[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 52 (Monday, March 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14388-14392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05409]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80244; File No. SR-Phlx-2017-24]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Pricing 
for NDX and MNX

March 14, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''), \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on March 9, 2017, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') 
the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, 
which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 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\ 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 amend the Exchange's Pricing Schedule at 
Section II, entitled ``Multiply Listed Options Fees,'' \3\ to amend 
pricing related to options overlying NDX \4\ and MNX.\5\
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    \3\ These fees include options overlying equities, ETFs, ETNs 
and indexes which are Multiply Listed.
    \4\ NDX represents options on the Nasdaq 100 Index traded under 
the symbol NDX (``NDX'').
    \5\ MNX represents options on one-tenth the value of the Nasdaq 
100 Index traded under the symbol MNX (``MNX'').
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqphlx.cchwallstreet.com/ 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 Exchange 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 these 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 aspects 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 amend pricing related to NDX and MNX by 
adopting Options Transaction Charges for NDX and MNX and also 
eliminating the Marketing Fee for NDX and MNX.\6\ The Exchange notes 
that both NDX and MNX are transitioning to be exclusively listed on the 
Exchange and its affiliated markets in 2017.\7\
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    \6\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed pricing change on 
February 28, 2017 (SR-Phlx-2017-20). On March 8, 2017, the Exchange 
withdrew that filing and submitted this filing.
    \7\ The Exchange will exclusively list NDX and MNX in the near 
future upon expiration of open expiries in these products on other 
markets.
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    Today, the Exchange assesses transactions in NDX and MNX the 
following Options Transaction Charges for non-Penny Pilot Options: A 
$0.75 per contract for electronic Professional \8\ transactions and 
$0.25 per contract for floor Professional transactions; $0.25 per 
contract for Specialist \9\ and Market Maker \10\ electronic 
transactions and

[[Page 14389]]

