate for the protection of investors and the 
maintenance of fair and orderly markets to assure the availability to 
brokers, dealers, and investors of information with respect to 
quotations for and transactions in securities. The last-sale price for 
the Shares will be disseminated over the Consolidated Tape. According 
to the Exchange, 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.\11\
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    \9\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
    \11\ The Exchange states that 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 
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. See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.

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[[Page 49885]]

    Additionally, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change, 
as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of 
the Exchange Act,\12\ which requires, among other things, that the 
Exchange's rules be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative 
acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest. The Commission notes that the 
Exchange has surveillance-sharing agreements with significant, 
regulated markets for trading futures on gold. Specifically, according 
to the Exchange, (1) the most significant gold futures exchange is 
COMEX, a subsidiary of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., and a 
subsidiary of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (``CME Group''), 
and ICE Futures US (``ICE'') also lists gold futures; \13\ and (2) the 
CME Group and ICE are members of the ISG,\14\ which will allow NYSE 
Arca to obtain surveillance information from COMEX and ICE. Both COMEX 
and ICE are regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
(``CFTC'').\15\
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \13\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
    \14\ See id.
    \15\ See https://www.theice.com/futures-us/regulation (``ICE 
Futures U.S. is a Designated Contract Market pursuant to the 
Commodity Exchange Act and regulated by the CFTC.''); http://www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/rulebook.html (COMEX is regulated 
by the CFTC).
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    The Commission believes that the proposed rule change, as modified 
by Amendment No. 1, is reasonably designed to promote fair disclosure 
of information that may be necessary to price the Shares appropriately. 
NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E(e)(2)(v) requires that an IIV (which is referred 
to in the rule as the ``Indicative Trust Value'') be calculated and 
disseminated at least every 15 seconds. 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. The Exchange states that 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.\16\ 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.\17\ The Trust also will publish the following information on its 
Web site: (1) The mid-point of the bid-ask price at the close of 
trading (``Bid/Ask Price''), and a calculation of the premium or 
discount of such price against the NAV; (2) 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; (3) the Trust's prospectus, as 
well as the two most recent reports to stockholders; and (4) the last-
sale price of the Shares as traded in the U.S. market.\18\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
    \17\ See id.
    \18\ See id.
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    The Commission also believes that the proposal, as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, is reasonably designed to prevent trading when a 
reasonable degree of transparency cannot be assured. 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.\19\ The Exchange will halt trading 
in the Shares if the NAV of the Trust is not calculated or disseminated 
daily.\20\ The Exchange may halt trading during the day in which an 
interruption occurs to the dissemination of the IIV; 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.\21\
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    \19\ See NYSE Arca Rule 7.12-E.
    \20\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
    \21\ See id.
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    Additionally, the Commission notes that market makers in the Shares 
would be subject to the requirements of NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E(g), 
which allow the Exchange to ensure that they do not use their positions 
to violate the requirements of Exchange rules or applicable federal 
securities laws.\22\
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    \22\ Commentary .04 of NYSE Arca Rule 6.3-E requires that an 
Equity Trading Permit Holder (``ETP Holder'') acting as a registered 
market maker in the Shares, and its affiliates, 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. See Amendment No. 
1, supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made the following 
additional representations:
    (1) The Shares will be listed and traded on the Exchange pursuant 
to the initial and continued listing criteria in NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-
E.\23\
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    \23\ See id.
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    (2) The Exchange has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions 
in the Shares during all trading sessions.\24\
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    \24\ See id.
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    (3) The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities.\25\
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    \25\ See id. The Commission notes that, as a result, trading of 
the Shares will be subject to the Exchange's existing rules 
governing the trading of equity securities.
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    (4) The Exchange has a general policy prohibiting the distribution 
of material, non-public information by its employees.\26\
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    \26\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (5) 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, and 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.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See id. 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. See id.

