Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2, Amending Its Rules Relating to Pre-Opening Indications and Opening Procedures To Promote Greater Efficiency and Transparency at the Open of Trading on the Exchange

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that, on March 31, 2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend its rules relating to pre-opening indications and opening procedures to promote greater efficiency and transparency at the open of trading on the Exchange. This Amendment No. 2 supersedes the original filing in its entirety. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend its rules relating to pre-opening indications and opening procedures to promote greater efficiency and transparency at the open of trading on the Exchange. In particular, the Exchange proposes to:

• Make changes to the rules related to the pre-opening indication process by:

○ Amending Rules 15 and 123D to consolidate the requirements for publication of pre-open indications in a single rule (Rule 15);

○ changing the conditions in which a Designated Market Maker (“DMM”) is required to publish a pre-opening indication in a security to an anticipated 5% move from a security's reference price and, during extreme market-wide volatility, an anticipated 10% from a security's reference price; and

○ providing for the CEO of the Exchange to temporarily suspend the requirement to publish pre-opening indications.

• Make changes to Rule 123D related to the opening process by:

○ Incorporating all procedures relating to openings, other than pre-opening indications, in Rule 123D; and

○ Specifying that DMMs may effect an opening of a security electronically within specified percentage and volume parameters, which would be doubled during extreme market-wide volatility; and

○ providing for the CEO of the Exchange to temporarily suspend price and volume limitations for a DMM automated open or the requirement for prior Floor Approval before opening or reopening a security.

• Delete Rule 48
• Make conforming changes to Rules 80C, 124 and 9217.

The Exchange believes that the proposed changes will enhance transparency regarding the Exchange's opening process by specifying new parameters for how the opening at the Exchange would be effectuated on trading days experiencing extreme market-wide volatility, which would include both additional information before the open through the use of new parameters for pre-opening indications and expanded ability for DMMs to effectuate an opening electronically. The proposed rule changes are designed to preserve the Exchange's existing model, which values human touch when opening securities with significant price or volume disparity, while at the same time promoting automated measures to have as many securities open as close to 9:30 a.m. as feasible, even during extreme market-wide volatility.

Background

The Exchange's current pre-opening procedures are outlined in Rules 15 (Pre-Opening Indications), 48 (Exemptive Relief—Extreme Market Volatility Condition), and 123D (Openings and Halts in Trading).

Rule 15(a) provides that if the opening transaction in a security will be at a price that represents a change of more than the “applicable price change” specified in the Rule, the DMM arranging the opening transaction or the Exchange shall issue a pre-opening indication (“Rule 15 Indication”), which represents a price range in which a security is anticipated to open.

A Rule 15 Indication is published on the Exchange's proprietary data feeds only and includes the security and the price range within which the DMM anticipates the opening transaction will occur, and would include any orally-represented Floor broker interest for the open. The applicable price ranges for determining whether to publish a Rule 15 Indication are based on five different price buckets and are expressed in dollar and percentage parameters:

Rule 123D also mandates that pre-opening indications be published if the opening price would result in a significant price change from the previous close or if the opening is delayed past 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“Rule 123D Mandatory Indication”). The DMM is responsible for publishing the Rule 123D Mandatory Indication and, when determining the price range for the indication, takes into consideration Floor broker interest that has been orally entered and what, at a given time, the DMM anticipates the dealer participation in the opening transaction would be. Rule 123D Mandatory Indications are published to the Consolidated Tape and proprietary data feeds. The applicable price ranges for determining whether an opening price would be a “significant” price change requiring a Rule 123D Mandatory Indication are based on three price buckets and are expressed in a mixture of dollar (1 point = one dollar) and percentage parameters:

Rule 48 provides that a “qualified Exchange officer” can invoke an extreme market volatility condition at the open (or reopen of trading following a market-wide halt of securities) during which time the Exchange can suspend the requirements of Rules 15 and 123D, and in particular, the requirement to publish pre-opening indications. Rule 48 is intended to be invoked only in those situations where the potential for extreme market volatility would likely impair Floor-wide operations at the Exchange by impeding the fair and orderly opening or reopening securities.

Finally, Rule 123D, which in addition to setting forth requirements for certain pre-opening indications, also specifies procedures relating to openings, including that it is the responsibility of each DMM to ensure that securities open as close to the opening bell as possible and that securities can be opened on a trade or a quote. The rule further provides that openings may be effectuated manually or electronically.

Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend Rules 15, 48, and 123D to introduce greater efficiency and transparency into its opening process by, among other things, consolidating its rules regarding pre-opening indications into a single rule (Rule 15), introducing a new, single percentage parameter for the publication of pre-opening indications that would double on volatile trading days, and consolidating opening procedures into Rule 123D, including specifying parameters of when a DMM may effect an opening electronically, and consolidating the procedures of Rule 48 into Rules 15 and 123D, as applicable. The Exchange also proposes conforming changes to Rules 80C, 124 and 9217.