$0.35 per contract for Specialist and Market Maker floor transactions; 
$0.75 per contract for Broker-Dealer \11\ electronic transactions and 
$0.25 per contract for floor Broker-Dealer transactions; and $0.75 per 
contact for Firm \12\ electronic transactions and $0.25 per contract 
for Firm floor transactions. Today, Customers \13\ are not assessed a 
non-Penny Options Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX transactions. 
Also, today, all Non-Customers \14\ are assessed a $0.25 per contract 
surcharge in NDX an MNX.
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    \8\ The term ``Professional'' applies to transactions for the 
accounts of Professionals, as defined in Exchange Rule 1000(b)(14).
    \9\ The term ``Specialist'' applies to transactions for the 
account of a Specialist (as defined in Exchange Rule 1020(a)).
    \10\ The term ``Market Maker'' describes fees and rebates 
applicable to Registered Options Traders (``ROT''), Streaming Quote 
Traders (``SQT'') and Remote Streaming Quote Traders (``RSQT''). A 
ROT is defined in Exchange Rule 1014(b) as a regular member of the 
Exchange located on the trading floor who has received permission 
from the Exchange to trade in options for his own account. A ROT 
includes SQTs and RSQTs as well as on and off-floor ROTS. An SQT is 
defined in Exchange Rule 1014(b)(ii)(A) as an ROT who has received 
permission from the Exchange to generate and submit option 
quotations electronically in options to which such SQT is assigned. 
An RSQT is defined in Exchange Rule in 1014(b)(ii)(B) as an ROT that 
is a member affiliated with an RSQTO with no physical trading floor 
presence who has received permission from the Exchange to generate 
and submit option quotations electronically in options to which such 
RSQT has been assigned. A Remote Streaming Quote Trader Organization 
or ``RSQTO,'' which may also be referred to as a Remote Market 
Making Organization (``RMO''), is a member organization in good 
standing that satisfies the RSQTO readiness requirements in Rule 
507(a).
    \11\ The term ``Broker-Dealer'' applies to any transaction which 
is not subject to any of the other transaction fees applicable 
within a particular category.
    \12\ The term ``Firm'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a member or member organization for clearing in the 
Firm range at The Options Clearing Corporation.
    \13\ The term ``Customer'' applies to any transaction that is 
identified by a member or member organization for clearing in the 
Customer range at The Options Clearing Corporation which is not for 
the account of a broker or dealer or for the account of a 
``Professional'' (as that term is defined in Rule 1000(b)(14)).
    \14\ The term ``Non-Customer'' applies to transactions for the 
accounts of Specialists, Market Makers, Firms, Professionals, 
Broker-Dealers and Joint Back Office.
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    The Exchange proposes to indicate that the Options Transaction 
charges for non-Penny Pilot Options will not apply to NDX and MNX 
transactions and instead adopt new pricing for NDX and MNX. The 
Exchange proposes to adopt the following Options Transaction Charges 
for NDX and MNX. Customers will continue to not be assessed an Options 
Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX. Professionals will be assessed the 
same $0.75 per contract electronic Options Transaction Charge and an 
increased floor Options Transaction Charge of $0.75 per contract \15\ 
for NDX and MNX transactions. A Specialist and Market Maker will be 
assessed an increased electronic Options Transaction Charge of $0.75 
per contract \16\ and the same $0.35 per contract floor Options 
Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX transactions. A Broker-Dealer will 
be assessed the same $0.75 per contract electronic Options Transaction 
Charge and an increased floor Options Transaction Charge of $0.75 per 
contract \17\ for NDX and MNX transactions. Finally, a Firm will be 
assessed the same $0.75 per contract electronic Options Transaction 
Charge and an increased floor Options Transaction Charge of $0.75 per 
contract \18\ for NDX and MNX transactions. The Exchange will continue 
to assess Non-Customers an Options Surcharge for NDX and MNX of $0.25 
per contract as is the case today.\19\ The Exchange is proposing to 
relocate the surcharge to a new note 5 within the Pricing Schedule 
instead of stating the pricing within the current table in Section II 
of the Pricing Schedule.
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    \15\ Today, a Professional is assessed a $0.25 per contract 
floor Options Transaction Charge when transacting NDX and MNX.
    \16\ Today, a Specialist and Market Maker are assessed a $0.25 
per contract floor Options Transaction Charge when transacting NDX 
and MNX.
    \17\ Today, a Broker-Dealer is assessed a $0.25 per contract 
floor Options Transaction Charge when transacting NDX and MNX.
    \18\ Today, a Firm is assessed a $0.25 per contract floor 
Options Transaction Charge when transacting NDX and MNX.
    \19\ For clarity, the Exchange is amending the Customer charge 
from ``N/A'' to ``$0.00.'' The Exchange believes that $0.00 is more 
appropriate to reflect no charge.
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    The Exchange is also proposing to note that a Marketing Fee \20\ 
will not be assessed on NDX and MNX. Today, for trades resulting from 
either Directed or non-Directed Orders that are delivered 
electronically and executed on the Exchange, Specialists, Market Makers 
and Directed ROTs are assessed certain fees on those trades when the 
Specialist unit or Directed ROT elects to participate in the marketing 
program. Specifically, the Exchange assesses options that are trading 
in the Penny Pilot Program $0.25 per contract and the remaining equity 
options are assessed $0.70 per contract (including NDX and MNX). No 
Marketing Fees are assessed on trades that are not delivered 
electronically. No Marketing Fees are assessed on Professional orders. 
Marketing Fees are assessed on transactions resulting from Customer 
orders and are available to be disbursed by the Exchange according to 
the instructions of the Specialist units/Specialists or Directed ROTs 
to order flow providers who are members or member organizations, who 
submit, as agent, Customer orders to the Exchange or non-members or 
non-member organizations who submit, as agent, Customer orders to the 
Exchange through a member or member organization who is acting as agent 
for those Customer orders.
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    \20\ The Exchange's Marketing Fee helps its Specialists and 
Directed Registered Options Traders (``Directed ROTs'') establish 
payment arrangements with an order flow provider in exchange for 
that order flow provider directing some or all of its order flow to 
that Specialist or Directed ROT. This program is funded through fees 
paid by Registered Options Traders (``ROTs''), Specialists and 
Directed ROTs and assessed on transactions resulting from customer 
orders. A Registered Option Trader is defined in Exchange Rule 
1014(b) as a regular member of the Exchange located on the trading 
floor who has received permission from the Exchange to trade in 
options for his own account. See Exchange Rule 1014 (b)(i) and (ii). 
A ``Directed ROT'' is an ROT who is a Directed Participant. The term 
``Directed Participant'' applies to transactions for the account of 
a Specialist or ROT resulting from a customer order that is (1) 
directed to it by an order flow provider, and (2) executed by it 
electronically on Phlx XL II.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\21\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\22\ in particular, in that it 
provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and 
other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any 
facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between 
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
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    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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    The Commission and the courts have repeatedly expressed their 
preference for competition over regulatory intervention in determining 
prices, products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation 
NMS, while adopting a series of steps to improve the current market 
model, the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in 
determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current 
regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably successful in 
promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most 
important to investors and listed companies.'' \23\
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    \23\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9, 2005), 
70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting 
Release'').
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    Likewise, in NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission 
\24\ (``NetCoalition'') the D.C. Circuit upheld the Commission's use of 
a market-based approach in evaluating the fairness of market data fees 
against a challenge claiming that Congress mandated a cost-based 
approach.\25\ As the court emphasized, the Commission ``intended in 
Regulation NMS that `market forces, rather than regulatory 
requirements' play a role in determining the market data . . . to be 
made available to investors and at what cost.'' \26\
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    \24\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525 (D.C. Cir. 2010).
    \25\ See NetCoalition, at 534-535.
    \26\ Id. at 537.
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    Further, ``[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow is 
`fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market 
system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-