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[[Page 49886]]

    (6) 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 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.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (7) 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 creation 
units (including noting that Shares are not individually redeemable); 
(2) NYSE Arca Rule 9.2-E(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.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See id.
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    (8) All statements and representations made in this filing 
regarding (a) the description of the portfolio or reference assets, (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.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (9) 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 Rule 5.5(m).\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See id.
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    This approval order is based on all of the Exchange's 
representations--including those set forth above and in Amendment No. 
1--and the Exchange's description of the Trust.
    For the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \32\ and the rules and regulations thereunder 
applicable to a national securities exchange.
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    \32\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act,\33\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2017-98), 
as modified by Amendment No. 1 be, and it hereby is, approved.
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    \33\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\34\
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    \34\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-23371 Filed 10-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                    49884                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices

                                                    of any person concerned; (b) the                        received any comments on the proposed                      commodity interests, or any other
                                                    proposed transaction is consistent with                 rule change. This order approves the                       instruments regulated by the
                                                    the policies of each registered                         proposed rule change, as modified by                       Commodity Exchange Act. The Trust
                                                    investment company involved; and (c)                    Amendment No. 1.                                           will take delivery of physical gold that
                                                    the proposed transaction is consistent                                                                             complies with the London Bullion
                                                                                                            II. The Description of the Proposed
                                                    with the general purposes of the Act.                                                                              Market Association (‘‘LBMA’’) gold
                                                                                                            Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                    Rule 17d–1(b) under the Act provides                                                                               delivery rules. According to the
                                                                                                            Amendment No. 1 5
                                                    that in passing upon an application filed                                                                          Exchange, the Shares, which are
                                                    under the rule, the Commission will                        The Exchange proposes to list and                       Commodity Based Trust Shares, will
                                                    consider whether the participation of                   trade shares (‘‘Shares’’) of The Gold                      represent investors’ discrete identifiable
                                                    the registered investment company in a                  Trust (‘‘Trust’’), a series of the World                   and undivided beneficial ownership
                                                    joint enterprise, joint arrangement or                  Currency Gold Trust (‘‘WCGT’’),6 under                     interest in the commodities deposited
                                                    profit sharing plan on the basis                        NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E.7 NYSE Arca                         into the Trust.
                                                    proposed is consistent with the                         Rule 8.201–E governs the listing and                          The sponsor of the Trust is WGC USA
                                                    provisions, policies and purposes of the                trading, or trading pursuant to unlisted                   Asset Management Company, LLC
                                                    Act and the extent to which such                        trading privileges, of Commodity-Based                     (‘‘Sponsor’’). The sole trustee of WCGT
                                                    participation is on a basis different from              Trust Shares on the Exchange.8                             is Delaware Trust Company. BNY
                                                    or less advantageous than that of the                      The investment objective of the Trust                   Mellon Asset Servicing, a division of
                                                    other participants.                                     is for the Shares to reflect the                           The Bank of New York Mellon
                                                                                                            performance of the price of gold bullion,                  (‘‘BNYM’’), will be the Trust’s
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                less the expenses of the Trust’s                           administrator and transfer agent. BNYM
                                                    Investment Management, under delegated                  operations. The Trust will not trade in
                                                    authority.                                                                                                         will serve as the custodian of the Trust’s
                                                                                                            gold futures, options, or swap contracts                   cash, if any. A bank will serve as the
                                                    Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      on any futures exchange or over the                        custodian of the Trust’s gold.
                                                    Assistant Secretary.                                    counter. The Trust will not hold or trade
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–23369 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am]            in commodity futures contracts,                            III. Discussion and Commission
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                       Findings
                                                                                                            (‘‘ISG’’); (2) stated that the net asset value (‘‘NAV’’)      After careful review, the Commission
                                                                                                            of the Trust will be published by the Sponsor (as          finds that the Exchange’s proposed rule
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 defined herein) by 5:30 p.m., Eastern time on each
                                                                                                            day that the NYSE Arca is open for regular trading
                                                                                                                                                                       change, as modified by Amendment No.
                                                    COMMISSION                                              and will be posted on the Trust’s Web site; (3)            1, to list and trade the Shares is
                                                    [Release No. 34–81918; File No. SR–                     clarified that the intraday indicative value (‘‘IIV’’)     consistent with the Act and the rules
                                                                                                            per Share for the Shares will be widely                    and regulations thereunder applicable to