Pre-Opening Indications

The Exchange proposes to make changes to the pre-opening indication process. The Exchange would consolidate the requirements relating to pre-opening indications into Rule 15(a)-(f). Because the Exchange proposes all new rule text in Rule 15(a)-(f), the Exchange proposes to delete paragraphs (a) and (b) of current Rule 15, re-number Rule 15(c) as Rule 15(g), delete rule text in Rule 123D(b) relating to mandatory indications, and amend the title of Rule 15 to add the phrase “and Opening Order Imbalance Information” so that the rule would be titled “Pre-Opening Indications and Opening Order Imbalance Information.” In amending Rule 15, the Exchange would establish new conditions for when DMMs are required to publish pre-opening indications.

Proposed Rule 15(a), entitled “Pre-Opening Indications,” would provide that a pre-opening indication would include the security and the price range within which the opening price is anticipated to occur. This proposed rule text is based on the last clause of the first sentence of current Rule 15(a), which provides that a pre-opening indication includes the security and the price range within which the opening transaction is anticipated to occur. Proposed Rule 15(a) would further provide that a pre-opening indication would be published via the securities information processor (“SIP”) and proprietary data feeds. This proposed rule text is based on the way in which Rule 123D Mandatory Indications are currently published to both the SIP and proprietary data feeds. The Exchange proposes to use the term “securities information processor” instead of “Consolidated Tape” to use the term more commonly used in the industry.

Proposed Rule 15(b), entitled “Conditions for Publishing a Pre-Open Indication,” would set forth the conditions in which a DMM is required to publish a pre-opening indication.

• Proposed Rule 15(b)(1) would provide that a DMM will publish a pre-opening indication before a security opens if the opening transaction on the Exchange is anticipated to be at a price that represents a change of more than the “Applicable Price Range,” as defined in proposed Rule 15(d), from a specified “Reference Price,” as defined in proposed Rule 15(c), before the security opens. The procedures for publishing a pre-opening indication would be described in Rule 15(e). This proposed rule text is based on current Rule 15(a), which uses the term “applicable price range” and describes the reference prices used for purposes of current Rule 15(a). The Exchange proposes to define the “Reference Price” and “Applicable Price Range” in proposed Rules 15(c) and (d), described below. The requirement for DMMs to publish pre-opening indications is based on current Rule 15(a), which provides that the DMM shall issue a pre-opening indication if the conditions set forth in the rule are met.
• Proposed Rule 15(b)(2) would specify that when making a determination of what the opening transaction price would be, the DMM will take into consideration all interest eligible to participate in the opening transaction, including electronically-entered orders, the DMM's own interest, and any interest represented orally in the crowd. This proposed rule text would be new and is designed to promote transparency in Exchange rules that all interest eligible to participate in the opening transaction is considered when publishing a pre-opening indication.
• Proposed Rule 15(b)(3) would provide that if a DMM is unable to publish a pre-opening indication for one or more securities due to a systems or technical issue, the Exchange may publish the pre-opening indication. This proposed rule text is based in part on current Rule 15(a), which provides that either the DMM or the Exchange shall publish a pre-opening indication. The Exchange proposes a substantive difference to provide that the Exchange “may” rather than “shall” publish a pre-opening indication. As set forth in current Rule 123D(a)(5), which was added after the applicable rule text in Rule 15(a), if a DMM is unavailable to open a security and the Exchange opens trading, the Exchange will not publish a pre-opening indication. Because the Exchange is not obligated to publish pre-opening indications in such scenario, the Exchange proposes to make Rule 15(b)(3) consistent with that rule.

Proposed Rule 15(c), entitled “Reference Price,” would provide in paragraph (1) that the Reference Price for a security (other than an American Depository Receipt (“ADR”)) for purposes of the proposed rule would be:

• The security's last reported sale price on the Exchange (proposed Rule 15(c)(1)(A));
• in the case of an IPO, the security's offering price (proposed Rule 15(c)(1)(B)); or
• the security's last reported sale price on the securities market from which the security is being transferred to the Exchange, on the security's first day of trading on the Exchange (proposed Rule 15(c)(1)(C)).

This proposed rule text is based on current Rule 15(a).

Proposed Rule 15(c)(2) would provide that the Reference Price for ADRs for purposes of the proposed rule would be:

• The closing price of the security underlying the ADR in the primary foreign market in such security when the trading day of the primary foreign market concludes (proposed Rule 15(c)(2)(A)); or
• based on parity with the last sale price of the security underlying the ADR in the primary foreign market for such security when the trading day of the primary foreign market is open for trading at the time of the opening on the Exchange (proposed Rule 15(c)(2)(B)).

This proposed rule text is based on current Rule 15(b), with non-substantive differences for clarity and to use the defined term “Reference Price” in the proposed rule text. Proposed Rule 15(c)(3) would further provide that the Reference Price for reopening a security following a halt would be the security's last reported sale price on the Exchange. The Exchange proposes to specify the Reference Price for reopening following a halt because the Reference Price would be the same for all securities, including ADRs, which would be trading on the Exchange.

Proposed Rule 15(d) would set forth the Applicable Price Ranges for determining whether a DMM is required to disseminate a pre-opening indication. The Exchange proposes to eliminate the current price buckets in Rules 15 and 123D and instead use a single percentage parameter as the Applicable Price Range for all securities, regardless of price of the security. As proposed, except during extreme market-wide volatility as set forth in proposed Rule 15(d)(2), a DMM would be required to publish a pre-opening indication if a security is expected to open at a price more than 5% away from the Reference Price. The Exchange believes that the proposed 5% parameter applicable to all securities would simplify and streamline the Exchange's rules regarding required pre-opening indications by having a single percentage parameter that would be applied across all securities, rather than having different price buckets and percentage parameter ranges to track. The Exchange further believes that the proposed single percentage parameter would result in a similar number of pre-opening indications as are currently published pursuant to Rule 123D, while at the same time simplifying the process for DMMs.