[[Page 14390]]

dealers that act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of 
choices of where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can 
afford to take its market share percentages for granted' because `no 
exchange possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the 
execution of order flow from broker dealers'. . . .'' \27\ Although the 
court and the SEC were discussing the cash equities markets, the 
Exchange believes that these views apply with equal force to the 
options markets.
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    \27\ Id. at 539 (quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782-83 (December 9, 2008) 
(SR-NYSEArca-2006-21)).
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    The Exchange's proposal to increase the floor Options Transaction 
Charges for Professionals, Firms and Broker-Dealers from $0.25 to $0.75 
per contract for NDX and MNX is reasonable because the Exchange is 
assessing the same transaction fee whether the transaction occurred 
electronically or on the Exchange's trading floor for these market 
participants. The Exchange's increase for this proprietary product is 
competitive when compared with similar proprietary products.\28\
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    \28\ See Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated's 
(``CBOE'') Fees Schedule. Russell 2000 Index (``RUT'') options 
transactions on CBOE, except customers, are assessed a $0.45 per 
contract surcharge. CBOE assesses Professionals and Broker-Dealers a 
manual and AIM transaction fee of $0.25 per contract and a non-AIM 
transaction fee of $0.65 per contract. CBOE assesses Clearing Trade 
Permit Holders a transaction fee of $0.22 [sic] per contract, 
subject to a sliding scale.
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    With respect to Specialists and Market Makers, the electronic 
Options Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX will be $0.75 per contract, 
similar to other Non-Customer market participants. The Exchange 
believes that it is reasonable to assess Specialists and Market Markers 
the same electronic Options Transactions Charge in NDX and MNX as other 
market participants, except Customers. The Exchange's increase for this 
proprietary product is competitive when compared with similar 
proprietary products.\29\ The Specialist and Market Maker floor Options 
Transaction Charge is not being amended and will remain at $0.35 per 
contract. The Exchange will continue to assess a Specialist and Market 
Maker Options Transaction Charge of $0.35 per contract for floor 
transactions in NDX and MNX because the Exchange desires to incentivize 
Specialists and Market Makers to continue to make markets in the NDX 
and MNX products on the trading floor.
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    \29\ See CBOE's Fees Schedule. RUT transactions on CBOE, except 
customers, are assessed a $0.45 per contract surcharge. CBOE 
assesses market makers a manual and AIM transaction fee of $0.25 per 
contract for RUT transactions. CBOE assesses market makers a non-AIM 
electronic transaction fee of $0.65 per contract for RUT 
transactions.
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    The Exchange's proposal to increase the floor Options Transaction 
Charges for Professionals, Firms and Broker-Dealers from $0.25 to $0.75 
per contract for NDX and MNX is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory because the Exchange will uniformly assess a $0.75 per 
contract Options Transaction Charges for all market participants, 
except for Customers, Specialists and Market Makers transacting on the 
floor, regardless of whether the transaction is submitted 
electronically or on the floor. The Exchange believes that assessing 
Customers no transaction fee for NDX and MNX is equitable and not 
unfairly discriminatory because Customer orders bring valuable 
liquidity to the market, which liquidity benefits other market 
participants. Customer liquidity benefits all market participants by 
providing more trading opportunities, which attracts Specialists and 
Market Makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants 
in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional 
corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants.
    With respect to Specialists and Market Makers, the electronic 
Options Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX will be $0.75 per contract, 
similar to other market participants. While this fee is increasing from 
$0.25 to $0.75 per contract, the Exchange, as proposed herein, will no 
longer assess a Marketing Fee for transactions in NDX and MNX, thereby 
effectively lowering the rate. For example, today, a Specialist or 
Market Maker transacting an electronic order in NDX or MNX will be 
assessed a $0.25 per contract Options Transaction Charge in non-Penny 
Pilot Options, a $0.25 per contract Options Surcharge and a $0.70 per 
contract Marketing Fee for a total charge of $1.20. With this proposal, 
a Specialist or Market Maker transacting an electronic order for NDX or 