                                                    NYSEArca–2017–98]                                       disseminated by one or more major market data
                                                                                                            vendors at least every 15 seconds during the               a national securities exchange.9 In
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE                     Exchange’s Core Trading Session (as defined in the         particular, the Commission finds that
                                                    Arca, Inc.; Order Approving a                           Exchange’s rules; and (4) stated that the Web site         the proposal, as modified by
                                                                                                            for the Trust will provide the two most recent             Amendment No. 1, is consistent with
                                                    Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by                    reports to stockholders. Amendment No. 1 also
                                                    Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To List and                    made non-substantive, technical amendments.                Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,10
                                                    Trade Shares of The Gold Trust Under                    Amendment No. 1 is available at: https://                  which sets forth Congress’ finding that
                                                    NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E                                  www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2017-98/                  it is in the public interest and
                                                                                                            nysearca201798-2614707-161129.pdf. Amendment               appropriate for the protection of
                                                    October 23, 2017.                                       No. 1 is not subject to notice and comment because
                                                                                                            it is a technical amendment that does not materially       investors and the maintenance of fair
                                                    I. Introduction                                         alter the substance of the proposed rule change or         and orderly markets to assure the
                                                                                                            raise any novel regulatory issues.                         availability to brokers, dealers, and
                                                       On August 30, 2017, NYSE Arca, Inc.                     5 A more detailed description of the Trust and the
                                                                                                                                                                       investors of information with respect to
                                                    (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed                   Shares, as well as investment risks, creation and
                                                                                                                                                                       quotations for and transactions in
                                                    with the Securities and Exchange                        redemption procedures, NAV calculation,
                                                                                                            availability of information and fees, among other          securities. The last-sale price for the
                                                    Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant                   things, is included in the Registration Statement,         Shares will be disseminated over the
                                                    to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                   infra note 7, and in Amendment No. 1, supra note           Consolidated Tape. According to the
                                                    Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule               4.
                                                                                                                                                                       Exchange, there is a considerable
                                                                                                               6 According to the Exchange, WCGT is a Delaware
                                                    19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                                                                                 amount of information about gold and
                                                                                                            statutory trust consisting of multiple series, each of
                                                    change to list and trade shares of The                  which issues common units of beneficial interest,          gold markets available on public Web
                                                    Gold Trust under NYSE Arca Rule                         which represent units of fractional undivided              sites and through professional and
                                                    8.201–E. The proposed rule change was                   beneficial interest in and ownership of such series.
                                                                                                                                                                       subscription services. Investors may
                                                    published for comment in the Federal                    The term of WCGT and each series will be
                                                                                                            perpetual (unless terminated earlier in certain            obtain gold pricing information on a 24-
                                                    Register on September 15, 2017.3 On                     circumstances).                                            hour basis based on the spot price for an
                                                    September 28, 2017, the Exchange filed                     7 On August 29, 2017, WCGT submitted to the
                                                                                                                                                                       ounce of gold from various financial
                                                    Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule                    Commission its draft registration statement on Form        information service providers.11
                                                    change.4 The Commission has not                         S–1 with respect to the Trust (‘‘Registration
                                                                                                            Statement’’) under the Securities Act of 1933 (‘‘1933
                                                                                                                                                                         9 In approving this proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                            Act’’).
                                                      1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                                                                           Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                               8 A ‘‘Commodity-Based Trust Share’’ is a security
                                                      2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                                                                              impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
                                                                                                            (a) that is issued by a trust that holds a specified
                                                      3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81568
                                                                                                            commodity deposited with the trust; (b) that is            formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
                                                    (Sep. 11, 2017), 82 FR 43417.                           issued by such trust in a specified aggregate                10 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
                                                      4 Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change         minimum number in return for a deposit of a                  11 The Exchange states that Reuters and

