[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41154-41158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16479]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-69926; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2013-67]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE 
Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges for Exchange Services To 
Modify the Credits for Certain Mid-Point Passive Liquidity Orders, Add 
Two New Tiers Applicable to Transactions in Tape B Securities, Add a 
Pricing Tier Applicable to Orders of ETP Holders for Tape A and Tape C 
Securities That Are Eligible To Be Routed Away From the Exchange, and 
Modify the Equity Threshold Applicable to the Cross-Asset Tier

July 3, 2013.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on June 20, 2013, 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of 
Fees and Charges for Exchange Services (the ``Fee Schedule'') to (i) 
modify the credits for certain Mid-Point Passive Liquidity (``MPL'') 
Orders, (ii) add two new tiers applicable to transactions in Tape B 
Securities, (iii) add a pricing tier applicable to orders of ETP 
Holders for Tape A and Tape C Securities that are eligible to be routed 
away from the Exchange, and (iv) modify the equity threshold applicable 
to the Cross-Asset Tier. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee 
changes on July 1, 2013. 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
    The Exchange proposes to amend the Fee Schedule to (i) modify the 
credits for certain MPL Orders, (ii) add two new tiers applicable to 
transactions in Tape B Securities, (iii) add a pricing tier applicable 
to orders of ETP Holders for Tape A and Tape C Securities that are 
eligible to be routed away from the Exchange, and (iv) modify the 
equity threshold applicable to the Cross-Asset Tier.\4\ The Exchange 
proposes to implement the fee changes on July 1, 2013.
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    \4\ The proposed changes would apply to securities with a per 
share price of $1.00 or above.
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MPL Orders
    The Exchange proposes to add an ``MPL Order Tier'' applicable to 
MPL Orders that provide liquidity on the Exchange and modify an 
existing credit for such orders.\5\
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    \5\ A Passive Liquidity (``PL'') Order is an order to buy or 
sell a stated amount of a security at a specified, undisplayed 
price. See Rule 7.31(h)(4). An MPL Order is a PL Order executable 
only at the midpoint of the Protected Best Bid and Offer. See Rule 
7.31(h)(5).
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    Currently, under various tiers and Basic Rates, MPL Orders that 
provide liquidity on the Exchange receive a credit of $0.0015 per share 
for Tape A and Tape B Securities and a credit of $0.0020 per share for 
Tape C Securities. The Exchange proposes to add a new tier under which 
MPL Orders that provide liquidity on the Exchange would receive a 
credit of $0.0020 per

[[Page 41155]]

share for Tape A, B and C Securities for ETP Holders, including Market 
Makers, that execute an average daily volume (``ADV'') of MPL Orders 
during the month that is 0.0775% or more of U.S. consolidated ADV 
(``CADV'').\6\ As is currently the case, for all other fees and 
credits, Tiered or Basic Rates would apply based on a firm's qualifying 
levels.\7\ In this regard, for ETP Holders that do not satisfy the 
proposed MPL Order Tier threshold, an MPL Order that provides liquidity 
on the Exchange would receive the existing credit of $0.0015 per share 
for Tape A and Tape B Securities. The Exchange also proposes that under 
the existing tiers and Basic Rates that provide credits for MPL Orders, 
the $0.0015 per share credit that applies to Tape A and B Securities 
would also apply to Tape C Securities, instead of the current $0.0020 
per share rate.
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    \6\ U.S. CADV means United States Consolidated Average Daily 
Volume for transactions reported to the Consolidated Tape and 
excludes volume on days when the market closes early.
    \7\ The existing $0.0030 fee applicable to MPL Orders in Tape A, 
B and C Securities that remove liquidity from the Exchange would not 
change as a result of this proposal.
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    For example, if U.S. CADV during the month is 6.5 billion shares 
across Tapes A, B and C, an ETP Holder would need to execute an ADV of 
at least 5,037,500 shares of MPL Orders during the month in order to 
qualify for the applicable MPL Order Tier credit of $0.0020 per share, 
in which case the ETP Holder's executions of MPL Orders that provide 
liquidity on the Exchange would receive a credit of $0.0020 per share 
for Tape A, B and C Securities. Under this example, an ETP Holder that 
executes an ADV less than 5,037,500 shares of MPL Orders during the 
month would not qualify for the MPL Order Tier and, therefore, the ETP 
Holder's executions of MPL Orders that provide liquidity on the 
Exchange would receive a credit of $0.0015 per share for Tape A, B and 
C Securities.
