Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule Relating to Qualified Contingent Cross (“QCC”) Transactions Fees, Effective November 1, 2014, 68321-68323 [2014-26945]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
and not unfairly discriminatory because
the Exchange would assess the same
Fixed Fee that is proposed when routing
Customer orders to a NASDAQ OMX
exchange. All market participants that
route an order to an away market, other
than PHLX or BX Options, would be
assessed a uniform fee of $0.13 per
contract if the away market (nonNASDAQ OMX exchange) pays a rebate.
These proposals would apply uniformly
to all market participants when routing
to an away market that pays a rebate,
other than PHLX and BX Options.
Finally, market participants may
submit orders to the Exchange as
ineligible for routing or ‘‘DNR’’ to avoid
Routing Fees.12 Also, orders are routed
to an away market based on price first.13
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
NASDAQ 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 Exchange does
not believe that the proposal creates a
burden on intra-market competition
because the Exchange is applying the
same Routing Fees to all market
participants in the same manner
dependent on the routing venue, with
the exception of Customers. The
Exchange will continue to assess
separate Customer Routing Fees.
Customers will continue to receive the
lowest fees as compared to nonCustomers when routing orders, as is
the case today. Other options exchanges
also assess lower Routing Fees for
customer orders as compared to noncustomer orders.14
The Exchange’s proposal would allow
the Exchange to continue to recoup its
costs when routing Customer orders to
PHLX or BX Options as well as away
markets that pay a rebate when such
orders are designated as available for
routing by the market participant. The
Exchange continues to pass along
savings realized by leveraging NASDAQ
OMX’s infrastructure and scale to
market participants when Customer
orders are routed to PHLX and BX
Options and is providing those savings
to all market participants. Today, other
options exchanges also assess fixed
routing fees to recoup costs incurred by
12 See NASDAQ Rules at Chapter VI, Section
11(e) (Order Routing).
13 See Chapter VI, Section 11 of the BX Options
and NOM Rules.
14 BATS assesses lower customer routing fees as
compared to non-customer routing fees per the
away market. For example BATS assesses ISE
customer routing fees of $0.52 per contract and an
ISE non-customer routing fee of $0.65 per contract.
See BATS BZX Exchange Fee Schedule.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
the exchange to route orders to away
markets.15
Market participants may submit
orders to the Exchange as ineligible for
routing or ‘‘DNR’’ to avoid Routing
Fees.16 It is important to note that when
orders are routed to an away market
they are routed based on price first.17
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.18 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 (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NASDAQ–2014–098 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–NASDAQ–2014–098. 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
15 See CBOE’s Fees Schedule and ISE’s Fee
Schedule.
16 See note 12.
17 See note 13.
18 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
PO 00000
Frm 00113
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
68321
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://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–
NASDAQ–2014–098 and should be
submitted on or before December 5,
2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.19
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–26946 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73557; File No. SR–
NYSEArca–2014–131]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed
Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca
Options Fee Schedule Relating to
Qualified Contingent Cross (‘‘QCC’’)
Transactions Fees, Effective November
1, 2014
November 7, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on October
31, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) a
19 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
68322
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
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.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the
NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule
relating to Qualified Contingent Cross
transaction fees, effective November 1,
2014. The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange’s
Web site at www.nyse.com, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
self-regulatory organization included
statements concerning the purpose of,
and basis for, the proposed rule change
and discussed any comments it received
on the proposed rule change. The text
of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
The Exchange has prepared summaries,
set forth in sections A, B, and C below,
of the most significant parts of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to modify
the Exchange’s fees for QCC
transactions. The Exchange proposes to
implement the fee changes on
November 1, 2014.
Currently, the Exchange charges $0.10
per contract side for QCC transactions,
regardless of whether a Customer is part
of the transaction. The Exchange
proposes to adopt a differentiated fee
schedule and to instead charge $0.00
per contract side for Customers and
$0.20 per contract side for nonCustomers.
