82_FR_7920 82 FR 7907 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 7018

82 FR 7907 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 7018

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 13 (January 23, 2017)

Page Range7907-7911
FR Document2017-01295

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7907-7911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01295]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79791; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2017-002]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend Rule 7018

 January 13, 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 January 3, 2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``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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[[Page 7908]]

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

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's transaction fees at 
Rule 7018(a) to (1) add a new credit of $0.0030 per share for members 
that meet specified volume requirements on both Nasdaq and the Nasdaq 
Options Market (``NOM'') when adding liquidity; (2) add a new credit of 
$0.0030 per share for members that meet specified volume requirements 
on Nasdaq when adding liquidity and that qualify for Tier 4 of the 
Market Access and Routing Subsidy (``MARS'') program on NOM; and (3) 
change the current volume requirements needed to qualify for two 
different credits when adding liquidity in securities that are listed 
on exchanges other than Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange LLC 
(``NYSE'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.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
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend the Exchange's 
transaction fees at Rule 7018(a) to make three changes. Specifically, 
the Exchange proposes to (1) add a new credit of $0.0030 per share for 
members that meet specified volume requirements on both Nasdaq and NOM 
when adding liquidity; (2) add a new credit of $0.0030 per share for 
members that meet specified volume requirements on Nasdaq when adding 
liquidity and that qualify for Tier 4 of the MARS program on NOM; and 
(3) change the current volume requirements needed to qualify for two 
different credits when adding liquidity in securities that are listed 
on exchanges other than Nasdaq or the NYSE. These changes are described 
below.
Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq and NOM
    The first change will add a new credit to members that meet a 
specified volume threshold on Nasdaq for displayed quotes/orders (other 
than Supplemental Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that add 
liquidity, and that also meet a specified volume threshold on NOM when 
adding liquidity. Specifically, a member will receive a credit of 
$0.0030 per share executed if the member (1) adds liquidity through one 
or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs during the month that, in all 
securities, represents at least 0.125% of Consolidated Volume during 
the month, and (2) adds Customer,\3\ Professional,\4\ Firm,\5\ Non-NOM 
Market Maker \6\ and/or Broker-Dealer \7\ liquidity in Penny Pilot 
Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total 
industry ADV in the customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option 
contracts per day during the month on the Nasdaq Options Market. Thus, 
to qualify under the new proposed credit, an Exchange member must also 
be a NOM Participant and meet the NOM credit criteria described above, 
in addition to the proposed requirement that the member have more than 
0.125% of Consolidated Volume during the month through one or more of 
its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs.
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    \3\ The term ``Customer'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a participant for clearing in the Customer range at 
The Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC'') which is not for the 
account of broker or dealer or for the account of a 
``Professional,'' as defined in Chapter I, Section 1 of the NOM 
rules.
    \4\ A ``Professional'' is defined in Chapter I, Section 1 of the 
NOM rules as ``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).''
    \5\ The term ``Firm'' or (``F'') applies to any transaction that 
is identified by a Participant for clearing in the Firm range at 
OCC.
    \6\ The term ``Non-NOM Market Maker'' or (``O'') is a registered 
market maker on another options exchange that is not a NOM Market 
Maker. A Non-NOM Market Maker must append the proper Non-NOM Market 
Maker designation to orders routed to NOM.
    \7\ The term ``Broker-Dealer'' or (``B'') applies to any 
transaction which is not subject to any of the other transaction 
fees applicable within a particular category.
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    The new credit tier will be available for transactions in 
securities of all three Tapes.\8\ The new credit tier is therefore 
being added to Rules 7018(a)(1), (2), and (3), which provide the fees 
and credits for execution and routing of orders in Nasdaq-listed 
securities, New York Stock Exchange (``NYSE'')-listed securities, and 
securities not listed on Nasdaq or NYSE, respectively.
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    \8\ Tape C securities are those that are listed on the Exchange, 
Tape A securities are those that are listed on NYSE, and Tape B 
securities are those that are listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq 
or NYSE.
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Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq and Qualifying for MARS Tier 4
    The second change will add a new credit tier to a member for 
displayed quotes/orders (other than Supplemental Orders or Designated 
Retail Orders) that provide liquidity on Nasdaq, if the member also 
qualifies for Tier 4 of NOM's MARS program, as provided by NOM Rules 
Chapter XV Section 6. Specifically, the Exchange is proposing to 
provide a $0.0030 per share executed credit to a member that provides 
liquidity in all securities during the month through one or more of its 
Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs representing more than 0.50% of Consolidated 
Volume during the month. The member must also qualify for Tier 4 of the 
NOM's MARS program during the month. The MARS program provides 
different tiers of rebates or ``MARS Payments'' to Participants that 
qualify for the program. The specified MARS Payment is paid on all 
executed Eligible Contracts that add liquidity, which are routed to NOM 
through a participating NOM Participant's System and meet the requisite 
Eligible Contracts ADV.\9\ The purpose of MARS is to pay a subsidy to 
NOM Participants that provide certain order routing functionalities to 
other NOM

[[Page 7909]]