                                                    replaces and supersedes the original filing in its      quantity of the underlying commodity; and (c) that,        Bloomberg, for example, provide at no charge on
                                                    entirety. In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange: (1)         when aggregated in the same specified minimum              their Web sites delayed information regarding the
                                                    Provided additional information regarding the           number, may be redeemed at a holder’s request by           spot price of gold and last sale prices of gold
                                                    futures exchanges that trade in gold futures            such trust which will deliver to the redeeming             futures, as well as information about news and
                                                    contracts and which of those exchanges are              holder the quantity of the underlying commodity.           developments in the gold market. Reuters and
                                                    members of the Intermarket Surveillance Group           See NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E(c)(1).                          Bloomberg also offer a professional service to



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices                                                     49885

                                                       Additionally, the Commission finds                   by one or more major market data                      dissemination of the IIV; if the
                                                    that the proposed rule change, as                       vendors at least every 15 seconds during              interruption to the dissemination of the
                                                    modified by Amendment No. 1, is                         the Core Trading Session.16 The NAV of                IIV persists past the trading day in
                                                    consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                  the Trust will be published by the                    which it occurs, the Exchange will halt
                                                    Exchange Act,12 which requires, among                   Sponsor on each day that the NYSE                     trading no later than the beginning of
                                                    other things, that the Exchange’s rules                 Arca is open for regular trading and will             the trading day following the
                                                    be designed to prevent fraudulent and                   be posted on the Trust’s Web site.17 The              interruption.21
                                                    manipulative acts and practices,                        Trust also will publish the following                    Additionally, the Commission notes
                                                    promote just and equitable principles of                information on its Web site: (1) The                  that market makers in the Shares would
                                                    trade, to remove impediments to and                     mid-point of the bid-ask price at the                 be subject to the requirements of NYSE
                                                    perfect the mechanism of a free and                     close of trading (‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’), and             Arca Rule 8.201–E(g), which allow the
                                                    open market and a national market                       a calculation of the premium or                       Exchange to ensure that they do not use
                                                    system, and, in general, to protect                     discount of such price against the NAV;               their positions to violate the
                                                    investors and the public interest. The                  (2) data in chart format displaying the               requirements of Exchange rules or
                                                    Commission notes that the Exchange                      frequency distribution of discounts and               applicable federal securities laws.22
                                                    has surveillance-sharing agreements                     premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against                    In support of this proposal, the
                                                    with significant, regulated markets for                 the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for               Exchange has made the following
                                                    trading futures on gold. Specifically,                  each of the four previous calendar                    additional representations:
                                                    according to the Exchange, (1) the most                 quarters; (3) the Trust’s prospectus, as                 (1) The Shares will be listed and
                                                    significant gold futures exchange is                    well as the two most recent reports to                traded on the Exchange pursuant to the
                                                    COMEX, a subsidiary of New York                         stockholders; and (4) the last-sale price             initial and continued listing criteria in
                                                    Mercantile Exchange, Inc., and a                        of the Shares as traded in the U.S.                   NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E.23
                                                    subsidiary of the Chicago Mercantile                    market.18 In addition, information                       (2) The Exchange has appropriate
                                                    Exchange Group (‘‘CME Group’’), and                     regarding market price and trading                    rules to facilitate transactions in the
                                                    ICE Futures US (‘‘ICE’’) also lists gold                volume of the Shares will be continually              Shares during all trading sessions.24
                                                    futures; 13 and (2) the CME Group and                   available on a real-time basis throughout                (3) The Exchange deems the Shares to
                                                    ICE are members of the ISG,14 which                     the day on brokers’ computer screens                  be equity securities.25
                                                    will allow NYSE Arca to obtain                          and other electronic services.                           (4) The Exchange has a general policy
                                                    surveillance information from COMEX                     Information regarding the previous                    prohibiting the distribution of material,
                                                    and ICE. Both COMEX and ICE are                         day’s closing price and trading volume                non-public information by its
                                                    regulated by the U.S. Commodity                         information for the Shares will be                    employees.26
                                                    Futures Trading Commission                              published daily in the financial section                 (5) Trading in the Shares will be
                                                    (‘‘CFTC’’).15                                           of newspapers.                                        subject to the existing trading
                                                       The Commission believes that the                        The Commission also believes that the              surveillances administered by the
                                                    proposed rule change, as modified by                    proposal, as modified by Amendment                    Exchange, as well as cross-market
                                                    Amendment No. 1, is reasonably                          No. 1, is reasonably designed to prevent              surveillances administered by the
