82_FR_59120 82 FR 58881 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Exclude Options Overlying NDX From Several Pricing Programs

82 FR 58881 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Exclude Options Overlying NDX From Several Pricing Programs

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 239 (December 14, 2017)

Page Range58881-58884
FR Document2017-26916

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58881-58884]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26916]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-82250; File No. SR-Phlx-2017-102]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Exclude Options 
Overlying NDX From Several Pricing Programs

December 8, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on December 1, 2017, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from 
interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's Pricing Schedule at 
Section II, ``Multiply Listed Options Fees,'' \3\ and Section IV, 
entitled ``Other Transaction Fees.'' Specifically, the Exchange 
proposes to exclude options overlying NDX \4\ from several pricing 
programs.
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    \3\ This includes options overlying equities, ETFs, ETNs and 
indexes which are Multiply Listed.
    \4\ NDX represents options on the Nasdaq 100 Index traded under 
the symbol NDX (``NDX'').
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.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 Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    Phlx proposes to exclude options overlying NDX from the Monthly 
Market Maker Cap, the Market Access and Routing Subsidy or ``MARS,'' 
and Phlx's Price Improvement XL (``PIXL'') pricing. Each of the 
proposals are discussed in more detail below. The Exchange seeks to 
differentiate pricing for this exclusively-listed product from other 
multiply listed product pricing.

[[Page 58882]]

Monthly Market Maker Cap
    Today, Phlx Specialists \5\ and Market Makers \6\ are subject to a 
``Monthly Market Maker Cap'' of $500,000 for: (i) Electronic Option 
Transaction Charges, excluding surcharges; and (ii) Qualified 
Contingent Cross (``QCC'') Transaction Fees (as defined in Exchange 
Rule 1080(o) and Floor QCC Orders, as defined in 1064(e)).\7\ All 
dividend, merger, short stock interest, reversal and conversion, jelly 
roll and box spread strategy executions (as defined in Section II of 
the Pricing Schedule) will be excluded from the Monthly Market Maker 
Cap. Specialists or Market Makers that (i) are on the contra-side of an 
electronically-delivered and executed Customer order, excluding 
responses to a PIXL auction; and (ii) have reached the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap will be assessed fees as follows: $0.05 per contract Fee for 
Adding Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options, $0.18 per contract Fee for 
Removing Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and $0.18 per contract in 
Non-Penny Pilot Options.
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    \5\ The term ``Specialist'' applies to transactions for the 
account of a Specialist (as defined in Exchange Rule 1020(a)). A 
Specialist is an Exchange member who is registered as an options 
specialist pursuant to Rule 1020(a). An options Specialist includes 
a Remote Specialist which is defined as an options specialist in one 
or more classes that does not have a physical presence on an 
Exchange floor and is approved by the Exchange pursuant to Rule 501. 
See Preface to Phlx's Pricing Schedule.
    \6\ The term ``Registered Options Trader'' or ``ROT'', 
``Streaming Quote Trader'' or ``SQT'' and ``Remote Streaming Quote 
Trader'' or ``RSQT'' applies to transactions for the accounts of 
ROTS, SQTs, and RSQTs. For purposes of the Pricing Schedule, the 
term ``Market Maker'' will be utilized to describe fees and rebates 
applicable to ROTs, SQTs and RSQTs. See Preface to Phlx's Pricing 
Schedule.
    \7\ The trading activity of separate Specialist and Market Maker 
member organizations is aggregated in calculating the Monthly Market 
Maker Cap if there is Common Ownership between the member 
organizations.
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    The Exchange proposes to amend the Monthly Market Maker Cap to 
exclude options overlying NDX from electronic Options Transaction 
Charges as subject to the Monthly Market Maker Cap. Transactions in NDX 
will not be subject to the the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
PIXL
    Today, the Exchange assess a $0.07 per contract PIXL Initiating 
Order Fee. However, if the member or member organization qualifies for 
the Tier 3, 4 or 5 Customer Rebate in Section B the member or member 
organization is assessed $0.05 per contract. If the member or member 
organization executes equal to or greater than 3.00% of National 
Customer Volume in Multiply-Listed equity and ETF Options Classes 
(excluding SPY Options) in a given month, the member or member 
organization is assessed no fee for Complex PIXL Orders. Any member or 
member organization under Common Ownership with another member or 
