[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93975-93976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30815]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79587; File Nos. SR-NYSE-2011-55; SR-NYSEAmex-2011-84]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; NYSE 
MKT LLC; Order Granting an Extension to Limited Exemptions From Rule 
612(c) of Regulation NMS In Connection With the Exchanges' Retail 
Liquidity Programs Until June 30, 2017

December 16, 2016
    On July 3, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') issued an order pursuant to its authority under Rule 
612(c) of Regulation NMS (``Sub-Penny Rule'') \1\ that granted the New 
York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'') and NYSE MKT LLC \2\ (``NYSE MKT'' 
and, together with NYSE, the ``Exchanges'') limited exemptions from the 
Sub-Penny Rule in connection with the operation of the Exchanges' 
respective Retail Liquidity Programs (``Programs'').\3\ The limited 
exemptions were granted concurrently with the Commission's approval of 
the Exchanges' proposals to adopt their respective Programs for one-
year pilot terms.\4\ The exemptions were granted coterminous with the 
effectiveness of the pilot Programs; both the pilot Programs and 
exemptions are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2016.\5\
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    \1\ 17 CFR 242.612(c).
    \2\ At the time it filed the original proposal to adopt the 
Retail Liquidity Program, NYSE MKT went by the name NYSE Amex LLC. 
On May 14, 2012, the Exchange filed a proposed rule change, 
immediately effective upon filing, to change its name from NYSE Amex 
LLC to NYSE MKT LLC. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67037 
(May 21, 2012), 77 FR 31415 (May 25, 2012) (SR-NYSEAmex-2012-32).
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67347 (July 3, 
2012), 77 FR 40673 (July 10, 2012) (SR-NYSE-2011-55; SR-NYSEAmex-
2011-84) (``Order'').
    \4\ See id.
    \5\ The pilot terms of the Programs were originally scheduled to 
end on July 31, 2013, but the Exchanges initially extended the terms 
for an additional year, through July 31, 2014, see Securities 
Exchange Act Release Nos. 70096 (August 2, 2013), 78 FR 48520 (Aug. 
8, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2013-48), and 70100 (Aug. 2, 2013), 78 FR 48535 
(Aug. 8, 2013) (SR-NYSEMKT-2013-60), and then, through various 
extensions, through December 31, 2016. See Securities Exchange Act 
Release Nos. 72629 (July 16, 2014), 79 FR 42564 (July 22, 2014) (SR-
NYSE-2014-35); 72625 (July 16, 2014), 79 FR 42566 (July 22, 2014) 
(SR-NYSEMKT-2014-60); 74454 (Mar. 6, 2015), 80 FR 13054 (Mar. 12, 
2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-10); 74455 (Mar. 6, 2015), 80 FR 13047 (Mar. 12, 
2015) (SR-NYSEMKT-2015-14); 75993 (Sept. 28, 2015), 80 FR 59844 
(Oct. 2, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-41); 75995 (Sept. 28, 2015), 80 FR 
59836 (Oct. 2, 2015) (SR-NYSEMKT-2015-69); 77426 (Mar. 23, 2016), 81 
FR 17533 (Mar. 29, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-25); 77424 (Mar. 23, 2016), 
81 FR 17522 (Mar. 29, 2016) (SR-NYSEMKT-2016-39); 78600 (Aug. 17, 
2016), 81 FR 57642 (Aug. 23, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-54); and 78602 
(Aug. 17, 2016), 81 FR 57639 (Aug. 23, 2016) (SR-NYSEMKT-2016-76). 
Each time the pilot terms of the Programs were extended, the 
Commission also granted the Exchanges' requests to extend the Sub-
Penny exemptions. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 70085 
(July 31, 2013), 78 FR 47807 (Aug. 6, 2013); 72732 (July 31, 2014), 
79 FR 45851 (Aug. 6, 2014); 74507 (Mar. 13, 2015), 80 FR 14421 (Mar. 
19, 2015); 76020 (Sept. 29, 2015), 80 FR 60201 (Oct. 5, 2015); 77438 
(Mar. 24, 2016), 81 FR 17752 (Mar. 30, 2016); and 78678 (Aug. 25, 
2016), 81 FR 60031 (Aug. 31, 2016). The current exemptions expire 
December 31, 2016.

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[[Page 93976]]

    The Exchanges now seek to extend the exemptions until June 30, 
2017.\6\ The Exchanges' request was made in conjunction with 
immediately effective filings that extend the operation of the Programs 
through the same date.\7\ In their request to extend the exemptions, 
the Exchanges note that the participation in the Programs has increased 
more recently. Accordingly, the Exchanges have asked for additional 
time to allow themselves and the Commission to analyze more robust data 
concerning the Programs, which the Exchanges committed to provide to 
the Commission.\8\ For this reason and the reasons stated in the Order 
originally granting the limited exemptions, the Commission finds that 
extending the exemptions, pursuant to its authority under Rule 612(c) 
of Regulation NMS, is appropriate in the public interest and consistent 
with the protection of investors.
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    \6\ See Letter from Martha Redding, Assistant Secretary, NYSE, 
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 
dated November 28, 2016.
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 79493 (Dec. 7, 
2016), 81 FR 90019 (Dec. 13, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-82), and 79509 
(Dec. 8, 2016), 81 FR 90389 (Dec. 14, 2016) (SR-NYSEMKT-2016-112).
    \8\ See Order, supra note 3, 77 FR at 40681.
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    Therefore, it is hereby ordered that, pursuant to Rule 612(c) of 
Regulation NMS, each Exchange is granted a limited exemption from Rule 
612 of Regulation NMS that allows it to accept and rank orders priced 
equal to or greater than $1.00 per share in increments of $0.001, in 
connection with the operation of its Retail Liquidity Program, until 
June 30, 2017.
    The limited and temporary exemptions extended by this Order are 
subject to modification or revocation if at any time the Commission 
determines that such action is necessary or appropriate in furtherance 
of the purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Responsibility 
for compliance with any applicable provisions of the Federal securities 
laws must rest with the persons relying on the exemptions that are the 
subject of this Order.
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    \9\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(83).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\9\
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-30815 Filed 12-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P