[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22706-22708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09926]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80656; File No. SR-BX-2017-022]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 4770 
To Modify the Date of Appendix B Web Site Data Publication

May 11, 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 April 28, 2017, NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the 
proposed rule change as described in Items I and II 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 Rule 4770 to modify the date of 
Appendix B Web site data publication pursuant to the Regulation NMS 
Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program (``Plan'').
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqbx.cchwallstreet.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 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    Rule 4770(b) (Compliance with Data Collection Requirements) \3\ 
implements the data collection and Web site publication requirements of 
the Plan.\4\ Commentary .08 to Rule 4770 provides, among other things, 
that the requirement that the Exchange provide information to the SEC 
within 30 days following month end pursuant to Appendix B and C of the 
Plan shall commence at the beginning of the Pilot Period.\5\ Commentary 
.08 to Rule 4770 also provides that, with respect to data for the Pre-
Pilot and Pilot Period, the requirement that the Exchange or DEA make 
Appendix B data publicly available on the Exchange's or DEA's Web site 
shall commence on April 28, 2017.\6\
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    \3\ See Rule 4770(b). See also Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 77457 (March 28, 2016), 81 FR 18913 (April 1, 2016) (SR-BX-2016-
019).
    \4\ The Participants filed the Plan to comply with an order 
issued by the Commission on June 24, 2014. See Letter from Brendon 
J. Weiss, Vice President, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., to 
Secretary, Commission, dated August 25, 2014 (``SRO Tick Size Plan 
Proposal''). See Securities Exchange Act Release No 72460 (June 24, 
2014), 79 FR 36840 (June 30, 2014); see also Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 74892 (May 6, 2015), 80 FR 27513 (May 13, 2015).
    \5\ Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms have the 
meaning ascribed to them in Rule 4770.
    \6\ On November 30, 2016, the SEC granted exemptive relief to 
the Participants to, among other things, delay the publication of 
Web site data pursuant to Appendices B and C to the Plan until 
February 28, 2017, and to delay the ongoing Web site publication by 
ninety days such that data would be published within 120 calendar 
days following the end of the month. See Letter from David S. 
Shillman, Associate Director, Division of Trading and Markets, 
Commission, to Marcia E. Asquith, Senior Vice President and 
Corporate Secretary, FINRA, dated November 30, 2016; see also 
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79549 (December 14, 2016), 81 FR 
92886 (December 20, 2016) (SR-BX-2017-067). The SEC subsequently 
extended this exemptive relief to April 28, 2017. See Letter from 
David S. Shillman, Associate Director, Division of Trading and 
Markets, Commission, to Robert L.D. Colby, Executive Vice President 
and Chief Legal Officer, FINRA, dated February 28, 2017.
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    BX is now proposing to amend Commentary .08 to Rule 4770 to delay 
the date by which Pre-Pilot and Pilot Appendix B data is to be made 
publicly available on the Exchange's Web site from April 28, 2017 to 
August 31, 2017.\7\
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    \7\ Commentary .08 to Rule 4770 initially required that the 
Exchange make Pre-Pilot and Pilot Appendix B data publicly available 
by February 28, 2017. BX filed a proposed rule change to extend this 
date to April 28, 2017. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
80228 (March 13, 2017), 82 FR 14256 (March 17, 2017) (SR-BX-2017-
016).
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    In the SRO Tick Size Plan Proposal, the Participants stated that 
the public data will be made available for free ``on a disaggregated 
basis by trading center'' on the Web sites of the Participants and the 
Designated Examining Authorities.\8\ However, market participants have 
expressed confidentiality concerns regarding this approach for over-
the-counter (``OTC'') data.\9\ Thus, BX is filing the instant proposed 
rule change to provide additional time to assess a means of addressing 
the confidentiality concerns raised in connection with the publication 
of Appendix B data related to OTC activity in furtherance of the 
objectives of the Plan.\10\ Pursuant to this amendment, Appendix B data 
publication will be delayed until August 31, 2017. The Participants 
anticipate filing additional proposed rule changes to address Appendix 
B data publication.
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    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73511 (November 3, 
2014), 79 FR 66423 (November 7, 2014) (Notice of Filing of Proposed 
National Market System Plan to Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program 
on a One-Year Pilot Basis, File No. 4-657) (``Tick Size Plan 
Proposal'').
    \9\ See letters from Adam C. Cooper, Senior Managing Director 
and Chief Legal Officer, Citadel Securities, to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Commission, dated December 21, 2016 (``Citadel letter''); 
and William Hebert, Managing Director, Financial Information Forum, 
to Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary, Commission, dated December 
21, 2016 (``FIF letter'').
    \10\ In connection with its filing to implement a similar change 
in its rules, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. is 
also is submitting an exemptive request to the SEC on behalf of all 
Plan Participants requesting relief from the relevant requirements 
of the Plan.
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    BX has filed the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness. 
The operative date of the proposed rule change will be the date of 
filing.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\11\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just 
and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, 
and, in general to protect investors and the public interest. BX also 
believes that the proposal is consistent with Section