member organization that qualifies for a Customer Rebate Tier 4 or 5 in 
Section B, or executes equal to or greater than 3.00% of National 
Customer Volume in Multiply-Listed equity and ETF Options Classes 
(excluding SPY Options) in a given month receives one of the PIXL 
Initiating Order discounts as described above. Members or member 
organizations that qualify for Customer Rebate Tiers 2 through 6 or 
qualify for the Monthly Firm Fee Cap \8\ are eligible for a rebate of 
$0.12 per contract for all Complex PIXL Orders (excluding SPY Options) 
greater than 499 contracts, provided the member executes an average of 
2,500 contracts per day of SPY Complex PIXL Orders in a month.
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    \8\ Firms are subject to a maximum fee of $75,000 (``Monthly 
Firm Fee Cap''). Additional details on the Monthly Firm Fee Cap are 
at Section II of the Pricing Schedule.
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    Further, the Exchange has pricing noted for PIXL Order Executions 
in Section II Multiply Listed Options. When the PIXL Order is contra to 
the Initiating Order a Customer PIXL Order is assessed no fee and Non-
Customer PIXL Orders will be assessed $0.30 per contract. When a PIXL 
Order is contra to a PIXL Auction Responder, a Customer PIXL Order is 
assessed no fee, other Non-Customer PIXL Orders are assessed $0.30 per 
contract in Penny Pilot Options or $0.38 per contract in Non-Penny 
Pilot Options. A Responder that is a Specialist or a Market Maker is 
assessed $0.25 per contract in Penny Pilot Options or $0.40 per 
contract in Non-Penny Pilot Options. Other Non-Customer Responders are 
assessed $0.48 per contract in Penny Pilot Options or $0.70 per 
contract in Non-Penny Pilot Options when contra to a PIXL Order. A 
Responder that is a Customer is assessed $0.00 per contract in Penny 
Pilot Options and Non-Penny Pilot Options. Finally, when a PIXL Order 
is contra to a resting order or quote a Customer PIXL Order is assessed 
no fee, other Non-Customers are assessed $0.30 per contract and the 
resting order or quote is assessed the appropriate Options Transaction 
Charge in Section II. All other fees discussed in Section II, including 
Marketing Fees and surcharges, apply as appropriate.
    The Exchange proposes to exclude options overlying NDX from the 
PIXL Pricing in Section IV, Part A. NDX would be subject to Section II 
pricing, specifically the Options Transactions Charges in NDX as noted.
MARS
    Today, MARS, pays a subsidy to Phlx members that provide certain 
order routing functionalities to other Phlx members and/or use such 
functionalities themselves. Generally, under MARS, Phlx pays 
participating Phlx members to subsidize their costs of providing 
routing services to route orders to Phlx. To qualify for MARS, a Phlx 
member's order routing functionality would be required to meet certain 
criteria.\9\ With respect to Complex Orders, the Exchange would not 
require Complex Orders to enable the electronic routing of orders to 
all of the U.S. options exchanges or provide current consolidated 
market data from the U.S. options exchanges. Any Phlx member may apply 
for MARS, provided the requirements are met, including a robust and 
reliable System. The member is solely responsible for implementing and 
operating its System. The Exchange is not proposing to amend this 
eligibility standards.
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    \9\ Specifically, a Phlx member's routing system (hereinafter 
``System'') would be required to: (1) Enable the electronic routing 
of orders to all of the U.S. options exchanges, including Phlx; (2) 
provide current consolidated market data from the U.S. options 
exchanges; and (3) be capable of interfacing with Phlx's API to 
access current Phlx match engine functionality. Further, the 
member's System would also need to cause Phlx to be the one of the 
top five default destination exchanges for individually executed 
marketable orders if Phlx is at the national best bid or offer 
(``NBBO''), regardless of size or time, but allow any user to 
manually override Phlx as a default destination on an order-by-order 
basis. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to Complex Orders a 
Phlx member's routing system would not be required to enable the 
electronic routing of orders to all of the U.S. options exchanges or 
provide current consolidated market data from the U.S. options 
exchanges. Any Phlx member would be permitted to avail itself of 
this arrangement, provided that its order routing functionality 
incorporates the features described above and satisfies Phlx that it 
appears to be robust and reliable. The member remains solely 
responsible for implementing and operating its system.
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    Today, a MARS Payment would be made to Phlx members that have 
System Eligibility and have routed the requisite number of Eligible 
Contracts daily in a month, which were executed on Phlx. For the 
purpose of qualifying for the MARS Payment, Eligible Contracts include 
Firm,\10\ Broker-Dealer,\11\ Joint Back Office or ``JBO'' \12\ or