                                                    designed to promote fair disclosure of                  trading when a reasonable degree of                   Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
                                                    information that may be necessary to                    transparency cannot be assured. With                  (‘‘FINRA’’) on behalf of the Exchange,
                                                    price the Shares appropriately. NYSE                    respect to trading halts, the Exchange                which are designed to detect violations
                                                    Arca Rule 8.201–E(e)(2)(v) requires that                may consider all relevant factors in                  of Exchange rules and applicable federal
                                                    an IIV (which is referred to in the rule                exercising its discretion to halt or                  securities laws, and these procedures
                                                    as the ‘‘Indicative Trust Value’’) be                   suspend trading in the Shares. Trading                are adequate to properly monitor
                                                    calculated and disseminated at least                    on the Exchange in the Shares may be                  Exchange trading of the Shares in all
                                                    every 15 seconds. The IIV will be                       halted because of market conditions or                trading sessions and to deter and detect
                                                    calculated based on the amount of gold                  for reasons that, in the view of the                  violations of Exchange rules and federal
                                                    held by the Trust and a price of gold                   Exchange, make trading in the Shares                  securities laws applicable to trading on
                                                    derived from updated bids and offers                    inadvisable. These may include: (1) The               the Exchange.27
                                                    indicative of the spot price of gold. The               extent to which conditions in the
                                                                                                                                                                    21 See   id.
                                                    Exchange states that the IIV relating to                underlying gold market have caused
                                                                                                                                                                    22 Commentary    .04 of NYSE Arca Rule 6.3–E
                                                    the Shares will be widely disseminated                  disruptions and/or lack of trading, or (2)            requires that an Equity Trading Permit Holder
                                                                                                            whether other unusual conditions or                   (‘‘ETP Holder’’) acting as a registered market maker
                                                    subscribers for a fee that provides information on      circumstances detrimental to the                      in the Shares, and its affiliates, establish, maintain,
                                                    gold prices directly from market participants.          maintenance of a fair and orderly                     and enforce written policies and procedures
                                                    Complete real-time data for gold futures and                                                                  reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of any
                                                                                                            market are present. In addition, trading              material nonpublic information with respect to
                                                    options prices traded on the COMEX are available
                                                    by subscription from Reuters and Bloomberg. There       in Shares will be subject to trading halts            such products, any components of the related
                                                    are a variety of other public Web sites providing       caused by extraordinary market                        products, any physical asset or commodity
                                                    information on gold, ranging from those                 volatility pursuant to the Exchange’s                 underlying the product, applicable currencies,
                                                    specializing in precious metals to sites maintained                                                           underlying indexes, related futures or options on
                                                                                                            ‘‘circuit breaker’’ rule.19 The Exchange              futures, and any related derivative instruments. See
                                                    by major newspapers. In addition, the LBMA Gold
                                                    Price is publicly available at no charge at             will halt trading in the Shares if the                Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
                                                    www.lbma.org.uk. See Amendment No. 1, supra             NAV of the Trust is not calculated or                    23 See id.
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                                                    note 4.                                                 disseminated daily.20 The Exchange                       24 See id.
                                                      12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                                                                            may halt trading during the day in                       25 See id. The Commission notes that, as a result,
                                                      13 See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.                                                                       trading of the Shares will be subject to the
                                                                                                            which an interruption occurs to the
                                                      14 See id.                                                                                                  Exchange’s existing rules governing the trading of
                                                      15 See https://www.theice.com/futures-us/                                                                   equity securities.
                                                                                                              16 See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.                  26 See id.
                                                    regulation (‘‘ICE Futures U.S. is a Designated            17 See
                                                    Contract Market pursuant to the Commodity                        id.                                             27 See id. FINRA conducts cross-market
                                                                                                              18 See id.
                                                    Exchange Act and regulated by the CFTC.’’); http://                                                           surveillances on behalf of the Exchange pursuant to
                                                                                                              19 See NYSE Arca Rule 7.12–E.
                                                    www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/                                                                           a regulatory services agreement. The Exchange is
                                                    rulebook.html (COMEX is regulated by the CFTC).           20 See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.                                                             Continued




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                                                    49886                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2017 / Notices

