[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95699-95703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31302]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79640; File No. SR-NYSEMKT-2016-117]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To (1) Change How 
Orders Would Be Processed When the Protected Best Bid (``PBB'') Is 
Higher Than the Protected Best Offer (``PBO'') (The ``PBBO'') in 
Certain Circumstances, and (2) Adopt a Limit Order Price Protection 
Mechanism

December 21, 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 December 12, 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.
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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 Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to (1) change how orders would be processed 
when the protected best bid (``PBB'') is higher than the protected best 
offer (``PBO'') (the ``PBBO'') in certain circumstances, and (2) adopt 
a limit order price protection mechanism. 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 Exchange proposes to (1) change how orders would be processed 
when the PBB is higher than the PBO in certain circumstances, and (2) 
adopt a limit order price protection mechanism.

Processing of Orders When the PBBO Is Crossed (Rules 13--Equities, 70--
Equities, 76--Equities and 1000--Equities)

    Currently, when the PBB is priced higher than the PBO in a security 
(i.e., the PBBO is crossed), buy and sell orders trade on the Exchange 
without regard to price and without routing, consistent with the 
exception to the Order Protection Rule enumerated in Rule 611(b)(4) of 
Regulation NMS (``Rule 611(b)(4)'').\4\ In certain circumstances as 
described herein, the Exchange proposes to no longer avail itself of 
this exception to the Order Protection Rule.\5\ In those circumstances, 
rather than trading through a protected quotation when the PBBO is 
crossed, routable orders may instead be routed to protected quotations. 
In order to implement this change, the Exchange proposes to amend the 
following rules:
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    \4\ 17 CFR 242.611(b)(4). See also Rule 15A--Equities (Order 
Protection Rule).
    \5\ For example, assume if the Exchange has a displayed bid of 
$10.00 and another market crosses that bid with a protected offer of 
$9.99. Currently, if the Exchange receives a marketable order to 
buy, it will trade on the Exchange at prices higher than $9.99. Once 
the Exchange no longer avails itself of the exception in Rule 
611(b)(4), unless otherwise specified in Exchange rules as described 
in this proposed rule change, arriving routable interest to buy that 
is marketable on the Exchange would instead first route to that 
protected offer.
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Rule 13--Equities

Market Order

    Rule 13(a)(1)--Equities provides that a Market Order that is 
eligible for automatic executions is an unpriced order to buy or sell a 
stated amount of a security that is to be traded at the best price 
obtainable without trading through the NBBO. Rule 13(a)(1)(B)(i)--
Equities provides that when the Exchange is open for continuous 
trading, a Market Order will be rejected on arrival, or cancelled if 
resting, if there is no contra-side NBBO or if the best protected 
quotations are or become crossed.
    The Exchange proposes to no longer reject or cancel Market Orders 
when the PBBO is crossed. To effectuate this change, the Exchange 
proposes to delete the phrase ``or if the best protected quotations are 
or become crossed'' in Rule 13(a)(1)(B)(i)--Equities. As a result of 
this proposed change, if a Market Order arrives when the PBBO is 
crossed, the Exchange would process the Market Order in the same way as 
when the NBBO is crossed under the current rule.\6\
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    \6\ See Rule 13(a)(1)(B)(ii)--Equities.
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Routing to Protected Quotations

    The Exchange proposes to amend the Rule 13--Equities to specify 
circumstances when the Exchange would make order handling decisions 
based on a protected quotation. The Exchange proposes to make these 
changes because, in the circumstances described below, the Exchange 
would no longer avail itself of the exception to the Order Protection 
Rule specified in Rule 611(b)(4), and therefore the Exchange would 
include protected

[[Page 95700]]