[[Page 58883]]

Professional \13\ equity option orders that are electronically 
delivered and executed. Eligible Contracts do not include floor-based 
orders, qualified contingent cross or ``QCC'' orders,\14\ price 
improvement or ``PIXL'' orders,\15\ Mini-Option orders \16\ or Singly-
Listed Options \17\ orders. The Eligible Contracts requirements are not 
being amended.
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    \10\ The term ``Firm'' or (``F'') applies to any transaction 
that is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Firm range 
at OCC.
    \11\ The term ``Broker-Dealer'' applies to any transaction which 
is not subject to any of the other transaction fees applicable 
within a particular category.
    \12\ The term ``Joint Back Office'' or ``JBO'' applies to any 
transaction that is identified by a member or member organization 
for clearing in the Firm range at OCC and is identified with an 
origin code as a JBO. A JBO will be priced the same as a Broker-
Dealer. A JBO participant is a member, member organization or non-
member organization that maintains a JBO arrangement with a clearing 
broker-dealer (``JBO Broker'') subject to the requirements of 
Regulation T Section 220.7 of the Federal Reserve System as further 
discussed at Exchange Rule 703.
    \13\ The term ``professional'' means any person or entity that 
(i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more 
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). See Rule 
1000(b)(14).
    \14\ A QCC Order is comprised of an order to buy or sell at 
least 1000 contracts that is identified as being part of a qualified 
contingent trade, as that term is defined in Rule 1080(o)(3), 
coupled with a contra-side order to buy or sell an equal number of 
contracts. The QCC Order must be executed at a price at or between 
the NBBO and be rejected if a Customer order is resting on the 
Exchange book at the same price. A QCC Order shall only be submitted 
electronically from off the floor to the Exchange's match engine. 
See Rule 1080(o).
    \15\ PIXL is the Exchange's price improvement mechanism known as 
Price Improvement XL or (PIXLSM). See Rule 1080(n).
    \16\ Mini Options are further specified in Phlx Rule 1012, 
Commentary .13.
    \17\ Singly Listed Options are options overlying currencies, 
equities, ETFs, ETNs treasury securities and indexes not listed on 
another exchange.
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    Phlx members that have System Eligibility and have executed the 
requisite number of Eligible Contracts in a month are paid the 
following per contract rebates: \18\
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    \18\ The specified MARS Payment are paid on all executed 
Eligible Contracts which are routed to Phlx through a participating 
Phlx member's System and meet the requisite Eligible Contracts ADV. 
No payment are made with respect to orders that are routed to Phlx, 
but not executed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Average daily           MARS payment
                              Tiers                                   volume     -------------------------------
                                                                     (``ADV'')        Non-SPY           SPY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................           1,000           $0.01           $0.01
2...............................................................          30,000            0.10            0.10
3...............................................................          40,000            0.12            0.12
4...............................................................          52,500            0.14            0.12
5...............................................................          65,000            0.18            0.12
6...............................................................          75,000            0.20            0.12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to exclude options overlying NDX from 
Eligible Contracts for purposes of qualifying for a MARS Payment. Only 
Eligible Contracts are paid rebates, therefore no MARS Payment would be 
paid on options overlying NDX.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\19\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\20\ in particular, in that it 
provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and 
other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any 
facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed pricing changes to exclude 
options overlying NDX from the Monthly Market Maker Cap, MARS and PIXL 
pricing for NDX are reasonable, equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory. NDX transitioned in 2017 to an exclusively-listed 
product. Similar to other proprietary products, the Exchange seeks to 
recoup the operational costs for listing proprietary products.\21\ 
Also, pricing by symbol is a common practice on many U.S. options 
exchanges as a means to incentivize order flow to be sent to an 
exchange for execution in particular products. Other options exchanges 
price by symbol.\22\ Further, the Exchange notes that with its 
products, market participants are offered an opportunity to either 
transact options overlying NDX or separately execute options overlying 
PowerShares QQQ Trust (``QQQ'').\23\ Offering products such as QQQ 
provides market participants with a variety of choices in selecting the 
product they desire to utilize to transact NDX.\24\ When exchanges are 
able to recoup costs associated with offering proprietary products, it 
incentivizes growth and competition for the innovation of additional 
products.
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    \21\ By way of example, in analyzing an obvious error, the 
Exchange would have additional data points available in establishing 
a theoretical price for a multiply listed option as compared to a 
proprietary product, which requires additional analysis and 
administrative time to comply with Exchange rules to resolve an 
obvious error.
    \22\ See pricing for Russell 2000 Index (``RUT'') on Cboe 
Exchange, Inc.'s Fees Schedule.
    \23\ QQQ is an exchange-traded fund based on the Nasdaq-100 
Index[supreg].
    \24\ By comparison, a market participant may trade options 
overlying RUT or separately the market participant has the choice of 
trading iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (``IWM'') Exchange-Traded 
Fund Shares options, which are also multiply listed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monthly Market Maker Cap
    The Exchange's proposal to exclude electronic Options Transaction 
Charges for options overlying NDX from the Monthly Market Maker Cap is 
reasonable because Market Makers will continue to be able to utilize 
the cap to reduce electronic Option Transaction Charges, excluding 
surcharges, QCC transaction fees and Floor QCC Orders, despite the 
exclusion of NDX transactions. The Exchange's proposal to exclude 
electronic Options Transaction Charges for options overlying NDX from 
the Monthly Market Maker Cap is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because the Exchange will uniformly exclude electronic 
options overlying NDX from the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
PIXL
    The Exchange's proposal to exclude options overlying NDX from the 
PIXL Pricing in Section IV, Part A is reasonable because the Exchange 
believes that the PIXL pricing continues to be competitive despite the 
exclusion of NDX. The Exchange's proposal to exclude options overlying 
NDX from the PIXL Pricing in Section IV, Part A is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because the Exchange will uniformly exclude 
options overlying NDX from PIXL pricing.
MARS
    The Exchange's proposal to exclude options overlying NDX from 
Eligible Contracts for purposes of qualifying for a MARS Payment is 
reasonable because the Exchange believes that despite the exclusion of 
NDX, MARS remains a competitive offering. The Exchange's proposal to 
exclude options overlying NDX from Eligible Contracts for purposes of 
qualifying for a MARS Payment is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because the Exchange will uniformly exclude options 
overlying NDX from MARS.

[[Page 58884]]

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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In terms of inter-market 
competition, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor 
competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be 
excessive, or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more 
favorable.
    The Exchange's proposal to exclude electronic Options Transaction 
Charges for options overlying NDX from the Monthly Market Maker Cap 
does not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because the 
Exchange will uniformly exclude electronic options overlying NDX from 
the Monthly Market Maker Cap. The Exchange's proposal to exclude 
options overlying NDX from the PIXL Pricing in Section IV, Part A does 
not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because the 
Exchange will uniformly exclude options overlying NDX from PIXL 
pricing. The Exchange's proposal to exclude options overlying NDX from 
Eligible Contracts for purposes of qualifying for a MARS Payment does 
not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because the 
Exchange will uniformly exclude options overlying NDX from MARS.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\25\
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or 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-Phlx-2017-102 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2017-102. 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 website (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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2017-102 and should be submitted on 
or before January 4, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\26\
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    \26\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-26916 Filed 12-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices                                                    58881