For example, using trade data for the month of October 2015, which was a month of relative trading stability and volumes, current Rule 123D Mandatory Indication parameters required indications for 15 securities on an average daily basis, which represents approximately 0.46% of the securities traded on the Exchange. Applying the proposed new percentage parameter of 5% to the same October 2015 trade data, DMMs would have been required, on average, to publish 33 pre-opening indications, which represents 1.01% of securities that trade on the Exchange. The Exchange believes that the incremental increase in number of pre-opening indications that would have been published pursuant to the proposed new single percentage parameter would promote transparency in the opening of securities at the Exchange.

Under current rules, the Exchange may suspend the requirement to publish pre-opening indications if a market-wide extreme market volatility condition is declared under Rule 48. This rule was adopted, in part, because of the manual nature of publishing pre-opening indications, and if DMMs were required to publish Rule 123D Mandatory Indications for multiple securities, it could delay the opening process and result in a large number of securities opening past 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Historically, the Exchange has declared such a condition if, before the opening of trading, the E-mini S&P 500 Futures are plus or minus 2% from the prior day's closing price of the E-mini S&P 500 Futures. However, based on the events of the week of August 24, 2015, when the Exchange declared extreme market volatility conditions on August 24, 25, and 26, the Exchange appreciates that the absence of any pre-opening indications may leave a void in the information available for market participants to assess the price at which a security may open. Yet, because market-wide volatility would cause the price of most or all securities to move significantly away from the last sale price on the Exchange, the Exchange believes that the 5% price move appropriate for “normal” trading days would result in a DMM being required to disseminate more pre-opening indications than is feasible.

Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to amend its rules to provide that on trading days with extreme market-wide volatility, the Applicable Price Range would be 10%, or double the Applicable Price Range on regular trading days. Specifically, proposed Rule 15(d)(2) would provide that, if as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”), the E-mini S&P 500 Futures are plus or minus 2% from the prior day's closing price of the E-mini S&P 500 Futures, when reopening trading following a market-wide trading halt under Rule 80B, or if the Exchange determines that it is necessary or appropriate for the maintenance of a fair and order market, a DMM would be required to publish a pre-opening indication in a security if the price of that security is expected to open at a price more than 10% away from the Reference Price. By proposing to specify the conditions in which the Applicable Price Range would be 10%, the Exchange would promote transparency in Exchange rules so that market participants will know when the double-wide percentage parameter would be applied. Because the standard for extreme market-wide volatility would be specified in the rule, the Exchange would not need to provide separate notification on a trading day when the double-wide percentages would be applicable.

By proposing to specify in its rules that the Applicable Price Range would be 10%, rather than 5%, when the market is more volatile, the Exchange would require DMMs to disseminate pre-opening indications in those securities experiencing the greatest price movement. Under current rules, the Exchange's only option when the overall market is volatile is to lift the requirement for pre-opening indications under Rule 48. The Exchange also proposes to use the 10% percentage parameter when reopening securities following a market-wide trading halt under Rule 80B. The Exchange believes that widening the parameters for pre-opening indications following a market-wide trading halt would be appropriate because the reason for the trading halt was market-wide volatility, and thus the reopening of securities would face similar pricing pressure as circumstances when there is pre-opening extreme market-wide volatility. The Exchange also proposes that it would have the authority to use the 10% Applicable Price Range when it is necessary or appropriate for the maintenance of a fair and orderly market. For example, if the E-mini S&P 500 Futures were not plus or minus 2% as of 9:00 a.m., but moved to that level between 9:00 and 9:30, it may be appropriate, for the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, to use widened percentage parameters.

To determine the percentage parameter that would be appropriate for trading days with extreme market-wide volatility, the Exchange reviewed trading data from August 24, 25, and 26, 2015 and assessed how many Rule 123D Mandatory Indications would have been required under current rules, and how many pre-opening indications would have been required if a 5% and 10% percentage parameter were used on those days. Taking for example August 24, 2015, as set forth on Table 1 below, the data show that, had the Exchange not invoked Rule 48 lifting the requirement to publish Rule 123D Mandatory Indications, there would have been 638 securities (19% of securities) for which DMMs would have been required to publish Rule 123D Mandatory Indications. As set forth in Table 2 below, a 5% percentage parameter would have required 1,460 pre-opening indications (44% of securities) on August 24, 2015, more than twice as many as under the current parameters. As noted above, the Exchange believes that this would be too many pre-opening indications for DMMs to process on a trading day without impacting their ability to timely open their assigned securities.

