[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3828-3831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00490]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79748; File No. SR-NYSE-2016-93]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Amending Its Price List

January 6, 2017.
    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 30, 2016, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' 
or the ``Exchange'') 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 the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend its Price List to: (1) Revise the 
quoting, quoted size, and adding liquidity requirements for Designated 
Market Makers (``DMM'') to qualify for certain rebates for providing 
liquidity on the Exchange; (2) introduce new rebates for DMMs for 
providing liquidity on the Exchange; and (3) change the monthly fees 
for the use of certain ports by DMMs. The Exchange proposes to 
implement these changes to its Price List effective January 3, 2017. 
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 its Price List to: (1) Revise the 
quoting, quoted size, and adding liquidity requirements for DMMs to 
qualify for certain rebates for providing liquidity on the Exchange; 
(2) introduce new rebates for DMMs for providing liquidity on the 
Exchange; and (3) change the monthly fees for the use of certain ports 
by DMMs.
    The Exchange proposes to implement these changes effective January 
3, 2017.
DMMs
Quoting, Quoted Size, and Adding Liquidity Requirements
    Currently, DMMs earn a rebate of $0.0027 per share when adding 
liquidity with orders, other than Mid-Point Liquidity Orders (``MPL 
Order''), in More Active Securities \4\ if the More Active Security has 
a stock price of $1.00 or more and the DMM meets the More Active 
Securities Quoting Requirement.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ ``More Active Securities'' are securities with an average 
daily consolidated volume (``ADV'') in the previous month equal to 
or greater than 1,000,000 shares per month
    \5\ The ``More Active Securities Quoting Requirement'' is met if 
the More Active Security has a stock price of $1.00 or more and the 
DMM quotes at the National Best Bid or Offer (``NBBO'') in the 
applicable security at least 10% of the time in the applicable 
month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to qualify for the $0.0027 rebate per share, the Exchange 
proposes to require that DMMs also have a DMM Quoted Size for an 
applicable month that is at least 5% of the NYSE Quoted Size.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ The ``NYSE Quoted Size'' is calculated by multiplying the 
average number of shares quoted on the NYSE at the NBBO by the 
percentage of time the NYSE had a quote posted at the NBBO. The 
``DMM Quoted Size'' is calculated by multiplying the average number 
of shares of the applicable security quoted at the NBBO by the DMM 
by the percentage of time during which the DMM quoted at the NBBO. 
See Price List, n. 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Currently, DMMs earn a rebate of $0.0031 per share when adding 
liquidity with orders, other than MPL Orders, in More Active Securities 
if the More Active Security has a stock price of $1.00 or more and the 
DMM meets (1) the More Active Securities Quoting Requirement, and (2) 
has a DMM Quoted Size for an applicable month that is at least 10% of 
the NYSE Quoted Size.
    In order to qualify for the $0.0031 rebate per share, the Exchange 
proposes to require that DMMs also quote at the NBBO in the applicable 
security at least 20% of the time in the applicable month and for 
providing liquidity that is more than 5% of the NYSE's total intraday 
adding liquidity in each such security for that month.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ The NYSE total intraday adding liquidity is totaled monthly 
and includes all NYSE adding liquidity, excluding NYSE open and NYSE 
close volume, by all NYSE participants, including Supplemental 
Liquidity Providers, customers, Floor brokers, and DMMs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, DMMs currently earn a rebate of $0.0034 per share when 
adding liquidity with orders, other than MPL Orders, in More Active 
Securities if the More Active Security has a stock price of $1.00 or 
more and the DMM meets (1) the More Active Securities Quoting 
Requirement and (2) has a DMM Quoted Size for an applicable month that 
is at least 15% of the NYSE Quoted Size, for providing liquidity that 
is more than 15% of the NYSE's total intraday adding liquidity in each 
such security for that month.
    In order to qualify for this $0.0034 per share rebate, the Exchange 
proposes to require that DMMs also quote at the NBBO in the applicable 
security at least

[[Page 3829]]