MNX will be assessed a $0.75 per contract Options Transaction Charge 
and a $0.25 per contract Options Surcharge for a total charge of $1.00. 
No Marketing Fee would be assessed. While all Non-Customer market 
participants would be assessed an electronic Options Transaction Charge 
of $0.75 per contract for NDX or MNX, a Specialist or Market Maker will 
be assessed a lower total transaction charge as explained above, 
compared to today.
    The Exchange believes that assessing Specialist and Market Makers a 
lower floor Options Transaction Charge of $0.35 per contract for 
options overlying NDX and MNX and a higher electronic Options 
Transaction Charge of $0.75 per contract is equitable and not unfairly 
discriminatory. Unlike other market participants, Specialists and 
Market Makers have obligations to the market and regulatory 
requirements, which normally do not apply to other market 
participants.\30\ They have obligations to make continuous markets, 
engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to 
the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and not make bids or 
offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course 
of dealings. The differentiation as between Specialists and Market 
Makers and all other market participants recognizes the differing 
contributions made to the liquidity and trading environment on the 
Exchange by these market participants. An increase in the activity of 
these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which 
may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other 
market participants. Further, Specialists and Market Makers have a time 
and place advantage on the trading floor with respect to orders, unlike 
other market participants. A Professional, Broker-Dealer or a Firm 
would necessarily require a floor broker to represent their trading 
interest on the trading floor as compared to a Specialist or Market 
Maker that could directly transact such orders on the trading floor. 
For these reasons, the Exchange is encouraging Specialists and Market 
Makers to transact NDX and MNX on the trading floor and recognizing the 
obligations of these market participants as compared to other market 
participants.
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    \30\ See Phlx Rule 1014.
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    The Exchange notes that the proposed rule changes are reasonable, 
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as NDX and MNX transition to 
exclusively listed products. Similar to other proprietary products, the 
Exchange seeks to recoup the operational costs \31\ for listing 
proprietary products. Also, pricing by symbol is a common practice on 
many U.S. options exchanges as a means to incentivize order flow to be 
sent to an exchange for execution in particular products. Other options 
exchanges price by symbol.\32\ Further, the Exchange notes that with 
its products, market participants are offered an opportunity to either 
transact options overlying NDX and MNX or separately execute options

[[Page 14391]]

overlying PowerShares QQQ Trust (``QQQ'').\33\ Offering products such 
as QQQ provides market participants with a variety of choices in 
selecting the product they desire to utilize to transact NDX and 
MNX.\34\ When exchanges are able to recoup costs associated with 
offering proprietary products, it incentivizes growth and competition 
for the innovation of additional products.
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    \31\ By way of example, in analyzing an obvious error, the 
Exchange would have additional data points available in establishing 
a theoretical price for a Multiply Listed Option as compared to a 
proprietary product, which requires additional analysis and 
administrative time to comply with Exchange rules to resolve an 
obvious error.
    \32\ See pricing for RUT on CBOE's Fees Schedule.
    \33\ QQQ is an exchange-traded fund based on the Nasdaq-100 
Index[supreg].
    \34\ By comparison, a market participant may trade options 
overlying RUT or separately the market participant has the choice of 
trading iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (``IWM'') Exchange-Traded 
Fund Shares options, which are also multiply listed.
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    The Exchange's proposal to eliminate the Marketing Fee for NDX and 
MNX is reasonable because in light of the transition of NDX and MNX to 
exclusively listed products and new pricing, the Exchange is increasing 
the Specialist and Marker Maker electronic Options Transaction Charges 
for options overlying NDX and MNX. By removing the Marketing Fee, 
Specialists and Market Makers will avoid an increase in costs.
    The Exchange's proposal to eliminate the Marketing Fee for NDX and 
MNX is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because in light of 
the transition of NDX and MNX to exclusively listed products and new 
pricing, the elimination of this fee will cause Specialists and Market 
Makers to continue to be assessed a lower total charge for the 
transaction as compared to other market participants.