Participants and/or use such functionalities themselves.\10\ To qualify 
for the Tier 4 MARS Payment, a Participant must have routed at least 
20,000 Eligible Contracts daily in a month that are executed and that 
added liquidity. Thus, to qualify under the new proposed credit under 
Rule 7018(a), an Exchange member must also be a NOM Participant and 
meet the NOM MARS credit criteria described above, in addition to the 
proposed requirement that the member provides more than 0.50% of 
Consolidated Volume during the month through one or more of its Nasdaq 
Market Center MPIDs.
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    \9\ To qualify for the program, the Participant's routing system 
(``System'') is required to: (1) Enable the electronic routing of 
orders to all of the U.S. options exchanges, including NOM; (2) 
provide current consolidated market data from the U.S. options 
exchanges; and (3) be capable of interfacing with NOM's API to 
access current NOM match engine functionality. Further, the 
Participant's System must also cause NOM to be the one of the top 
three default destination exchanges for (a) individually executed 
marketable orders if NOM is at the national best bid or offer 
(``NBBO''), regardless of size or time or (b) orders that establish 
a new NBBO on NOM's Order Book, but allow any user to manually 
override NOM as a default destination on an order-by-order basis. 
Any NOM Participant would be permitted to avail itself of this 
arrangement, provided that its order routing functionality 
incorporates the features described above and satisfies NOM that it 
appears to be robust and reliable. The Participant remains solely 
responsible for implementing and operating its System. See NOM 
Rules, Chapter XV Section 6.
     To qualify for a MARS Payment tier, a NOM Participant that has 
System Eligibility, as described above, must have routed the 
requisite number of Eligible Contracts daily in a month (``Average 
Daily Volume''), which were executed on NOM. For the purpose of 
qualifying for the MARS Payment, Eligible Contracts may include 
Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker, Broker-Dealer, or Joint Back Office or 
``JBO'' equity option orders that add liquidity and are 
electronically delivered and executed. Eligible Contracts do not 
include Mini Option orders. Id.
    \10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79251 (November 7, 
2016), 81 FR 79536 (November 14, 2016) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-149).
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    The new credit will be available for transactions in securities of 
all three Tapes and accordingly the new credit tier is being added to 
Rules 7018(a)(1), (2), and (3), which provide the fees and credits for 
execution and routing of orders in Nasdaq-Listed securities, NYSE-
listed securities, and securities not listed on Nasdaq or NYSE, 
respectively.
Change to Credit for Transactions in Tape B Securities
    The Exchange is also proposing to change two of the volume-based 
credits that are currently offered for displayed quotes/orders (other 
than Supplemental Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that provide 
liquidity on Nasdaq in Tape B Securities. Currently, in addition to 
other credits that it may receive for providing liquidity, the member 
will receive a credit of $0.0001 per share executed if it provides 
liquidity in securities that are listed on exchanges other than NASDAQ 
or NYSE during the month representing at least 0.045% but less than 
0.075% of Consolidated Volume during the month through one or more of 
its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs. Nasdaq proposes to change these 
thresholds, so that the member will receive a credit of $0.0001 per 
share executed if it provides liquidity in securities that are listed 
on exchanges other than NASDAQ or NYSE during the month representing at 
least 0.06% but less than 0.12% of Consolidated Volume during the month 
through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs.
    Nasdaq proposes a similar change to the next credit tier for 
members that provide liquidity in securities that are listed on 
exchanges other than Nasdaq or NYSE. Currently, in addition to other 
credits that it may receive for providing liquidity, the member will 
receive a credit of $0.0002 per share executed if it provides liquidity 
in securities that are listed on exchanges other than NASDAQ or NYSE 
during the month representing at least 0.075% of Consolidated Volume 
during the month through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs. 
Nasdaq proposes to change this threshold, so that the member will 
receive a credit of $0.0002 per share executed if it provides liquidity 
in securities that are listed on exchanges other than NASDAQ or NYSE 
during the month representing at least 0.12% of Consolidated Volume 
during the month through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\11\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ 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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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq and NOM
    The Exchange believes that the $0.0030 credit if the member meets 
the specified volume levels for adding liquidity on Nasdaq and NOM is 
reasonable. As with other credits that the Exchange provides, the 
credit is designed to encourage increased activity on Nasdaq and NOM. 
The Exchange believes that the proposed volume thresholds and the 
proposed credit are reasonable because they further the Exchange's goal 
of incentivizing greater activity by members on both Nasdaq and NOM 
while imposing proportionate requirements that are not unrealistic for 
members to achieve.
    The Exchange also believes that the proposed volume thresholds and 
the proposed credit are reasonable because they are consistent with 
other volume-based credits that the Exchange offers to members for 
displayed quotes/orders (other than Supplemental Orders or Designated 
Retail Orders) that provide liquidity. Nasdaq currently offers a 
variety of credits for displayed quotes/orders (other than Supplemental 
Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that add liquidity, some of which 
are linked to activity on NOM and some of which relate to activity on 
Nasdaq only, which range from $0.0015 per share executed to $0.00305 
per share executed, and which apply progressively more stringent 
requirements in return for higher per share executed credits. Here, the 
member would receive a $0.0030 per share credit for adding liquidity of 
at least 0.125% of Consolidated Volume on Nasdaq, and adding Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity 
in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.15% or more 
of total industry ADV in the customer clearing range for Equity and ETF 
option contracts per day during the month on NOM. In comparison, the 
Exchange currently offers a credit of $0.00295 per share executed for 
members that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker 
and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny 
Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total industry ADV in the customer 
clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day in a month 
on NOM. By way of further comparison, the Exchange provides a $0.0030 
per share executed credit if a member has shares of liquidity provided 
in all securities through one or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs 
that represent more than 0.75% of Consolidated Volume during the month 
and the member provides a daily average of at least 5 Million shares of 
non-displayed liquidity. Nasdaq believes that the proposed thresholds 
and credit are consistent with the credits that it currently offers 
both for activity on Nasdaq and NOM and on Nasdaq alone, and are 
therefore reasonable.
    The Exchange also believes that this proposed credit of $0.0030 is 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange is proposing an 
additional opportunity for members to receive a credit in return for 
market-improving behavior. The proposed requirements for qualifying for 
the credit are proportionate to the amount of the proposed credit and 
equitably reflect the purpose of the proposed credit, which is to 
incentivize members to transact greater volume on Nasdaq and NOM. 
Nasdaq is proposing to allow members to qualify for the credit by 
adding liquidity on NOM in a variety of capacities--as a Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer--in both 
Penny Pilot and Non-Penny Pilot Options in Equity and ETF options. All 
similarly situated members are equally capable of qualifying for the 
proposed credit if they choose to meet the requirements of the new 
credit, and the same credit will be paid to all members that qualify 
for it.

[[Page 7910]]