                                                  (a) How those economies of scale                      with respect to the proposed rule                     solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                compare to operational economies of                     change that are filed with the                        change from interested persons.
                                                scale; and                                              Commission, and all written
                                                  (b) Whether those economies of scale                  communications relating to the                        I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                reduce or increase the current                          proposed rule change between the                      Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                advantages enjoyed by larger                            Commission and any person, other than                 the Proposed Rule Change
                                                competitors or otherwise alter the                      those that may be withheld from the                      The Exchange proposes to amend the
                                                competitive landscape.                                  public in accordance with the
                                                  (20) Commenters’ views on whether                                                                           Exchange’s Pricing Schedule at Section
                                                                                                        provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                the fees could affect competition                                                                             II, ‘‘Multiply Listed Options Fees,’’ 3 and
                                                                                                        available for website viewing and
                                                between and among national securities                                                                         Section IV, entitled ‘‘Other Transaction
                                                                                                        printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                exchanges and FINRA, in light of the                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                      Fees.’’ Specifically, the Exchange
                                                fact that implementation of the fees does               Washington, DC 20549, on official                     proposes to exclude options overlying
                                                not require the unanimous consent of all                business days between the hours of                    NDX 4 from several pricing programs.
                                                such entities, and, specifically:                       10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                  The text of the proposed rule change
                                                  (a) Whether any of the national                       filing will also be available for                     is available on the Exchange’s website at
                                                securities exchanges or FINRA are                       inspection and copying at the principal               http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.com/,
                                                disadvantaged by the fees; and                          office of the Exchange. All comments                  at the principal office of the Exchange,
                                                  (b) If so, whether any such                           received will be posted without change.               and at the Commission’s Public
                                                disadvantages would be of a magnitude                   Persons submitting comments are                       Reference Room.
                                                that would alter the competitive                        cautioned that we do not redact or edit
                                                landscape.                                              personal identifying information from                 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                  (21) Commenters’ views on any                         comment submissions. You should                       Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                potential burden imposed by the fees on                 submit only information that you wish                 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                competitive quoting and other liquidity                 to make available publicly. All                       Change
                                                provision in the market, including,                     submissions should refer to File
                                                specifically:                                           Number SR–BatsEDGA–2017–13                              In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                  (a) Commenters’ views on the kinds of                 Amendment No. 1 and should be                         Exchange included statements
                                                disincentives that discourage liquidity                 submitted on or before January 4, 2018.               concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                provision and/or disincentives that the                                                                       the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                Commission should consider in its                         For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                        Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                                                                              any comments it received on the
                                                analysis;                                                                                                     proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                                                                        authority.99
                                                  (b) Commenters’ views as to whether                                                                         statements may be examined at the
                                                the fees could disincentivize the                       Robert W. Errett,
                                                                                                        Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                              places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                provision of liquidity; and                                                                                   Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                  (c) Commenters’ views as to whether                   [FR Doc. 2017–27011 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                              forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                the fees limit any disincentives to                     BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                              the most significant aspects of such
                                                provide liquidity.
                                                  (22) Commenters’ views as to whether                                                                        statements.
                                                the amendment adequately responds to                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                and/or addresses comments received on                   COMMISSION                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                related filings.                                                                                              Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                Electronic Comments                                     [Release No. 34–82250; File No. SR–Phlx–              Change
                                                                                                        2017–102]
                                                  • Use the Commission’s internet                                                                             1. Purpose
                                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
                                                rules/sro.shtml); or                                    PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and                          Phlx proposes to exclude options
                                                  • Send an email to rule-                              Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed                   overlying NDX from the Monthly
                                                comments@sec.gov. Please include File                   Rule Change To Exclude Options                        Market Maker Cap, the Market Access
                                                Number SR–BatsEDGA–2017–13 on the                       Overlying NDX From Several Pricing                    and Routing Subsidy or ‘‘MARS,’’ and
                                                subject line.                                           Programs                                              Phlx’s Price Improvement XL (‘‘PIXL’’)
                                                                                                                                                              pricing. Each of the proposals are
                                                Paper Comments                                          December 8, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                              discussed in more detail below. The
                                                   • Send paper comments in triplicate                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                Exchange seeks to differentiate pricing
                                                to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934                       for this exclusively-listed product from
                                                Commission, 100 F Street NE,                            (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2               other multiply listed product pricing.
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              notice is hereby given that on December
                                                All submissions should refer to File                    1, 2017, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or
                                                Number SR–BatsEDGA–2017–13. This                        ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                file number should be included on the                   and Exchange Commission
                                                subject line if email is used. To help the              (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                Commission process and review your
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                        change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                comments more efficiently, please use                   III, below, which Items have been
                                                only one method. The Commission will                    prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                post all comments on the Commission’s                   Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                           3 This includes options overlying equities, ETFs,

                                                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                           99 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          ETNs and indexes which are Multiply Listed.
                                                submission, all subsequent                                1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                4 NDX represents options on the Nasdaq 100

                                                amendments, all written statements                        2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 Index traded under the symbol NDX (‘‘NDX’’).



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                                                58882                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices

