Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule, 9837-9839 [2015-03659]
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 9837-9839] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2015-03659] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-74288; File No. SR-MIAX-2015-08] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule February 18, 2015. Pursuant to the provisions of 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 February 5, 2015, Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (``MIAX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') a 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 is filing a proposal to amend the MIAX Options Fee Schedule. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at https://www.miaxoptions.com/filter/wotitle/rule_filing, at MIAX's principal office, 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 The Exchange proposes to amend the Priority Customer Rebate Program (the ``Program'') \3\ to amend the option classes that qualify for the enhanced per contract credit for transactions in MIAX Select Symbols.\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 73328 (October 9, 2014), 79 FR 62230 (October 16, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-50); 72567 (July 8, 2014), 79 FR 40818 (July 14, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-34); 72356 (June 10, 2014), 79 FR 34384 (June 16, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-26); 71698 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15185 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-12); 71700 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15188 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014- 13); 71283 (January 10, 2014), 79 FR 2914 (January 16, 2014) (SR- MIAX-2013-63); 71009 (December 6, 2013), 78 FR 75629 (December 12, 2013) (SR-MIAX-2013-56). \4\ The term ``MIAX Select Symbols'' currently means options overlying AA, AAL, AAPL, AIG, AMZN, AZN, BABA, BP, C, CBS, CLF, CMCSA, EBAY, EEM, EFA, EWJ, FB, FCX, FXI, GE, GILD, GLD, GM, GOOG, GOOGL, HTZ, INTC, IWM, IYR, JCP, JPM, KO, MO, MRK, NFLX, NOK, NQ, PBR, PCLN, PFE, PG, QCOM, QQQ, S, SIRI, SPY, SUNE, T, TSLA, USO, VALE, WAG, WFC, WMB, WY, XHB, XLE, XLF, XLP, XLU and XOM. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Under the Program, the Exchange credits each Member the per contract amount set forth in the Fee Schedule resulting from each Priority Customer \5\ order transmitted by that Member which is executed on the Exchange in all multiply-listed option classes (excluding mini-options, Priority Customer-to-Priority Customer Orders, PRIME AOC Responses, PRIME Contra-side Orders, PRIME Orders for which both the Agency and Contra-side Order are Priority Customers, and executions related to contracts that are routed to one or more exchanges in connection with the Options Order Protection and Locked/ Crossed Market Plan referenced in MIAX Rule 1400), provided the Member meets certain volume thresholds in a month. For each Priority Customer order submitted into the PRIME Auction as a PRIME Agency Order, MIAX shall credit each member at the separate per contract rate for PRIME Agency Orders; however, no rebates will be paid if the PRIME Agency Order executes against a Contra-side Order which is also a Priority Customer. The volume thresholds are calculated based on the customer average daily volume over the course of the month. Volume is recorded for and credits are delivered to the Member Firm that submits the order to the Exchange. The Exchange aggregates the contracts resulting from Priority Customer orders transmitted and executed electronically on the Exchange from affiliated Members for purposes of the thresholds above, provided there is at least 75% common ownership between the firms as reflected on each firm's Form BD, Schedule A. In the event of a MIAX System outage or other interruption of electronic trading on MIAX, the Exchange adjusts the national customer volume in multiply-listed options for the duration of the outage. A Member may request to receive its credit under the Program as a separate direct payment. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ The term ``Priority Customer'' means a person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) does not place more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial accounts(s). See MIAX Rule 100. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange proposes modifying the Program to amend the option classes that qualify for a per contract credit for transactions in MIAX Select Symbols. MIAX Select Symbols currently include options overlying AA, AAL, AAPL, AIG, AMZN, AZN, BABA, BP, C, CBS, CLF, CMCSA, EBAY, EEM, EFA, EWJ, FB, FCX, FXI, GE, GILD, GLD, GM, GOOG, GOOGL, HTZ, INTC, IWM, IYR, JCP, JPM, KO, MO, MRK, NFLX, NOK, NQ, PBR, PCLN, PFE, PG, QCOM, QQQ, S, SIRI, SPY, SUNE, T, TSLA, USO, VALE, WAG, WFC, WMB, WY, XHB, XLE, XLF, XLP, XLU and XOM. The Exchange proposes to modify the MIAX Select Symbols to add AMAT, AMD, BA, BBRY, BIDU, CAT, CELG, CVX, DAL, GPRO, HAL, JNJ, KMI, ORCL, RIG, VXX, X, XOP, and YHOO. The Exchange also proposes to modify the MIAX Select Symbols to remove AZN, CMCSA, EFA, EWJ, FXI, GOOG, IYR, PCLN, SIRI, and XLU. Thus, the Exchange will credit each Member the per contract rate set forth in the table located in the Fee Schedule resulting from each Priority Customer order transmitted by that Member executed on Exchange in AA, AAL, AAPL, AIG, AMAT, AMD, AMZN, BA, BABA, BBRY, BIDU, BP, C, CAT, CBS, CELG, CLF, CVX, DAL, EBAY, EEM, FB, FCX, GE, GILD, GLD, GM, GOOGL, GPRO, HAL, HTZ, INTC, IWM, JCP, JNJ, JPM, KMI, KO, MO, MRK, NFLX, NOK, NQ, ORCL, PBR, PFE, PG, QCOM, QQQ, RIG, S, SPY, SUNE, T, TSLA, USO, VALE, VXX, WAG, WFC, WMB, WY, X, XHB, XLE, XLF, XLP, XOM, XOP, and YHOO. The per contract credit would be in lieu of the applicable credit that would otherwise apply to the transaction based on the volume thresholds. The Exchange notes that all the other aspects of the Program would continue to apply to the credits (e.g., the aggregation of volume of affiliates, exclusion of contracts that are routed to away [[Page 9838]] exchanges, exclusion of mini-options . . . etc.).