Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE Mercury, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend its Rules to Extend a Pilot Program, 3059-3061 [2017-00224]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Notices automatically executed. Under the proposal, ISE Mercury would determine an exposure period for each of the four mechanisms that is no less than 100 milliseconds and no more than 1 second.7 pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES III. Discussion and Commission’s Findings After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.8 In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,9 which requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, and not be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Commission also finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,10 which requires that the rules of an exchange not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Commission believes that, given the electronic environment of ISE Mercury, reducing each of the exposure periods from 500 milliseconds to no less than 100 milliseconds could facilitate the prompt execution of orders, while continuing to provide market participants with an opportunity to compete for exposed bids and offers. To substantiate that its members could receive, process, and communicate a response back to ISE Mercury within 100 milliseconds, ISE Mercury stated that it surveyed all International 7 While the proposed rule change would allow ISE Mercury to increase the exposure period up to 1 second, ISE Mercury stated that it currently intends to decrease the time period allowed for responses to 100 milliseconds. See Notice, supra note 3, at 85297. ISE Mercury further noted that its proposal is consistent with exposure periods permitted in similar mechanisms on other options exchanges. See id. at 85296. See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 76301 (October 29, 2015), 80 FR 68347 (November 4, 2015) (SR–BX– 2015–032) and 77557 (April 7, 2016), 81 FR 21935 (April 13, 2016) (SR–Phlx–2016–40). 8 In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:59 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’) and ISE Gemini, LLC (‘‘ISE Gemini’’) members that responded to an auction in the period beginning July 1, 2015 and ending January 15, 2016.11 Each of the twenty-one members surveyed indicated that they can currently receive, process, and communicate a response back to the exchange within 100 milliseconds.12 To implement the reduced exposure periods and help ensure that ISE Mercury’s and its members’ systems are working properly given the faster response times, ISE Mercury will reduce the auction time over a period of weeks, ending at 100 milliseconds. Upon effectiveness of the proposal, and at least six weeks prior to implementation of the proposed rule change, ISE Mercury will issue a circular to its members, informing them of the implementation date of the reduction of the auction from 500 milliseconds to the auction time designated by ISE Mercury (100 milliseconds) to allow members the opportunity to perform systems changes. ISE Mercury also represented that it will issue a circular at least four weeks prior to any future changes, as permitted by its rules, to the auction time.13 In addition, ISE Mercury reviewed all executions occurring in the mechanisms by ISE Mercury members from March 28, 2016 to April 25, 2016. This review of executions in the mechanisms indicated that approximately 98% of responses that resulted in price improving executions at the conclusion of an auction were submitted within 500 milliseconds. Approximately 94% of responses that resulted in price improving executions at the conclusion of an auction were submitted within 100 milliseconds, and 83% were submitted within 50 milliseconds of the initial order.14 Furthermore, with regard to the impact of the proposal on system capacity, ISE Mercury has analyzed its capacity and represented that it has the necessary systems capacity to handle the potential additional traffic associated with the additional transactions that may occur 11 ISE Mercury launched on February 16, 2016, after the survey had been completed. ISE and ISE Gemini are affiliates of ISE Mercury that also offer a Block Order Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism, Solicited Order Mechanism, and PIM. See Notice, supra note 3, at 85297 n.12. 12 ISE Mercury believes the survey results apply equally to ISE Mercury as all current ISE Mercury members are also members of ISE or ISE Gemini, which are affiliates of ISE Mercury, and the same functionality for auction responses offered on ISE Mercury is also offered on these affiliated exchanges. See Notice, supra note 3, at 85297. ISE Mercury further represents that its trading system has comparable latency to both ISE and ISE Gemini. See id. 13 See id. at 85298. 14 See id. at 85297. PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3059 with the implementation of the reduction in the auction duration to no less than 100 milliseconds.15 Based on ISE Mercury’s statements, the Commission believes that market participants should continue to have opportunities to compete for exposed bids and offers within an exposure period of no less than 100 milliseconds and no more than 1 second.16 Accordingly, the Commission believes that it is consistent with the Act for the Exchange to modify the response times in the Block Mechanism, Facilitation Mechanism, Solicited Order Mechanism, and PIM from 500 milliseconds to a time period designated by the Exchange of no less than 100 milliseconds and no more than 1 second. IV. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,17 that the proposed rule change (SR–ISEMercury– 2016–21) be, and hereby is, approved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.18 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–00215 Filed 1–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–79740; File No. SR– ISEMercury–2016–26] Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE Mercury, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend its Rules to Extend a Pilot Program January 4, 2017. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on December 23, 2016, ISE Mercury, LLC (‘‘ISE Mercury’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The 15 See id. Commission notes that the ability to designate such an exposure time period is consistent with the rules of other options exchanges. See supra note 7. See also NASDAQ Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(4) and NASDAQ BX Options Rules Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(A)(3). 17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 18 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 16 The E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM 10JAN1 3060 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Notices Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend its rules to extend a pilot program to quote and to trade certain options classes in penny increments. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at www.ise.