Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares of the ETFS Asian Gold Trust, 77926-77928 [2010-31288]
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77926
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 14, 2010 / Notices
IV. Solicitation of Comments
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.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
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
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received comments on the proposed
rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change does not significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest, does not impose any significant
burden on competition, and, by its
terms, does not 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 6 and Rule 19b4(f)(6) thereunder.7
The Exchange has requested that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay. The Commission believes that
waiver of the operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest
because the proposal is substantially
similar to that of another exchange that
has been approved by the Commission.8
Therefore, the Commission designates
the proposal operative upon filing.9
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.
6 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the
Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent
to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and text of the proposed rule change,
at least five business days prior to the date of filing
of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time
as designated by the Commission. The Exchange
has satisfied the five-day pre-filing requirement.
8 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No.
61696 (March 12, 2010), 75 FR 13174 (March 18,
2010) (SR–CBOE–2010–005).
9 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, 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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7 17
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.10
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–31230 Filed 12–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–BX–2010–085 on the
subject line.
[Release No. 34–63464; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2010–95]
Paper Comments
December 8, 2010.
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Order Granting Accelerated
Approval of a Proposed Rule Change
To List and Trade Shares of the ETFS
Asian Gold Trust
On September 22, 2010, NYSE Arca,
Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,3 a proposed rule
All submissions should refer to File
change to list and trade shares (‘‘Shares’’)
Number SR–BX–2010–085. This file
of the ETFS Asian Gold Trust (‘‘Trust’’).
number should be included on the
The proposed rule change was
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the published in the Federal Register on
Commission process and review your
November 12, 2010.4 The Commission
comments more efficiently, please use
received no comments on the proposal.
only one method. The Commission will This order approves the proposed rule
post all comments on the Commission’s change on an accelerated basis.
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
I. Description of the Proposal
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
The Exchange proposes to list and
submission, all subsequent
trade Shares pursuant to NYSE Arca
amendments, all written statements
Equities Rule 8.201, which governs the
with respect to the proposed rule
listing and trading of Commodity-Based
change that are filed with the
Trust Shares. The Exchange represents
Commission, and all written
that the Shares satisfy the requirements
communications relating to the
of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than thereby qualify for listing on the
Exchange.
those that may be withheld from the
The Trust will issue Shares, which
public in accordance with the
represent units of fractional undivided
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
beneficial interest in and ownership of
available for Web site viewing and
the Trust. The investment objective of
printing in the Commission’s Public
the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the
Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE.,
performance of the price of gold bullion,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
less the expenses of the Trust’s
business days between the hours of 10
operations.5
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also
The Exchange deems the Shares to be
will be available for inspection and
equity securities, which subjects the
Shares to the Exchange’s existing rules
copying at the principal office of the
Exchange. All comments received will
10 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
be posted without change; the
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
Commission does not edit personal
2 15 U.S.C. 78a.
identifying information from
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
submissions. You should submit only
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63267
information that you wish to make
(November 8, 2010), 75 FR 69494 (‘‘Notice’’).
5 See the Registration Statement for the Trust on
available publicly. All submissions
Form S–1, filed with the Commission on July 22,
should refer to File Number SR–BX–
2010 (No. 333–168277) (‘‘Registration Statement’’).
2010–085 and should be submitted on
The descriptions of the Trust, the Shares and the
gold market contained in the Notice are based on
or before January 4, 2011.
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
PO 00000
the Registration Statement.
Frm 00106
Fmt 4703
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
governing the trading of equity
securities, and has represented that
trading of the Shares on the Exchange,
will occur in accordance with NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a). The
Exchange also has represented that it
has appropriate rules to facilitate
transactions in the Shares during all
trading sessions.