                                                Monthly Market Maker Cap                                   given month, the member or member                    MARS
                                                   Today, Phlx Specialists 5 and Market                    organization is assessed no fee for                     Today, MARS, pays a subsidy to Phlx
                                                Makers 6 are subject to a ‘‘Monthly                        Complex PIXL Orders. Any member or                   members that provide certain order
                                                Market Maker Cap’’ of $500,000 for: (i)                    member organization under Common                     routing functionalities to other Phlx
                                                Electronic Option Transaction Charges,                     Ownership with another member or                     members and/or use such
                                                excluding surcharges; and (ii) Qualified                   member organization that qualifies for a             functionalities themselves. Generally,
                                                Contingent Cross (‘‘QCC’’) Transaction                     Customer Rebate Tier 4 or 5 in Section               under MARS, Phlx pays participating
                                                Fees (as defined in Exchange Rule                          B, or executes equal to or greater than              Phlx members to subsidize their costs of
                                                1080(o) and Floor QCC Orders, as                           3.00% of National Customer Volume in                 providing routing services to route
                                                defined in 1064(e)).7 All dividend,                        Multiply-Listed equity and ETF Options               orders to Phlx. To qualify for MARS, a
                                                merger, short stock interest, reversal and                 Classes (excluding SPY Options) in a                 Phlx member’s order routing
                                                conversion, jelly roll and box spread                      given month receives one of the PIXL                 functionality would be required to meet
                                                strategy executions (as defined in                         Initiating Order discounts as described              certain criteria.9 With respect to
                                                Section II of the Pricing Schedule) will                   above. Members or member                             Complex Orders, the Exchange would
                                                be excluded from the Monthly Market                        organizations that qualify for Customer              not require Complex Orders to enable
                                                Maker Cap. Specialists or Market                           Rebate Tiers 2 through 6 or qualify for              the electronic routing of orders to all of
                                                Makers that (i) are on the contra-side of                  the Monthly Firm Fee Cap 8 are eligible              the U.S. options exchanges or provide
                                                an electronically-delivered and                            for a rebate of $0.12 per contract for all           current consolidated market data from
                                                executed Customer order, excluding                         Complex PIXL Orders (excluding SPY                   the U.S. options exchanges. Any Phlx
                                                responses to a PIXL auction; and (ii)                      Options) greater than 499 contracts,                 member may apply for MARS, provided
                                                have reached the Monthly Market Maker                      provided the member executes an                      the requirements are met, including a
                                                Cap will be assessed fees as follows:                      average of 2,500 contracts per day of                robust and reliable System. The member
                                                $0.05 per contract Fee for Adding                          SPY Complex PIXL Orders in a month.                  is solely responsible for implementing
                                                Liquidity in Penny Pilot Options, $0.18                       Further, the Exchange has pricing                 and operating its System. The Exchange
                                                per contract Fee for Removing Liquidity                    noted for PIXL Order Executions in                   is not proposing to amend this
                                                in Penny Pilot Options and $0.18 per                       Section II Multiply Listed Options.                  eligibility standards.
                                                contract in Non-Penny Pilot Options.                       When the PIXL Order is contra to the                    Today, a MARS Payment would be
                                                   The Exchange proposes to amend the                      Initiating Order a Customer PIXL Order               made to Phlx members that have System
                                                Monthly Market Maker Cap to exclude                        is assessed no fee and Non-Customer                  Eligibility and have routed the requisite
                                                options overlying NDX from electronic                      PIXL Orders will be assessed $0.30 per               number of Eligible Contracts daily in a
                                                Options Transaction Charges as subject                     contract. When a PIXL Order is contra                month, which were executed on Phlx.
                                                to the Monthly Market Maker Cap.                           to a PIXL Auction Responder, a                       For the purpose of qualifying for the
                                                Transactions in NDX will not be subject                    Customer PIXL Order is assessed no fee,              MARS Payment, Eligible Contracts
                                                to the the Monthly Market Maker Cap.                       other Non-Customer PIXL Orders are                   include Firm,10 Broker-Dealer,11 Joint
                                                                                                           assessed $0.30 per contract in Penny                 Back Office or ‘‘JBO’’ 12 or
                                                PIXL
                                                                                                           Pilot Options or $0.38 per contract in
                                                  Today, the Exchange assess a $0.07                       Non-Penny Pilot Options. A Responder                    9 Specifically, a Phlx member’s routing system

