Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 5745, 10933-10935 [2016-04502]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices
For the above reasons, Nasdaq
believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.
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 that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule change will facilitate the listing and
trading of an additional type of activelymanaged exchange-traded fund that will
enhance competition among market
participants, to the benefit of investors
and the marketplace.
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
Within 45 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period
up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
designate if it finds such longer period
to be appropriate and publishes its
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
the self-regulatory organization
consents, the Commission will: (a) By
order approve or disapprove such
proposed rule change; or (b) institute
proceedings to determine whether the
proposed rule change should be
disapproved.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
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–
NASDAQ–2016–021 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, Station
Place, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC
20549.
19:10 Mar 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.33
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–04503 Filed 3–1–16; 8:45 am]
IV. Solicitation of Comments
VerDate Sep<11>2014
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NASDAQ–2016–021. 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 the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of Nasdaq. 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–2016–021 and should be
submitted on or before March 23, 2016.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–77232; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2016–026]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule
5745
February 25, 2016.
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 February
17, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market
33 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
PO 00000
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10933
LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
proposed rule change as described in in
Items I and II below, which Items have
been prepared by Nasdaq. 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
Pursuant to the provisions of Section
19(b)(1) of the Act, and Rule 19b–4
thereunder, Nasdaq is filing with the
Commission a proposed rule change to
amend Nasdaq Rule 5745 (ExchangeTraded Managed Fund (‘‘NextShares’’))
in connection with a type of open-end
management investment company
registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended
(‘‘1940 Act’’). The shares of a
NextShares are collectively referred to
herein as ‘‘Shares.’’
The text of the proposed rule change
is available at https://
nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/, at Nasdaq’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
Nasdaq Rule 5745 in connection with
the trading of NextShares 3 on Nasdaq
using a new trading protocol called
‘‘NAV-Based Trading.’’ In NAV-Based
Trading, all bids, offers and execution
prices would be expressed as a
premium/discount (which may be zero)
to a NextShares next-determined net
asset value (‘‘NAV’’) (e.g., NAV ¥ $0.01;
3 The Commission approved Nasdaq Rule 5745 in
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–73562
(Nov. 7, 2014), 79 FR 68309 (Nov. 14, 2014) (SR–
NASDAQ–2014–020).
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10934
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices
NAV + $0.01). A NextShares NAV
would be determined each business day,
normally no later than 6:45 p.m. Eastern
Time. Trade executions using NAVBased Trading would be binding at the
time orders are matched on Nasdaq’s
facilities, with the transaction prices
contingent upon the determination of
the NextShares NAV at the end of the
business day.
A NextShares next determined NAV
would be represented by a proxy price
(‘‘Proxy Price’’) base value (represented
as 100) and will be adjusted by the
premium/discount being offered/bid by
the subject transaction. For example, if
a client wanted to enter a bid of NAV
minus $0.01 the proxy price would be
99.99 and if a client wanted to enter an
offer of NAV plus $0.02 the proxy price
would be 100.02.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to
amend Nasdaq Rule 5745 (ExchangeTraded Managed Fund (‘‘NextShares’’))
to add new subsection (h) to Nasdaq
Rule 5745, which defines ‘‘Proxy Price
Protection’’. Proxy Price Protection
states that every NextShares order is
subject to the Proxy Price Protection
threshold of plus/minus $1.00 and that
this threshold determines both the
lower and upper threshold whereby
orders will be cancelled at any point if
it exceeds $101.00 or falls below $99.00,
the established thresholds. The Proxy
Price Protection threshold is applied to
the proxy price amount of $100.00,
which is the proxy price that reflects the
NAV of a NextShares Fund.
Every NextShares order, regardless of
buying or selling instructions and order
type, will be subject to the Proxy Price
Protection threshold of plus/minus
$1.00 and will be applied uniformly
across all NextShares products. A
NextShares order that is subject to the
Proxy Price Protection threshold of
plus/minus $1.00 will be cancelled at
any point if it exceeds or falls below the
established thresholds (i.e., if the
NextShares order falls below $99.00 or
exceeds $101.00). Additionally, the
Proxy Price Protection threshold of
plus/minus $1.00 will be monitored to
measure its effectiveness, but it may be
adjusted by the Exchange in the future
if it determines based upon feedback
and investor experience that a different
threshold would be more effective.
Nasdaq based the Proxy Price
Protection threshold of plus/minus
$1.00 on how NextShares transactions
occur in relation to the NAV. Since each
trade executes in Proxy Price format,
only the amount of premium/discount
can be determined at the time of the
transaction. This premium/discount
from each transaction will then be
applied to the end of day NAV to
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19:10 Mar 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
calculate a final transaction price. The
Proxy Price Protection threshold of
plus/minus of $1.00 is to ensure that the
amount of the premium/discount does
not represent a disproportionate amount
of the total transaction when applied to
the end of day NAV. The Proxy Price
Protection threshold, however, will not
be adjusted in the future to be less than
$1.00 or exceed $3.00.