Additional details regarding the
Shares and Trust including, among
other things, creations and redemptions
of the Shares, the organization and
structure of the Trust, custody of the
Trust’s holdings, Trust expenses, Trust
termination events, the Singapore and
London gold markets, the gold futures
markets, and the gold markets generally,
the dissemination and availability of
information about the underlying assets,
trading halts, applicable trading rules,
surveillance, and the Information
Bulletin can be found in the Notice and/
or the Registration Statement.6
II. Discussion and Commission
Findings
After careful consideration, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change to list and trade the Shares
is consistent with the requirements of
the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to a national
securities exchange.7 In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act,8 which requires, among other
things, that the Exchange’s rules be
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices,
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and
facilitating transactions in securities, 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.
In addition, the Commission finds
that the proposal to list and trade the
Shares on the Exchange is consistent
with Section 11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the
Act,9 which sets forth Congress’ finding
that it is in the public interest and
appropriate for the protection of
investors and the maintenance of fair
and orderly markets to assure the
availability to brokers, dealers and
6 See
supra notes 4 and 5.
approving the proposed rule change, the
Commission notes that it has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
9 15 U.S.C. 78k–1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
7 In
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Jkt 223001
investors of information with respect to
quotations for and transactions in
securities. The Exchange states that
there is a considerable amount of gold
price and gold market information
available on public Web sites and
through professional and subscription
services as discussed below. For
example, investors may obtain on a 24hour basis gold pricing information
based on the spot price for an ounce of
gold from various financial information
service providers, such as Reuters and
Bloomberg. Reuters and Bloomberg
provide at no charge on their Web sites
delayed information regarding the spot
price of gold and last sale prices of gold
futures, as well as information about
news and developments in the gold
market. Reuters and Bloomberg also
offer a professional service to
subscribers for a fee that provides
information on gold prices directly from
market participants. An organization
named EBS provides an electronic
trading platform to institutions such as
bullion banks and dealers for the trading
of spot gold, as well as a feed of live
streaming prices to Reuters and
Moneyline Telerate subscribers.
Complete real-time data for gold futures
and options prices traded on the
COMEX are available by subscription
from Reuters and Bloomberg.
In addition, the Trust’s Web site will
provide the following information: (1)
An intraday indicative value (‘‘IIV’’) per
share for the Shares, updated at least
every 15 seconds, as calculated by the
Exchange or a third party financial data
provider, during the Exchange’s Core
Trading Session (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time); and (2) the
Creation Basket Deposit and net asset
value (‘‘NAV’’) of the Trust as calculated
each business day by the Sponsor. In
addition, the Web site for the Trust will
contain the following information, on a
per Share basis, for the Trust: (1) The
mid-point of the bid-ask price 10 at the
close of trading in relation to the NAV
as of the time the NAV is calculated
(‘‘Bid/Ask Price’’), and a calculation of
the premium or discount of such price
against such NAV; and (2) data in chart
format displaying the frequency
distribution of discounts and premiums
of the Bid/Ask Price against the NAV,
within appropriate ranges, for each of
the four previous calendar quarters. The
Web site for the Trust will also provide
the Trust’s prospectus, as well as the
two most recent reports to stockholders.
Finally, the Trust Web site will provide
10 The
bid-ask price of the Trust is determined
using the highest bid and lowest offer on the
Consolidated Tape as of the time of calculation of
the closing day NAV.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
77927
the last sale price of the Shares as traded
in the US market.
The Exchange will provide on its Web
site https://www.nyx.com a link to the
Trust’s Web site. In addition, the
Exchange will make available over the
Consolidated Tape quotation
information, trading volume, closing
prices and NAV for the Shares from the
previous day. The NYMEX also
provides delayed futures and options
information on current and past trading
sessions and market news free of charge
on its Web site. There are a variety of
other public Web sites providing
information on gold, ranging from those
specializing in precious metals to sites
maintained by major newspapers, such
as The Wall Street Journal. In addition,
the London AM Fix and London PM Fix
are publicly available at no charge at or
https://www.thebulliondesk.com.