By contrast, as set forth in Table 2 below, a 10% percentage parameter would have required pre-opening indications in 278 securities (8.4% of securities) on August 24, 2015. While this number is still higher than the number of pre-opening indications that would have been published on an average trading day in October using the 5% percentage parameter (see above), the Exchange believes that it strikes the appropriate balance between providing additional pre-opening information to investors and enabling the DMM's to timely open their assigned securities. As set forth in more detail in Tables 1 and 2 below, August 24 represents an outlier, even for days when there has been extreme market-wide volatility. For other days in 2015 when the Exchange declared an extreme market-wide volatility under Rule 48, as set forth in Tables 1 and 2 below, applying a 10% parameter would not materially change the number of pre-opening indications being published.

Proposed Rule 15(e), entitled “Procedures for publishing a pre-opening indication,” would set forth proposed procedures a DMM would use when publishing a pre-opening indication. As discussed below, these procedures are based on existing procedures currently set forth in Rule 123D, with specified differences.

Proposed Rule 15(e)(1) would provide that publication of pre-opening indications requires the supervision and approval of a Floor Governor. This proposed rule change is based on the sixth paragraph of Rule 123D(b). The Exchange proposes a substantive change in that the proposed rule would require the supervision and approval of a Floor Governor, rather than supervision and approval of a Floor Official, as set forth in the current rule. The Exchange would also eliminate the requirement in Rule 123D that if a situation involves a bank or brokerage stock, the approval of an Executive Floor Governor is required, and if an Executive Floor Governor is unavailable, a Floor Governor or Senior Floor Governor's approval is required. The Exchange believes that requiring Floor Governor approval for all securities would involve the appropriate review by an experienced Floor official, while at the same time simplifying the approval process to require a single category of Floor Official to approve a pre-opening indication regardless of the type of security.

Proposed Rule 15(e)(2) would provide that a pre-opening indication must be updated if the opening transaction would be at a price outside of a published pre-opening indication. Proposed Rule 15(e)(3) would further require that if a pre-opening indication is a spread wider than $1.00, the DMM should undertake best efforts to publish an updated pre-opening indication of $1.00 or less before opening the security, as may be appropriate for the specific security. Proposed Rules 15(e)(2) and (e)(3) are based, in part, on the second and third bullet points following the ninth paragraph of Rule 123D(b), but with new rule text to simplify the requirements regarding updating pre-opening indications. With respect to proposed Rule 15(e)(3), for higher-priced securities, a pre-opening indication wider than $1.00 may be appropriate and it may not be necessary to narrow such indication any further, particularly since Opening Imbalance Information pursuant to Rule 15(c) (proposed Rule 15(g)) would also be disseminated regarding the security.

Proposed Rule 15(e)(4) would provide that, after publication of a pre-opening indication, the DMM must wait for the following minimum specified periods before opening a security:

• Proposed Rule 15(e)(4)(A) would provide that, when using the 5% Applicable Price Range specified in proposed Rule 15(d)(1), a minimum of three minutes must elapse between publication of the first indication and a security's opening. The rule would further provide that, if more than one indication has been published, a security may be opened one minute after the last published indication provided that at least three minutes have elapsed from the dissemination of the first indication. These first two sentences of proposed Rule 15(e)(4)(A) are based on rule text set forth in the twelfth and thirteenth paragraphs of current Rule 123D(b). Proposed Rule 15(e)(4)(A) would further provide that the DMM may open a security less than the required wait times after the publication of a pre-opening indication if the imbalance is paired off at a price within the Applicable Price Range. This proposed exception to the three-minute waiting requirement is new and is because the Exchange believes that, if equilibrium in price has been reached at a price within the Applicable Price Range, i.e., at a price that would not have required a pre-opening indication in the first instance, there is no reason to require the DMM to further delay the opening of the security in an effort to attract offsetting interest.
• Proposed Rule 15(e)(4)(B) would provide that, when using the 10% Applicable Price Range specified in Proposed Rule 15(d)(2), a minimum of one minute must elapse between publication of the first indication and a security's opening and that if more than one indication has been published, a security may be opened without waiting any additional time. As discussed above, proposed Rule 15(d)(2) would provide for new percentage parameters for trading days with extreme market-wide volatility. Based on the analysis of trade data for August 24, 2015, even with the new percentage parameters, there is the potential for 278 pre-opening indications to be required on an extremely volatile trading day. Because these pre-opening indications would be manually published by the DMM, the Exchange believes that eliminating additional wait times would enable the DMMs to facilitate a speedy opening for a security that has been subject to a pre-opening indication on days with extreme market-wide volatility.

Proposed Rule 15(e)(5) would provide that, if trading is halted for a non-regulatory order imbalance, a pre-opening indication must be published as soon as practicable after the security is halted. This proposed rule text is based on the first sentence of the third bulleted paragraph following the ninth paragraph in Rule 123D(b), with a proposed substantive difference that a pre-opening indication should be published “as soon as practicable,” rather than “immediately,” after a security is halted. The Exchange believes that the proposed approach provides for more flexibility for the DMM to assess the order imbalance and publish a pre-opening indication that takes into consideration all applicable factors.

Proposed Rule 15(e)(6) would set forth the requirements for pre-opening indications when reopening a security following a trading pause under Rule 80C. Proposed Rule 15(e)(6)(A) would provide that a pre-opening indication may be published without prior Floor Governor approval. Proposed Rule 15(e)(6)(B) would provide that a pre-opening indication would not need to be updated before reopening the security, and the security may be reopened outside of any prior indication. Lastly, proposed Rule15(e)(6)(C) would provide that the reopening is not subject to the minimum waiting time requirements in Proposed Rule 15(e)(4). Proposed Rules 15(e)(6)(A)-(C) are based on Rule 80C(b)(2)(A), with non-substantive differences to use different rule text cross-references.