Tape B Tiers
    The Exchange proposes to add two new tiers applicable to 
transactions in Tape B Securities that provide liquidity on the 
Exchange.\8\
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    \8\ Existing fees applicable to transactions in Tape B 
Securities that remove liquidity from the Exchange would not change 
as a result of this proposal.
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    First, the Exchange proposes to add a new ``Tape B Adding Tier'' 
applicable to ETP Holders, including Market Makers, that provide 
liquidity of 0.675% or more of U.S. Tape B CADV for the billing month. 
A qualifying ETP Holder would receive a credit of $0.0002 per share for 
orders that provide liquidity on the Exchange in Tape B Securities, 
which would be in addition to the ETP Holder's Tiered or Basic Rate 
credit(s). For example, if U.S. Tape B CADV during the month is 1 
billion shares, an ETP Holder would need to execute an ADV of at least 
6.75 million shares of Tape B Securities during the month in order to 
qualify for the applicable credit of $0.0002 per share.
    Second, the Exchange proposes to add a new ``Tape B Step Up Tier'' 
applicable to ETP Holders, including Market Makers, that, on a daily 
basis, measured monthly, directly execute providing volume in Tape B 
Securities during the billing month (``Tape B Adding ADV'') that is 
equal to at least the ETP Holder's May 2013 Tape B Adding ADV (``Tape B 
Baseline ADV'') plus 0.275% of U.S. Tape B CADV for the billing month. 
A qualifying ETP Holder would receive a credit of $0.0004 per share for 
orders that provide liquidity on the Exchange in Tape B Securities, 
which would be in addition to the ETP Holder's Tiered or Basic Rate 
credit(s). For example, if U.S. Tape B CADV during the month is 1 
billion shares, and the ETP Holder's Tape B Baseline ADV during May 
2013 was 5 million shares, the ETP Holder would need to execute an ADV 
of at least 7.75 million shares of Tape B Securities during the month 
in order to qualify for the applicable credit of $0.0004 per share 
(i.e., 1 billion shares CADV multiplied by 0.275% plus 5 million shares 
Tape B Baseline ADV).
    Lead Market Makers (``LMMs'') on the Exchange could not qualify for 
either of the proposed new Tape B tiers, nor would LMM provide volume 
apply to the applicable volume requirements proposed for the new Tape B 
tiers. Additionally, ETP Holders that qualify for Investor Tier 1, 
Investor Tier 2, Investor Tier 3, the Retail Order Tier or the Retail 
Order Cross-Asset Tier could not qualify for either of the new Tape B 
tiers.\9\ Also, ETP Holders that qualify for the proposed new Tape B 
Step Up Tier could not qualify for the proposed new Tape B Adding Tier 
(i.e., an ETP Holder that qualifies for the $0.0004 credit under the 
Tape B Step Up Tier could not also receive the $0.0002 credit under the 
Tape B Adding Tier). Finally, for ETP Holders that qualify for either 
of the proposed new Tape B tiers, Tiered or Basic Rates would apply to 
all other fees and credits, based on a firm's qualifying levels.
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    \9\ Investor Tier 4 and Cross-Asset Tier ETP Holders would be 
eligible to qualify for the proposed new Tape B tiers.
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Routable Order Tier
    The Exchange proposes to add a pricing tier applicable to orders of 
ETP Holders for Tape A and Tape C Securities that is based, in part, on 
the amount of an ETP Holder's orders that are eligible to be routed 
away from the Exchange (``Routable Orders'').\10\
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    \10\ ETP Holders are able to include an instruction with their 
orders to determine whether the order will be eligible to route to 
an away exchange (e.g., to execute against trading interest with a 
better price than on the Exchange) or, for example, be cancelled if 
routing would otherwise occur.