The Commission further believes that
the proposal to list and trade the Shares
is reasonably designed to promote fair
disclosure of information that may be
necessary to price the Shares
appropriately and to prevent trading
when a reasonable degree of
transparency cannot be assured. The
Exchange states that it will obtain a
representation from the Trust that the
NAV will be calculated daily and made
available to all market participants at
the same time.11
Following the initial 12-month period
following commencement of trading, the
Exchange will consider the suspension
of trading in Shares or removing Shares
from listing if, among other things: (1)
The value of the underlying commodity
is no longer calculated or available on
at least a 15-second delayed basis from
a source unaffiliated with the sponsor,
Trust, custodian or the Exchange; (2) the
Exchange stops providing a hyperlink
on its Web site to any such unaffiliated
commodity value; or (3) the IIV is no
longer made available on at least a 15second delayed basis.12 Under NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a)(5), if the
Exchange becomes aware that the NAV
is not being disseminated to all market
participants at the same time, it must
halt trading on the NYSE Marketplace
until such time as the NAV is available
to all market participants. With respect
to trading halts, the Exchange may
consider all relevant factors in
exercising its discretion to halt or
suspend trading in the Shares. These
may include: (1) The extent to which
conditions in the underlying gold
11 See e-mail from Timothy J. Malinowski, Senior
Director, NYSE Euronext, to Christopher W. Chow,
Special Counsel, and Steve Varholik, Special
Counsel, Commission, dated December 1, 2010.
12 See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(e)(2).
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 239 / Tuesday, December 14, 2010 / Notices
markets have caused disruptions and/or
lack of trading; or (2) whether other
unusual conditions or circumstances
detrimental to the maintenance of a fair
and orderly market are present. In
addition, trading in Shares will be
subject to trading halts caused by
extraordinary market volatility pursuant
to the Exchange’s ‘‘circuit breaker’’
rule.13
Further, NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.201 sets forth certain restrictions on
ETP Holders acting as registered Market
Makers in the Shares to facilitate
surveillance. Pursuant to NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 8.201(g), an ETP Holder
acting as a registered Market Maker in
the Shares is required to provide the
Exchange with information relating to
its trading in the applicable underlying
commodity, related commodity futures
or options on commodity futures, or any
other related commodity derivatives.
Commentary .04 of NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 6.3 requires an ETP Holder acting
as a registered Market Maker in
Commodity-Based Trust Shares to
establish, maintain and enforce written
policies and procedures reasonably
designed to prevent the misuse of any
material nonpublic information with
respect to such products, any
components of the related products, any
physical asset or commodity underlying
the product, applicable currencies,
underlying indexes, related futures or
options on futures, and any related
derivative instruments.
In support of this proposal, the
Exchange has made representations,
including the following:
(1) The Shares will be subject to the
initial and continued listing criteria
under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.201(e).
(2) The Exchange’s surveillance
procedures are adequate to properly
monitor Exchange trading of the Shares
in all trading sessions and to deter and
detect violations of Exchange rules and
applicable federal securities laws. In
addition, the Exchange may obtain
trading information via the Intermarket
Surveillance Group (‘‘ISG’’) from other
exchanges who are members of the ISG.
(3) Prior to the commencement of
trading, the Exchange will inform its
ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin
of the special characteristics and risks
associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Bulletin
will discuss the following: (a) The
procedures for purchases and
redemptions of Shares in Baskets
(including noting that Shares are not
individually redeemable); (b) NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a), which
13 See
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
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Jkt 223001
imposes a duty of due diligence on its
ETP Holders to learn the essential facts
relating to every customer prior to
trading the Shares; (c) how information
regarding the IIV is disseminated; (d)
the requirement that ETP Holders
deliver a prospectus to investors
purchasing newly issued Shares prior to
or concurrently with the confirmation of
a transaction; (d) the possibility that
trading spreads and the resulting
premium or discount on the Shares may
widen as a result of reduced liquidity of
gold trading during the Core and Late
Trading Sessions after the close of the
major world gold markets; and (e)
trading information. In addition, the
Information Bulletin will reference that
the Trust is subject to various fees and
expenses described in the Registration
Statement. The Information Bulletin
will also reference the fact that there is
no regulated source of last sale
information regarding physical gold,
that the Commission has no jurisdiction
over the trading of gold as a physical
commodity, and that the CFTC has
regulatory jurisdiction over the trading
of gold futures contracts and options on
gold futures contracts.