Nasdaq members that are not currently NOM participants are eligible to 
become NOM participants by amending their membership application to add 
NOM.\13\ Finally, Nasdaq notes that it currently offers other credits 
that relate to activity on NOM, and other credits that do not relate to 
activity on NOM.\14\ As such, members will continue to have 
opportunities to qualify for similar credits based on market 
participation not tied to NOM.
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    \13\ Upon approval, the Nasdaq member would be charged the NOM 
Participant Fee of $1,000 per month, as set forth in Chapter XV, 
Section 10 of the NOM Rules.
    \14\ As noted above, Nasdaq currently offers a credit of 
$0.00295 per month if member adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-
NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot 
Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total 
industry ADV in the customer clearing range for Equity and ETF 
option contracts per day in a month on NOM. In comparison, Nasdaq 
also offers a credit of $0.00305 per share executed for a member 
with shares of liquidity provided in all securities through one or 
more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs that represent more than 
1.25% of Consolidated Volume during the month.
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Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq and Qualifying for MARS Tier 4
    The Exchange believes that the $0.0030 credit if the member meets 
the specified volume levels on Nasdaq and qualifies for Tier 4 of the 
NOM MARS program is reasonable. The proposed volume thresholds and the 
proposed credit are reasonable because they further the Exchange's goal 
of incentivizing greater activity on Nasdaq and NOM by members while 
imposing proportionate requirements that are not unrealistic for 
members to achieve. Nasdaq believes that requiring a member to qualify 
for MARS in order to qualify for the credit, as opposed to meeting a 
different volume-based requirement on NOM, is reasonable because MARS 
is designed to encourage members to provide certain order routing 
functionalities to other NOM Participants and/or use such 
functionalities themselves, and the proposed credit further 
incentivizes such behavior.
    As with the other new credit that is being offered as part of this 
proposal, Nasdaq also believes that these proposed volume thresholds 
and credit are reasonable because they are consistent with credits that 
Nasdaq currently offers for activity on Nasdaq and NOM and on Nasdaq 
alone. Here, a member would receive a credit of $0.0030 per share 
executed if it provides liquidity on Nasdaq that represents more than 
0.50% of Consolidated Volume, and qualifies for Tier 4 of the MARS 
program during the month. In comparison, a member would receive a 
rebate of $0.0027 per share executed if it added liquidity during the 
month representing more than 0.10% of Consolidated Volume through one 
or more of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs, and added Customer, 
Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity 
in Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.40% or more of total industry ADV in 
the customer clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts per day 
in a month on NOM.
    The Exchange also believes that the proposed credit is equitable 
and not unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange is proposing an 
additional opportunity for members to receive a credit in return for 
market-improving behavior. Requiring members to qualify for MARS Tier 4 
in addition to meeting the volume requirements on Nasdaq equitably 
reflects the purpose of the credit, which is to incentivize members to 
transact greater volume on Nasdaq and NOM and to enhance the use of 
order routing functionalities for NOM.
    As with the other new credit that is being offered as part of this 
proposal, all similarly situated members are equally capable of 
qualifying for this proposed credit if they choose to meet the 
requirements of the new credit, and the same credit will be paid to all 
members that qualify for it. Nasdaq members that are not currently NOM 
participants are eligible to become NOM participants by amending their 
membership application to add NOM. Finally, Nasdaq notes that it 
currently offers other credits that relate to activity on NOM, while 
other credits that do not relate to activity on NOM. As such, members 
will continue to have opportunities to qualify for similar credits 
based on market participation not tied to NOM.
Change to Credit for Transactions in Tape B Securities
    Nasdaq believes that the change to the current credit for 
transactions in Tape B Securities is reasonable, equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory. Nasdaq notes that the members will continue to 
receive the same credit--either $0.0001 or $0.0002 per share executed--
as they currently receive if they meet the volume requirements. Nasdaq 
believes that the changes to the volume thresholds for both credits are 
reasonable. The purpose of the credits is to incentivize greater 
activity on Nasdaq in Tape B Securities. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed volume thresholds, coupled with the current credits, are 
reasonable because they are more closely aligned to the Exchange's goal 
of incentivizing greater activity by members in Tape B Securities than 
the current volume thresholds, while imposing requirements that are not 
unrealistic for members to achieve.
    Nasdaq believes that the proposed volume changes to credits for 
transactions in Tape B Securities are equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory. The Exchange believes that the proposed requirements 
are more proportionate to the amount of the current credits than the 
current requirements, and more equitably reflect the purpose of the 
current credits, which is to incentivize members to transact greater 
volume on Nasdaq in Tape B Securities. Moreover, all similarly situated 
members are equally capable of qualifying for the credits if they 
choose to meet the volume requirements, and the same credits will be 
paid to all members that qualify for them.

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.
    In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its 
fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and with alternative 
trading systems that have been exempted from compliance with the 
statutory standards applicable to exchanges. Because competitors are 
free to modify their own fees in response, and because market 
participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, the 
Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this market 
may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited.
    In this instance, the proposed new credits provided to a member for 
execution of securities of each of the three Tapes, in addition to 
meeting specified thresholds on NOM, do not impose a burden on 
competition because the Exchange's execution services are completely 
voluntary and subject to extensive competition both from other 
exchanges and from off-exchange venues. All similarly situated members 
are equally capable of qualifying for the credits if they choose to 
meet the volume requirements, and the same credits will be paid to all

[[Page 7911]]

members that qualify for them. Members will continue to have 
opportunities to qualify for similar credits based on market 
participation not tied to NOM. Moreover, the proposed changes are 
designed to reward market-improving behavior by providing new credit 
tiers based on various measures of such behavior, which may encourage 
other market venues to provide similar credits to improve their market 
quality. Thus, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed credits 
will impose any burden on competition, but may rather promote 
competition.
    Similarly, the changes to the existing credits for transactions in 
Tape B Securities do not impose a burden on competition because the 
Exchange's execution services are completely voluntary. All similarly 
situated members are equally capable of qualifying for the credits if 
they choose to meet the volume requirements, and the same credits will 
be paid to all members that qualify for them. In addition, the credits 
for transactions in Tape B securities are designed to reward market-
improving behavior, and the proposed changes are designed to better 
align the requirements for the credits with the actual credits.
    In sum, if the changes proposed herein are unattractive to market 
participants, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market share as 
a result. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed 
changes will impair the ability of members or competing order execution 
venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets.

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.\15\
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    \15\ 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-NASDAQ-2017-002 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-002. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2017-002, and should 
be submitted on or before February 13, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
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    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-01295 Filed 1-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices                                                   7907