\6\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ See MIAX Options Fee Schedule, p. 3. See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 72798 (August 8, 2014), 79 FR 47695 (August 14, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-41); 72567 (July 8, 2014), 79 FR 40818 (July 14, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-34); 72356 (June 10, 2014), 79 FR 34384 (June 16, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-26); 71698 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15185 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-12); 71700 (March 12, 2014), 79 FR 15188 (March 18, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2014-13); 71283 (January 10, 2014), 79 FR 2914 (January 16, 2014) (SR-MIAX-2013-63); 71009 (December 6, 2013), 78 FR 75629 (December 12, 2013) (SR-MIAX- 2013-56). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For example, if Member Firm ABC, Inc. (``ABC'') has enough Priority Customer contracts to achieve 0.5% of the national customer volume in multiply-listed option contracts during the month of October, ABC will receive a credit of $0.15 for each Priority Customer contract executed in the month of October. However, any qualifying Priority Customer transactions during such month that occurred in AA, AAL, AAPL, AIG, AMAT, AMD, AMZN, BA, BABA, BBRY, BIDU, BP, C, CAT, CBS, CELG, CLF, CVX, DAL, EBAY, EEM, FB, FCX, GE, GILD, GLD, GM, GOOGL, GPRO, HAL, HTZ, INTC, IWM, JCP, JNJ, JPM, KMI, KO, MO, MRK, NFLX, NOK, NQ, ORCL, PBR, PFE, PG, QCOM, QQQ, RIG, S, SPY, SUNE, T, TSLA, USO, VALE, VXX, WAG, WFC, WMB, WY, X, XHB, XLE, XLF, XLP, XOM, XOP, and YHOO would be credited at the $0.20 per contact rate versus the standard credit of $0.15. Similarly, if Member Firm XYZ, Inc. (``XYZ'') has enough Priority Customer contracts to achieve 2.5% of the national customer volume in multiply-listed option contracts during the month of October, XYZ will receive a credit of $0.18 for each Priority Customer contract executed in the month of October. However, any qualifying Priority Customer transactions during such month that occurred in AA, AAL, AAPL, AIG, AMAT, AMD, AMZN, BA, BABA, BBRY, BIDU, BP, C, CAT, CBS, CELG, CLF, CVX, DAL, EBAY, EEM, FB, FCX, GE, GILD, GLD, GM, GOOGL, GPRO, HAL, HTZ, INTC, IWM, JCP, JNJ, JPM, KMI, KO, MO, MRK, NFLX, NOK, NQ, ORCL, PBR, PFE, PG, QCOM, QQQ, RIG, S, SPY, SUNE, T, TSLA, USO, VALE, VXX, WAG, WFC, WMB, WY, X, XHB, XLE, XLF, XLP, XOM, XOP, and YHOO would be credited at the $0.20 per contact rate versus the standard credit of $0.18. The purpose of the amendment to the Program is to further encourage Members to direct greater Priority Customer trade volume to the Exchange in these high volume symbols. Increased Priority Customer volume will provide for greater liquidity, which benefits all market participants on the Exchange. The practice of incentivizing increased retail customer order flow in order to attract professional liquidity providers (Market-Makers) is, and has been, commonly practiced in the options markets. As such, marketing fee programs,\7\ and customer posting incentive programs,\8\ are based on attracting public customer order flow. The practice of providing additional incentives to increase order flow in high volume symbols is, and has been, commonly practiced in the options markets.\9\ The Program similarly intends to attract Priority Customer order flow, which will increase liquidity, thereby providing greater trading opportunities and tighter spreads for other market participants and causing a corresponding increase in order flow from such other market participants in these select symbols. Increasing the number of orders sent to the Exchange will in turn provide tighter and more liquid markets, and therefore attract more business overall. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ See MIAX Fee Schedule, Section 1(b). \8\ See NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 4 (section titled ``Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and Qualifications for Executions in Penny Pilot Issues''). \9\ See International Securities Exchange, LLC, Schedule of Fees, p. 6 (providing reduced fee rates for order flow in Select Symbols); NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Pricing Schedule, Section I (providing a rebate for adding liquidity in SPY); NYSE Arca, Inc. Fees Schedule, page 4 (section titled ``Customer Monthly Posting Credit Tiers and Qualifications for Executions in Penny Pilot Issues''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The credits paid out as part of the program will be drawn from the general revenues of the Exchange.\10\ The Exchange calculates volume thresholds on a monthly basis. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ Despite providing credits under the Program, the Exchange represents that it will continue to have adequate resources to fund its regulatory program and fulfill its responsibilities as a self- regulatory organization while the Program will be in effect. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \11\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \12\ in particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of reasonable fees and other charges among Exchange members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange believes that the proposal to modify the Program to expand the number of option classes that qualify for the credit for transactions in MIAX Select Symbols is fair, equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory. The credit for transactions in the select symbols is reasonably designed because it will incent providers of Priority Customer order flow to send that Priority Customer order flow to the Exchange in order to receive a credit in a manner that enables the Exchange to improve its overall competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all market participants. The Program which provides increased incentives in high volume select symbols is also reasonably designed to increase the competitiveness of the Exchange with other options exchanges that also offer increased incentives to higher volume symbols. The proposed changes to the rebate Program are fair and equitable and not unreasonably discriminatory because it will apply equally to all Priority Customer orders in the select symbols. All similarly situated Priority Customer orders in the select symbols are subject to the same rebate schedule, and access to the Exchange is offered on terms that are not unfairly discriminatory. In addition, the Program is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because, while only Priority Customer order flow qualifies for the Program, an increase in Priority Customer order flow will bring greater volume and liquidity, which benefit all market participants by providing more trading opportunities and tighter spreads. 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 Exchange believes that the proposed change would increase both intermarket and intramarket competition by incenting Members to direct their Priority Customer orders in the select symbols to the Exchange, which will enhance the quality of quoting and increase the volume of contracts traded here in those symbols. To the extent that there is additional competitive burden on non-Priority Customers or trading in non-select symbols, the Exchange believes that this is appropriate because the proposed changes to the rebate program should incent Members to direct additional order flow to the Exchange and thus provide additional liquidity that enhances the quality of its markets and increases the volume of contracts traded here in those symbols. To the extent that this purpose is achieved, all the Exchange's market participants should benefit from the improved market liquidity in such select symbols. Enhanced market [[Page 9839]] quality and increased transaction volume that results from the anticipated increase in order flow directed to the Exchange will benefit all market participants and improve competition on the Exchange in such select symbols. 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. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges and to attract order flow to the Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this competitive environment because it reduces the Exchange's fees in a manner that encourages market participants to direct their customer order flow, to provide liquidity, and to attract additional transaction volume to the Exchange. Given the robust competition for volume among options markets, many of which offer the same products, implementing a volume based customer rebate program to attract order flow like the one being proposed in this filing is consistent with the above-mentioned goals of the Act. This is especially true for the smaller options markets, such as MIAX, which is competing for volume with much larger exchanges that dominate the options trading industry. MIAX has a nominal percentage of the average daily trading volume in options, so it is unlikely that the customer rebate program could cause any competitive harm to the options market or to market participants. Rather, the customer rebate program is a modest attempt by a small options market to attract order volume away from larger competitors by adopting an innovative pricing strategy. The Exchange notes that if the rebate program resulted in a modest percentage increase in the average daily trading volume in options executing on MIAX, while such percentage would represent a large volume increase for MIAX, it would represent a minimal reduction in volume of its larger competitors in the industry. The Exchange believes that the proposal will help further competition, because market participants will have yet another additional option in determining where to execute orders and post liquidity if they factor the benefits of a customer rebate program into the determination. C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others Written comments were neither solicited nor 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.\13\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 CommentsUse 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-MIAX-2015-08 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. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2015-08. 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 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-MIAX-2015-08 and should be submitted on or before March 17, 2015. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brent J. Fields, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015-03659 Filed 2-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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