Proposed Rule 15(f), entitled “Temporary Suspension of Pre-Opening Indications,” would provide in proposed Rule 15(f)(1) that if the CEO of the Exchange determines that a Floor-wide event is likely to impact the ability of DMMs to arrange for a fair and orderly opening or reopening and that absent such relief, operation of the Exchange is likely to be impaired, the CEO of the Exchange may temporarily suspend the requirement to publish pre-opening indications under Rule 15 prior to opening or reopening a security following a market-wide trading halt.

Proposed Rule 15(f) is based in part on Rule 48, which provides that a qualified Exchange officer may declare an extreme market volatility condition and temporarily suspend the requirements for pre-opening indications. Because the Exchange would be specifying new percentage parameters for pre-opening indications on trading days with market-wide volatility, the Exchange does not believe that it needs Rule 48 in its current form. While the Exchange expects that its other proposed changes to DMMs' requirements related to pre-opening indications will make it unlikely that a complete suspension of pre-opening indications would be required, the Exchange believes it would be prudent for the CEO of the Exchange to retain the authority to temporarily suspend the requirements to make pre-opening indications for events that it cannot currently predict. Accordingly, rather than refer to extreme market-wide volatility as in current Rule 48, proposed Rule 15(f)(1) would refer to a Floor-wide event that could impact the fair and orderly opening or reopening of securities more generally.

Proposed Rule 15(f)(2), which is based on Rule 48(c)(1)(A), would specify the range of factors that the CEO of the Exchange would be required to consider in making any determination to temporarily suspend the requirement for pre-opening indications. In addition, similar to Rule 48(c)(1)(B) and 48(c)(1)(C), proposed Rules 15(f)(2)(B) and (C) would require the CEO to consult with the CRO of the Exchange in making a determination under proposed Rule 15(f)(1) and inform Commission staff as promptly as practicable that pre-opening indications under Rule 15 have been temporarily suspended. Proposed Rule 15(f)(3), which is based on Rule 48(c)(4), would provide that a temporary suspension under Rule 15(f) would be in effect only for the trading day on which it was declared. Finally, proposed Rule 15(f)(4) would provide that notwithstanding a temporary suspension of the requirement to publish pre-opening indications in a security under Rule 15, a DMM or the Exchange may publish a pre-opening indication for one or more securities. This proposed rule text, which is based in part on Rule 48(c)(5), would allow a DMM or the Exchange to publish a pre-opening indication, even if the rule were suspended. Unlike Rule 48(c)(5), which specifies conditions when the DMM should still publish a pre-opening indication, proposed Rule 15(f)(3) would not require pre-opening indications, but rather, would allow them to be published even if the rule were temporarily suspended.

Because the Exchange has added new subsections to Rule 15, the Exchange proposes to renumber Rule 15(c) as Rule 15(g) and to add a header to this subsection of rule entitled “Opening Order Imbalance Information.” In addition to re-designating the rule from Rule 15(c) to Rule 15(g), the Exchange proposes non-substantive differences to re-number the subsections of proposed Rule 15(g) to use the same numbering convention as proposed for proposed Rule 15(a)-(f), delete the phrase “the provisions of” in proposed Rule 15(g)(2)(B), and remove the reference to subparagraph (b) by deleting the phrase “or (b).”

The Exchange also proposes a substantive difference to change Rule 15(c)(3)(iii) (re-numbered as proposed Rule 15(g)(3)(C)) to increase the frequency with which the Exchange disseminates Order Imbalance Information beginning at 9:20 a.m. ET. Currently, under Rule 15(c)(3)(iii), Order Imbalance Information is disseminated approximately every 15 seconds between 9:20 a.m. ET and the opening of trading in that security. The Exchange proposes to disseminate Order Imbalance Information approximately every 5 seconds between 9:20 a.m. ET and the opening of trading in that security. The Exchange believes that increasing the frequency with which Order Imbalance Information is disseminated would provide market participants with additional updated pre-opening information, thus promoting transparency for the opening transaction.

Finally, the Exchange proposes to add new Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 15 providing that, unless otherwise specified in the proposed Rule, references to an opening transaction include a reopening transaction following a trading halt or pause in a security. Currently, Rule 123D Mandatory Indications are required for both openings and reopenings. Because proposed Rule 15 indications would similarly be required for openings and reopenings following a halt or pause, the Exchange proposes to add Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 15.

DMM Automated Openings

As noted above, the process for publishing either Rule 15 Indications or Rule 123D Mandatory Indications is manual, and is generally followed by the DMM effecting the opening of a security manually rather than electronically. Consistent with this approach, the Exchange currently systemically blocks DMMs from opening a security electronically if the opening price would be outside of price parameters that are based on the price buckets and applicable price ranges specified in Rule 15(a). The Exchange similarly blocks DMMs from electronically opening a security if size of the opening transaction would be a significant volume, which similarly would indicate the potential need for manual oversight of the opening process.