                                                  that the Tier 1 maker rebate remains                       C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     communications relating to the
                                                  competitive and will continue to                           Statement on Comments on the                          proposed rule change between the
                                                  incentivize members to send order flow                     Proposed Rule Change Received From                    Commission and any person, other than
                                                  to the Exchange. The Exchange further                      Members, Participants, or Others                      those that may be withheld from the
                                                  believes that the proposed fee change is                     No written comments were either                     public in accordance with the
                                                  not unfairly discriminatory as it                          solicited or received.                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                  provides equal rebates to Non-ISE                                                                                available for Web site viewing and
                                                  Gemini Market Maker, Firm Proprietary,                     III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                                                                                                                                   printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                  Broker-Dealer, and Professional                            Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                                                                             Commission Action                                     Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                                  Customer orders. In addition, although                                                                           Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                                  Priority Customer 12 and Market                               The foregoing rule change has become               business days between the hours of
                                                  Maker 13 orders will be entitled to more                   effective pursuant to Section                         10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                  favorable maker rebates, the Exchange                      19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,15 and Rule                filing also will be available for
                                                  does not believe that this is unfairly                     19b–4(f)(2) 16 thereunder. At any time
                                                                                                                                                                   inspection and copying at the principal
                                                  discriminatory. As has historically been                   within 60 days of the filing of the
                                                  the case, Priority Customer orders                         proposed rule change, the Commission                  office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                  remain entitled to more favorable maker                    summarily may temporarily suspend                     received will be posted without change;
                                                  rebates in order to encourage this order                   such rule change if it appears to the                 the Commission does not edit personal
                                                  flow. A Priority Customer is by                            Commission that such action is: (i)                   identifying information from
                                                  definition not a broker or dealer in                       Necessary or appropriate in the public                submissions. You should submit only
                                                  securities, and does not place more than                   interest; (ii) for the protection of                  information that you wish to make
                                                  390 orders in listed options per day on                    investors; or (iii) otherwise in                      available publicly. All submissions
                                                  average during a calendar month for its                    furtherance of the purposes of the Act.               should refer to File Number SR–
                                                  own beneficial account(s). This                            If the Commission takes such action, the              ISEGemini–2017–01 and should be
                                                  limitation does not apply to participants                  Commission shall institute proceedings                submitted on or before February 13,
                                                  whose behavior is substantially similar                    to determine whether the proposed rule                2017.
                                                  to that of market professionals,                           should be approved or disapproved.                      For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  including Professional Customers, who                      IV. Solicitation of Comments                          Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                  will generally submit a higher number                                                                            authority.17
                                                  of orders than Priority Customers.                           Interested persons are invited to
                                                                                                             submit written data, views, and                       Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                  Similarly, the Exchange believes that it
                                                  is not unfairly discriminatory to offer                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                   Assistant Secretary.
                                                  higher maker rebates to Market Makers                      including whether the proposed rule                   [FR Doc. 2017–01299 Filed 1–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  as Market Makers are subject to                            change is consistent with the Act.                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  additional requirements and obligations                    Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                  (such as quoting requirements) that                        the following methods:
                                                  other market participants are not.                         Electronic Comments                                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                                                                                                                                   COMMISSION
                                                  B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                            • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                  Statement on Burden on Competition                         comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                             rules/sro.shtml); or                                  [Release No. 34–79791; File No. SR–
                                                    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of
                                                                                                               • Send an email to rule-                            NASDAQ–2017–002]
                                                  the Act,14 the Exchange does not believe
                                                                                                             comments@sec.gov. Please include File
                                                  that the proposed rule change will                                                                               Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                                                                             Number SR–ISEGemini–2017–01 on the
                                                  impose any burden on intermarket or                                                                              NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                                                                             subject line.
                                                  intramarket competition that is not                                                                              Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                  necessary or appropriate in furtherance                    Paper Comments                                        Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule
                                                  of the purposes of the Act. The                               • Send paper comments in triplicate                7018
                                                  Exchange operates in a highly                              to Secretary, Securities and Exchange
                                                  competitive market in which market                         Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                         January 13, 2017.
                                                  participants can readily direct their                      Washington, DC 20549–1090.                               Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                  order flow to competing venues. In such                    All submissions should refer to File                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                  an environment, the Exchange must                          Number SR–ISEGemini–2017–01. This                     (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                  continually review, and consider                           file number should be included on the                 notice is hereby given that on January 3,
                                                  adjusting, its fees and rebates to remain                  subject line if email is used. To help the            2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
                                                  competitive with other exchanges. For                      Commission process and review your
                                                  the reasons described above, the                                                                                 (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                                                                             comments more efficiently, please use                 Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                  Exchange believes that the proposed fee                    only one method. The Commission will
                                                  changes reflect this competitive                                                                                 (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed
                                                                                                             post all comments on the Commission’s                 rule change as described in Items I, II,
                                                  environment.                                               Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                and III below, which Items have been
                                                     12 A ‘‘Priority Customer’’ is a person or entity that
                                                                                                             rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       prepared by the Exchange. The
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  is not a broker/dealer in securities, and does not         submission, all subsequent                            Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                  place more than 390 orders in listed options per day       amendments, all written statements                    solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                  on average during a calendar month for its own             with respect to the proposed rule
                                                  beneficial account(s), as defined in Rule                                                                        change from interested persons.
                                                  100(a)(37A).
                                                                                                             change that are filed with the
                                                     13 The term Market Maker refers to ‘‘Competitive        Commission, and all written
                                                                                                                                                                     17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                  Market Makers’’ and ‘‘Primary Market Makers’’
                                                                                                                                                                     1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                  collectively. See Rule 100(a)(25).                          15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
                                                     14 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).                                  16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).                             2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                  7908                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices

                                                  I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       securities that are listed on exchanges                    (3), which provide the fees and credits
                                                  Statement of the Terms of the Substance                 other than Nasdaq or the NYSE. These                       for execution and routing of orders in
                                                  of the Proposed Rule Change                             changes are described below.                               Nasdaq-listed securities, New York
                                                     The Exchange proposes to amend the                                                                              Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’)-listed
                                                                                                          Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq
                                                  Exchange’s transaction fees at Rule                                                                                securities, and securities not listed on
                                                                                                          and NOM
                                                  7018(a) to (1) add a new credit of                                                                                 Nasdaq or NYSE, respectively.
                                                                                                             The first change will add a new credit
                                                  $0.0030 per share for members that meet                                                                            Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq
                                                                                                          to members that meet a specified
                                                  specified volume requirements on both                                                                              and Qualifying for MARS Tier 4
                                                                                                          volume threshold on Nasdaq for
                                                  Nasdaq and the Nasdaq Options Market
                                                                                                          displayed quotes/orders (other than                           The second change will add a new
                                                  (‘‘NOM’’) when adding liquidity; (2) add
                                                                                                          Supplemental Orders or Designated                          credit tier to a member for displayed
                                                  a new credit of $0.0030 per share for
                                                                                                          Retail Orders) that add liquidity, and                     quotes/orders (other than Supplemental
                                                  members that meet specified volume
                                                                                                          that also meet a specified volume                          Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that
                                                  requirements on Nasdaq when adding
                                                                                                          threshold on NOM when adding                               provide liquidity on Nasdaq, if the
                                                  liquidity and that qualify for Tier 4 of
                                                                                                          liquidity. Specifically, a member will                     member also qualifies for Tier 4 of
                                                  the Market Access and Routing Subsidy
                                                                                                          receive a credit of $0.0030 per share                      NOM’s MARS program, as provided by
                                                  (‘‘MARS’’) program on NOM; and (3)
                                                                                                          executed if the member (1) adds                            NOM Rules Chapter XV Section 6.
                                                  change the current volume requirements
                                                                                                          liquidity through one or more of its                       Specifically, the Exchange is proposing
                                                  needed to qualify for two different                     Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs during the                      to provide a $0.0030 per share executed
                                                  credits when adding liquidity in                        month that, in all securities, represents                  credit to a member that provides
                                                  securities that are listed on exchanges                 at least 0.125% of Consolidated Volume                     liquidity in all securities during the
                                                  other than Nasdaq or the New York                       during the month, and (2) adds                             month through one or more of its
                                                  Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’).                          Customer,3 Professional,4 Firm,5 Non-                      Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs
                                                     The text of the proposed rule change
                                                                                                          NOM Market Maker 6 and/or Broker-                          representing more than 0.50% of
                                                  is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                                                                          Dealer 7 liquidity in Penny Pilot Options                  Consolidated Volume during the month.
                                                  at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
                                                                                                          and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of                          The member must also qualify for Tier
                                                  the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                                                                                          1.15% or more of total industry ADV in                     4 of the NOM’s MARS program during
                                                  at the Commission’s Public Reference                                                                               the month. The MARS program
                                                                                                          the customer clearing range for Equity
                                                  Room.                                                                                                              provides different tiers of rebates or
                                                                                                          and ETF option contracts per day during
                                                  II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      the month on the Nasdaq Options                            ‘‘MARS Payments’’ to Participants that
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                        Market. Thus, to qualify under the new                     qualify for the program. The specified
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  proposed credit, an Exchange member                        MARS Payment is paid on all executed
                                                  Change                                                  must also be a NOM Participant and                         Eligible Contracts that add liquidity,
                                                     In its filing with the Commission, the               meet the NOM credit criteria described                     which are routed to NOM through a
                                                  Exchange included statements                            above, in addition to the proposed                         participating NOM Participant’s System
                                                  concerning the purpose of and basis for                 requirement that the member have more                      and meet the requisite Eligible Contracts
                                                  the proposed rule change and discussed                  than 0.125% of Consolidated Volume                         ADV.9 The purpose of MARS is to pay
                                                                                                          during the month through one or more                       a subsidy to NOM Participants that
                                                  any comments it received on the
                                                                                                          of its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs.                         provide certain order routing
                                                  proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                                                                             The new credit tier will be available                   functionalities to other NOM
                                                  statements may be examined at the
                                                  places specified in Item IV below. The                  for transactions in securities of all three
                                                                                                                                                                        9 To qualify for the program, the Participant’s
                                                  Exchange has prepared summaries, set                    Tapes.8 The new credit tier is therefore
                                                                                                                                                                     routing system (‘‘System’’) is required to: (1) Enable
                                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 being added to Rules 7018(a)(1), (2), and                  the electronic routing of orders to all of the U.S.
                                                  the most significant aspects of such                                                                               options exchanges, including NOM; (2) provide
                                                                                                             3 The term ‘‘Customer’’ applies to any transaction      current consolidated market data from the U.S.
                                                  statements.                                             that is identified by a participant for clearing in the    options exchanges; and (3) be capable of interfacing
                                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Customer range at The Options Clearing                     with NOM’s API to access current NOM match
                                                                                                          Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) which is not for the account         engine functionality. Further, the Participant’s
                                                  Statement of the Purpose of, and                        of broker or dealer or for the account of a                System must also cause NOM to be the one of the
                                                  Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  ‘‘Professional,’’ as defined in Chapter I, Section 1       top three default destination exchanges for (a)
                                                  Change                                                  of the NOM rules.                                          individually executed marketable orders if NOM is
                                                                                                             4 A ‘‘Professional’’ is defined in Chapter I, Section   at the national best bid or offer (‘‘NBBO’’),
                                                  1. Purpose                                              1 of the NOM rules as ‘‘any person or entity that          regardless of size or time or (b) orders that establish
                                                                                                          (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii)      a new NBBO on NOM’s Order Book, but allow any
                                                     The purpose of the proposed rule                     places more than 390 orders in listed options per          user to manually override NOM as a default
                                                  change is to amend the Exchange’s                       day on average during a calendar month for its own         destination on an order-by-order basis. Any NOM
                                                  transaction fees at Rule 7018(a) to make                beneficial account(s).’’                                   Participant would be permitted to avail itself of this
                                                                                                                                                                     arrangement, provided that its order routing
                                                  three changes. Specifically, the                           5 The term ‘‘Firm’’ or (‘‘F’’) applies to any
                                                                                                                                                                     functionality incorporates the features described
                                                  Exchange proposes to (1) add a new                      transaction that is identified by a Participant for        above and satisfies NOM that it appears to be robust
                                                                                                          clearing in the Firm range at OCC.                         and reliable. The Participant remains solely
                                                  credit of $0.0030 per share for members                    6 The term ‘‘Non-NOM Market Maker’’ or (‘‘O’’) is
                                                                                                                                                                     responsible for implementing and operating its
                                                  that meet specified volume                              a registered market maker on another options               System. See NOM Rules, Chapter XV Section 6.
                                                  requirements on both Nasdaq and NOM                     exchange that is not a NOM Market Maker. A Non-               To qualify for a MARS Payment tier, a NOM
                                                  when adding liquidity; (2) add a new                    NOM Market Maker must append the proper Non-               Participant that has System Eligibility, as described
                                                                                                          NOM Market Maker designation to orders routed to
                                                  credit of $0.0030 per share for members                                                                            above, must have routed the requisite number of
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                                                                                                          NOM.                                                       Eligible Contracts daily in a month (‘‘Average Daily
                                                  that meet specified volume                                 7 The term ‘‘Broker-Dealer’’ or (‘‘B’’) applies to
                                                                                                                                                                     Volume’’), which were executed on NOM. For the
                                                  requirements on Nasdaq when adding                      any transaction which is not subject to any of the         purpose of qualifying for the MARS Payment,
                                                  liquidity and that qualify for Tier 4 of                other transaction fees applicable within a particular      Eligible Contracts may include Firm, Non-NOM
                                                  the MARS program on NOM; and (3)                        category.                                                  Market Maker, Broker-Dealer, or Joint Back Office
                                                                                                             8 Tape C securities are those that are listed on the    or ‘‘JBO’’ equity option orders that add liquidity
                                                  change the current volume requirements                  Exchange, Tape A securities are those that are listed      and are electronically delivered and executed.
                                                  needed to qualify for two different                     on NYSE, and Tape B securities are those that are          Eligible Contracts do not include Mini Option
                                                  credits when adding liquidity in                        listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq or NYSE.             orders. Id.