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose Under the Penny Pilot Program, the minimum price variation for all participating options classes, except for the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (‘‘QQQQ’’), the SPDR S&P 500 Exchange Traded Fund (‘‘SPY’’) and the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (‘‘IWM’’), is $0.01 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at less than $3 per contract and $0.05 for all quotations in options series that are quoted at $3 per contract or greater. QQQQ, SPY and IWM are quoted in $0.01 increments for all options series. The Penny Pilot Program is currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 2016.3 The Exchange proposes to extend the Penny Pilot Program through June 30, 2017, and to provide a revised date for adding replacement issues to the Penny Pilot Program. The Exchange proposes that any Penny Pilot Program issues that have been delisted may be replaced on the second trading day following January 1, 2017. The replacement issues will be selected based on trading 3 See Exchange Act Release No. 78202 (June 30, 2016), 81 FR 81 FR 44377 (July 7, 2016) (SR–ISE Mercury–2016–12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:59 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 activity for the most recent six month period excluding the month immediately preceding the replacement (i.e., beginning June 1, 2016, and ending November 30, 2016). This filing does not propose any substantive changes to the Penny Pilot Program: All classes currently participating will remain the same and all minimum increments will remain unchanged. The Exchange believes the benefits to public customers and other market participants who will be able to express their true prices to buy and sell options have been demonstrated to outweigh any increase in quote traffic. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.4 Specifically, the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,5 because it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, the proposed rule change, which extends the Penny Pilot Program for an additional six months, will enable public customers and other market participants to express their true prices to buy and sell options to the benefit of all market participants. 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 intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, the Exchange believes that, by extending the expiration of the Penny Pilot Program, the proposed rule change will allow for further analysis of the Penny Pilot Program and a determination of how the Penny Pilot Program should be structured in the future. In doing so, the proposed rule change will also serve to promote regulatory clarity and consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the marketplace and facilitating investor protection. 4 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). 5 15 PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 7 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.8 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 prior to 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 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder. A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 9 normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing.10 However, pursuant to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),11 the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest because doing so will allow the Pilot Program to continue without interruption in a manner that is consistent with the Commission’s prior approval of the extension and expansion of the Pilot Program and will allow the Exchange and the Commission additional time to analyze the impact of the Pilot Program. Accordingly, the Commission designates the proposed 7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 9 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 10 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the Exchange’s intent to file the proposed rule change along with a brief description and 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. The Exchange has satisfied this pre-filing requirement. 11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). 8 17 E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM 10JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2017 / Notices rule change as operative upon filing with the Commission.12 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) 13 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: pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES Electronic Statements • 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 No. SR– ISEMercury–2016–26 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–ISEMercury–2016–26. 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 12 For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:59 Jan 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 3061 printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of ISE Mercury. 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–ISEMercury–2016–26 and should be submitted by January 31,2017. Fees and Charges for Exchange Services related to co-location services to provide a more detailed description of the access to trading and execution services and connectivity to data provided to Users with local area networks available in the data center; and (b) modify certain fees for access to the local area networks in the Exchange’s data center. 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. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.14 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. 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. [FR Doc. 2017–00224 Filed 1–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–79729; File No. SR– NYSEArca–2016–172] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Amending the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule and the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of Fees and Charges Related to Co-Location Services To Increase LCN and IP Network Fees and Add a Description of Access to Trading and Execution Services and Connectivity to Included Data Products January 4, 2017. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that, on December 22, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the selfregulatory organization. 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 the Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the NYSE Arca Options Fee Schedule and the NYSE Arca Equities Schedule of 14 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Fee Schedules related to co-location 4 services offered by the Exchange to (a) provide a more detailed description of the access to trading and execution services and connectivity to data provided to Users 5 with connections to the Liquidity Center Network (‘‘LCN’’) and internet protocol (‘‘IP’’) network, 4 The Exchange initially filed rule changes relating to its co-location services with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) in 2010. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63275 (November 8, 2010), 75 FR 70048 (November 16, 2010) (SR–NYSEArca–2010– 100) (the ‘‘Original Co-location Filing’’). The Exchange operates a data center in Mahwah, New Jersey (the ‘‘data center’’) from which it provides co-location services to Users. 5 For purposes of the Exchange’s co-location services, a ‘‘User’’ means any market participant that requests to receive co-location services directly from the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 76010 (September 29, 2015), 80 FR 60197 (October 5, 2015) (SR–NYSEArca–2015–82). As specified in the Fee Schedules, a User that incurs co-location fees for a particular co-location service pursuant thereto would not be subject to colocation fees for the same co-location service charged by the Exchange’s affiliates New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE LLC’’) and NYSE MKT LLC (‘‘NYSE MKT and, together with NYSE LLC, the ‘‘Affiliate SROs’’). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70173 (August 13, 2013), 78 FR 50459 (August 19, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca–2013–80). E:\FR\FM\10JAN1.SGM 10JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3059-3061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00224]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79740; File No. SR-ISEMercury-2016-26]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; ISE Mercury, LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend its Rules 
to Extend a Pilot Program