This approval order is based on the
Exchange’s representations.
The Commission finds good cause,
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,14 for approving the proposed rule
change prior to the 45th day after
publication of notice in the Federal
Register. The Commission does not
believe that the Exchange’s proposal to
list and trade the Shares presents any
novel regulatory issues. The
Commission has previously approved
proposals by the Exchange to list and
trade shares of similar trusts that hold
gold bullion pursuant to NYSE Arca
Equities Rule 8.201.15 Additionally, the
Commission has previously approved
proposals to list and trade shares of
trusts that hold other commodities such
as platinum, palladium, and silver
pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.201.16
III. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,17 that the
proposed rule change (SR–NYSEArca–
2010–95) be, and it hereby is, approved
on an accelerated basis.
14 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
59895 (May 8, 2009), 74 FR 22993 (May 15, 2009)
(SR–NYSEArca–2009–40).
16 See Notice, supra note 4, 75 FR at 69495, nn.
5–11.
17 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(2).
15 See,
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.18
Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–31288 Filed 12–13–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–63471; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2010–108]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness
of Proposed Rule Change by NYSE
Arca, Inc. Amending Its Fee Schedule
December 8, 2010.
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 December
1, 2010, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’
or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ‘‘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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend its
Fee Schedule (the ‘‘Schedule’’). While
changes to the Schedule pursuant to this
proposal will be effective on filing, the
changes will become operative on
December 1, 2010. The text of the
proposed rule change is available at the
Exchange’s principal office, on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.sec.gov, at the Commission’s
Public Reference Room, and the
Exchange’s Web site at
http:www.nyse.com.
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,
18 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77926-77928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31288]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-63464; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2010-95]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change To List and Trade Shares
of the ETFS Asian Gold Trust
December 8, 2010.
On September 22, 2010, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``NYSE
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ a
proposed rule change to list and trade shares (``Shares'') of the ETFS
Asian Gold Trust (``Trust''). The proposed rule change was published in
the Federal Register on November 12, 2010.\4\ The Commission received
no comments on the proposal. This order approves the proposed rule
change on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63267 (November 8,
2010), 75 FR 69494 (``Notice'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Description of the Proposal
The Exchange proposes to list and trade Shares pursuant to NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.201, which governs the listing and trading of
Commodity-Based Trust Shares. The Exchange represents that the Shares
satisfy the requirements of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 and thereby
qualify for listing on the Exchange.
The Trust will issue Shares, which represent units of fractional
undivided beneficial interest in and ownership of the Trust. The
investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the
performance of the price of gold bullion, less the expenses of the
Trust's operations.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See the Registration Statement for the Trust on Form S-1,
filed with the Commission on July 22, 2010 (No. 333-168277)
(``Registration Statement''). The descriptions of the Trust, the
Shares and the gold market contained in the Notice are based on the
Registration Statement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange deems the Shares to be equity securities, which
subjects the Shares to the Exchange's existing rules
[[Page 77927]]
governing the trading of equity securities, and has represented that
trading of the Shares on the Exchange, will occur in accordance with
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.34(a). The Exchange also has represented that
it has appropriate rules to facilitate transactions in the Shares
during all trading sessions.