Because the DMM is not obligated to open a security electronically, the Exchange has not historically specified in its rules the parameters for when the DMM may effect an opening electronically. However, following the events of the week of August 24, 2015, the Exchange believes that specifying in Exchange rules the conditions in which a DMM is permitted to open a security electronically would provide greater transparency in Exchange rules. The Exchange therefore proposes to amend Rule 123D(a) to specify when a DMM may effect an opening electronically.

In specifying parameters for when a DMM may effectuate an opening electronically, the Exchange proposes to adopt parameters and requirements that would be structured similarly to the proposed parameters for new Rule 15 pre-opening indications, as discussed above. To effect this change, the Exchange proposes new subsection numbering to Rule 123D(a)(1) to break out the third and fourth sentences of current Rule 123D(a)(1) to be proposed Rules 123D(a)(1)(A) and (B). The Exchange proposes to add to proposed Rule 123D(a)(1)(B) that Exchange systems would not permit a DMM to open a security electronically if a DMM has manually entered Floor interest. This is how Exchange systems currently function and is similar to Rule 123C.10 regarding when a DMM may close a security electronically.

The Exchange proposes to set forth the parameters for when a DMM may effect an opening electronically in new proposed Rules 123D(a)(1)(B)(i) and (ii):

• Proposed Rule 123D(a)(1)(B)(i) would provide that except under the conditions set forth in Rule 123D(a)(1)(B)(ii), a DMM may not effect an opening electronically if the opening transaction would be at a price more than 4% away from the Official Closing Price, as defined in Rule 123C(1)(e), or the matched volume for the opening transaction would be more than (a) 150,000 shares for securities with an average opening volume of 100,000 shares or fewer in the previous calendar quarter; or (b) 500,000 shares for securities with an average opening volume of over 100,000 shares in the previous calendar quarter. For purposes of this Rule, the calendar quarters will be based on a January 1 to December 31 calendar year.
• Proposed Rule 123D(a)(1)(B)(ii) would provide that if as of 9:00 a.m. ET, the E-mini S&P 500 Futures are plus or minus 2% from the prior day's closing price of the E-mini S&P 500 Futures, or if the Exchange determines that it is necessary or appropriate for the maintenance of a fair and order market, a DMM could effect an opening electronically if the opening transaction would be at a price of up to 8% away from the Official Closing Price, as defined in Proposed Rule 123C(1)(e), without any volume limitations.

Similar to the new Applicable Price Ranges for pre-opening indications proposed in Rule 15(d) above, the Exchange proposes to use a single percentage parameter for all securities, regardless of price. The Exchange also proposes to double those percentage parameters on days with extreme market-wide volatility, and would use the same standard for determining whether there is market-wide volatility as is proposed in Rule 15(d)(2), described above. Because the Exchange continues to believe that, if a pre-opening indication has been published, a security is better served if a DMM effects a manual opening, the Exchange proposes to apply percentage parameters to DMM automated openings that are tighter than the requirements for publishing a pre-opening indication. In other words, if a pre-opening indication would be required under proposed Rule 15, the DMM would not be permitted to effect an opening electronically. To achieve this goal, the Exchange proposes that the percentage parameter on a regular trading day for DMM automated opens should be one percent lower than the percentage parameter for pre-opening indications on a regular trading day. And as with pre-opening indications, on a day with extreme market-wide volatility, the applicable percentage would be doubled.

The Exchange believes that the proposed conditions for when a DMM may effect an opening electronically would reduce the number of manual openings and enable more securities to open closer to 9:30 a.m. ET, both on regular trading days and on extremely volatile trading days such as August 24, 2015.

Tables 3 through 5 below illustrate how many securities would not be eligible for a DMM to effect an opening electronically when applying the current and proposed percentage and volume parameters to trade data from October 2015 and trade data from August 24, 2015.

For example, as set forth in Table 3, using current price parameters and a 100,000 share volume parameter, in October 2015, 94 securities (13.4% of securities) on average each day were not eligible to be opened by the DMM electronically. As demonstrated in Table 4, using the proposed 4% price and tiered volume parameters, a comparable 47 securities (1.7% of securities) on average in October would not have been eligible to be opened by the DMM electronically.

With respect to the proposed volume parameters, the Exchange believes that having a parameter tied to higher-than-average opening volume in a security would better reflect whether opening electronically would be appropriate. For example, as the data show in Table 4, there were 74 securities averaging daily opening volume over 100,000 shares in the previous quarter (3Q15) and three of those securities had opening volume of over 500,000 shares on an average daily basis in October. The Exchange believes that if a security has a higher-than-average opening volume on a quarterly basis without any corresponding price dislocation, then the volume of shares trading on the opening for such securities is not representative of any volatility for that security, but rather, is a regular state of affairs that does not require a high-touch opening managed by a DMM on the trading Floor. Rather, such securities would benefit from being available for the DMM to open electronically in order to promote a fair and orderly opening at or near the open of trading.