As is the case today, the Exchange
would continue to offer a Floor Broker
rebate of $0.035 per contract side for
executed QCC orders, but proposes to
introduce one exception: there would be
no Floor Broker rebate for executions of
QCC orders where there are Customers
on both sides of the transaction. For
example, a QCC transaction where a
Customer buying 1,000 ABC Dec 40
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
Calls trades with a different Customer
selling 1,000 ABC Dec 40 Calls would
be ineligible for the Floor Broker rebate.
However, a QCC transaction with a
Customer on only one side, executed by
a Floor Broker, would continue to
receive the rebate.
The Exchange believes that
restructuring the QCC fees as proposed
would allow OTP Holders and OTP
Firms to compete on a more equal
footing with other exchanges offering
similar QCC fees.
The Exchange is also proposing a nonsubstantive, formatting change to the
section of the fee schedule that applies
to QCC transactions. The Exchange is
proposing to re-format the ‘‘QUALIFIED
CONTINGENT CROSS TRANSACTION
FEES’’ section of the Fee Schedule as a
table with distinct rows and columns to
make the Fee Schedule easier for
participants to navigate.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,3 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,4 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.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rates are reasonable, equitable
and not unfairly discriminatory as they
are consistent with those charged by
other markets.5 The Exchange believes
that proposed rates are likewise not
unreasonable, inequitable or unfairly
discriminatory because the same fee
would be charged to all non-Customers
alike. It is also not unreasonable,
inequitable or unfairly discriminatory to
impose no charge on Customers for QCC
transactions because this change would
enable non-Customers to better compete
for (and, thus, to better attract) Customer
business.
In addition, the Exchange believes
that it is not unreasonable, inequitable
or unreasonably discriminatory to
exempt from the Floor Broker rebate
those QCC transactions where there are
Customers on both sides of the
transaction. A rebate is the refunding of
a portion of an assessed fee; however,
when there are Customers on both sides
of a QCC transaction, the Exchange is
3 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
5 See e.g., NASDAQ OMX LLC [sic] Pricing
Schedule, available here, https://
www.nasdaqtrader.com/
Micro.aspx?id=PHLXPricing.
4 15
PO 00000
Frm 00114
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
not assessing any fees. Accordingly, the
Exchange believes that not offering a
rebate for QCC transactions on which a
fee that [sic] was never assessed in the
first instance, cannot be viewed as
unreasonable, inequitable or
unreasonably discriminatory.
For these 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,6 the Exchange does not believe
that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
The Exchange believes the proposed fee
change is reasonably designed to be fair
and equitable, and therefore, will not
unduly burden any particular group of
market participants trading on the
`
Exchange vis-a-vis another group. The
Exchange believes the proposed change
to offer QCC transactions to Customers
free of charge may enhance the
competitive position of Non-Customers
and allow OTP Holders and OTP Firms
to compete more effectively for
Customer QCC orders. In addition, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
changes will enhance the competiveness
of the Exchange relative to other
exchanges which offer comparable
differentiated fees for QCC
transactions.7
The Exchange notes that it operates in
a highly competitive market in which
market participants can readily favor
competing venues. In such an
environment, the Exchange must
continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees and credits to remain
competitive with other exchanges. For
the reasons described above, the
Exchange believes that the proposed fee
change reflects this competitive
environment.
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) 8 of the Act and
6 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
supra n. 5.
8 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
7 See
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–4 9
thereunder, because it establishes a due,
fee, or other charge imposed by the
Exchange.