Additional details regarding the Shares and Trust including, among
other things, creations and redemptions of the Shares, the organization
and structure of the Trust, custody of the Trust's holdings, Trust
expenses, Trust termination events, the Singapore and London gold
markets, the gold futures markets, and the gold markets generally, the
dissemination and availability of information about the underlying
assets, trading halts, applicable trading rules, surveillance, and the
Information Bulletin can be found in the Notice and/or the Registration
Statement.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See supra notes 4 and 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Discussion and Commission Findings
After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed
rule change to list and trade the Shares is consistent with the
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
applicable to a national securities exchange.\7\ In particular, the
Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the
requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\8\ which requires, among
other things, that the Exchange's rules be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination
with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in
securities, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ In approving the proposed rule change, the Commission notes
that it has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency,
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, the Commission finds that the proposal to list and
trade the Shares on the Exchange is consistent with Section
11A(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act,\9\ which sets forth Congress' finding
that it is in the public interest and appropriate for the protection of
investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets to assure the
availability to brokers, dealers and investors of information with
respect to quotations for and transactions in securities. The Exchange
states that there is a considerable amount of gold price and gold
market information available on public Web sites and through
professional and subscription services as discussed below. For example,
investors may obtain on a 24-hour basis gold pricing information based
on the spot price for an ounce of gold from various financial
information service providers, such as Reuters and Bloomberg. Reuters
and Bloomberg provide at no charge on their Web sites delayed
information regarding the spot price of gold and last sale prices of
gold futures, as well as information about news and developments in the
gold market. Reuters and Bloomberg also offer a professional service to
subscribers for a fee that provides information on gold prices directly
from market participants. An organization named EBS provides an
electronic trading platform to institutions such as bullion banks and
dealers for the trading of spot gold, as well as a feed of live
streaming prices to Reuters and Moneyline Telerate subscribers.
Complete real-time data for gold futures and options prices traded on
the COMEX are available by subscription from Reuters and Bloomberg.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1)(C)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, the Trust's Web site will provide the following
information: (1) An intraday indicative value (``IIV'') per share for
the Shares, updated at least every 15 seconds, as calculated by the
Exchange or a third party financial data provider, during the
Exchange's Core Trading Session (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time); and (2) the Creation Basket Deposit and net asset value
(``NAV'') of the Trust as calculated each business day by the Sponsor.
In addition, the Web site for the Trust will contain the following
information, on a per Share basis, for the Trust: (1) The mid-point of
the bid-ask price \10\ at the close of trading in relation to the NAV
as of the time the NAV is calculated (``Bid/Ask Price''), and a
calculation of the premium or discount of such price against such NAV;
and (2) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of
discounts and premiums of the Bid/Ask Price against the NAV, within
appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters.
The Web site for the Trust will also provide the Trust's prospectus, as
well as the two most recent reports to stockholders. Finally, the Trust
Web site will provide the last sale price of the Shares as traded in
the US market.
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\10\ The bid-ask price of the Trust is determined using the
highest bid and lowest offer on the Consolidated Tape as of the time
of calculation of the closing day NAV.
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The Exchange will provide on its Web site https://www.nyx.com a link
to the Trust's Web site. In addition, the Exchange will make available
over the Consolidated Tape quotation information, trading volume,
closing prices and NAV for the Shares from the previous day. The NYMEX
also provides delayed futures and options information on current and
past trading sessions and market news free of charge on its Web site.
There are a variety of other public Web sites providing information on
gold, ranging from those specializing in precious metals to sites
maintained by major newspapers, such as The Wall Street Journal. In
addition, the London AM Fix and London PM Fix are publicly available at
no charge at or https://www.thebulliondesk.com.
The Commission further believes that the proposal to list and trade
the Shares is reasonably designed to promote fair disclosure of
information that may be necessary to price the Shares appropriately and
to prevent trading when a reasonable degree of transparency cannot be
assured. The Exchange states that it will obtain a representation from
the Trust that the NAV will be calculated daily and made available to
all market participants at the same time.\11\
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\11\ See e-mail from Timothy J. Malinowski, Senior Director,
NYSE Euronext, to Christopher W. Chow, Special Counsel, and Steve
Varholik, Special Counsel, Commission, dated December 1, 2010.