quotations for order handling purposes even when the PBBO is crossed.
    First, the Exchange proposes to amend the definition of Exchange 
IOC Order to reflect that, when the PBBO is crossed, the Exchange would 
route such orders to other markets if an execution on the Exchange 
would trade through a protected quotation in compliance with Regulation 
NMS. Rule 13(b)(2)(B)--Equities defines an Exchange IOC Order as a 
Limit Order designated Immediate or Cancel (``IOC'') that will be 
automatically executed against the displayed quotation up to its full 
size and sweep the Exchange book, as provided in Rule 1000 to the 
extent possible, with portions of the order routed to other markets if 
necessary in compliance with Regulation NMS and the portion not so 
executed will be immediately and automatically cancelled. As such, 
currently an Exchange IOC Order is only routed to a protected quotation 
unless the exception in Rule 611(b)(4) applies. Because the Exchange 
proposes to route an Exchange IOC Order to other markets if an 
execution on the Exchange would trade through a protected quotation, 
i.e., in circumstances when the PBBO is crossed, the Exchange would 
revise the rule text to read ``with portions of the order routed to 
other markets if an execution would trade through a protected 
quotation, in compliance with Regulation NMS. The portion of the order 
not so executed will be immediately and automatically cancelled.''
    Second, the Exchange proposes to amend the definition of ``best-
priced sell interest'' and ``best-priced buy interest,'' which are 
terms used for purposes of determining where to display and rank a 
Limit Order designated with an Add Liquidity Only (``ALO'') Modifier. 
Supplementary Material .10 of Rule 13--Equities provides that, for 
purposes of the Rule, the term ``best-priced sell interest'' refers to 
the lowest priced sell interest against which incoming buy interest 
would be required to execute with and/or route to, including Exchange 
displayed offers, Non-Display Reserve Orders, Non- Display Reserve e-
Quotes, odd-lot sized sell interest, unexecuted Market Orders, and 
protected offers on away markets and that the term ``best-priced buy 
interest'' refers to the highest priced buy interest against which 
incoming sell interest would be required to execute with and/or route 
to, including Exchange displayed bids, Non-Display Reserve Orders, Non- 
Display Reserve e-Quotes, odd-lot sized buy interest, unexecuted Market 
Orders, and protected bids on away markets, but does not include non-
displayed buy interest that is priced based on the PBBO.\7\
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    \7\ The Exchange also proposes a non-substantive change to add a 
colon after Supplementary Material in the heading.
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    Because the Exchange currently avails itself of the exception in 
Rule 611(b)(4) when the PBBO is crossed, the Exchange does not include 
protected bids or offers in the determination of ``best-priced sell 
interest'' or ``best-priced buy interest.'' With the proposed change, 
in the circumstances when the Exchange no longer avails itself of this 
exception, the Exchange would consider all protected quotations, 
including when the PBBO is crossed. To reflect this change, the 
Exchange proposes the following amendments to Supplementary Material 
.10 to Rule 13--Equities.\8\
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    \8\ Since the terms defined in Supplementary Material .10 are 
only used for Limit Orders designated ALO, the Exchange proposes to 
replace ``this Rule'' after ``For purposes of'' with ``displaying 
and ranking a Limit Order with an Add Liquidity Only (ALO) 
modifier''.
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     In the first clause defining ``best-priced sell 
interest,'' the Exchange proposes to delete ``with and/or route to'' 
after ``execute,'' add the word ``and'' before ``unexecuted Market 
Orders'' and add the phrase ``the lowest-priced'' before ``protected 
offers on away markets.'' The proposed change would clarify that best-
priced sell interest can mean either the lowest-priced sell interest 
against which incoming buy interest would execute with on the Exchange 
or the lowest-priced protected offer, which can be a protected offer on 
an away market.
     In the second clause defining ``best-priced buy 
interest,'' the Exchange would delete ``with and/or route'' after 
``execute,'' add the word ``and'' before ``unexecuted Market Orders,'' 
and add ``the highest-priced'' before ``protected bids on away 
markets.'' The proposed change would clarify that best-priced buy 
interest can mean either the lowest-priced buy interest against which 
incoming sell interest would execute with on the Exchange or the 
lowest-priced protected bid, which can be a protected bid on an away 
market.

Pegging Interest

    Rule 13(f)(1)--Equities defines pegging interest and provides that 
pegging interest pegs to prices based on (i) a PBBO, which may be 
available on the Exchange or an away market, or (ii) interest that 
establishes a price on the Exchange. If the PBBO is not within the 
specified price range of the pegging interest, the pegging interest 
will instead peg to the next available best-priced displayable interest 
that is within the specified price range, which may be on the Exchange 
or the protected bid or offer of another market.\9\ Rule 
13(f)(1)(B)(i)--Equities further provides that pegging interest to buy 
(sell) will not peg to a price that is locking or crossing the Exchange 
best offer (bid), but instead will peg to the next available best-
priced displayable interest that would not lock or cross the Exchange 
best offer (bid).
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    \9\ See Rule 13(f)(1)(A)(iv)(a) & (f)(1)(A)(iii)--Equities.
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    To avoid routing pegging interest when the PBBO is locked or 
crossed, the Exchange proposes to specify that the Exchange would not 
peg to a locking or crossing PBBO and would instead peg to the next-
available best-priced displayable interest that would not lock or cross 
either the Exchange's BBO or the PBBO. To effect this change, the 
Exchange proposes to amend Rule 13(f)(1)(B)(i)--Equities to provide 
that pegging interest to buy (sell) will not peg to the PBB (PBO) if 
the PBBO is locked or crossed or to a price that is locking or crossing 
the Exchange best offer (bid), but instead would peg to the next 
available best-priced displayable interest that would not lock or cross 
the Exchange best offer (bid) or the PBO (PBB).

