[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54887-54888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19579]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78548; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2016-74]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change To Modify the NYSE Amex 
Options Fee Schedule

August 11, 2016.
    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 August 1, 2016, 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, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange proposes to modify the NYSE Amex Options Fee Schedule 
(``Fee Schedule''). The Exchange proposes to implement the fee change 
effective August 1, 2016. The proposed 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 section I. A. of the Fee 
Schedule to adjust certain Marketing Charges for Electronic Executions 
in standard options contracts, effective on August 1, 2016.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Fee Schedule, section I. A. (Rates for Standard Options 
Transactions), available here, https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/amex-options/NYSE_Amex_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange assesses a Marketing Charge to all NYSE Amex Options 
Market Makers, which includes Specialists, e-Specialists and Directed 
Order Market Makers (collectively, ``Market Makers'') for contracts 
they execute Electronically when the contra-party to the execution is a 
Customer.\5\ Currently, the Exchange collects a Marketing Charge from 
Market Makers of $0.25 per contract in Penny Pilot Issues, and $0.65 
per contract on in non-Penny Pilot Issues.\6\ The Exchange proposes to 
modify the Marketing Charge for transactions in non-Penny Pilot Issues 
to $0.70 per contract, which is comparable to the marketing fees 
charged by competing options exchanges.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ As specified in the Fee Schedule, the Exchange acts as an 
administrator in collecting and re-distributing all monies collected 
from the Marketing Charges. See id., Note 3 to Section I. A.
    \6\ The term ``non-Penny Pilot Issues'' applies to those option 
issues that are not in the Penny Pilot pursuant to Rule 960NY, 
Commentary .02.
    \7\ See, e.g., Chicago Board Options Exchange (``CBOE'') fee 
schedule, available here, http://www.cboe.com/publish/feeschedule/CBOEFeeSchedule.pdf (charging a marketing fee of $0.70 per contract 
for non-Penny Pilot Issues); Nasdaq OMX PHLX (``PHLX'') fee 
schedule, available here, http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=phlxpricing (same).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also proposes to correct certain typographical errors 
in Note 3 to section I.A. of the Fee Schedule, which would add clarity 
and transparency to the Fee Schedule.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\9\ 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

[[Page 54888]]

discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange notes that the U.S. options markets are highly 
competitive, and the Marketing Charge is intended to provide an 
incentive for order flow providers (``OFPs'') to route Customer orders 
to the Exchange. To the extent the proposed fees permit the Exchange to 
continue to attract greater volume and liquidity, the proposed change 
would also strengthen the Exchange's market quality for all market 
participants.
    The Exchange also believes that its proposed increase to the 
Marketing Charge for Non-Penny Pilot Issues is reasonable and not 
unfairly discriminatory since it is the same as the amount charged by 
competing options exchanges for Non-Penny Pilot Issues.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the correction of certain typographical 
errors in Note 3 to section I.A. of the Fee Schedule are reasonable 
because the corrections would add clarity and transparency to the Fee 
Schedule.
    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,\11\ the Exchange 
does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden 
on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of 
the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the proposed increase in 
certain Marketing Charges are pro-competitive as the proposed increased 
allows the Exchange to fund a program that competes on an equal basis 
with programs on other exchanges,\12\ and may encourage OFPs to direct 
Customer order flow to the Exchange and any resulting increase in 
volume and liquidity to the Exchange would benefit all Exchange 
participants through increased opportunities to trade as well as 
enhancing price discovery.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
    \12\ See supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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) \13\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 
19b-4 \14\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \14\ 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) \15\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-NYSEMKT-2016-74 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-2016-74. 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-2016-74 and should 
be submitted on or before September 7, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-19579 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P