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Following the initial 12-month period following commencement of
trading, the Exchange will consider the suspension of trading in Shares
or removing Shares from listing if, among other things: (1) The value
of the underlying commodity is no longer calculated or available on at
least a 15-second delayed basis from a source unaffiliated with the
sponsor, Trust, custodian or the Exchange; (2) the Exchange stops
providing a hyperlink on its Web site to any such unaffiliated
commodity value; or (3) the IIV is no longer made available on at least
a 15-second delayed basis.\12\ Under NYSE Arca Equities Rule
7.34(a)(5), if the Exchange becomes aware that the NAV is not being
disseminated to all market participants at the same time, it must halt
trading on the NYSE Marketplace until such time as the NAV is available
to all market participants. With respect to trading halts, the Exchange
may consider all relevant factors in exercising its discretion to halt
or suspend trading in the Shares. These may include: (1) The extent to
which conditions in the underlying gold
[[Page 77928]]
markets have caused disruptions and/or lack of trading; or (2) whether
other unusual conditions or circumstances detrimental to the
maintenance of a fair and orderly market are present. In addition,
trading in Shares will be subject to trading halts caused by
extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange's ``circuit
breaker'' rule.\13\
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\12\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(e)(2).
\13\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.12.
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Further, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201 sets forth certain
restrictions on ETP Holders acting as registered Market Makers in the
Shares to facilitate surveillance. Pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule
8.201(g), an ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in the
Shares is required to provide the Exchange with information relating to
its trading in the applicable underlying commodity, related commodity
futures or options on commodity futures, or any other related commodity
derivatives. Commentary .04 of NYSE Arca Equities Rule 6.3 requires an
ETP Holder acting as a registered Market Maker in Commodity-Based Trust
Shares to establish, maintain and enforce written policies and
procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of any material
nonpublic information with respect to such products, any components of
the related products, any physical asset or commodity underlying the
product, applicable currencies, underlying indexes, related futures or
options on futures, and any related derivative instruments.
In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made representations,
including the following:
(1) The Shares will be subject to the initial and continued listing
criteria under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.201(e).
(2) The Exchange's surveillance procedures are adequate to properly
monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions and to
deter and detect violations of Exchange rules and applicable federal
securities laws. In addition, the Exchange may obtain trading
information via the Intermarket Surveillance Group (``ISG'') from other
exchanges who are members of the ISG.
(3) Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange will inform
its ETP Holders in an Information Bulletin of the special
characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares.
Specifically, the Information Bulletin will discuss the following: (a)
The procedures for purchases and redemptions of Shares in Baskets
(including noting that Shares are not individually redeemable); (b)
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 9.2(a), which imposes a duty of due diligence
on its ETP Holders to learn the essential facts relating to every
customer prior to trading the Shares; (c) how information regarding the
IIV is disseminated; (d) the requirement that ETP Holders deliver a
prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or
concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction; (d) the
possibility that trading spreads and the resulting premium or discount
on the Shares may widen as a result of reduced liquidity of gold
trading during the Core and Late Trading Sessions after the close of
the major world gold markets; and (e) trading information. In addition,
the Information Bulletin will reference that the Trust is subject to
various fees and expenses described in the Registration Statement. The
Information Bulletin will also reference the fact that there is no
regulated source of last sale information regarding physical gold, that
the Commission has no jurisdiction over the trading of gold as a
physical commodity, and that the CFTC has regulatory jurisdiction over
the trading of gold futures contracts and options on gold futures
contracts.
This approval order is based on the Exchange's representations.
The Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of
the Act,\14\ for approving the proposed rule change prior to the 45th
day after publication of notice in the Federal Register. The Commission
does not believe that the Exchange's proposal to list and trade the
Shares presents any novel regulatory issues. The Commission has
previously approved proposals by the Exchange to list and trade shares
of similar trusts that hold gold bullion pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities
Rule 8.201.\15\ Additionally, the Commission has previously approved
proposals to list and trade shares of trusts that hold other
commodities such as platinum, palladium, and silver pursuant to NYSE
Arca Equities Rule 8.201.\16\
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\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
\15\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59895 (May
8, 2009), 74 FR 22993 (May 15, 2009) (SR-NYSEArca-2009-40).
\16\ See Notice, supra note 4, 75 FR at 69495, nn. 5-11.
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III. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\17\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2010-95) be, and it
hereby is, approved on an accelerated basis.
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\17\ 15 U.S.C.78s(b)(2).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
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\18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Florence E. Harmon,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-31288 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P