Rule 70--Equities

    Rule 70--Equities governs the execution of Floor broker interest, 
including g-Quotes. G-Quotes are an electronic method for Floor brokers 
to represent orders that yield priority, parity and precedence based on 
size to displayed and non-displayed orders on the Exchange's book, in 
compliance with Section 11(a)(1)(G) of the Act (the ``G Rule'').\10\
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    \10\ Section 11(a)(1) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78k(a)(1), generally 
prohibits a member of a national securities exchange from effecting 
transactions on that exchange for its own account, the account of an 
associated person, or any account over which it or an associated 
person exercises discretion. Subsection (G) of Section 11(a)(1) 
provides an exemption from this prohibition, allowing an exchange 
member to have its own floor broker execute a proprietary order, 
also known as a ``G order,'' provided such order yields priority, 
parity, and precedence. Under the G Rule, G orders are not required 
to yield to other orders that are for the account of a member, e.g., 
Designated Market Maker (``DMM'') interest or other g-Quotes.
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    Because the proposed change to how the Exchange would operate when 
the PBBO is crossed would result in routable orders being routed to a 
crossed PBBO, the Exchange proposes to revise the behavior of g-Quotes 
to limit the circumstances when such orders would route. While the G 
Rule only requires G orders to yield to orders on the Exchange, the 
Exchange does not believe that a G order should trade on

[[Page 95701]]

another market before resting displayed interest on the Exchange trades 
and to which, absent routing of the G order, would be yielded priority 
by the G order under the G Rule. Accordingly, the Exchange proposes to 
restrict a g-Quote from routing to a protected quotation ahead of 
displayed orders on the Exchange at the same price. To effect this 
change, the Exchange proposes to add a new subsection (iii) to Rule 
70(a)--Equities that would provide that a g-Quote to buy (sell) that 
would be required to route on arrival would be cancelled when there is 
resting displayable interest that is not a g-Quote or DMM interest to 
buy (sell) at the same or higher (lower) price as the g-Quote.
    Further, the Exchange proposes to amend subsection (a)(ii) of 
Supplementary Material .25 to Rule 70--Equities to specify that 
discretionary instructions for Floor broker d-Quotes\11\ are 
unavailable when the PBBO is crossed. To effectuate this change, the 
Exchange proposes to delete the phrase ``at all times'' following 
``Discretionary instructions are active'' and add the phrase ``unless 
the PBBO is crossed'' following ``during the trading day.'' \12\
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    \11\ D-Quotes enable Floor brokers to enter discretionary 
instructions as to the price at which the d-Quote may trade and the 
number of shares to which the discretionary price instructions 
apply.
    \12\ The Exchange also proposes to add ``reopening'' after ``at 
the opening'' and before ``and closing transactions'' in Rule 
70.25(a)(ii)--Equities.
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Rule 76--Equities

    Rule 76--Equities governs the execution of manual ``cross'' or 
``crossing'' orders by Floor brokers on the Exchange trading Floor. 
Supplementary Material .10 of Rule 76--Equities permits Floor Brokers 
to enter a cross transaction into their hand held device (``HHD'') and 
describes the operation by the Exchange of a quote minder function that 
monitors protected bids and offers to determine when the limit price 
assigned to the proposed crossed transaction is such that the orders 
may be executed consistent with Regulation NMS Rule 611.
    The Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .10 of Rule 
76--Equities to specify that quote minder would be unavailable to Floor 
brokers when the PBBO is crossed by adding the sentence ``Quote minder 
will not monitor protected bids and offers when the PBBO is crossed'' 
to the end of the Rule. The proposed change to Rule 76.10--Equities is 
consistent with the proposed change, described above, that the Exchange 
would route orders even if the PBBO is crossed. Because Rule 76--
Equities governs crossing orders at a single price on the Exchange, the 
Exchange believes this proposed change makes clear that the Exchange 
would not permit a crossing order to be executed when the PBBO is 
crossed.