30% of the time in the applicable month.
New Adding Liquidity Rebates
    The Exchange also proposes to provide two additional rebates for 
DMMs adding liquidity to the Exchange.
    First, the Exchange proposes a rebate of $0.0035 per share when 
adding liquidity with orders, other than MPL Orders, in More Active 
Securities if the More Active Security has a stock price of $1.00 or 
more and the DMM meets the More Active Securities Quoting Requirement 
and has a DMM Quoted Size for an applicable month that is at least 25% 
of the NYSE Quoted Size, for providing liquidity that is more than 15% 
of the NYSE's total intraday adding liquidity in each such security for 
that month and the DMM quotes at the NBBO in the applicable security at 
least 50% of the time in the applicable month. The NYSE total intraday 
adding liquidity would be totaled monthly and would include all NYSE 
adding liquidity, excluding NYSE open and NYSE close volume, by all 
NYSE participants, including Supplemental Liquidity Providers, 
customers, Floor brokers, and DMMs.
    Second, the Exchange proposes a rebate of $0.0045 per share when 
adding liquidity with orders, other than MPL orders, in Less Active 
Securities if the Less Active Security has a stock price of $1.00 or 
more and the DMM quotes at the NBBO in the applicable security at least 
30% of the time in the applicable month.
    As with existing DMM rebates, the proposed rebates would be applied 
when (1) posting displayed and non-displayed orders on Display Book, 
including s-quote and s-quote reserve orders; (2) providing liquidity 
on non-displayed interest using the Capital Commitment Schedule; or, 
prior to the implementation of the Capital Commitment Schedule, using 
the following message activities: price improvement, size improvement 
(PRIN FILL), matching away market quotes; and (3) executing trades in 
the crowd and at Liquidity Replenishment Points. The proposed rebates 
would not apply to executions at the open.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Price List, n. 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMM Port Fees
    The Exchange proposes to amend its Price List to change the monthly 
fees for the use of certain ports by DMMs.
    The Exchange currently makes ports available that provide 
connectivity to the Exchange's trading systems (i.e., ports for entry 
of orders and/or quotes (``order/quote entry ports'')) and charges $550 
per port per month, except that DMMs are not charged for ports that 
connect to the Exchange via the DMM Gateway.\9\ The Exchange also 
currently makes ports available for drop copies and charges $550 per 
port per month, except that DMMs are not charged for ports that connect 
to the Exchange via the DMM Gateway.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ The Exchange has a Common Customer Gateway (``CCG'') that 
accesses the equity trading systems that it shares with its 
affiliates, NYSE MKT LLC (``NYSE MKT'') and NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE 
Arca''). All ports connect to the CCG. See, e.g., Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 64542 (May 25, 2011), 76 FR 31659 (June 1, 
2011) (SR-NYSE-2011-13). DMMs can connect to the Exchange in two 
ways: Via the DMM Gateway and CCG. Only DMMs may connect to the DMM 
Gateway and only when acting in their capacity as a DMM. DMMs are 
required to use the DMM Gateway for certain DMM-specific functions 
that relate to the DMM's role on the Exchange and the obligations 
attendant therewith, which are not applicable to other market 
participants on the Exchange. By contrast, non-DMMs as well as DMMs 
may use the CCG. Use of the CCG by a DMM is optional, and a DMM that 
connects to the Exchange via CCG can use the relevant order/quote 
entry port for orders and quotes both in its capacity as a DMM and 
for orders and quotes in other securities.
    \10\ Only one fee per drop copy port applies, even if receiving 
drop copies from multiple order/quote entry ports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to not charge DMMs for the first twelve ports 
that connect to the Exchange via the DMM Gateway and then charge DMMs 
$550 per port per month for additional ports above the first 12 ports. 
The DMMs would continue not to incur fees for ports that connect to the 
Exchange via the DMM Gateway for drop copies. DMMs would also, like 
other market participants, continue to be charged for order/entry ports 
that connect to the Exchange via the CCG.
* * * * *
    The proposed changes are not otherwise intended to address any 
other issues, and the Exchange is not aware of any problems that member 
organizations would have in complying with the proposed change.
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) & (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMMs
Quoting, Quoted Size and Adding Liquidity Requirements
    The Exchange believes that the proposed additional quoting, quoted 
size and adding liquidity requirements in order for DMMs to qualify for 
the $0.0027, $0.0031 and $0.0034 rebates per share when adding 
liquidity on the Exchange is reasonable because the higher proposed 
requirement would improve quoting and increase adding liquidity across 
securities where there may be fewer liquidity providers. The Exchange 
believes that higher quoting obligations provide higher volumes of 
liquidity, which contributes to price discovery and benefits all market 
participants. Moreover, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
increase in the credits is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory 
because, as is currently the case under the existing rates, the credits 
are available to all DMM firms.
New Adding Liquidity Rebates
    The Exchange believes that the proposed new rebates are equitably 
allocated and not unfairly discriminatory because they will apply 
equally to all DMMs. The Exchange believes that the proposed rebate of 
$0.0035 for intraday adding liquidity that exceeds 25% share of NYSE 
Quoted Size for providing liquidity that is more than 15% of the NYSE's 
total intraday adding liquidity in each such security for that month 
and the DMM quotes at the NBBO in the applicable security at least 50% 
of the time in the applicable month is reasonable as it would encourage 
greater quoting and liquidity. Similarly, the proposed rebate of 
$0.0045 for DMMs adding liquidity with orders, other than MPL orders, 
in Less Active Securities if the Less Active Security has a stock price 
of $1.00 or more and the DMM quotes at the NBBO in the applicable 
security at least 30% of the time in the applicable month is reasonable 
given the higher proposed quoting requirement and corresponding rebate. 
Moreover, the proposed requirements are equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because they would apply equally to all DMM firms.
DMM Port Fees
    The Exchange believes that the proposal to amend the port fees 
constitutes an equitable allocation of fees because all similarly 
situated DMMs and other market participants would be charged the same 
port rates. The Exchange believes that the proposed change is 
reasonable even though DMMs are required to use the DMM Gateway for 
certain DMM-specific