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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices                                               7909

                                                  Participants and/or use such                            credit of $0.0002 per share executed if                  to $0.00305 per share executed, and
                                                  functionalities themselves.10 To qualify                it provides liquidity in securities that                 which apply progressively more
                                                  for the Tier 4 MARS Payment, a                          are listed on exchanges other than                       stringent requirements in return for
                                                  Participant must have routed at least                   NASDAQ or NYSE during the month                          higher per share executed credits. Here,
                                                  20,000 Eligible Contracts daily in a                    representing at least 0.075% of                          the member would receive a $0.0030 per
                                                  month that are executed and that added                  Consolidated Volume during the month                     share credit for adding liquidity of at
                                                  liquidity. Thus, to qualify under the                   through one or more of its Nasdaq                        least 0.125% of Consolidated Volume
                                                  new proposed credit under Rule                          Market Center MPIDs. Nasdaq proposes                     on Nasdaq, and adding Customer,
                                                  7018(a), an Exchange member must also                   to change this threshold, so that the                    Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market
                                                  be a NOM Participant and meet the                       member will receive a credit of $0.0002                  Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in
                                                  NOM MARS credit criteria described                      per share executed if it provides                        Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny
                                                  above, in addition to the proposed                      liquidity in securities that are listed on               Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total
                                                  requirement that the member provides                    exchanges other than NASDAQ or NYSE                      industry ADV in the customer clearing
                                                  more than 0.50% of Consolidated                         during the month representing at least                   range for Equity and ETF option
                                                  Volume during the month through one                     0.12% of Consolidated Volume during                      contracts per day during the month on
                                                  or more of its Nasdaq Market Center                     the month through one or more of its                     NOM. In comparison, the Exchange
                                                  MPIDs.                                                  Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs.                              currently offers a credit of $0.00295 per
                                                     The new credit will be available for                 2. Statutory Basis                                       share executed for members that add
                                                  transactions in securities of all three                                                                          Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM
                                                  Tapes and accordingly the new credit                       The Exchange believes that its                        Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer
                                                  tier is being added to Rules 7018(a)(1),                proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                 liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or
                                                  (2), and (3), which provide the fees and                of the Act,11 in general, and furthers the               Non-Penny Pilot Options of 1.15% or
                                                  credits for execution and routing of                    objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5)               more of total industry ADV in the
                                                  orders in Nasdaq-Listed securities,                     of the Act,12 in particular, in that it                  customer clearing range for Equity and
                                                  NYSE-listed securities, and securities                  provides for the equitable allocation of                 ETF option contracts per day in a month
                                                  not listed on Nasdaq or NYSE,                           reasonable dues, fees and other charges                  on NOM. By way of further comparison,
                                                  respectively.                                           among members and issuers and other                      the Exchange provides a $0.0030 per
                                                                                                          persons using any facility, and is not                   share executed credit if a member has
                                                  Change to Credit for Transactions in                    designed to permit unfair
                                                  Tape B Securities                                                                                                shares of liquidity provided in all
                                                                                                          discrimination between customers,                        securities through one or more of its
                                                     The Exchange is also proposing to                    issuers, brokers, or dealers.                            Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs that
                                                  change two of the volume-based credits                  Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq                    represent more than 0.75% of
                                                  that are currently offered for displayed                and NOM                                                  Consolidated Volume during the month
                                                  quotes/orders (other than Supplemental                                                                           and the member provides a daily
                                                  Orders or Designated Retail Orders) that                   The Exchange believes that the
                                                                                                          $0.0030 credit if the member meets the                   average of at least 5 Million shares of
                                                  provide liquidity on Nasdaq in Tape B                                                                            non-displayed liquidity. Nasdaq
                                                  Securities. Currently, in addition to                   specified volume levels for adding
                                                                                                          liquidity on Nasdaq and NOM is                           believes that the proposed thresholds
                                                  other credits that it may receive for                                                                            and credit are consistent with the
                                                  providing liquidity, the member will                    reasonable. As with other credits that
                                                                                                          the Exchange provides, the credit is                     credits that it currently offers both for
                                                  receive a credit of $0.0001 per share                                                                            activity on Nasdaq and NOM and on
                                                  executed if it provides liquidity in                    designed to encourage increased activity
                                                                                                          on Nasdaq and NOM. The Exchange                          Nasdaq alone, and are therefore
                                                  securities that are listed on exchanges                                                                          reasonable.
                                                  other than NASDAQ or NYSE during                        believes that the proposed volume
                                                                                                          thresholds and the proposed credit are                      The Exchange also believes that this
                                                  the month representing at least 0.045%
                                                                                                          reasonable because they further the                      proposed credit of $0.0030 is equitable
                                                  but less than 0.075% of Consolidated
                                                                                                          Exchange’s goal of incentivizing greater                 and not unfairly discriminatory. The
                                                  Volume during the month through one
                                                                                                          activity by members on both Nasdaq                       Exchange is proposing an additional
                                                  or more of its Nasdaq Market Center
                                                                                                          and NOM while imposing proportionate                     opportunity for members to receive a
                                                  MPIDs. Nasdaq proposes to change
                                                                                                          requirements that are not unrealistic for                credit in return for market-improving
                                                  these thresholds, so that the member
                                                                                                          members to achieve.                                      behavior. The proposed requirements
                                                  will receive a credit of $0.0001 per share
                                                                                                             The Exchange also believes that the                   for qualifying for the credit are
                                                  executed if it provides liquidity in
                                                                                                          proposed volume thresholds and the                       proportionate to the amount of the
                                                  securities that are listed on exchanges
                                                                                                          proposed credit are reasonable because                   proposed credit and equitably reflect the
                                                  other than NASDAQ or NYSE during
                                                                                                          they are consistent with other volume-                   purpose of the proposed credit, which is
                                                  the month representing at least 0.06%
                                                                                                          based credits that the Exchange offers to                to incentivize members to transact
                                                  but less than 0.12% of Consolidated
                                                                                                          members for displayed quotes/orders                      greater volume on Nasdaq and NOM.
                                                  Volume during the month through one
                                                                                                          (other than Supplemental Orders or                       Nasdaq is proposing to allow members
                                                  or more of its Nasdaq Market Center
                                                                                                          Designated Retail Orders) that provide                   to qualify for the credit by adding
                                                  MPIDs.
                                                                                                          liquidity. Nasdaq currently offers a                     liquidity on NOM in a variety of
                                                     Nasdaq proposes a similar change to
                                                                                                          variety of credits for displayed quotes/                 capacities—as a Customer, Professional,
                                                  the next credit tier for members that
                                                                                                          orders (other than Supplemental Orders                   Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or
                                                  provide liquidity in securities that are
                                                                                                                                                                   Broker-Dealer—in both Penny Pilot and
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                                                  listed on exchanges other than Nasdaq                   or Designated Retail Orders) that add
                                                                                                          liquidity, some of which are linked to                   Non-Penny Pilot Options in Equity and
                                                  or NYSE. Currently, in addition to other
                                                                                                          activity on NOM and some of which                        ETF options. All similarly situated
                                                  credits that it may receive for providing
                                                                                                          relate to activity on Nasdaq only, which                 members are equally capable of
                                                  liquidity, the member will receive a
                                                                                                          range from $0.0015 per share executed                    qualifying for the proposed credit if they
                                                    10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79251                                                               choose to meet the requirements of the
                                                  (November 7, 2016), 81 FR 79536 (November 14,             11 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                 new credit, and the same credit will be
                                                  2016) (SR–NASDAQ–2016–149).                               12 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).                      paid to all members that qualify for it.