In the example below, the plus/minus
$1.00 threshold would translate into a
4% change in NAV for the Large Cap
NextShares given the $25.00 end of day
NAV. This 4% change in NAV is
narrower, but most closely aligns with
the 5% change in NAV set forth in
Nasdaq Rule 11890 for clearly erroneous
transactions for products with an NAV
greater than $25.00 up to and including
$50.00,4 which is the expected NAV
range for many NextShares.5
To illustrate whether a subject
transaction meets the plus/minus $1.00
Proxy Price Protection threshold,
consider the following example for a
Large Cap NextShares 6 with a $25.00
end of day NAV:
• The plus/minus $1.00 Proxy Price
Protection threshold is applied to the
proxy price amount of $100.00, which is
the proxy price that reflects the NAV of
a NextShares Fund
• The lower threshold will be $99.00
• The upper threshold will be
$101.00
• Buy or Sell orders lower than
$99.00 or greater than $101.00 will not
be accepted
When applied to the end of day NAV 7
of $25.00, the example continues as
follows:
• The minimum execution price will
be $24.00
• The maximum execution price will
be $26.00
2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposal is
consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 8
4 See
Nasdaq Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(1).
Exchange notes that the proposed Proxy
Price Protection threshold of plus/minus $1.00 is
also expected to be narrower than the applicable
limit up—limit down plan bands. With the
introduction of a new trading process (trading in
Proxy Price), the Exchange seeks to offer protections
that are more narrow than limit up—limit down
bands given that the trading process represents a
premium or discount to the end of day NAV price.
6 Large Cap NextShares is used only for
illustrative purposes and this example applies
across all NextShares (i.e., this example applies
exactly the same to any type of NextShares such as
a Small Cap NextShares or a Government
Obligations NextShares) and does not apply on a
security by security basis.
7 Nasdaq will apply the premium or discount
from the transaction done in Proxy Price to the end
of day NAV resulting in a final transaction price
inclusive of the premium or discount.
8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
5 The
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Sfmt 4703
in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the
Act 9 in particular in that it is designed
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating
transactions in securities, and to remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
and a national market system.
The Exchange believes that proposed
new subsection (h) to Nasdaq Rule 5745
is designed to promote just and
equitable principles of trade and to
protect investors in the trading of
NextShares by clarifying that
NextShares orders that fall outside the
Proxy Price Protection threshold of
plus/minus $1.00 will be cancelled, as
well as by explicitly stating that this
threshold is applied to the proxy price
amount of $100.00, which is the proxy
price that reflects the NAV of a
NextShares Fund. The Exchange
believes that that the proposed rule
change to implement a Proxy Price
Protection threshold is similar to
existing mechanisms on other markets 10
and would reduce the risk of and
potentially prevent the execution of
orders that are potentially erroneous
from occurring on the Exchange. The
proposed rule change will reduce
confusion and add clarity around this
issue and thereby promote just and
equitable principles of trade and protect
investors.
For the above reasons, Nasdaq
believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.11
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule changes will result in
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. In fact, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
rule changes would assist in the
introduction of NextShares, and thereby
will promote competition through
innovation in the exchange-traded
product marketplace.
9 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74063
(Jan. 15, 2015), 80 FR 3269 (Jan. 22, 2015) (SR–
NYSE–2015–01) (Notice of Filing and Immediate
Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Add a
Price Protection Mechanism to Prevent the
Automatic Execution of Incoming Market Orders
and Marketable Limit Orders Outside a Specified
Parameter and Eliminate Liquidity Replenishment
Points and the Gap Quote Policy).
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
10 See
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices
IV. Solicitation of Comments
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
Because the proposed rule change
does not (i) significantly affect the
protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
operative for 30 days from the date on
which it was filed, or such shorter time
as the Commission may designate if
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest, the
proposed rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act 12 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)
thereunder.13
The Exchange has asked the
Commission to waive the 30-day
operative delay so that the proposal may
become operative immediately upon
filing. The Exchange stated that waiver
of this requirement will allow the
Exchange to implement a Proxy Price
Protection threshold similar to existing
mechanisms on other markets and
would reduce the risk of and potentially
prevent the erroneous execution of
orders on the Exchange. Accordingly,
the Commission believes that waiving
the 30-day operative delay is consistent
with the protection of investors and the
public interest and hereby waives the
30-day operative delay and designates
the proposed rule change to be operative
upon filing.14
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.
12 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). As required under Rule
19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the
Commission with written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change, along with a brief
description and the 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.