                                                per contract PIXL Initiating Order Fee.                    that is a Specialist or a Market Maker is            (hereinafter ‘‘System’’) would be required to: (1)
                                                However, if the member or member                                                                                Enable the electronic routing of orders to all of the
                                                                                                           assessed $0.25 per contract in Penny                 U.S. options exchanges, including Phlx; (2) provide
                                                organization qualifies for the Tier 3, 4 or                Pilot Options or $0.40 per contract in               current consolidated market data from the U.S.
                                                5 Customer Rebate in Section B the                         Non-Penny Pilot Options. Other Non-                  options exchanges; and (3) be capable of interfacing
                                                member or member organization is                           Customer Responders are assessed $0.48               with Phlx’s API to access current Phlx match engine
                                                assessed $0.05 per contract. If the                                                                             functionality. Further, the member’s System would
                                                                                                           per contract in Penny Pilot Options or               also need to cause Phlx to be the one of the top five
                                                member or member organization                              $0.70 per contract in Non-Penny Pilot                default destination exchanges for individually
                                                executes equal to or greater than 3.00%                    Options when contra to a PIXL Order.                 executed marketable orders if Phlx is at the national
                                                of National Customer Volume in                             A Responder that is a Customer is                    best bid or offer (‘‘NBBO’’), regardless of size or
                                                Multiply-Listed equity and ETF Options                                                                          time, but allow any user to manually override Phlx
                                                                                                           assessed $0.00 per contract in Penny                 as a default destination on an order-by-order basis.
                                                Classes (excluding SPY Options) in a                       Pilot Options and Non-Penny Pilot                    Notwithstanding the above, with respect to
                                                                                                           Options. Finally, when a PIXL Order is               Complex Orders a Phlx member’s routing system
                                                   5 The term ‘‘Specialist’’ applies to transactions for                                                        would not be required to enable the electronic
                                                                                                           contra to a resting order or quote a                 routing of orders to all of the U.S. options
                                                the account of a Specialist (as defined in Exchange
                                                Rule 1020(a)). A Specialist is an Exchange member          Customer PIXL Order is assessed no fee,              exchanges or provide current consolidated market
                                                who is registered as an options specialist pursuant        other Non-Customers are assessed $0.30               data from the U.S. options exchanges. Any Phlx
                                                to Rule 1020(a). An options Specialist includes a          per contract and the resting order or                member would be permitted to avail itself of this
                                                Remote Specialist which is defined as an options                                                                arrangement, provided that its order routing
                                                                                                           quote is assessed the appropriate                    functionality incorporates the features described
                                                specialist in one or more classes that does not have
                                                a physical presence on an Exchange floor and is            Options Transaction Charge in Section                above and satisfies Phlx that it appears to be robust
                                                approved by the Exchange pursuant to Rule 501.             II. All other fees discussed in Section II,          and reliable. The member remains solely
                                                See Preface to Phlx’s Pricing Schedule.                    including Marketing Fees and                         responsible for implementing and operating its
                                                   6 The term ‘‘Registered Options Trader’’ or                                                                  system.
                                                                                                           surcharges, apply as appropriate.                       10 The term ‘‘Firm’’ or (‘‘F’’) applies to any
                                                ‘‘ROT’’, ‘‘Streaming Quote Trader’’ or ‘‘SQT’’ and
                                                ‘‘Remote Streaming Quote Trader’’ or ‘‘RSQT’’
                                                                                                              The Exchange proposes to exclude                  transaction that is identified by a Participant for
                                                applies to transactions for the accounts of ROTS,          options overlying NDX from the PIXL                  clearing in the Firm range at OCC.
                                                SQTs, and RSQTs. For purposes of the Pricing               Pricing in Section IV, Part A. NDX                      11 The term ‘‘Broker-Dealer’’ applies to any
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                                                Schedule, the term ‘‘Market Maker’’ will be utilized       would be subject to Section II pricing,              transaction which is not subject to any of the other
                                                to describe fees and rebates applicable to ROTs,                                                                transaction fees applicable within a particular
                                                SQTs and RSQTs. See Preface to Phlx’s Pricing
                                                                                                           specifically the Options Transactions                category.
                                                Schedule.                                                  Charges in NDX as noted.                                12 The term ‘‘Joint Back Office’’ or ‘‘JBO’’ applies
                                                   7 The trading activity of separate Specialist and                                                            to any transaction that is identified by a member or
                                                Market Maker member organizations is aggregated               8 Firms are subject to a maximum fee of $75,000   member organization for clearing in the Firm range
                                                in calculating the Monthly Market Maker Cap if             (‘‘Monthly Firm Fee Cap’’). Additional details on    at OCC and is identified with an origin code as a
                                                there is Common Ownership between the member               the Monthly Firm Fee Cap are at Section II of the    JBO. A JBO will be priced the same as a Broker-
                                                organizations.                                             Pricing Schedule.                                    Dealer. A JBO participant is a member, member



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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices                                                                                      58883

                                                Professional 13 equity option orders that                                      price improvement or ‘‘PIXL’’ orders,15                                        Phlx members that have System
                                                are electronically delivered and                                               Mini-Option orders 16 or Singly-Listed                                       Eligibility and have executed the
                                                executed. Eligible Contracts do not                                            Options 17 orders. The Eligible Contracts                                    requisite number of Eligible Contracts in
                                                include floor-based orders, qualified                                          requirements are not being amended.                                          a month are paid the following per
                                                contingent cross or ‘‘QCC’’ orders,14                                                                                                                       contract rebates: 18

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Average daily              MARS payment
                                                                                                                       Tiers                                                                                 volume
                                                                                                                                                                                                            (‘‘ADV’’)          Non-SPY                SPY

                                                1   ...................................................................................................................................................            1,000               $0.01              $0.01
                                                2   ...................................................................................................................................................           30,000                0.10               0.10
                                                3   ...................................................................................................................................................           40,000                0.12               0.12
                                                4   ...................................................................................................................................................           52,500                0.14               0.12
                                                5   ...................................................................................................................................................           65,000                0.18               0.12
                                                6   ...................................................................................................................................................           75,000                0.20               0.12