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                                                  7910                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Nasdaq members that are not currently                   comparison, a member would receive a                   members in Tape B Securities than the
                                                  NOM participants are eligible to become                 rebate of $0.0027 per share executed if                current volume thresholds, while
                                                  NOM participants by amending their                      it added liquidity during the month                    imposing requirements that are not
                                                  membership application to add NOM.13                    representing more than 0.10% of                        unrealistic for members to achieve.
                                                  Finally, Nasdaq notes that it currently                 Consolidated Volume through one or                        Nasdaq believes that the proposed
                                                  offers other credits that relate to activity            more of its Nasdaq Market Center                       volume changes to credits for
                                                  on NOM, and other credits that do not                   MPIDs, and added Customer,                             transactions in Tape B Securities are
                                                  relate to activity on NOM.14 As such,                   Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market                     equitable and not unfairly
                                                  members will continue to have                           Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in                discriminatory. The Exchange believes
                                                  opportunities to qualify for similar                    Non-Penny Pilot Options of 0.40% or                    that the proposed requirements are more
                                                  credits based on market participation                   more of total industry ADV in the                      proportionate to the amount of the
                                                  not tied to NOM.                                        customer clearing range for Equity and                 current credits than the current
                                                                                                          ETF option contracts per day in a month                requirements, and more equitably reflect
                                                  Credit for Adding Liquidity on Nasdaq                                                                          the purpose of the current credits,
                                                                                                          on NOM.
                                                  and Qualifying for MARS Tier 4                             The Exchange also believes that the                 which is to incentivize members to
                                                     The Exchange believes that the                       proposed credit is equitable and not                   transact greater volume on Nasdaq in
                                                  $0.0030 credit if the member meets the                  unfairly discriminatory. The Exchange                  Tape B Securities. Moreover, all
                                                  specified volume levels on Nasdaq and                   is proposing an additional opportunity                 similarly situated members are equally
                                                  qualifies for Tier 4 of the NOM MARS                    for members to receive a credit in return              capable of qualifying for the credits if
                                                  program is reasonable. The proposed                     for market-improving behavior.                         they choose to meet the volume
                                                  volume thresholds and the proposed                      Requiring members to qualify for MARS                  requirements, and the same credits will
                                                  credit are reasonable because they                      Tier 4 in addition to meeting the volume               be paid to all members that qualify for
                                                  further the Exchange’s goal of                          requirements on Nasdaq equitably                       them.
                                                  incentivizing greater activity on Nasdaq                reflects the purpose of the credit, which
                                                  and NOM by members while imposing                                                                              B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                          is to incentivize members to transact
                                                                                                                                                                 Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                  proportionate requirements that are not                 greater volume on Nasdaq and NOM
                                                  unrealistic for members to achieve.                     and to enhance the use of order routing                   The Exchange does not believe that
                                                  Nasdaq believes that requiring a                        functionalities for NOM.                               the proposed rule change will impose
                                                  member to qualify for MARS in order to                     As with the other new credit that is                any burden on competition not
                                                  qualify for the credit, as opposed to                   being offered as part of this proposal, all            necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                  meeting a different volume-based                        similarly situated members are equally                 of the purposes of the Act. In terms of
                                                  requirement on NOM, is reasonable                       capable of qualifying for this proposed                inter-market competition, the Exchange
                                                  because MARS is designed to encourage                   credit if they choose to meet the                      notes that it operates in a highly
                                                  members to provide certain order                        requirements of the new credit, and the                competitive market in which market
                                                  routing functionalities to other NOM                    same credit will be paid to all members                participants can readily favor competing
                                                  Participants and/or use such                            that qualify for it. Nasdaq members that               venues if they deem fee levels at a
                                                  functionalities themselves, and the                     are not currently NOM participants are                 particular venue to be excessive, or
                                                  proposed credit further incentivizes                    eligible to become NOM participants by                 rebate opportunities available at other
                                                  such behavior.                                          amending their membership application                  venues to be more favorable.
                                                     As with the other new credit that is                 to add NOM. Finally, Nasdaq notes that                    In such an environment, the Exchange
                                                  being offered as part of this proposal,                 it currently offers other credits that                 must continually adjust its fees to
                                                  Nasdaq also believes that these                         relate to activity on NOM, while other                 remain competitive with other
                                                  proposed volume thresholds and credit                   credits that do not relate to activity on              exchanges and with alternative trading
                                                  are reasonable because they are                         NOM. As such, members will continue                    systems that have been exempted from
                                                  consistent with credits that Nasdaq                     to have opportunities to qualify for                   compliance with the statutory standards
                                                  currently offers for activity on Nasdaq                 similar credits based on market                        applicable to exchanges. Because
                                                  and NOM and on Nasdaq alone. Here,                      participation not tied to NOM.                         competitors are free to modify their own
                                                  a member would receive a credit of                                                                             fees in response, and because market
                                                                                                          Change to Credit for Transactions in                   participants may readily adjust their
                                                  $0.0030 per share executed if it provides               Tape B Securities
                                                  liquidity on Nasdaq that represents                                                                            order routing practices, the Exchange
                                                  more than 0.50% of Consolidated                           Nasdaq believes that the change to the               believes that the degree to which fee
                                                  Volume, and qualifies for Tier 4 of the                 current credit for transactions in Tape B              changes in this market may impose any
                                                  MARS program during the month. In                       Securities is reasonable, equitable and                burden on competition is extremely
                                                                                                          not unfairly discriminatory. Nasdaq                    limited.
                                                     13 Upon approval, the Nasdaq member would be         notes that the members will continue to                   In this instance, the proposed new
                                                  charged the NOM Participant Fee of $1,000 per           receive the same credit—either $0.0001                 credits provided to a member for
                                                  month, as set forth in Chapter XV, Section 10 of the    or $0.0002 per share executed—as they                  execution of securities of each of the
                                                  NOM Rules.                                              currently receive if they meet the                     three Tapes, in addition to meeting
                                                     14 As noted above, Nasdaq currently offers a

                                                  credit of $0.00295 per month if member adds
                                                                                                          volume requirements. Nasdaq believes                   specified thresholds on NOM, do not
                                                  Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market            that the changes to the volume                         impose a burden on competition
                                                  Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot     thresholds for both credits are                        because the Exchange’s execution
                                                  Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.15%        reasonable. The purpose of the credits is              services are completely voluntary and
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                                                  or more of total industry ADV in the customer
                                                  clearing range for Equity and ETF option contracts
                                                                                                          to incentivize greater activity on Nasdaq              subject to extensive competition both
                                                  per day in a month on NOM. In comparison,               in Tape B Securities. The Exchange                     from other exchanges and from off-
                                                  Nasdaq also offers a credit of $0.00305 per share       believes that the proposed volume                      exchange venues. All similarly situated
                                                  executed for a member with shares of liquidity          thresholds, coupled with the current                   members are equally capable of
                                                  provided in all securities through one or more of
                                                  its Nasdaq Market Center MPIDs that represent
                                                                                                          credits, are reasonable because they are               qualifying for the credits if they choose
                                                  more than 1.25% of Consolidated Volume during           more closely aligned to the Exchange’s                 to meet the volume requirements, and
                                                  the month.                                              goal of incentivizing greater activity by              the same credits will be paid to all