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    The Exchange proposes that ETP Holders that provide liquidity on 
the Exchange would receive a credit of $0.0032 per share for their 
Routable and non-Routable Orders in Tape A and Tape C Securities if 
such ETP Holders, including Market Makers, (1) provide liquidity of 
0.40% or more of U.S. CADV during the billing month across all Tapes, 
(2) maintain a ratio during the billing month across all Tapes of 
executed Routable Orders that provide liquidity to total executed 
provide liquidity of 75% or more, and (3) execute an ADV of provide 
liquidity during the billing month across all Tapes that is equal to at 
least the ETP Holder's or Market Maker's May 2013 provide liquidity 
across all Tapes plus 40%. An ETP Holder that qualifies for the 
proposed new Routable Order Tier would not be eligible for the Tape C 
Step Up Tier fee of $0.0029 per share for removing liquidity or the 
Tape C Step Up Tier 2 credit of $0.0002 per share for adding liquidity. 
For all other fees and credits, Tiered or Basic Rates apply based on a 
firm's qualifying levels.
    For example, if U.S. CADV during the month is 6.45 billion shares, 
the ETP Holder would need to provide liquidity of at least 25.8 million 
shares to satisfy the first threshold (i.e., providing liquidity of 
0.40% or more of U.S. CADV during the month). Additionally, based on a 
minimum of 25.8 million shares of required provide liquidity, the ETP 
Holder would need to execute at least 19.35 million Routable Orders 
that provide liquidity during the month (i.e., maintaining a ratio of 
executed Routable Order provide liquidity to total executed orders of 
75% or more). Finally, if the ETP Holder's ADV of provide liquidity 
during May 2013 was 20,000,000 shares, the ETP Holder would need to 
execute an ADV of at least 8 million additional shares of provide 
liquidity during the month (i.e., executing an ADV of provide liquidity 
during the month that is equal to at least the ETP Holder's May 2013 
provide liquidity plus 40%).

[[Page 41156]]

Cross-Asset Tier
    ETP Holders, including Market Makers, are currently able to qualify 
for the Cross-Asset Tier and a corresponding credit of $0.0030 per 
share for orders that provide liquidity to the Exchange. To qualify for 
the Cross-Asset Tier, an ETP Holder must (1) provide liquidity of 0.45% 
or more of U.S. CADV per month and (2) be affiliated with an Options 
Trading Permit (``OTP'') Holder or OTP Firm that provides an ADV of 
electronic posted Customer executions in Penny Pilot issues on NYSE 
Arca Options (excluding mini options) of at least 0.95% of total 
Customer equity and Exchange-Traded Fund (``ETF'') option ADV, as 
reported by the Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC''). For all other 
fees and credits, Tiered or Basic Rates apply based on a firm's 
qualifying levels. The Exchange proposes to decrease the equity 
threshold from 0.45% to 0.40% of U.S. CADV.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\11\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ in 
particular, 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.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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MPL Order Tier
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is reasonable 
because the proposed MPL Order Tier credit of $0.0020 per share would 
incentivize ETP Holders to submit additional MPL Orders on the 
Exchange. This would increase the liquidity available on the Exchange 
and, therefore, could increase the potential price improvement to 
incoming marketable orders submitted to the Exchange. In this regard, 
MPL Orders allow for additional opportunities for passive interaction 
with trading interest on the Exchange and are designed to offer 
potential price improvement to incoming marketable orders submitted to 
the Exchange.\13\
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    \13\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 54511 
(September 26, 2006), 71 FR 58460, 58461 (October 3, 2006) (SR-PCX-
2005-53).
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    The Exchange also believes that the proposed change is reasonable 
because decreasing the rate for the non-MPL Order Tier credit for Tape 
C Securities from $0.0020 per share to $0.0015 per share would align 
the treatment of MPL Orders in Tape C Securities that provide liquidity 
on the Exchange with that of Tape A and Tape B Securities for purposes 
of the Exchange's Fee Schedule. This aspect of the proposed change 
would also remove a pricing feature from the Fee Schedule that has 
generally not incentivized ETP Holders to submit additional MPL Orders 
in Tape C Securities, as was originally intended. In this regard, the 
current Tape C MPL Order credit of $0.0020 was intended to increase the 
liquidity available on the Exchange in Tape C Securities, generally, 
and therefore increase the potential price improvement to incoming 
marketable orders submitted to the Exchange in Tape C Securities.\14\ 
Instead, the Exchange believes that this increased liquidity may be 
accomplished by implementing a U.S. CADV requirement applicable to the 
proposed MPL Order Tier credit.