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) 10 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change 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:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
NYSEArca–2014–131 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–NYSEArca–2014–131. 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 (https://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
9 17
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
10 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
68323
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 such
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
offices 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–
NYSEArca–2014–131, and should be
submitted on or before December 5,
2014.
proposed rule change was published for
comment in the Federal Register on
August 13, 2014.4 The Commission
received one comment letter on the
proposal.5 On September 24, 2014,
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Exchange Act,6 the Commission
designated a longer period within which
to approve the proposed rule change,
disapprove the proposed rule change, or
institute proceedings to determine
whether to disapprove the proposed
rule change.7
This Order disapproves the proposed
rule change.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
The Exchange proposes to: (1) Add
new BATS Rule 14.11(k) which would
permit the listing of Managed Portfolio
Shares; and (2) list and trade shares
(‘‘Shares’’) of the following funds (each
a ‘‘Fund’’ and, collectively, the
‘‘Funds’’) under the proposed rule:
Large Cap Fund, Large Cap Value Fund,
Large Cap Growth Fund, Large/Mid Cap
Fund, Large/Mid Cap Value Fund,
Large/Mid Cap Growth Fund, Large Cap
Long-Short Fund, Large Cap Value
Long-Short Fund, Large Cap Growth
Long-Short Fund, Large/Mid Cap LongShort Fund, and Large/Mid Cap Value
Long-Short Fund, Large/Mid Cap
Growth Long-Short Fund, and Large Cap
Growth Active Insights Fund. The
discussion below summarizes the
Exchange’s proposal, details of which
are described in the Notice.8
[FR Doc. 2014–26945 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–73559; File No. SR–BATS–
2014–018)
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS
Exchange, Inc.; Order Disapproving a
Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Rule
14.11(k) to List Managed Portfolio
Shares and to List and Trade Shares of
Certain Funds of the Spruce ETF Trust
November 7, 2014
On August 4, 2014, BATS Exchange,
Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BATS’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a
proposed rule change to adopt new
BATS Rule 14.11(k), which would
permit the Exchange to list Managed
Portfolio Shares, which are shares of
actively managed exchange-traded
funds (‘‘ETFs’’) for which the portfolio
is disclosed quarterly, and to list and
trade shares of certain funds of the
Spruce ETF Trust (‘‘Trust’’) 3 under
proposed BATS Rule 14.11(k). The
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 The Commission notes that the Trust, which
would be the issuer of the funds, filed an
Application for an Order under Section 6(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (‘‘1940 Act’’) and
rules thereunder (File No. 812–13953), dated
September 1, 2011 (‘‘Exemptive Application’’). The
Commission published notice of this application
(‘‘Notice of an Application for Exemptive Relief’’)
on October 21, 2014. See Investment Company Act
Release No. 31301 (Oct. 21, 2014), 79 FR 63964
(Oct. 27, 2014).
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00115
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
I. Description of the Proposal
A. Proposed Listing Rules
The Exchange’s proposal would
define the term ‘‘Managed Portfolio
Share’’ as a security that (a) is issued by
an investment company (‘‘Investment
Company’’) organized as an open-end
management investment company or
similar entity, that invests in a portfolio
of securities selected by the Investment
Company’s investment adviser
consistent with the Investment
Company’s investment objectives and
policies; (b) is issued in a
predetermined Creation Unit 9 size in
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72787
(Aug. 7, 2014), 79 FR 47488 (‘‘Notice’’).
5 See Letter from Gary L. Gastineau, President,
ETF Consultants.com, Inc., to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Commission, dated Aug. 30, 2014
(‘‘Comment Letter’’).
6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73199,
79 FR 58844 (September 30, 2014). The
Commission designated November 11, 2014 as the
date by which it should approve, disapprove, or
institute proceedings to determine whether to
disapprove the proposed rule change.
8 See Notice, supra note 4.
9 Under the proposal, a ‘‘Creation Unit’’ is a
specified minimum number of Managed Portfolio
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
Continued
14NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68321-68323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26945]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-73557; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2014-131]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing
of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule
Relating to Qualified Contingent Cross (``QCC'') Transactions Fees,
Effective November 1, 2014
November 7, 2014.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on October 31, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``NYSE
Arca'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
``Commission'') a
[[Page 68322]]
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule
relating to Qualified Contingent Cross transaction fees, effective
November 1, 2014. The text of the proposed rule change is available on
the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to modify the Exchange's fees for QCC
transactions. The Exchange proposes to implement the fee changes on
November 1, 2014.