Rule 1000--Equities

    Rule 1000--Equities provides for automatic executions by Exchange 
systems. The Exchange proposes to add new Supplementary Material .10 to 
specify how DMM interest would be processed when the PBBO is crossed 
and there is same side resting displayable interest that is locking or 
crossing the contra-side PBBO. Similar to the proposed amendment 
described above relating to g-Quotes, the Exchange does not believe 
that DMM interest should have an opportunity to trade on another market 
ahead of displayed orders on the Exchange.
    To effect this change, the proposed amendment would provide that 
DMM interest that would be required to route on arrival would be 
cancelled when there is same side resting displayable buy (sell) 
interest (that is not a g-Quote or DMM interest to buy (sell)) that is 
locking or crossing the PBO (PBB). Similarly, the Exchange proposes to 
specify that certain DMM interest that would increase the displayed 
quantity of the similarly-entered resting DMM interest would be 
rejected when the resting DMM interest is locked or crossed by a 
protected away quote.\13\
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    \13\ See Rule 104(b)--Equities &1000--Equities.
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Limit Order Price Protection (Rules 13--Equities and 1000--Equities)

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 13--Equities to introduce limit 
order price protection, which would result in Limit Orders with prices 
too far away from the prevailing quote to be rejected on arrival. The 
proposed rule is based on NYSE Arca Equities, Inc, (``NYSE Arca 
Equities'') Rule 7.31(a)(2)(B).
    As proposed, the Exchange would reject limit orders that are priced 
a specified percentage away from the contra side national best bid 
(``NBB'') or national best offer (``NBO''), as defined in Rule 
600(b)(42) of Regulation NMS. As the Exchange receives limit orders, 
Exchange systems will check the price of the limit order against the 
contra-side NBB or NBO at the time of the order entry to determine 
whether the limit order is within the specified percentage. As 
proposed, the specified percentage would be equal to the corresponding 
``numerical guideline'' percentages set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of 
Rule 1000--Equities (Automatic Executions) that are used to calculate 
Trading Collars.\14\
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    \14\ The NYSE Arca Equities limit order price protection 
mechanism uses the ``numerical guideline'' percentage set forth in 
Rule 7.10(c)(1) (Clearly Erroneous Executions) for its Core Trading 
Session. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(a)(2)(B). The Exchange's 
proposal would use the same numerical guidelines, but rather than 
cross referencing another rule, the Exchange proposes to enumerate 
the specified percentages in proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A).
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    Proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A)--Equities would provide that a Limit 
Order to buy (sell) would be rejected if it is priced at or above 
(below) a specified percentage away from the NBO (NBB). Proposed Rule 
13(a)(2)(A)(i)--Equities would further provide if the NBB or the NBO is 
greater than $0.00 up to and including $25.00, the specified percentage 
would be 10%; if the NBB or NBO is greater than $25.00 up to and 
including $50.00, the specified percentage would be 5%; and if the NBB 
or NBO is greater than $50.00, the specified percentage would be 3%. 
For example, if the NBB is $26.00, a sell order priced at or below 
$24.70, which is 5% below the NBB, would be rejected. Likewise, if the 
NBO is $55.00, a buy order priced at or above $56.65, which is 3% above 
the NBO, would be rejected.
    Proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A)(i)--Equities would further provide that 
if the NBBO is crossed, the Exchange would use the Exchange Best Offer 
(``BO'') instead of the NBO for buy orders and the Exchange Best Bid 
(``BB'') instead of the NBB for sell orders. The proposed Rule would 
further provide that if the NBBO is crossed and there is no BO (BB), 
Limit Order Price Protection will not be applied to an incoming Limit 
Order to buy (sell). Further, proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A)(i)--Equities 
would provide, like current NYSE Arca Rule 7.31(a)(2)(B), that Limit 
Order Price Protection will not be applied to an incoming Limit Order 
to buy (sell) if there is no NBO (NBB). Further, if the specified 
percentage for both buy and sell orders are not in the minimum price 
variation (``MPV'') for the security, as defined in Supplemental 
Material .10 to Rule 62--Equities, they would be rounded down to the 
nearest price at the applicable MPV. This proposed rule text is based 
on current Rule 1000(c)(1)--Equities, governing Trading Collars.
    Proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A)(ii)--Equities would provide that Limit 
Order Price Protection would be applicable only when automatic 
executions are in effect. This rule would further provide that Limit 
Order Price Protection would not be applicable (a) before a security 
opens for trading or during a halt or pause; (b) during a trading 
suspension; (c) to incoming Auction-Only Orders;

