Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt a New Historical Market Data Product To Be Known as the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary

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Federal RegisterOct 1, 2021
86 Fed. Reg. 54499 (Oct. 1, 2021)
September 27, 2021.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that, on September 14, 2021, NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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.

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

The Exchange proposes to adopt a new historical market data product to be known as the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary. Proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website 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 adopt a new historical market data product to be known as the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary, which will be available to all subscribers. The proposed NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary is based on market data products currently available on most other options exchanges.

See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 89497 (August 6, 2020), 85 FR 48747 (August 12, 2020) (SR-CboeBZX-2020-059); 89498 (August 6, 2020), 85 FR 48735 (August 12, 2020) (SR-Cboe-EDGX-2020-36); 85817 (May 9, 2019), 84 FR 21863 (May 15, 2019) (SR-CBOE-2019-026); 89496 (August 6, 2020), 85 FR 48743 (August 12, 2020) (SR-C2-2020-010); 89586 (August 17, 2020), 85 FR 51833 (August 21, 2020) (SR-C2-2020-012); 62887 (September 10, 2010), 75 FR 57092 (September 17, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-121); 65587 (October 18, 2011), 76 FR 65765 (October 24, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-144); 61317 (January 8, 2010), 75 FR 2915 (January 19, 2010) (SR-ISE-2009-103); 81632 (September 15, 2017), 82 FR 44235 (September 21, 2017) (SR-GEMX-2017-42); 91963 (May 21, 2021), 86 FR 28662 (May 27, 2021) (SR-EMERALD-2021-18); 91964 (May 21, 2012), 86 FR 28667 (May 27, 2021) (SR-PEARL-2021-24); and 91965 (May 21, 2021), 86 FR 28665 (May 27, 2021) (SR-MIAX-2021-18).

The Exchange proposes to offer the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary, which will be a volume summary of trading activity on the Exchange at the option level by origin (Customer, Professional Customer, Firm, Broker-Dealer, and Market Maker ), side of the market (buy or sell), contract volume, and transaction type (opening or closing). The Customer, Professional Customer, Firm, Broker-Dealer, and Market Maker volume will be further broken down into trade size buckets (less than 100 contracts, 100-199 contracts, greater than 199 contracts). The NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary is proprietary Exchange trade data and does not include trade data from any other exchange. It is also a historical data product and not a real-time data feed.

All defined terms are proposed to be defined in Rule 1.1 once the Exchange transitions to the Pillar trading platform. See infra, note 11. For options traded on the Exchange, the term “Customer” does not include a broker or dealer. See Rule 1.1, Definitions.

For options traded on the Exchange, the term “Professional Customer” means an individual or organization that (i) is not a broker or dealer, as defined Sections 3(a)(4) and 3(a)(5) of the Exchange Act and rules thereunder, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). See Rule 1.1, Definitions. See also discussion, supra, note 5.

For options traded on the Exchange, the term “Firm” means a broker-dealer that is not registered as a dealer-specialist or market maker on a registered national securities exchange or association. See Rule 1.1, Definitions. See also discussion, supra, note 5.

With respect to options traded on the Exchange, the term “Market Maker” refers to an OTP Holder or OTP Firm that acts as a Market Maker pursuant to Rule 6.32-O. For purposes of the NYSE Arca rules, the term Market Maker includes Lead Market Makers, unless the context otherwise indicates. See Rule 1.1, Definitions. See also discussion, supra, note 5.

Specifically, the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary would include the following data: Aggregate number of buy and sell transactions in the affected series; aggregate volume traded electronically on the Exchange in the affected series; aggregate number of trades effected on the Exchange to open a position; aggregate number of trades effected on the Exchange to close a position; and origin of the orders and quotes involved in trades on the Exchange in the affected series during a particular trading session, specifically aggregated in the following categories of participants: Customer, Professional Customer, Firm, Broker-Dealer, and Market Maker.

An opening buy is a transaction that creates or increases a long position and an opening sell is a transaction that creates or increases a short position.

A closing buy is a transaction made to close out an existing position and a closing sell is a transaction to reduce or eliminate a long position.

The Exchange anticipates a wide variety of market participants to purchase the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary, including, but not limited to, individual customers, buy-side investors, and investment banks. The NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary would provide subscribers data that should enhance their ability to analyze options trade and volume data, and to create and test trading models and analytical strategies. The Exchange believes that NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary will be a valuable tool that subscribers can use to gain comprehensive insight into the trading activity in a particular options series. The NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary is a completely voluntary product, in that the Exchange is not required by any rule or regulation to make this data available and that potential subscribers may purchase it only if they voluntarily choose to do so.