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                                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices                                               7911

                                                  members that qualify for them. Members                     to determine whether the proposed rule                   For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                  will continue to have opportunities to                     should be approved or disapproved.                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                  qualify for similar credits based on                                                                              authority.16
                                                  market participation not tied to NOM.                      IV. Solicitation of Comments                           Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                  Moreover, the proposed changes are                           Interested persons are invited to                    Assistant Secretary.
                                                  designed to reward market-improving                        submit written data, views, and                        [FR Doc. 2017–01295 Filed 1–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  behavior by providing new credit tiers                     arguments concerning the foregoing,                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  based on various measures of such
                                                                                                             including whether the proposed rule
                                                  behavior, which may encourage other
                                                                                                             change is consistent with the Act.
                                                  market venues to provide similar credits                                                                          SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                  to improve their market quality. Thus,                     Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                  the Exchange does not believe that the                     the following methods:
                                                                                                                                                                    Meeting of the Advisory Committee on
                                                  proposed credits will impose any                           Electronic Comments                                    Veterans Business Affairs
                                                  burden on competition, but may rather
                                                  promote competition.                                         • Use the Commission’s Internet                      AGENCY: U.S. Small Business
                                                     Similarly, the changes to the existing                  comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                      Administration.
                                                  credits for transactions in Tape B                         rules/sro.shtml); or                                   ACTION: Notice of open Federal Advisory
                                                  Securities do not impose a burden on                         • Send an email to rule-comments@                    Committee Meeting.
                                                  competition because the Exchange’s                         sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                  execution services are completely                                                                                 SUMMARY:   The U.S. Small Business
                                                                                                             NASDAQ–2017–002 on the subject line.                   Administration (SBA) is issuing this
                                                  voluntary. All similarly situated
                                                  members are equally capable of                             Paper Comments                                         notice to announce the location, date,
                                                  qualifying for the credits if they choose                                                                         time, and agenda for the next meeting of
                                                  to meet the volume requirements, and                         • Send paper comments in triplicate                  the Advisory Committee on Veterans
                                                  the same credits will be paid to all                       to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                  Business Affairs. The meeting is open to
                                                  members that qualify for them. In                          Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                          the public.
                                                  addition, the credits for transactions in                  Washington, DC 20549–1090.                             DATES: Thursday, March 9, 2017, from
                                                  Tape B securities are designed to reward                                                                          9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                                                                                                             All submissions should refer to File
                                                  market-improving behavior, and the                         Number SR–NASDAQ–2017–002. This                        ADDRESSES: Eisenhower Conference
                                                  proposed changes are designed to better                    file number should be included on the                  Room B, located on the concourse level,
                                                  align the requirements for the credits                     subject line if email is used. To help the             U.S. Small Business Administration,
                                                  with the actual credits.                                                                                          409 3rd Street SW., Washington, DC
                                                                                                             Commission process and review your
                                                     In sum, if the changes proposed                                                                                20416.
                                                  herein are unattractive to market                          comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                             only one method. The Commission will                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      Pursuant
                                                  participants, it is likely that the
                                                                                                             post all comments on the Commission’s                  to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
                                                  Exchange will lose market share as a
                                                                                                             Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                 Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.,
                                                  result. Accordingly, the Exchange does
                                                                                                             rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                        Appendix 2), SBA announces the
                                                  not believe that the proposed changes
                                                                                                             submission, all subsequent                             meeting of the Advisory Committee on
                                                  will impair the ability of members or
                                                                                                             amendments, all written statements                     Veterans Business Affairs (ACVBA). The
                                                  competing order execution venues to
                                                                                                             with respect to the proposed rule                      ACVBA is established pursuant to 15
                                                  maintain their competitive standing in
                                                                                                             change that are filed with the                         U.S.C. 657(b) note, and serves as an
                                                  the financial markets.
                                                                                                             Commission, and all written                            independent source of advice and
                                                  C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          communications relating to the                         policy recommendations to the
                                                  Statement on Comments on the                               proposed rule change between the                       Administrator of the SBA. The purpose
                                                  Proposed Rule Change Received From                         Commission and any person, other than                  of this meeting is to discuss the
                                                  Members, Participants, or Others                           those that may be withheld from the                    formation and growth of small business
                                                    No written comments were either                          public in accordance with the                          concerns owned and controlled by
                                                  solicited or received.                                     provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                    veterans and service disabled veterans,
                                                                                                             available for Web site viewing and                     to focus on strategic planning, and
                                                  III. Date of Effectiveness of the                                                                                 provide updates on past and current
                                                  Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                                                                             Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                      events.
                                                  Commission Action                                                                                                    Additional Information: This meeting
                                                                                                             Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                     The foregoing rule change has become                                                                           is open to the public. Advance notice of
                                                                                                             business days between the hours of
                                                  effective pursuant to Section                                                                                     attendance is requested. Anyone
                                                                                                             10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                                  19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.15                                                                                     wishing to attend and/or make
                                                                                                             filing also will be available for
                                                     At any time within 60 days of the                                                                              comments to the ACVBA must contact
                                                                                                             inspection and copying at the principal
                                                  filing of the proposed rule change, the                                                                           SBA’s Office of Veterans Business
                                                                                                             office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                  Commission summarily may                                                                                          Development no later than March 6,
                                                  temporarily suspend such rule change if                    received will be posted without change;                2017 at veteransbusiness@sba.gov.
                                                  it appears to the Commission that such                     the Commission does not edit personal                  Comments for the record will be limited
                                                  action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in                 identifying information from                           to five minutes in the interest of time
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  the public interest; (ii) for the protection               submissions. You should submit only                    and to accommodate as many
                                                  of investors; or (iii) otherwise in                        information that you wish to make                      participants as possible. Written
                                                  furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                    available publicly. All submissions                    comments should also be sent to the
                                                  If the Commission takes such action, the                   should refer to File Number SR–                        above email no later than March 6,
                                                  Commission shall institute proceedings                     NASDAQ–2017–002, and should be                         2017. Special accommodation requests
                                                                                                             submitted on or before February 13,
                                                    15 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).                         2017.                                                    16 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2017-01-20 01:30:25
Document Modified: 2017-01-20 01:30:25
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 7907 

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