[[Page 95702]]

and (d) to high-priced securities, as defined in Rule 1000(a)(iii)--
Equities.
    Finally, in connection with the introduction of the proposed Limit 
Order Price Protection mechanism, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 
1000(c)--Equities and (c)(ii)--Equities to delete references to 
marketable limit orders. Accordingly, Trading Collars specified in Rule 
1000(c)--Equities would be applicable to Market Orders only, and 
pricing protections in proposed Rule 13(a)(2)(A)--Equities would be 
applicable to Limit Orders.
    The Exchange believes that the Limit Order Protection mechanism 
would prevent the entry of supermarketable limit orders, i.e., limit 
orders that in essence act like market orders because they are priced 
so far away from the prevailing market price, that could cause 
significant price dislocation in the market. The Exchange also believes 
that the mechanism would further serve to mitigate the potential for 
clearly erroneous executions to occur. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed treatment of limit orders serves as an additional safeguard 
that could help limit potential harm from extreme price volatility by 
preventing executions that could occur at a price significantly away 
from the contra side national best bid or national best offer.
* * * * *
    Because of the technology changes associated with this rule 
proposal, the Exchange will announce the implementation date in a 
Trader Update. The Exchange currently anticipates implementing the 
proposed changes no later than March 31, 2017.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\15\ in general, and furthers the 
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\16\ in particular, because it 
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system, and protect investors and the public interest. 
Specifically, while the Exchange is entitled to avail itself of the 
exception to Rule 611(b)(4) to the Order Protection Rule, the Exchange 
believes that trading or routing based on the PBBO, even when it is 
crossed, may result in additional order execution opportunities to 
trade at prevailing prices in the market. Accordingly, as a general 
matter, taking into consideration all protected quotations for purposes 
of the price at which to trade or route an order on the Exchange, even 
when the PBBO is crossed, would remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed changes to modify current 
order behavior that is based on Rule 611(b)(4) would remove impediments 
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system because they are designed to reflect changes to how such 
orders would be processed when the PBBO is crossed in a manner 
consistent with the original intent of such orders.
     The Exchange believes the proposed amendment to Rule 13--
Equities governing Market Orders would remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market 
system because it would promote transparency that a Market Order would 
be accepted when the PBBO is crossed, and thus may route when the PBBO 
is crossed.
     The Exchange believes the proposed amendments to Rule 13--
Equities definition of an Exchange IOC Order clarifying that the 
Exchange would route to a protected quotation when the PBBO is crossed 
would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and 
open market and a national market system because it would provide 
specificity regarding the reason why an order may be routed, thereby 
promoting transparency in Exchange rules. The Exchange further believes 
that specifying that Supplementary Material .10 relates to the 
displaying and ranking of Limit Orders designated ALO would remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system by adding clarity and transparency to the 
Exchange's rules.
     The proposed amendments to Rules 70--Equities and 1000--
Equities to cancel g-Quotes that would otherwise be required to route 
to away markets ahead of resting displayable interest and reject DMM 
interest that would increase the displayed quantity of similarly-
entered resting DMM interest when that resting interest is locked or 
crossed by a protected away quote would remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market 
system and protect investors and the public because it would provide 
priority to previously-displayed orders not only for execution 
opportunities on the Exchange, but also on other markets.
     The proposed amendment to Rule 76--Equities relating to 
crossing orders would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism 
of a free and open market and a national market system because it would 
provide transparency that crossing orders, which are designed to trade 
on the Exchange as a single-priced transaction, would not be eligible 
to trade if the PBBO is crossed.
    The Exchange believes that the proposed Limit Order Protection 
mechanism would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system by rejecting orders 
that are priced too far away from the prevailing market. The Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule would ensure that limit orders would 
not cause the price of a security to move beyond prices that could 
otherwise be determined to be a clearly erroneous execution, thereby 
protecting investors from receiving executions away from the prevailing 
prices at any given time.
    Finally, the Exchange's proposal to make non-substantive changes to 
the text of Supplementary Material .10 of Rule 13--Equities and to Rule 
70.25(a)--Equities adds clarity and transparency to Exchange rules and 
reduces potential investor confusion, which would remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system.

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 would 
not impose any burden on competition because it would align how the 
Exchange operates when the PBBO is crossed with how other equity 
exchanges function when the PBBO is crossed. Moreover, the proposed 
rule changes would specify how orders would be processed when the PBBO 
is crossed, thereby promoting transparency and efficiency to the 
benefit of all market participants, and the adoption of a limit order 
protection mechanism that is based on the rules of another exchange. 
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will serve to 
promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on 
competition in the marketplace and facilitating investor protection.

[[Page 95703]]

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 Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \17\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\18\ 
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 prior to 
30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as 
the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
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    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \18\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \19\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),\20\ the Commission 
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest.
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    \19\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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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) \21\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \21\ 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-NYSEMKT-2016-117 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEMKT-2016-117. 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-2016-117 and should 
be submitted on or before January 18, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\22\
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    \22\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31302 Filed 12-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P