Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Specifying in Exchange Rules the Exchange's Use of Certain Data Feeds for Order Handling and Execution, Order Routing, and Regulatory Compliance

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Federal RegisterMar 6, 2015
80 Fed. Reg. 12225 (Mar. 6, 2015)
March 2, 2015.

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 February 24, 2015, NYSE MKT LLC (the “Exchange” or “NYSE MKT”) 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.

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 specify in Exchange rules the Exchange's use of certain data feeds for order handling and execution, order routing, and regulatory compliance. The text of 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 Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

On June 5, 2014, in a speech entitled “Enhancing Our Market Equity Structure,” Mary Jo White, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or the “Commission”) requested the equity exchanges to file with the Commission the data feeds used for purposes of (1) order handling and execution (e.g., with pegged or midpoint orders); (2) order routing, and (3) regulatory compliance, if applicable. Subsequent to the Chair's speech, the Division of Trading and Markets stated that it “believes there is a need for clarity regarding whether (1) the SIP data feeds, (2) proprietary data feeds, or (3) a combination thereof,” are used for these purposes and requested that proposed rule changes be filed that disclose such information. The stated goal of disclosing this information was to provide broker-dealers and investors with enhanced transparency to better assess the quality of an exchange's execution and routing services.

See Mary Jo White, Chair, Securities and Exchange Commission, Speech at the Sandler, O'Neill & Partners, L.P. Global Exchange and Brokerage Conference (June 5, 2014) (available at www.sec.gov/News/Speech/Detail/Speech/1370542004312#.U5HI-fmwJiw ).

See Letter from James Burns, Deputy Director, Division of Trading and Markets, Securities and Exchange Commission, to Jeffrey C. Sprecher, Chief Executive Officer, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., dated June 20, 2014.

On July 18, 2014, in response to the above request, the Exchange filed a proposed rule change that clarified the Exchange's use of certain data feeds for order handling and execution, order routing, and regulatory compliance. As noted in that filing, the data feeds available for the purposes of order handling and execution, order routing, and regulatory compliance at the Exchange include the exclusive securities information processor (“SIP”) data feeds.

See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72709 (July 29, 2014), 79 FR 45513 (Aug. 5, 2014) (SR-NYSEMKT-2014-62) (“July 2014 Data Feed Filing”).

The SIP feeds are disseminated pursuant to effective joint-industry plans as required by Rule 603(b) of Regulation NMS. 17 CFR 242.603(b). The three joint-industry plans are: (1) The CTA Plan, which is operated by the Consolidated Tape Association and disseminates transaction information for securities with the primary listing market on exchanges other than NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”): (2) The CQ Plan, which disseminates consolidated quotation information for securities with their primary listing on exchanges other than Nasdaq; and (3) the Nasdaq UTP Plan, which disseminates consolidated transaction and quotation information for securities with their primary listing on Nasdaq.

SEC staff has requested that the Exchange file a supplemental proposed rule change to specify in Exchange rules which data feeds the Exchange uses for the above-described purposes. Accordingly, the Exchange is filing this proposed rule change.

As set forth in its July 2014 Data Feed Filing, the Exchange uses only the SIP data feeds to determine protected quotations on markets other than the Exchange for purposes of compliance with Rule 611 and Rule 610(d), including identifying where to route ISOs, to calculate the protected best bid or offer (“PBBO”) for purposes of order types that are priced based on the PBBO, and to determine the national best bid (“NBB”) for purposes of compliance with Rule 201 of Regulation SHO and Rule 440B—Equities. The Exchange notes that when it routes interest to a protected quotation, the Exchange adjusts the PBBO.

The Exchange notes that because the FINRA Alternate Display Facility (“ADF”) does not currently display any quotations, the Exchange does not need any data feeds to provide it with ADF quotes.

The NBBO is defined as the best bid and best offer of an NMS security. 17 CFR 242.600(b)(3). The Exchange notes that the NBBO may differ from the PBBO because the NBBO includes Manual Quotations, which are defined as any quotation other than an automated quotation. 17 CFR 242.600(b)(37). By contrast, a protected quotation is an automated quotation that is the best bid or offer of a national securities exchange. 17 CFR 242.60)(b)(57)(iii).

Rule 440B(b)—Equities requires that Exchange systems not execute or display a short sale order with respect to a covered security at a price that is less than or equal to the current NBB if the price of that security decreases by 10% or more, as determined by the Exchange, from the security's closing price on the Exchange at the end of regular trading hours on the prior day.

The Exchange proposes to add new Supplementary Material .01 to Rule 19—Equities, which would state the following:

.01 The Exchange uses the following data feeds for the handing, execution, and routing of orders, as well as for regulatory compliance:

Market center Primary source Secondary source
BATS Exchange, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a
BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a
EDGA Exchange, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a
EDGX Exchange, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a
NASDAQ OMX BX LLC SIP Data Feed n/a
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC SIP Data Feed n/a
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC SIP Data Feed n/a
NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. SIP Data Feed n/a

The Exchange notes that it does not trade any securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange LLC.

2. Statutory Basis

The proposed rule change is consistent with section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), in general, and furthers the objectives of section 6(b)(5), in particular, because 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. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change removes impediments to and perfects the mechanism of a free and open market because it provides enhanced transparency to better assess the quality of an exchange's execution and routing services.

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

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 change is not designed to address any competitive issue but rather would provide the public and investors with information about which data feeds the Exchange uses for execution and routing decisions.

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 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, the proposed rule change 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). As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the 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.

A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of the operative delay will permit the Exchange to immediately provide the enhanced transparency in Exchange rules. The Commission believes the waiver of the operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

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 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-NYSEMKT-2015-11 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-NYSEMKT-2015-11. 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-NYSEMKT-2015-11 and should be submitted on or before March 27, 2015.

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

Brent J. Fields,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2015-05162 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]

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