                                                       (6) The Exchange or FINRA, on behalf                 requirements. If the Trust is not in                  Act’’), a proposal to adopt AS 3101, The
                                                    of the Exchange, or both, will                          compliance with the applicable listing                Auditor’s Report on an Audit of
                                                    communicate as needed regarding                         requirements, the Exchange will                       Financial Statements When the Auditor
                                                    trading in the Shares with other markets                commence delisting procedures under                   Expresses an Unqualified Opinion and
                                                    and other entities that are members of                  NYSE Arca Rule 5.5(m).31                              related amendments to other auditing
                                                    the ISG, and the Exchange or FINRA, on                    This approval order is based on all of              standards (collectively, the ‘‘Proposed
                                                    behalf of the Exchange, or both, may                    the Exchange’s representations—                       Rules’’).3 The Proposed Rules were
                                                    obtain trading information regarding                    including those set forth above and in                published for comment in the Federal
                                                    trading in the Shares from such markets                 Amendment No. 1—and the Exchange’s                    Register on July 28, 2017.4 At the time
                                                    and other entities. In addition, the                    description of the Trust.                             the notice was issued, the Commission
                                                    Exchange may obtain information                           For the foregoing reasons, the                      extended to October 26, 2017 the date
                                                    regarding trading in the Shares from                    Commission finds that the proposed                    by which the Commission should take
                                                    markets and other entities that are                     rule change, as modified by Amendment                 action on the Proposed Rules.5 The
                                                    members of ISG or with which the                        No. 1, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5)             Commission received approximately 50
                                                    Exchange has in place a comprehensive                   of the Act 32 and the rules and                       comment letters in response to the
                                                    surveillance sharing agreement.28                       regulations thereunder applicable to a                notice.6 This order approves the
                                                       (7) Prior to the commencement of                     national securities exchange.                         Proposed Rules, which we find to be
                                                    trading, the Exchange will inform its                                                                         consistent with the requirements of the
                                                                                                            IV. Conclusion                                        Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the securities
                                                    ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin
                                                    of the special characteristics and risks                  It is therefore ordered, pursuant to                laws and necessary or appropriate in the
                                                    associated with trading the Shares.                     Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,33               public interest or for the protection of
                                                    Specifically, the Information Bulletin                  that the proposed rule change (SR–                    investors.
                                                    will discuss the following: (1) The                     NYSEArca–2017–98), as modified by
                                                                                                                                                                  II. Description of the Proposed Rules
                                                    procedures for purchases and                            Amendment No. 1 be, and it hereby is,
                                                    redemptions of Shares in creation units                 approved.                                                On June 1, 2017, the Board adopted
                                                    (including noting that Shares are not                                                                         AS 3101, The Auditor’s Report on an
                                                                                                              For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    individually redeemable); (2) NYSE                      Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                                                                                  Audit of Financial Statements When the
                                                    Arca Rule 9.2–E(a), which imposes a                     authority.34                                          Auditor Expresses an Unqualified
                                                    duty of due diligence on its ETP Holders                                                                      Opinion, which replaces portions of AS
                                                                                                            Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                    to learn the essential facts relating to                                                                      3101, Reports on Audited Financial
                                                                                                            Assistant Secretary.
                                                    every customer prior to trading the                                                                           Statements, and re-designates the
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–23371 Filed 10–26–17; 8:45 am]          remaining portions of AS 3101 as AS
                                                    Shares; (3) how information regarding
                                                    the IIV is disseminated; (4) the
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                3105, Departures from Unqualified
                                                    requirement that ETP Holders deliver a                                                                        Opinions and Other Reporting
                                                    prospectus to investors purchasing                                                                            Circumstances. The Proposed Rules will
                                                                                                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               require that the auditor provide new
                                                    newly issued Shares prior to or                         COMMISSION
                                                    concurrently with the confirmation of a                                                                       information about the audit that is
                                                    transaction; (5) the possibility that                   [Release No. 34–81916; File No. PCAOB–                intended to make the auditor’s report
                                                                                                            2017–01]
                                                    trading spreads and the resulting                                                                               3 The Board originally issued a concept release on
