Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule

Download PDF
Federal RegisterJun 21, 2016
81 Fed. Reg. 40379 (Jun. 21, 2016)
June 15, 2016.

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 June 6, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “NYSE Arca”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III 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.

15 U.S.C. 78a.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule. 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 purpose of this filing is to amend the Fee Schedule to introduce a new alternative for qualifying for the Customer and Professional Customer Incentive Program, as described below. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee change effective June 6, 2016.

The Exchange is proposing to introduce a new tier to the Incentive Program, which provides OTP Holders and OTP Firms (collectively, “OTPs”) several alternatives to earn additional posting credits ranging from $0.01 to $0.05. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to add a new alternative that would enable OTPs to earn a $0.03 credit if they achieve at least 1.50% of Total Industry Customer equity and ETF option ADV (“TCADV”) from Customer and Professional Customer Posted Orders in both Penny Pilot and non-Penny Pilot Issues, Plus Executed ADV of 0.10% of U.S. Equity Market Share Posted and Executed on NYSE Arca Equity Market. The Exchange believes this new credit would provide additional incentive to direct Customer and Professional Customer order flow to the Exchange, which benefits all market participants through increased liquidity and enhanced price discovery. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed new alternative to qualify for the Customer Incentive Program is reasonable because it is designed to continue to bring additional posted order flow to NYSE Arca Equities, so as to provide additional opportunities for all ETP Holders to trade on NYSE Arca Equities.

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 sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act, in particular, because it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.

15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).

The Exchange also believes that the proposed new alternative to the Incentive Program is reasonable, equitable, and not unfairly discriminatory because the incentive would be available to all OTPs that execute posted Customer and Professional Customer orders on the Exchange on an equal and non-discriminatory basis, in particular because it provides alternative means of achieving a posting credit. The Exchange believes that providing methods for achieving the credits based on posted Customer and Professional Customer Executions in both Penny Pilot and non-Penny Pilot issues is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it would continue to result in more OTPs qualifying for the credits and therefore reducing their overall transaction costs on the Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange believes the proposed modification would provide an additional incentive for OTPs to direct Customer and Professional Customer order flow to the Exchange, which benefits all market participants through increased liquidity and enhanced price discovery.

Furthermore, the Exchange also believes that the proposed modification that relates to executed ADV of 0.10% of U.S. Equity Market Share Posted and Executed on NYSE Arca Equity Market is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it is designed to bring additional order flow to NYSE Arca Equities, which increases liquidity on NYSE Arca Equities to the benefit of its market participants.

For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the Act.

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. Instead, the Exchange believes that the proposed change would continue to encourage competition by attracting additional liquidity to the Exchange, which would continue to make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, among other things, order execution and price discovery. The Exchange does not believe that the proposed change will impair the ability of any market participants or competing order execution venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. Further, the proposed alternative credit under the Incentive Program would provide OTP Holders and OTP Firms an additional means of achieving a credit and, likewise, may allow those OTP Holders and OTP Firms that, to date, have been unable to achieve a credit under the Incentive Program to achieve the proposed credit.

The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees and credits to remain competitive with other exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment.

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

The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).

At any time within 60 days of the filing of such 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 under section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 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-2016-86 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-2016-86. 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-NYSEARCA-2016-86 and should be submitted on or before July 12, 2016.

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

Robert W. Errett,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2016-14557 Filed 6-20-16; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P