[[Page 22707]]

6(b)(8) of the Act,\13\ which requires that Exchange rules not impose 
any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate.
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    \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
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    The Plan is designed to allow the Commission, market participants, 
and the public to study and assess the impact of increment conventions 
on the liquidity and trading of the common stock of small-
capitalization companies. BX believes that this proposal is consistent 
with the Act because it is in furtherance of the objectives of Section 
VII(A) of the Plan in that it is designed to provide BX with additional 
time to assess a means of addressing the confidentiality concerns 
raised in connection with the publication of Appendix B data, to comply 
with the Plan's requirements that the data made publicly available will 
not identify the trading center that generated the data.

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. The proposed rule change 
implements the provisions of the Plan, and all Participants are filing 
similar proposals to extend the publication date of Appendix B data.

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

    Because the foregoing 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 for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \14\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\15\
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19(b)-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. 
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission may 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has filed 
the proposed rule change for immediate effectiveness and has requested 
that the Commission waive the requirement that the proposed rule change 
not become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing so that 
it may become operative on the date of filing.
    The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change is intended to 
mitigate confidentiality concerns raised in connection with Section 
VII(A) of the Plan, which provides that the data made publicly 
available will not identify the Trading Center that generated the data. 
The Exchange states that the additional time would allow consideration 
of a methodology to mitigate concerns related to the publication of 
Appendix B data.\16\
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    \16\ The Commission recently approved a FINRA proposal to 
implement an aggregated, anonymous grouped masking methodology for 
the publication of Appendix B data related to OTC trading activity. 
See Securities Exchange Release No. 80551, (April 28, 2017), 82 FR 
20948 (May 4, 2017). See also Letter from David S. Shillman, 
Associate Director, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, to 
Marcia E. Asquith, Executive Vice President FINRA, dated April 28, 
2017.
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    The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest 
because it will synchronize the timing for publication of Appendix B 
data for all Participants, which should enhance the consistency and 
usefulness of the data.\17\ Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the 
30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change to be 
operative on the date of filing.\18\
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    \17\ The Commission recently granted exemptive relief to the 
Participants to delay the publication of their Appendix B data until 
August 31, 2017. See Letter from David S. Shillman, Associate 
Director, Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, to Jennifer 
Piorko Mitchell, Vice President and Deputy Corporate Secretary, 
FINRA, dated April 28, 2017. The Commission notes that other 
Participants have submitted proposed rule changes to delay the 
publication of Appendix B data until August 31, 2017. See e.g., SR-
BatsBYX-2017-10; SR-BatsBZX-2017-31; SR-BatsEDGA-2017-10; SR-
BatsEDGX-2017-19; SR-CHX-2017-07; SR-FINRA-2017-010; SR-IEX-2017-12; 
SR-NASDAQ-2017-044; SR-Phlx-2017-33; SR-NYSE-2017-19; SR-NYSEArca-
2017-49; SR-NYSEMKT-2017-24.
    \18\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the 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 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-BX-2017-022 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-BX-2017-022. 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-BX-2017-022 and should be 
submitted on or before June 7, 2017.


[[Page 22708]]


    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-09926 Filed 5-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P