[[Page 3830]]

functions that relate to the DMM's role on the Exchange and the 
obligations attendant therewith because the proposed port fees for DMMs 
are expected to permit the Exchange to offset, in part, its 
infrastructure costs associated with making such ports available, 
including costs based on gateway software and hardware enhancements and 
resources dedicated to gateway development, quality assurance, and 
support. In this regard, the Exchange believes that the proposed fees 
are competitive with those charged by other exchanges.\13\ The proposed 
change is also reasonable because the proposed per port rates would 
encourage DMM users to become more efficient with, and reduce the 
number of ports used, thereby resulting in a corresponding increase in 
the efficiency that the Exchange would be able to realize with respect 
to managing its own infrastructure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ For example, the charge on the NASDAQ for a FIX Trading 
Port is $575 per port per month. See NASDAQ Rule 7015. A separate 
charge for Pre-Trade Risk Management ports also is applicable, which 
ranges from $400 to $600 and is capped at $25,000 per firm per 
month. See NASDAQ Rule 7016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 the foregoing 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,\14\ the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change would not impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. Rather, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
change relating to DMM rebates would contribute to the Exchange's 
market quality by promoting price discovery and ultimately increased 
competition. For the same reasons, the proposed change also would not 
impose any burden on competition among market participants. Further, 
the proposed change will permit the Exchange to set fees for ports that 
are competitive with those charged by other exchanges.\15\ Moreover, 
the Exchange believes that the proposal to amend the port fees would 
encourage users to become more efficient with, and reduce the number of 
ports used. In this regard, the Exchange believes that the proposal 
would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because the 
Exchange believes that a reduction in the number of ports would result 
in a decrease in the infrastructure that the Exchange is required to 
support for connectivity to its trading systems. This would also 
provide incentive for users to become more efficient with their use of 
ports and could therefore result in such users becoming more 
competitive due to decreased costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
    \15\ See note 13, supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 levels at a particular venue to be 
excessive or rebate opportunities available at other venues to be more 
favorable. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust 
its fees and rebates to remain competitive with other exchanges and 
with alternative trading systems that have been exempted from 
compliance with the statutory standards applicable to exchanges. 
Because competitors are free to modify their own fees and credits in 
response, and because market participants may readily adjust their 
order routing practices, the Exchange believes that the degree to which 
fee changes in this market may impose any burden on competition is 
extremely limited. As a result of all of these considerations, the 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed changes will impair the 
ability of member organizations or competing order execution venues to 
maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets.

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) \16\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 
19b-4 \17\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other 
charge imposed by the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \17\ 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) \18\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 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-NYSE-2016-93 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-NYSE-2016-93. 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

[[Page 3831]]

information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2016-93, and should be submitted on 
or before February 2, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00490 Filed 1-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P