As with pre-opening indications, the Exchange proposes to double the percentage parameter on trading days with extreme market-wide volatility and eliminate the volume parameter. As illustrated in Table 5, doubling the percentage parameter and eliminating the volume parameters would allow DMMs to open most securities electronically even during extreme market-wide volatility. As trade data from August 24, 2015 set forth in Table 3 illustrates, the current percentage parameters restricted DMMs from opening 1,753 securities electronically, which represents 58.4% of securities. As set forth in Table 5, applying the proposed 8% percentage parameter would have allowed DMMs to open all but 573 securities electronically, which represents 19.1% of the securities traded on the Exchange.

The Exchange also proposes to add a new paragraph (c) to Rule 123D entitled “Temporary Suspension of DMM Automated Opening Limitations or Floor Official Approval.” Similar to proposed Rule 15(f), if the CEO of the Exchange determines that a Floor-wide event it likely to have an impact on the ability of DMMs to arrange for a fair and orderly opening or reopening following a market-wide trading halt at the Exchange and that, absent relief, the operation of the Exchange is likely to be impaired, the CEO of the Exchange may temporarily suspend the prohibition on a DMM opening a security electronically if the opening transaction would be more than the price or volume parameters specified in proposed Rule 123D(a)(1)(B). This would be a new suspension authority that relates to the proposed new price and volume parameters for when a DMM may open a security electronically. The Exchange believes that having this temporary suspension authority would be appropriate for situations if the DMM is unable to open a security manually, either due to unavailability of 11 Wall Street facilities or because of systems or technical issues with Floor-based tools for manually opening a security.

Proposed Rule 123D(c) would also provide that if the CEO of the Exchange determines that a Floor-wide event is likely to have an impact on the ability of DMMs to arrange for a fair and orderly opening or reopening following a market-wide trading halt at the Exchange, and that absent relief, the operation of the Exchange is likely to be impaired, the CEO of the Exchange may temporarily suspend (i) the prohibition on a DMM opening a security electronically if the opening transaction will be more than the price or volume parameters specified in proposed Rule 123D(a)(1)(B); or (ii) the need under Rule 123D(b) for prior Floor Official approval to open or reopen a security following a market-wide trading halt. This proposed rule change is similar to authority in current Rule 48, which permits a qualified Exchange officer to temporarily suspend the need for prior Floor Official or prior NYSE Floor operations approval to open or reopen a security following a market-wide trading halt. While the Exchange expects that its other proposed changes to Rule 123D would make it unlikely that a complete suspension of prior Floor Official approval would be required, the Exchange believes it would be prudent for the CEO of the Exchange to retain the authority temporarily suspend such requirements for events that it cannot currently predict. The Exchange also proposes a new temporary suspension that correlates to the proposed new price and volume parameters for when a DMM may open a security electronically. The Exchange expects that this relief would be required if 11 Wall Street facilities were unavailable and DMMs would be required to open all securities remotely, and thus electronically.

Proposed Rule 123D(c)(2)-(3) are nearly identical to proposed Rule 15(f)(1)-(3), as described in greater detail above, with changes only to address that this proposed rule relates to the temporary suspension of the requirements for specified paragraphs of Rule 123D. Proposed Rule 123D(c)(2)-(3) is based on the same provisions of Rule 48 that proposed Rule 15(f)(2)-(4) is based on, which is discussed in greater detail above.

The miscellaneous and technical amendments proposed to Rule 123D are as follows:

• The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 123D(a)(5) (Pre-Opening Information) to change the citation to Rule 15(c) to 15(g) based on the proposed changes to Rule 15, described above, and delete the word “either” and the references to Rule 123D.
• The Exchange proposes to delete the phrase “Halts in Trading” from the heading of Rule 123D(b).
• Also in Rule 123D(b), the Exchange proposes to delete the text relating to the dissemination of mandatory indications beginning with the sentence “If an unusual situation exists, such as a large order imbalance, tape indications should be disseminated, including multiple indications if appropriate with the supervision of a Floor Official” through and including the sentence “An Executive Floor Governor or Floor Governor should be consulted in any case where there is not complete agreement among the Floor Officials participating in the discussion.” This rule text all pertains to Rule 123D Mandatory indications, which, as discussed above, would be governed by proposed Rule 15.
• The Exchange proposes to add a new heading (c) entitled “Halts in Trading” before the sentence “Once trading has commenced, trading may only be halted with the approval of a Floor Governor or two Floor Officials” in current Rule 123D(b) and change current headings (c) (Equipment Changeover) and (d) of Rule 123D to (d) and (e), respectively.
• Finally, in current Rule 123D(c) (Proposed Rule 123D(e)), to reflect that all information relating to pre-opening indications, including the Applicable Price Ranges and Reference Prices, are now described in Rule 15, the Exchange proposes to delete the phrase “a significant order imbalance (one which would result in a price change from the last sale of one point or more for stocks under $10, the lesser of 10% or three points for $10—$99.99 and five points if $100 or more—unless a Floor Governor deems circumstances warrant a lower parameter) develops” and add the phrase “a pre-opening indication would be required to be published” in its place.