January 4, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on December 23, 2016, ISE Mercury, LLC (``ISE Mercury'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 
The

[[Page 3060]]

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 its rules to extend a pilot program 
to quote and to trade certain options classes in penny increments.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at www.ise.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements 
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and 
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The 
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in 
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in 
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such 
statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    Under the Penny Pilot Program, the minimum price variation for all 
participating options classes, except for the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking 
Stock (``QQQQ''), the SPDR S&P 500 Exchange Traded Fund (``SPY'') and 
the iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (``IWM''), is $0.01 for all 
quotations in options series that are quoted at less than $3 per 
contract and $0.05 for all quotations in options series that are quoted 
at $3 per contract or greater. QQQQ, SPY and IWM are quoted in $0.01 
increments for all options series. The Penny Pilot Program is currently 
scheduled to expire on December 31, 2016.\3\ The Exchange proposes to 
extend the Penny Pilot Program through June 30, 2017, and to provide a 
revised date for adding replacement issues to the Penny Pilot Program. 
The Exchange proposes that any Penny Pilot Program issues that have 
been delisted may be replaced on the second trading day following 
January 1, 2017. The replacement issues will be selected based on 
trading activity for the most recent six month period excluding the 
month immediately preceding the replacement (i.e., beginning June 1, 
2016, and ending November 30, 2016). This filing does not propose any 
substantive changes to the Penny Pilot Program: All classes currently 
participating will remain the same and all minimum increments will 
remain unchanged. The Exchange believes the benefits to public 
customers and other market participants who will be able to express 
their true prices to buy and sell options have been demonstrated to 
outweigh any increase in quote traffic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Exchange Act Release No. 78202 (June 30, 2016), 81 FR 81 
FR 44377 (July 7, 2016) (SR-ISE Mercury-2016-12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder that are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, 
in particular, with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\4\ 
Specifically, the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\5\ because it is designed to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system and, 
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. In 
particular, the proposed rule change, which extends the Penny Pilot 
Program for an additional six months, will enable public customers and 
other market participants to express their true prices to buy and sell 
options to the benefit of all market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
intermarket or intramarket competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Specifically, 
the Exchange believes that, by extending the expiration of the Penny 
Pilot Program, the proposed rule change will allow for further analysis 
of the Penny Pilot Program and a determination of how the Penny Pilot 
Program should be structured in the future. In doing so, the proposed 
rule change will also serve to promote regulatory clarity and 
consistency, thereby reducing burdens on the marketplace and 
facilitating investor protection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\ 
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 prior to 
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 and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \9\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing.\10\ However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\11\ the 
Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange 
has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that 
the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The 
Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest 
because doing so will allow the Pilot Program to continue without 
interruption in a manner that is consistent with the Commission's prior 
approval of the extension and expansion of the Pilot Program and will 
allow the Exchange and the Commission additional time to analyze the 
impact of the Pilot Program. Accordingly, the Commission designates the 
proposed

[[Page 3061]]

rule change as operative upon filing with the Commission.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the 
Exchange's intent to file the proposed rule change along with a 
brief description and 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. The 
Exchange has satisfied this pre-filing requirement.
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \12\ For purposes only of waiving the operative delay for this 
proposal, the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact 
on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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) \13\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Statements

     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 No. SR-ISEMercury-2016-26 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-ISEMercury-2016-26. 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. Copies of such 
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the 
principal office of ISE Mercury. 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-ISEMercury-2016-26 and should be submitted by January 
31, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00224 Filed 1-9-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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