Currently, the Exchange charges $0.10 per contract side for QCC
transactions, regardless of whether a Customer is part of the
transaction. The Exchange proposes to adopt a differentiated fee
schedule and to instead charge $0.00 per contract side for Customers
and $0.20 per contract side for non-Customers.
As is the case today, the Exchange would continue to offer a Floor
Broker rebate of $0.035 per contract side for executed QCC orders, but
proposes to introduce one exception: there would be no Floor Broker
rebate for executions of QCC orders where there are Customers on both
sides of the transaction. For example, a QCC transaction where a
Customer buying 1,000 ABC Dec 40 Calls trades with a different Customer
selling 1,000 ABC Dec 40 Calls would be ineligible for the Floor Broker
rebate. However, a QCC transaction with a Customer on only one side,
executed by a Floor Broker, would continue to receive the rebate.
The Exchange believes that restructuring the QCC fees as proposed
would allow OTP Holders and OTP Firms to compete on a more equal
footing with other exchanges offering similar QCC fees.
The Exchange is also proposing a non-substantive, formatting change
to the section of the fee schedule that applies to QCC transactions.
The Exchange is proposing to re-format the ``QUALIFIED CONTINGENT CROSS
TRANSACTION FEES'' section of the Fee Schedule as a table with distinct
rows and columns to make the Fee Schedule easier for participants to
navigate.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\3\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the proposed rates are reasonable,
equitable and not unfairly discriminatory as they are consistent with
those charged by other markets.\5\ The Exchange believes that proposed
rates are likewise not unreasonable, inequitable or unfairly
discriminatory because the same fee would be charged to all non-
Customers alike. It is also not unreasonable, inequitable or unfairly
discriminatory to impose no charge on Customers for QCC transactions
because this change would enable non-Customers to better compete for
(and, thus, to better attract) Customer business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See e.g., NASDAQ OMX LLC [sic] Pricing Schedule, available
here, https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Micro.aspx?id=PHLXPricing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, the Exchange believes that it is not unreasonable,
inequitable or unreasonably discriminatory to exempt from the Floor
Broker rebate those QCC transactions where there are Customers on both
sides of the transaction. A rebate is the refunding of a portion of an
assessed fee; however, when there are Customers on both sides of a QCC
transaction, the Exchange is not assessing any fees. Accordingly, the
Exchange believes that not offering a rebate for QCC transactions on
which a fee that [sic] was never assessed in the first instance, cannot
be viewed as unreasonable, inequitable or unreasonably discriminatory.
For these 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,\6\ the Exchange does
not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the proposed fee change is
reasonably designed to be fair and equitable, and therefore, will not
unduly burden any particular group of market participants trading on
the Exchange vis-[agrave]-vis another group. The Exchange believes the
proposed change to offer QCC transactions to Customers free of charge
may enhance the competitive position of Non-Customers and allow OTP
Holders and OTP Firms to compete more effectively for Customer QCC
orders. In addition, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes
will enhance the competiveness of the Exchange relative to other
exchanges which offer comparable differentiated fees for QCC
transactions.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
\7\ See supra n. 5.
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The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market
in which market participants can readily favor competing venues. In
such an environment, the Exchange must continually review, and consider
adjusting, its fees and credits to remain competitive with other
exchanges. For the reasons described above, the Exchange believes that
the proposed fee change reflects this competitive environment.
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) \8\ of the Act and
[[Page 68323]]
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 \9\ thereunder, because it
establishes a due, fee, or other charge imposed by the Exchange.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \10\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2014-131 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-NYSEArca-2014-131. 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 (https://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 such filing also will be available
for inspection and copying at the principal offices 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-NYSEArca-2014-
131, and should be submitted on or before December 5, 2014.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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\11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-26945 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P