Rule 48

The Exchange proposes to delete Rule 48 in its entirety. As discussed above, the Exchange is proposing changes to Rules 15 and 123D that it believes will allow DMMs to publish pre-opening indications in a manageable number of securities, even on days of high volatility, which would promote transparency regarding opening prices at the Exchange. In addition, and as described above, the Exchange is incorporating into Rules 15 and 123D authority for the CEO of the Exchange to temporarily suspend the requirement to publish pre-opening indications, the pricing and volume limitations for a DMM to open a security electronically, and for a DMM to obtain Floor Official approval under Rule 123D(b) when opening or reopening a security, if the CEO of the Exchange determines that such relief is necessary to the ability of DMMs to open the securities and to the operation of the Exchange. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that the Rule 48 is no longer necessary.

Conforming and Technical Amendments—Rules 80C, 124 and 9217

Rule 80C

The Exchange proposes conforming amendments Rule 80C(b)(2), which governs a Trading Pause under the LULD Plan.

First, Rule 80C(b)(2) requires that the Exchange re-open the security in a manner similar to the procedures set forth in Rule 123D following a Trading Pause (as defined therein). The Exchange proposes to add a reference to Rule 15 to Rule 80C(b)(2), so that the requirement to re-open would be in a manner similar to Rules 15 and 123D.

Second, the Exchange proposes to delete subdivision (A) of Rule 80C(b)(2) in its entirety and mark the deleted text as “Reserved.” As noted above, the requirements for reopening a security following a trading pause set forth in Rule 80C would be codified in proposed Rule 15(d)(6).

Rule 124

The Exchange proposes to amend subsection (c)(1) of Rule 124 (Midday Auction), describing the reopening process for the Midday Auction in the same manner as in Rule 123D for reopenings, by adding “pre-opening” before the word “indication” in four places and deleting the reference “to the Consolidated Tape” in the first sentence.

Rule 9217

The Exchange also proposes to amend Rule 9217, which sets forth the list of rules under which a member organization or covered person may be subject to a fine under a minor rule violation plan as set forth in Rule 9216(b). Rule 9217 permits a summary fine for violations of Rule 123D requirements for DMMs relating to openings, reopenings, delayed openings, trading halts, and tape indications. The Exchange proposes to delete the clause “tape indications” to reflect elimination of mandatory indications from Rule 123D. The Exchange believes this proposed change would add transparency and clarity to the Exchange's rules.

Because of the technology changes associated with the proposed rule change, the Exchange will announce by Trader Update the implementation date of the changes.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, in particular, because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and protect investors and the public interest.

The Exchange believes that streamlining and consolidating pre-opening indications into a single rule (Rule 15) from two (Rules 15 and 123D) would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market because it would set forth in a single rule the requirements for pre-opening indications, thereby promoting transparency by using consistent terminology for rules governing equities trading and ensuring that members, regulators, and the public can more easily navigate the Exchange's rulebook.

The Exchange believes that adopting new single-wide (5% change) and double-wide (10% change if S&P 500 futures move 2%) percentage parameters for the publication of pre-opening indications would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market by requiring issuance of more pre-opening indications than currently during times of market stress, thereby increasing the amount of information available in the pre-market and improving the quality of price discovery at the opening. The proposed rule therefore promotes just and equitable principles of trade because it would expand the amount of pre-opening information available to the marketplace, thereby promoting transparency. For the same reasons, the proposal is also designed to protect investors as well as the public interest.

The Exchange believes that amending Rule 123D to specify when a DMM may effect an opening electronically would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market by promoting transparency in Exchange rules regarding under what circumstances a DMM may effect an opening electronically. The Exchange believes that the proposed parameters for when a DMM may open a security electronically, which would be 4% on regular trading days and doubled to 8% in times of market stress, would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market by reducing the number of manual openings and enabling more securities to open closer to 9:30 a.m. ET on extremely volatile trading days, thereby providing customers and the investing public with greater certainty of a timely open in circumstances of extreme market stress. The Exchange further believes that the proposal would advance the efficiency and transparency of the opening process, thereby fostering accurate price discovery at the open of trading. For the same reasons, the proposal is also designed to protect investors as well as the public interest.

The Exchange believes that deleting Rule 48 and moving the applicable provisions to Rules 15 and 123D would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market by reducing reliance on Rule 48 during extremely volatile trading days. Rather, as proposed, the need for the CEO of the Exchange to temporarily suspend either pre-opening indications or the need for prior Floor Official approval before opening or reopening a security would be under more narrow circumstances of when a Floor-wide event would impair the Exchange's ability to conduct a fair and orderly open or reopening. As discussed above, the proposed amendments to Rule 15 and 123D to provide for parameters on days with extreme market-wide volatility would obviate the need for the current Rule 48 ability to lift the requirements for pre-opening indications or prior Floor Official approval during extreme market-wide volatility. The Exchange further believes that the proposal would advance the efficiency and transparency of the opening process, thereby fostering accurate price discovery at the open of trading. For the same reasons, the proposal is also designed to protect investors as well as the public interest.

The Exchange believes that making corresponding conforming changes to Rules 80C, 124 and 9217 would remove impediments to and perfects the mechanism of a free and open market by reducing potential confusion and adding transparency and clarity to the Exchange's rules, thereby ensuring that members, regulators and the public can more easily navigate and understand the Exchange's rulebook.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is not intended to address competitive issues but rather promote greater efficiency and transparency at the open of trading on the Exchange.

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

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

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

Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or

(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NYSE-2016-24 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2016-24. 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-NYSE-2016-24 and should be submitted on or before April 27, 2016.