14 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has also
considered the proposed rule’s impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See
15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
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13 17
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:10 Mar 01, 2016
Jkt 238001
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–2016–026 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–2016–026. 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–
NASDAQ–2016–026, and should be
submitted on or before March 23, 2016.
PO 00000
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10935
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.15
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–04502 Filed 3–1–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–77235; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2015–159]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Order
Approving a Proposed Rule Change To
Implement Additional Price Protections
in the Opening Process
February 25, 2016.
I. Introduction
On December 23, 2015, the NASDAQ
Stock Market LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or
‘‘Nasdaq’’) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’),
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a
proposed rule change to enhance the
price protections for the Exchange’s
opening process. The proposed rule
change was published for comment in
the Federal Register on January 11,
2016.3 The Commission received one
comment letter on the proposed rule
change.4 This order approves the
proposed rule change.
II. Description of the Proposal
The Exchange proposes new
paragraph (F) to Rule 4752(d)(2) to
enhance the price protections for the
Nasdaq Opening Cross.5
Background
Nasdaq Rule 4752(d) describes the
Nasdaq Opening Cross process, and
Rule 4752(d)(2)(A) through (E) sets forth
the process for determining the price at
which an Opening Cross occurs.
Specifically, the Opening Cross occurs
at 9:30 a.m. ET and occurs at the price
that maximizes the number of shares of
Market On Open orders (‘‘MOO’’), Limit
On Open orders (‘‘LOO’’), Opening
Imbalance Only orders (‘‘OIO’’), Early
15 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76833
(January 5, 2016), 81 FR 1240 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 See letter from Kermit Kubitz to the
Commission, dated February 1, 2016 (‘‘Kubitz
Letter’’).
5 The term ‘‘Nasdaq Opening Cross’’ (hereinafter
also referred to as ‘‘Opening Cross’’) is defined in
Nasdaq Rule 4752(a)(5).
1 15
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10933-10935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04502]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-77232; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-026]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To
Amend Rule 5745
February 25, 2016.
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 February 17, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or the
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in in Items I
and II below, which Items have been prepared by Nasdaq. 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
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19(b)(1) of the Act, and Rule
19b-4 thereunder, Nasdaq is filing with the Commission a proposed rule
change to amend Nasdaq Rule 5745 (Exchange-Traded Managed Fund
(``NextShares'')) in connection with a type of open-end management
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (``1940 Act''). The shares of a NextShares are collectively
referred to herein as ``Shares.''
The text of the proposed rule change is available at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/, at Nasdaq'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 Nasdaq Rule 5745 in connection with
the trading of NextShares \3\ on Nasdaq using a new trading protocol
called ``NAV-Based Trading.'' In NAV-Based Trading, all bids, offers
and execution prices would be expressed as a premium/discount (which
may be zero) to a NextShares next-determined net asset value (``NAV'')
(e.g., NAV - $0.01;
[[Page 10934]]
NAV + $0.01). A NextShares NAV would be determined each business day,
normally no later than 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Trade executions using
NAV-Based Trading would be binding at the time orders are matched on
Nasdaq's facilities, with the transaction prices contingent upon the
determination of the NextShares NAV at the end of the business day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Commission approved Nasdaq Rule 5745 in Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 34-73562 (Nov. 7, 2014), 79 FR 68309 (Nov.
14, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NextShares next determined NAV would be represented by a proxy
price (``Proxy Price'') base value (represented as 100) and will be
adjusted by the premium/discount being offered/bid by the subject
transaction. For example, if a client wanted to enter a bid of NAV
minus $0.01 the proxy price would be 99.99 and if a client wanted to
enter an offer of NAV plus $0.02 the proxy price would be 100.02.
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Nasdaq Rule 5745
(Exchange-Traded Managed Fund (``NextShares'')) to add new subsection
(h) to Nasdaq Rule 5745, which defines ``Proxy Price Protection''.
Proxy Price Protection states that every NextShares order is subject to
the Proxy Price Protection threshold of plus/minus $1.00 and that this
threshold determines both the lower and upper threshold whereby orders
will be cancelled at any point if it exceeds $101.00 or falls below
$99.00, the established thresholds. The Proxy Price Protection
threshold is applied to the proxy price amount of $100.00, which is the
proxy price that reflects the NAV of a NextShares Fund.
Every NextShares order, regardless of buying or selling
instructions and order type, will be subject to the Proxy Price
Protection threshold of plus/minus $1.00 and will be applied uniformly
across all NextShares products. A NextShares order that is subject to
the Proxy Price Protection threshold of plus/minus $1.00 will be
cancelled at any point if it exceeds or falls below the established
thresholds (i.e., if the NextShares order falls below $99.00 or exceeds
$101.00). Additionally, the Proxy Price Protection threshold of plus/
minus $1.00 will be monitored to measure its effectiveness, but it may
be adjusted by the Exchange in the future if it determines based upon
feedback and investor experience that a different threshold would be
more effective.