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    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68848 (February 6, 
2013), 78 FR 9985, 9986 (February 12, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-09).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is also equitable 
and not unfairly discriminatory because the MPL Order Tier would be 
available to all ETP Holders to qualify for and would apply equally to 
MPL Orders from all ETP Holders in all Tape A, B and C Securities 
traded on the Exchange.
    Finally, the Exchange notes that certain other exchanges also 
structure pricing based on midpoint pricing, including with respect to 
applicable volume thresholds that must be satisfied in order to qualify 
for such pricing, and that the pricing levels proposed by the Exchange 
are competitive with those exchanges.\15\
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    \15\ For example, the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'') 
provides a credit of $0.0020 per share for midpoint pegged or 
midpoint post-only orders (``midpoint orders'') that provide 
liquidity if the member provides an ADV of 5 million or more shares 
through midpoint orders during the month, and the member's average 
daily volume of liquidity provided through midpoint orders during 
the month is at least 2 million shares more than in April 2013. See, 
e.g., NASDAQ Rule 7018. See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
69566 (May 13, 2013), 78 FR 29193 (May 17, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-
075). Additionally, a member of EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'') can 
qualify for the EDGX Mid-Point Match (``MPM'') Volume Tier by adding 
and/or removing an ADV of at least 3,000,000 shares on a daily 
basis, measured monthly, on EDGX. See footnote 3 of the EDGX Fee 
Schedule, available at http://www.directedge.com/Portals/0/docs/Fee%20Schedule/2013/EDGX%20Fee%20Schedule%20-%20Junev2.pdf. See also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69725 (June 10, 2013), 78 FR 
35996 (June 14, 2013) (SR-EDGX-2013-19).
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Tape B Tiers
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is reasonable 
because the proposed Tape B Adding Tier and Tape B Step Up Tier credits 
would encourage ETP Holders to send additional orders in Tape B 
Securities to the Exchange for execution in order to qualify for an 
incrementally higher credit for such executions that add liquidity on 
the Exchange. In this regard, the Exchange believes that this may 
incentivize ETP Holders to increase the orders sent directly to the 
Exchange and therefore provide liquidity that supports the quality of 
price discovery and promotes market transparency. The Exchange believes 
that the rates proposed for the Tape B Adding Tier and Tape B Step Up 
Tier credits are reasonable because they are directly related to an ETP 
Holder's level of executions in Tape B Securities during the month.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed Tape B Adding Tier and Tape 
B Step Up Tier credits are also equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because they would incentivize ETP Holders to submit 
orders in Tape B Securities to the Exchange and would result in a 
credit that is reasonably related to an exchange's market quality that 
is associated with higher volumes. Moreover, like existing pricing on 
the Exchange that is tied to ETP Holder volume levels, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed Tape B Adding Tier and Tape B Step Up Tier 
credits are equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because they 
would be available for all ETP Holders, including Market Makers, on an 
equal and non-discriminatory basis.
    The Exchange also believes that it is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory to exclude Investor Tier 1, Investor Tier 2, Investor 
Tier 3, Retail Order Tier, and Retail Order Cross-Asset Tier ETP 
Holders from qualifying for the proposed new Tape B tiers because the 
ETP Holders that qualify for these specified tiers would already 
receive a higher credit for such executions. The Exchange believes that 
this is also true with respect to the proposal that an ETP Holder that 
qualifies for both the proposed new Tape B Adding Tier and the new Tape 
B Step Up Tier would receive the higher of the two credits, but would 
not receive credits for both tiers. In contrast, the Exchange proposes 
permitting Investor Tier 4 and Cross-Asset Tier ETP Holders to qualify 
for the proposed new Tape B tiers because, even when combined with the 
proposed Tape B Adding Tier or Tape B Step Up Tier credits of $0.0002 
or $0.0004, respectively, the ETP Holders that qualify for Investor 
Tier 4 and the Cross-Asset Tier would not achieve an overall credit 
rate that is higher than that which

[[Page 41157]]

is available under Investor Tier 1, which is the highest credit that is 
currently available in the Fee Schedule.\16\ Similarly, the Exchange 
believes that it is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory to 
prohibit LMMs on the Exchange from qualifying for either of the 
proposed new Tape B tiers and to exclude LMM provide volume from 
applying to the applicable volume requirements proposed for the new 
Tape B tiers. This is because, like the ETP Holders that qualify for 
the tiers specified above, LMMs are already eligible for increased 
credits that range from $0.0035 per share to $0.0045 per share for 
executions of transactions that add liquidity to the Exchange.