The Exchange proposes to offer two versions of the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary: End of Day Volume Summary and Intra-Day Volume Summary. The End of Day Volume Summary will contain historical data from the previous trading day and would be available after the end of each trading day, generally on a T+1 basis. The Intra-Day Volume Summary would include “snapshots” taken every 10 minutes throughout the trading day and would be available within five minutes of the conclusion of each 10-minute period. Each update would represent combined data captured from the current “snapshot” and all previous “snapshots” and thus would provide open-close data on an aggregate basis.

The Exchange does not currently intend to charge any fees to subscribe to NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary. The Exchange will submit a proposed rule change to the Commission when it determines to charge fees associated with the receipt of NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary.

The Exchange plans to introduce the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary when the Exchange transitions to the Pillar trading platform, anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2021. The Exchange will announce the exact date that the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary will become available through a NYSE Trader Update.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 92304 (June 30, 2021), 86 FR 36440 (July 9, 2021) (SR-NYSE-Arca-2021-47) (Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change for New Rules 6.1P-O, 6.37AP-O, 6.40P-O, 6.41P-O, 6.62P-O, 6.64P-O, 6.76P-O, and 6.76AP-O and Amendments to Rules 1.1, 6.1-O, 6.1A-O, 6.37-O, 6.65A-O and 6.96-O).

2. Statutory Basis

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, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, and it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination among customers, brokers, or dealers.

In adopting Regulation NMS, the Commission granted self-regulatory organizations and broker-dealers increased authority and flexibility to offer new and unique market data to consumers of such data. It was believed that this authority would expand the amount of data available to users and consumers of such data and also spur innovation and competition for the provision of market data. The Exchange believes that the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary options data product proposed herein is precisely the sort of market data product evolutions that the Commission envisioned when it adopted Regulation NMS. The proposed rule change would benefit investors by providing access to the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary, which contains information regarding opening and closing activity across different options series during the trading day that would provide investor sentiment and thereby allow market participants to make informed trading decisions throughout the day. Subscribers to the data may also be able to enhance their ability to analyze options trade and volume data and create and test trading models and analytical strategies. The Exchange believes the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary would provide a valuable tool that subscribers can use to gain comprehensive insight into the trading activity in a particular series, but also emphasizes such data is not necessary for trading.

Moreover, other exchanges also offer a substantially identical data product. Specifically, NASDAQ OMX PHLX (“PHLX”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) offer the PHLX Options Trade Outline (“PHOTO”) and NASDAQ Options Trade Outline (“NOTO”), respectively. The Cboe Exchange, Inc. (“Cboe”), Cboe C2 Exchange, Inc. (“C2”), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (“BZX”), Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (“EDGX”) all offer the market data products called the End of Day and Intraday Open-Close Data. Additionally, Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (“MIAX”), MIAX Emerald, LLC (“Emerald”) and MIAX PEARL, LLC (“PEARL”) all offer an End of Day Open-Close Report and an Intra-Day Open-Close Report. The Phlx, Nasdaq, Cboe, C2, BZX, EDGX, MIAX, Emerald and PEARL products provide substantially the same information as that included in the proposed NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary. Like the proposed product, the data is provided to subscribers in the other exchange's market data products after the end of the trading day and cumulatively every 10 minutes and provided within five minutes of the conclusion of each 10-minute period.

See supra note 4.

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

In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, 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. Rather, the Exchange believes that the proposal will promote competition by permitting the Exchange to offer a data product similar to those offered by other competitor options exchanges. The market for proprietary data products is currently competitive and inherently contestable because there is fierce competition for the inputs necessary to the creation of proprietary data. Numerous exchanges compete with each other for listings, trades, and market data itself, providing virtually limitless opportunities for entrepreneurs who wish to produce and distribute their own market data. The proposed introduction of the NYSE Options Open-Close Volume Summary is the Exchange's response to the many competing products available in the marketplace today. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change would contribute to the robust competition among national securities exchanges.

See supra note 4.

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

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) Impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

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 necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 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 change 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NYSEArca-2021-82 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2021-82. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2021-82 and should be submitted on or before October 22, 2021.

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

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2021-21354 Filed 9-30-21; 8:45 am]

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