Nasdaq based the Proxy Price Protection threshold of plus/minus
$1.00 on how NextShares transactions occur in relation to the NAV.
Since each trade executes in Proxy Price format, only the amount of
premium/discount can be determined at the time of the transaction. This
premium/discount from each transaction will then be applied to the end
of day NAV to calculate a final transaction price. The Proxy Price
Protection threshold of plus/minus of $1.00 is to ensure that the
amount of the premium/discount does not represent a disproportionate
amount of the total transaction when applied to the end of day NAV. The
Proxy Price Protection threshold, however, will not be adjusted in the
future to be less than $1.00 or exceed $3.00.
In the example below, the plus/minus $1.00 threshold would
translate into a 4% change in NAV for the Large Cap NextShares given
the $25.00 end of day NAV. This 4% change in NAV is narrower, but most
closely aligns with the 5% change in NAV set forth in Nasdaq Rule 11890
for clearly erroneous transactions for products with an NAV greater
than $25.00 up to and including $50.00,\4\ which is the expected NAV
range for many NextShares.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Nasdaq Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(1).
\5\ The Exchange notes that the proposed Proxy Price Protection
threshold of plus/minus $1.00 is also expected to be narrower than
the applicable limit up--limit down plan bands. With the
introduction of a new trading process (trading in Proxy Price), the
Exchange seeks to offer protections that are more narrow than limit
up--limit down bands given that the trading process represents a
premium or discount to the end of day NAV price.
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To illustrate whether a subject transaction meets the plus/minus
$1.00 Proxy Price Protection threshold, consider the following example
for a Large Cap NextShares \6\ with a $25.00 end of day NAV:
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\6\ Large Cap NextShares is used only for illustrative purposes
and this example applies across all NextShares (i.e., this example
applies exactly the same to any type of NextShares such as a Small
Cap NextShares or a Government Obligations NextShares) and does not
apply on a security by security basis.
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The plus/minus $1.00 Proxy Price Protection threshold is
applied to the proxy price amount of $100.00, which is the proxy price
that reflects the NAV of a NextShares Fund
The lower threshold will be $99.00
The upper threshold will be $101.00
Buy or Sell orders lower than $99.00 or greater than
$101.00 will not be accepted
When applied to the end of day NAV \7\ of $25.00, the example
continues as follows:
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\7\ Nasdaq will apply the premium or discount from the
transaction done in Proxy Price to the end of day NAV resulting in a
final transaction price inclusive of the premium or discount.
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The minimum execution price will be $24.00
The maximum execution price will be $26.00
2. Statutory Basis
Nasdaq believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act \8\ in general and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \9\ in
particular in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, and to
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system.
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\8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Exchange believes that proposed new subsection (h) to Nasdaq
Rule 5745 is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade
and to protect investors in the trading of NextShares by clarifying
that NextShares orders that fall outside the Proxy Price Protection
threshold of plus/minus $1.00 will be cancelled, as well as by
explicitly stating that this threshold is applied to the proxy price
amount of $100.00, which is the proxy price that reflects the NAV of a
NextShares Fund. The Exchange believes that that the proposed rule
change to implement a Proxy Price Protection threshold is similar to
existing mechanisms on other markets \10\ and would reduce the risk of
and potentially prevent the execution of orders that are potentially
erroneous from occurring on the Exchange. The proposed rule change will
reduce confusion and add clarity around this issue and thereby promote
just and equitable principles of trade and protect investors.
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\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74063 (Jan. 15,
2015), 80 FR 3269 (Jan. 22, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-01) (Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to Add a
Price Protection Mechanism to Prevent the Automatic Execution of
Incoming Market Orders and Marketable Limit Orders Outside a
Specified Parameter and Eliminate Liquidity Replenishment Points and
the Gap Quote Policy).
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For the above reasons, Nasdaq believes the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.\11\
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. In fact, the
Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes would assist in the
introduction of NextShares, and thereby will promote competition
through innovation in the exchange-traded product marketplace.
[[Page 10935]]
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
Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30
days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the
Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors
and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \12\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
thereunder.\13\
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\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and the 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.
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The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon
filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement will allow
the Exchange to implement a Proxy Price Protection threshold similar to
existing mechanisms on other markets and would reduce the risk of and
potentially prevent the erroneous execution of orders on the Exchange.
Accordingly, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative
delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest and hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates
the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.\14\
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\14\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
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At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-NASDAQ-2016-026 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-2016-026. 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-NASDAQ-2016-026, and should
be submitted on or before March 23, 2016.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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\15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-04502 Filed 3-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P