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    \16\ Investor Tier 4 and Cross-Asset Tier ETP Holders are 
eligible for a $0.0030 credit for their executions that add 
liquidity on the Exchange. Investor Tier 1 ETP Holders are eligible 
for a $0.0034 credit for their executions that add liquidity on the 
Exchange.
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Routable Order Tier
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change is reasonable 
because the proposed Routable Order Tier would contribute to 
incentivizing ETP Holders to submit additional orders on the Exchange 
that are eligible to be routed away from the Exchange. This would 
increase the liquidity available on the Exchange because, for example, 
instead of an order, or a portion thereof, being cancelled immediately 
if the order would be routed, the order may remain available for 
execution on the Exchange. The Exchange believes that Routable Orders 
add to the quality of the Exchange's market because they are unlikely 
to be quickly cancelled and therefore may provide liquidity on the 
Exchange of a longer duration. The Routable Order Tier therefore would 
support the quality of price discovery and promote market transparency, 
thereby benefiting all market participants. In this regard, the 
Exchange believes that the rate proposed for the Routable Order Tier is 
reasonable because it takes into account the amount of Routable Orders 
that an ETP Holder would be required to execute on the Exchange during 
a month.
    The Exchange also believes that it is reasonable and equitable to 
apply the Routable Order Tier pricing to executions of Tape A and Tape 
C Securities, but not to Tape B Securities. This is because existing 
pricing on the Exchange is often grouped according to Tape A and Tape C 
Securities, with separate pricing applicable to Tape B Securities. In 
addition, and for example, the Exchange is proposing incremental 
credits in this filing that would only apply to ETP Holder executions 
of Tape B Securities. Furthermore, the Exchange believes that it is 
reasonable and equitable to apply the Routable Order Tier pricing to 
Routable and non-Routable Orders of a qualifying ETP Holder because 
this would create a further incentive for ETP Holders to submit 
Routable Orders to the Exchange. This is also true because the 
thresholds applicable to the Routable Order Tier pertain to liquidity 
that consists of Routable Orders as well as the overall liquidity of an 
ETP Holder, including non-Routable Orders.
    Furthermore, the Exchange believes that the proposed Routable Order 
Tier is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all ETP 
Holders have the ability to designate their orders as Routable Orders. 
Additionally, the proposed credit of $0.0032 per share for Routable 
Orders that provide liquidity to the Exchange would be available to all 
ETP Holders that qualify for the Routable Order Tier. The proposed 
thresholds are also equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because 
they are based on objective criteria and the same criteria would be 
applicable to all ETP Holders.
    The Exchange also believes that it is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory for an ETP Holder that qualifies for the proposed new 
Routable Order Tier to not be eligible for the Tape C Step Up Tier rate 
for removing liquidity of $0.0029 per share or the Tape C Step Up Tier 
2 credit of $0.0002 per share for adding liquidity. This is because the 
ETP Holders that qualify for these specified tiers would already 
receive the benefit of a lower fee for such executions that remove 
liquidity or a higher credit for such executions that add liquidity, 
respectively.
    Finally, the Exchange notes that certain other exchanges also 
structure pricing based on routability of orders, including with 
respect to applicable volume thresholds that must be satisfied in order 
to qualify for such pricing, and that the pricing levels proposed by 
the Exchange are competitive with those exchanges.\17\
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    \17\ For example, a NASDAQ member may participate in the 
Routable Order Program (``ROP'') with respect to any market 
participant identifier (``MPID'') through which it (i) provides an 
ADV of at least 35 million shares of displayed liquidity using 
orders that employ the ``SCAN'' or ``LIST'' routing strategies, and 
(ii) provides displayed liquidity and/or routes an ADV of at least 2 
million shares prior to the Nasdaq Opening Cross and/or after the 
Nasdaq Closing Cross using orders that employ the SCAN or LIST 
routing strategies. With respect to SCAN or LIST orders in 
securities priced at $1 or more per share that are entered through 
such an MPID, NASDAQ charges a fee of $0.0029 per share executed for 
such orders that access liquidity in the Nasdaq Market Center and 
provides a credit of $0.0037 per share executed for such orders that 
are displayed and that provide liquidity, in lieu of the fees or 
credits otherwise charged or provided under NASDAQ Rule 7018. See 
NASDAQ Rule 7014. See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68905 
(February 12, 2013), 78 FR 11716 (February 19, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-
2013-023).