                                                  The Exchange proposes to exclude                                             order flow to be sent to an exchange for                                     unfairly discriminatory because the
                                                options overlying NDX from Eligible                                            execution in particular products. Other                                      Exchange will uniformly exclude
                                                Contracts for purposes of qualifying for                                       options exchanges price by symbol.22                                         electronic options overlying NDX from
                                                a MARS Payment. Only Eligible                                                  Further, the Exchange notes that with its                                    the Monthly Market Maker Cap.
                                                Contracts are paid rebates, therefore no                                       products, market participants are
                                                                                                                                                                                                            PIXL
                                                MARS Payment would be paid on                                                  offered an opportunity to either transact
                                                options overlying NDX.                                                         options overlying NDX or separately                                            The Exchange’s proposal to exclude
                                                                                                                               execute options overlying PowerShares                                        options overlying NDX from the PIXL
                                                2. Statutory Basis                                                                                                                                          Pricing in Section IV, Part A is
                                                                                                                               QQQ Trust (‘‘QQQ’’).23 Offering
                                                   The Exchange believes that its                                              products such as QQQ provides market                                         reasonable because the Exchange
                                                proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                                       participants with a variety of choices in                                    believes that the PIXL pricing continues
                                                of the Act,19 in general, and furthers the                                     selecting the product they desire to                                         to be competitive despite the exclusion
                                                objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)                                     utilize to transact NDX.24 When                                              of NDX. The Exchange’s proposal to
                                                of the Act,20 in particular, in that it                                        exchanges are able to recoup costs                                           exclude options overlying NDX from the
                                                provides for the equitable allocation of                                       associated with offering proprietary                                         PIXL Pricing in Section IV, Part A is
                                                reasonable dues, fees and other charges                                        products, it incentivizes growth and                                         equitable and not unfairly
                                                among members and issuers and other                                            competition for the innovation of                                            discriminatory because the Exchange
                                                persons using any facility, and is not                                         additional products.                                                         will uniformly exclude options
                                                designed to permit unfair                                                                                                                                   overlying NDX from PIXL pricing.
                                                discrimination between customers,                                              Monthly Market Maker Cap
                                                issuers, brokers, or dealers.                                                     The Exchange’s proposal to exclude                                        MARS
                                                   The Exchange believes that the                                              electronic Options Transaction Charges                                         The Exchange’s proposal to exclude
                                                proposed pricing changes to exclude                                            for options overlying NDX from the                                           options overlying NDX from Eligible
                                                options overlying NDX from the                                                 Monthly Market Maker Cap is                                                  Contracts for purposes of qualifying for
                                                Monthly Market Maker Cap, MARS and                                             reasonable because Market Makers will                                        a MARS Payment is reasonable because
                                                PIXL pricing for NDX are reasonable,                                           continue to be able to utilize the cap to                                    the Exchange believes that despite the
                                                equitable and not unfairly                                                     reduce electronic Option Transaction                                         exclusion of NDX, MARS remains a
                                                discriminatory. NDX transitioned in                                            Charges, excluding surcharges, QCC                                           competitive offering. The Exchange’s
                                                2017 to an exclusively-listed product.                                         transaction fees and Floor QCC Orders,                                       proposal to exclude options overlying
                                                Similar to other proprietary products,                                         despite the exclusion of NDX                                                 NDX from Eligible Contracts for
                                                the Exchange seeks to recoup the                                               transactions. The Exchange’s proposal                                        purposes of qualifying for a MARS
                                                operational costs for listing proprietary                                      to exclude electronic Options                                                Payment is equitable and not unfairly
                                                products.21 Also, pricing by symbol is a                                       Transaction Charges for options                                              discriminatory because the Exchange
                                                common practice on many U.S. options                                           overlying NDX from the Monthly                                               will uniformly exclude options
                                                exchanges as a means to incentivize                                            Market Maker Cap is equitable and not                                        overlying NDX from MARS.

                                                organization or non-member organization that                                   Customer order is resting on the Exchange book at                              19 15  U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                maintains a JBO arrangement with a clearing                                    the same price. A QCC Order shall only be                                      20 15  U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
                                                broker-dealer (‘‘JBO Broker’’) subject to the                                  submitted electronically from off the floor to the                             21 By way of example, in analyzing an obvious
                                                requirements of Regulation T Section 220.7 of the                              Exchange’s match engine. See Rule 1080(o).                                   error, the Exchange would have additional data
                                                Federal Reserve System as further discussed at                                   15 PIXL is the Exchange’s price improvement
                                                                                                                                                                                                            points available in establishing a theoretical price
                                                Exchange Rule 703.                                                             mechanism known as Price Improvement XL or                                   for a multiply listed option as compared to a
                                                  13 The term ‘‘professional’’ means any person or
                                                                                                                               (PIXLSM). See Rule 1080(n).                                                  proprietary product, which requires additional
                                                entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities,                         16 Mini Options are further specified in Phlx Rule                         analysis and administrative time to comply with
                                                and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed                                                                                                              Exchange rules to resolve an obvious error.
                                                                                                                               1012, Commentary .13.
                                                options per day on average during a calendar month
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                                                                                                                                 17 Singly Listed Options are options overlying                               22 See pricing for Russell 2000 Index (‘‘RUT’’) on
                                                for its own beneficial account(s). See Rule
                                                1000(b)(14).                                                                   currencies, equities, ETFs, ETNs treasury securities                         Cboe Exchange, Inc.’s Fees Schedule.
                                                  14 A QCC Order is comprised of an order to buy                               and indexes not listed on another exchange.                                    23 QQQ is an exchange-traded fund based on the

                                                or sell at least 1000 contracts that is identified as                            18 The specified MARS Payment are paid on all                              Nasdaq-100 Index®.
                                                being part of a qualified contingent trade, as that                            executed Eligible Contracts which are routed to                                24 By comparison, a market participant may trade

                                                term is defined in Rule 1080(o)(3), coupled with a                             Phlx through a participating Phlx member’s System                            options overlying RUT or separately the market
                                                contra-side order to buy or sell an equal number of                            and meet the requisite Eligible Contracts ADV. No                            participant has the choice of trading iShares Russell
                                                contracts. The QCC Order must be executed at a                                 payment are made with respect to orders that are                             2000 Index Fund (‘‘IWM’’) Exchange-Traded Fund
                                                price at or between the NBBO and be rejected if a                              routed to Phlx, but not executed.                                            Shares options, which are also multiply listed.