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 not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In terms of inter-market 
competition, 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 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 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. In 
sum, if the changes proposed herein are unattractive to market 
participants, it is likely that the Exchange will lose market share as 
a result. Accordingly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed 
change will impair the ability of members or competing order execution 
venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets 
or will impose any inter-market burden on competition for the reasons 
stated above.
    The Exchange's proposal to increase the floor Options Transaction 
Charges for Professionals, Firms and Broker-Dealers from $0.25 to $0.75 
per contract for NDX and MNX does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition because the Exchange will uniformly assess a $0.75 
per contract Options Transaction Charges for all market participants, 
except for Customers and Specialists and Markets transacting on the 
floor, regardless of whether the transaction is submitted 
electronically or on the floor. The Exchange believes that assessing 
Customers no transaction fee for NDX and MNX does not impose an undue 
burden on intra-market competition because Customer orders bring 
valuable liquidity to the market, which liquidity benefits other market 
participants. Customer liquidity benefits all market participants by 
providing more trading opportunities, which attract Specialists and 
Market Makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants 
in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which may cause an additional 
corresponding increase in order flow from other market participants. It 
is also important to note that despite the fee increases with respect 
to NDX, members may continue to separately execute options overlying 
PowerShares QQQ Trust (``QQQ'').\35\
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    \35\ By comparison, a market participant may trade options 
overlying RUT or separately the market participant has the choice of 
trading iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (``IWM'') Exchange-Traded 
Fund Shares options, which are also multiply listed.
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    With respect to Specialists and Market Makers, increasing the 
electronic Options Transaction Charge for NDX and MNX from $0.25 to 
$0.75 per contract, the Exchange, as proposed herein, does not impose 
an undue burden on intra-market competition as the Exchange will no 
longer assess a Marketing Fee for on NDX and MNX, thereby effectively 
lowering the rate. The Exchange believes that assessing Specialists and 
Market Makers a lower floor Options Transaction Charge of $0.35 per 
contract for NDX and MNX and a higher electronic Options Transaction 
Charge of $0.75 per contract does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition. Unlike other market participants, Specialists and 
Market Makers have obligations to the market and regulatory 
requirements, which normally do not apply to other market 
participants.\36\ They have obligations to make continuous markets, 
engage in a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute to 
the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and not make bids or 
offers or enter into transactions that are inconsistent with a course 
of dealings. The differentiation as between Specialists and Market 
Makers and all other market participants recognizes the differing 
contributions made to the liquidity and trading environment on the 
Exchange by these market participants. An increase in the activity of 
these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads, which 
may cause an additional corresponding increase in order flow from other 
market participants. Further, Specialists and Market Makers have a time 
and place advantage on the trading floor with respect to orders, unlike 
other market participants. A Professional, Broker-Dealer or a Firm 
would necessarily require a floor broker to represent their trading 
interest on the trading floor as compared to a Specialist or Market 
Maker that could directly transact such orders on the trading floor. 
For these reasons, the Exchange is encouraging Specialists and Market 
Makers to transact NDX and MNX on the trading floor and recognizing the 
obligations of these market participants as compared to other market 
participants.
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    \36\ See note 28.
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    The Exchange's proposal to eliminate the Marketing Fee for NDX and 
MNX does not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because 
the elimination of this fee will cause Specialists and Market Makers to 
continue to be assessed a lower total charge for the transaction as 
compared to other market participants.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.\37\
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    \37\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the

[[Page 14392]]

Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it 
appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) Necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of 
investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the 
Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall 
institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be 
approved or disapproved.

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-Phlx-2017-24 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-Phlx-2017-24. 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-Phlx-2017-24, and should be 
submitted on or before April 10, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\38\
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    \38\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-05409 Filed 3-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P