                                                    premium or discount on the Shares may                   Public Company Accounting Oversight                   these matters in 2011. See Concept Release on
                                                    widen as a result of reduced liquidity of               Board; Order Granting Approval of                     Possible Revisions to PCAOB Standards Related to
                                                    gold trading during the Core and Late                   Proposed Rules on the Auditor’s
                                                                                                                                                                  Reports on Audited Financial Statements and
                                                    Trading Sessions after the close of the                                                                       Related Amendments to PCAOB Standards, PCAOB
                                                                                                            Report on an Audit of Financial                       Release No. 2011–003 (June 21, 2011) (‘‘PCAOB
                                                    major world gold markets; and (6)                       Statements When the Auditor                           Concept Release’’), available at https://pcaobus.org/
                                                    trading information.29                                  Expresses an Unqualified Opinion, and                 Rulemaking/Docket034/Concept_Release.pdf. In
                                                       (8) All statements and representations               Departures From Unqualified Opinions
                                                                                                                                                                  2013, the Board issued a proposed rule. See
                                                    made in this filing regarding (a) the                                                                         Proposed Auditing Standards—The Auditor’s
                                                                                                            and Other Reporting Circumstances,                    Report on an Audit of Financial Statements When
                                                    description of the portfolio or reference               and Related Amendments to Auditing                    the Auditor Expresses an Unqualified Opinion; The
                                                    assets, (b) limitations on portfolio                    Standards                                             Auditor’s Responsibilities Regarding Other
                                                    holdings or reference assets, or (c) the                                                                      Information in Certain Documents Containing
                                                                                                                                                                  Audited Financial Statements and the Related
                                                    applicability of Exchange listing rules                 October 23, 2017.                                     Auditor’s Report; and Related Amendments to
                                                    specified in this rule filing shall                                                                           PCAOB Standards, PCAOB Release No. 2013–005
                                                    constitute continued listing                            I. Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                  (August 13, 2013) (‘‘PCAOB Proposal’’), available at
                                                    requirements for listing the Shares of                     On July 19, 2017, the Public Company               https://pcaobus.org/Rulemaking/Docket034/
                                                                                                            Accounting Oversight Board (the                       Release_2013-005_ARM.pdf. The Board issued a re-
                                                    the Trust on the Exchange.30                                                                                  proposal in 2016. See Proposed Auditing
                                                       (9) The issuer has represented to the                ‘‘Board’’ or the ‘‘PCAOB’’) filed with the            Standard—The Auditor’s Report on an Audit of
                                                    Exchange that it will advise the                        Securities and Exchange Commission                    Financial Statements When the Auditor Expresses
                                                    Exchange of any failure by the Trust to                 (the ‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to                     an Unqualified Opinion and Related Amendments
                                                                                                                                                                  to PCAOB Standards, PCAOB Release No. 2016–003
                                                    comply with the continued listing                       Section 107(b) 1 of the Sarbanes-Oxley                (May 11, 2016) (‘‘PCAOB Re-proposal’’), available
                                                    requirements and, pursuant to its                       Act of 2002 (the ‘‘Sarbanes-Oxley Act’’)              at https://pcaobus.org/Rulemaking/Docket034/
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                                                    obligations under Section 19(g)(1) of the               and Section 19(b) 2 of the Securities                 Release-2016-003-ARM.pdf.
                                                    Act, the Exchange will monitor for                      Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange                    4 See Release No. 34–81187 (July 21, 2017), 82 FR

                                                    compliance with the continued listing                                                                         35396 (July 28, 2017) available at https://
                                                                                                              31 See
                                                                                                                                                                  www.sec.gov/rules/pcaob/2017/34-81187.pdf.
                                                                                                                     id.                                            5 See id.
                                                                                                              32 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
                                                    responsible for FINRA’s performance under this                                                                  6 Copies of the comment letters received on the
                                                    regulatory services agreement. See id.                    33 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                                                                                                                                  Commission order noticing the Proposed Rules are
                                                      28 See id.                                              34 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                                                                                                                                  available on the Commission’s Web site at https://
                                                      29 See id.                                              1 15 U.S.C. 7217(b).
                                                                                                                                                                  www.sec.gov/comments/pcaob-2017-01/
                                                      30 See id.                                              2 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).                                 pcaob201701.htm.



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Document Created: 2017-10-27 02:05:58
Document Modified: 2017-10-27 02:05:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 49884 

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