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                                                58884                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices

                                                B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          IV. Solicitation of Comments                            For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                Statement on Burden on Competition                                                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                             Interested persons are invited to                   authority.26
                                                  The Exchange does not believe that                       submit written data, views, and                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                the proposed rule change will impose                       arguments concerning the foregoing,                   Assistant Secretary.
                                                any burden on competition not                              including whether the proposed rule                   [FR Doc. 2017–26916 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
                                                necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                                                                           change is consistent with the Act.                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                of the purposes of the Act. In terms of
                                                                                                           Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                inter-market competition, the Exchange
                                                notes that it operates in a highly                         the following methods:
                                                                                                                                                                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                competitive market in which market                         Electronic Comments                                   COMMISSION
                                                participants can readily favor competing
                                                venues if they deem fee levels at a                          • Use the Commission’s internet                     [Release No. 34–82249; File No. SR–
                                                particular venue to be excessive, or                       comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                     NYSEArca–2017–110]
                                                rebate opportunities available at other                    rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                venues to be more favorable.                                                                                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
                                                                                                             • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                  The Exchange’s proposal to exclude                                                                             Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of
                                                                                                           sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                electronic Options Transaction Charges                                                                           Amendment No. 2 and Order
                                                                                                           Phlx–2017–102 on the subject line.
                                                for options overlying NDX from the                                                                               Approving on an Accelerated Basis a
                                                Monthly Market Maker Cap does not                          Paper Comments                                        Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
                                                impose an undue burden on intra-                                                                                 Amendment No. 2, To List and Trade
                                                market competition because the                               • Send paper comments in triplicate                 Shares of the GraniteShares Platinum
                                                Exchange will uniformly exclude                            to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities             Trust Under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E
                                                electronic options overlying NDX from                      and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                                                                           NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090.                        December 8, 2017.
                                                the Monthly Market Maker Cap. The
                                                Exchange’s proposal to exclude options                     All submissions should refer to File                  I. Introduction
                                                overlying NDX from the PIXL Pricing in                     Number SR–Phlx–2017–102. This file                      On September 12, 2017, NYSE Arca,
                                                Section IV, Part A does not impose an                      number should be included on the                      Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
                                                undue burden on intra-market                               subject line if email is used. To help the            with the Securities and Exchange
                                                competition because the Exchange will                      Commission process and review your                    Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
                                                uniformly exclude options overlying                                                                              to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
                                                                                                           comments more efficiently, please use
                                                NDX from PIXL pricing. The Exchange’s                                                                            Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
                                                                                                           only one method. The Commission will
                                                proposal to exclude options overlying                                                                            19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
                                                NDX from Eligible Contracts for                            post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                                                                           internet website (http://www.sec.gov/                 change to list and trade shares of the
                                                purposes of qualifying for a MARS                                                                                GraniteShares Platinum Trust under
                                                Payment does not impose an undue                           rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                                                                           submission, all subsequent                            NYSE Arca Rule 8.201–E. The proposed
                                                burden on intra-market competition                                                                               rule change was published for comment
                                                because the Exchange will uniformly                        amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                                                                                 in the Federal Register on September
                                                exclude options overlying NDX from                         with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                                 27, 2017.3 On October 24, 2017, the
                                                MARS.                                                      change that are filed with the
                                                                                                                                                                 Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the
                                                                                                           Commission, and all written                           proposed rule change, which
                                                C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          communications relating to the
                                                Statement on Comments on the                                                                                     superseded the proposed rule change as
                                                                                                           proposed rule change between the                      originally filed. On November 16, 2017,
                                                Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                           Commission and any person, other than                 the Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to
                                                Members, Participants, or Others
                                                                                                           those that may be withheld from the                   the proposed rule change, which
                                                  No written comments were either                          public in accordance with the                         superseded the proposed rule change as
                                                solicited or received.                                     provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                   modified by Amendment No. 1.4 The
                                                III. Date of Effectiveness of the                          available for website viewing and
                                                Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        printing in the Commission’s Public                     26 17  CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                Commission Action                                          Reference Room, 100 F Street NE,                        1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                                                                                                                                    2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                           Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                   The foregoing rule change has become                                                                             3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81675
                                                                                                           business days between the hours of
                                                effective pursuant to Section                                                                                    (Sept. 21, 2017), 82 FR 45080.
                                                                                                           10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                   4 In Amendment No. 2, the Exchange: (1) Clarified
                                                19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.25
                                                   At any time within 60 days of the                       filing also will be available for                     the permitted investments of the Trust (as defined
                                                                                                           inspection and copying at the principal               herein); (2) supplemented its description of the
                                                filing of the proposed rule change, the                                                                          duties of the Trust Custodian (as defined herein);
                                                Commission summarily may                                   office of the Exchange. All comments                  (3) provided information about platinum futures; (4)
                                                temporarily suspend such rule change if                    received will be posted without change.               supplemented its description of the process of
                                                it appears to the Commission that such                     Persons submitting comments are                       Share (as defined herein) redemptions; (5)
                                                                                                                                                                 supplemented its description of how the Trust’s net
                                                action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                 cautioned that we do not redact or edit               asset value (‘‘NAV’’) will be calculated; (6)
                                                the public interest; (ii) for the protection               personal identifying information from                 increased the minimum number of Shares that the
                                                of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                        comment submissions. You should                       Exchange will require to be outstanding at the
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                                                                                                           submit only information that you wish                 commencement of trading; (7) expanded the
                                                furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                                                                          circumstances in which the Exchange would or
                                                If the Commission takes such action, the                   to make available publicly. All                       might halt trading in the Shares; (8) specified that
                                                Commission shall institute proceedings                     submissions should refer to File                      the Shares would trade in all of the Exchange’s
                                                to determine whether the proposed rule                     Number SR–Phlx–2017–102 and should                    trading sessions; (9) represented that platinum
                                                                                                                                                                 futures trade on significant exchanges, including
                                                should be approved or disapproved.                         be submitted on or before January 4,                  NYMEX (as defined herein), which is regulated by
                                                                                                           2018.                                                 the CFTC (as defined herein) and is a member of
                                                  25 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                                                                               ISG (as defined herein); and (10) made certain



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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:52:12
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:52:12
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 58881 

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