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Cross-Asset Tier
    The Exchange believes that the proposed change to the Cross-Asset 
Tier is reasonable because the proposed reduction of the equities 
threshold would directly relate to the activity of an ETP Holder and, 
when combined with the applicable options threshold requirement, the 
activity of an affiliated OTP Holder or OTP Firm on the Exchange, 
thereby encouraging increased trading activity on both the NYSE Arca 
equity and option markets by making it easier for ETP Holders to 
qualify for the tier. The Exchange has determined to adjust the equity 
CADV threshold in light of current and anticipated market conditions 
and believes that this proposed change would provide a greater 
incentive to attract additional equities and options liquidity. In this 
regard, the Exchange also believes that the proposed change is 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because it would apply to all 
ETP Holders on the Exchange that are affiliated with an NYSE Arca 
Options OTP Holder or OTP Firm and, as a result, the proposed reduction 
in the equities threshold would make it easier for all such ETP Holders 
to qualify for the Cross-Asset Tier. The proposed change is also 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory with respect to ETP Holders 
that are not affiliated with an NYSE Arca Options OTP Holder or OTP 
Firm because such ETP Holders would continue to have the opportunity to 
qualify for the same credit of $0.0030 per share that is provided 
pursuant to the Cross-Asset Tier by qualifying for Tier 1 or any of the 
Investor Tiers.
    Finally, the Exchange believes that it is subject to significant 
competitive forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement 
regarding the burden on competition.
    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,\18\ 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 will encourage

[[Page 41158]]

competition, including by attracting additional liquidity to the 
Exchange, which will make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, 
among other things, order execution and price discovery. In general, 
ETP Holders impacted by the proposed change may readily adjust their 
trading behavior to maintain or increase their credits or decrease 
their fees in a favorable manner, and will therefore not be 
disadvantaged in their ability to compete. Specifically, all ETP 
Holders have the ability to submit MPL Orders and ETP Holders could 
readily choose to submit additional MPL Orders on the Exchange in order 
to qualify for the proposed new MPL Order Tier. Similarly, an ETP 
Holder could qualify for the proposed new Tape B tiers by providing 
sufficient liquidity in Tape B Securities to satisfy the applicable 
proposed volume requirements. Additionally, all ETP Holders have the 
ability to designate their orders as Routable Orders and therefore any 
ETP Holder could qualify for the proposed Routable Order Tier by 
satisfying the proposed liquidity thresholds. Finally, the proposed 
reduction of the Cross-Asset Tier equity threshold would apply to all 
ETP Holders and, while certain ETP Holders are not affiliated with an 
NYSE Arca Options OTP Holder or OTP Firm, such ETP Holders would be 
able to qualify for a credit of at least $0.0030 per share that is 
provided pursuant to the Cross-Asset Tier by qualifying for any of the 
Investor Tiers.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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    Also, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed change will 
impair the ability of ETP Holders or competing order execution venues 
to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. In 
this regard, the Exchange notes that certain aspects of the proposed 
change are similar to, and competitive with, pricing structures and 
applicable fees and credits applicable on other exchanges.\19\
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    \19\ See supra notes 15 and 17.
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    Finally, the Exchange notes that it operates in a highly 
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor 
competing venues if they deem fee or credit levels at a particular 
venue to be unattractive. In such an environment, the Exchange must 
continually review, and consider adjusting, its fees and credits to 
remain competitive with other exchanges. The credits proposed herein 
are based on objective standards that are applicable to all ETP Holders 
and reflect the need for the Exchange to offer significant financial 
incentives to attract order flow. For these reasons, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive 
environment and is therefore consistent with the Act.

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) \20\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 
19b-4 \21\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by the Exchange.
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    \20\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \21\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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    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) \22\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2013-67 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2013-67. 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 on 
official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 
Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying 
at the principal offices of NYSE. 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-2013-67, and should be submitted on or before 
July 30, 2013.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\23\
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    \23\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-16479 Filed 7-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P