Joint Industry Plan; Order Approving the Twelfth Amendment to the National Market System Plan To Address Extraordinary Market Volatility by Bats BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGA Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Investors Exchange LLC, NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, and NYSE Arca, Inc., 8551-8554 [2017-01717]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 16 / Thursday, January 26, 2017 / Notices jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES potential for triggering another Trading Pause.58 Also, as the Exchange noted, widening Auction Collars only in the direction of the imbalance would address issues relating to the concept of mean reversion.59 Moreover, the Commission notes that the proposal to conduct a Closing Auction if a security is in a Trading Pause during the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours (instead of a Trading Halt Auction) would be consistent with the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan.60 The Commission believes that precluding ETP Holders from requesting a review of a Trading Halt Auction as a clearly erroneous execution is appropriate. As the Exchange noted, the proposed re-opening procedures would allow for widened collars, which may result in a re-opening price that would be away from prior trading prices, but the re-opening price would be the result of a measured and transparent process that reduces the potential that such trade would be considered erroneous.61 With respect to the proposed IO Order, as the Exchange noted, the IO Order is designed to attract offsetting interest for Trading Halt Auctions and would provide an option for market participants that are willing to participate in an auction to offset an imbalance, but do not want such orders to participate in continuous trading.62 The Commission notes that, according to the Exchange, the proposed Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze would provide market participants with a brief period to assess the imbalance going into a Trading Halt Auction.63 Moreover, during the Trading Halt Imbalance Freeze, order entry and cancellation would be revised in a 58 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165. The Exchange notes that applying specific aspects of the proposed changes to Trading Halt Auctions following a MWCB Halt or regulatory halt would promote consistency in how the Exchange conducts its Trading Halt Auctions, thus reducing complexity in the marketplace. See id. 59 See id. 60 As the Exchange noted, the proposed changes related to the treatment of MOO Orders, LOO Orders, and IO Orders under these circumstances would provide transparency regarding how orders that are designated to participate in a Trading Halt Auction only would be handled. See Notice, supra note 3, at 73162. Also, as the Exchange noted, if the Exchange goes directly from an unresolved Trading Pause, MWCB Halt, or regulatory halt to a Closing Auction, the existing narrower price collar thresholds applicable to the Closing Auction could result in Auction Collars that do not correlate to the trading condition for the stock. See id. 61 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165. 62 See id. The Exchange notes that the proposed IO Order is based in part on the Closing Offset Order offered by the New York Stock Exchange LLC. See id. 63 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165–66. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:10 Jan 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 manner designed to reduce imbalance.64 Further, the Exchange represents that allowing Limit Orders that do not participate in a Trading Halt Auction, but have a limit price within the applicable Auction Collars, to roll into continuous trading likely would not impact the pricing of post-auction trading and trigger another Trading Pause because the limit price of such orders would have been within the same price range that trading would have been permitted.65 In addition, the Commission believes that the proposed enhancements to the Auction Imbalance Information would further promote transparency around Trading Halt Auctions.66 Finally, the Exchange represents that the proposed amendments to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11 would remove obsolete rule text and amend the remaining rule text to conform to the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan.67 Based on the Exchange’s representations mentioned above and in the Notice, and for the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 68 and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. IV. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,69 that the proposed rule change (SR–NYSEArca2016–130), as modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.70 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–01718 Filed 1–25–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 64 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73166. Currently, the Exchange provides an Auction Imbalance Freeze for the Early Open Auction, Core Open Auction, and Closing Auction. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(3). 65 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73166. 66 See id. 67 See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165. 68 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 69 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). 70 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8551 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–79845; File No. 4–631] Joint Industry Plan; Order Approving the Twelfth Amendment to the National Market System Plan To Address Extraordinary Market Volatility by Bats BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGA Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Investors Exchange LLC, NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, and NYSE Arca, Inc. January 19, 2017. I. Introduction On September 19, 2016, NYSE Group, Inc., on behalf of the other parties 1 to the National Market System Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility (the ‘‘Plan’’), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) pursuant to Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 608 thereunder,3 a proposal to amend the Plan.4 The proposal represents the twelfth amendment to the Plan, and reflects proposed changes unanimously approved by the Participants (‘‘Twelfth Amendment’’). The proposed Twelfth Amendment was published for comment in the Federal Register on December 2, 2016.5 The Commission received two comment letters regarding the amendment.6 On January 17, 2017, the Participants submitted a letter to the Commission related to the Twelfth Amendment, which requests that the Commission modify the Twelfth Amendment to retain provisions in the 1 NYSE Group, Inc. filed on behalf of the following parties to the Plan: Bats BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGA Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Investors Exchange LLC, NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, and NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘Participants’’). 2 15 U.S.C. 78k–1. 3 17 CFR 242.608. 4 See Letter from Elizabeth King, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, NYSE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated September 16, 2016. 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79410 (November 28, 2016), 81 FR 87114 (‘‘Notice’’). 6 See Letters from Mortimer J. Buckley, Chief Investment Officer, Vanguard, dated December 23, 2016 (‘‘Vanguard Letter’’); and David W. Blass, General Counsel, Investment Company Institute, dated December 22, 2016 (‘‘ICI Letter’’) to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission. E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM 26JAN1 8552 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 16 / Thursday, January 26, 2017 / Notices Plan related to Straddle States.7 This order approves the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan, as modified. jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES II. Description of the Proposal In the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants propose to implement a modified reopening process following a Trading Pause.8 In particular, the Participants propose to amend the Plan to provide that a Trading Pause will continue until the Primary Listing Exchange has reopened trading using its established reopening procedures, even if such reopening is more than 10 minutes after the beginning of a Trading Pause, require that trading centers may not resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock, and delete language made unnecessary in light of the proposed reopening procedures.9 In addition, the Participants propose to address the situation where there is no Reopening Price from the Primary Listing Exchange due to a systems or technology issue and make related changes regarding how the Reference Price would be determined and Price Bands calculated and disseminated following a resumption of trading. Further, the Participants propose to amend the Plan to provide that if an NMS Stock is in a Trading Pause during the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours, the Primary Listing Exchange shall attempt to execute a closing transaction using its established closing procedures. Finally, the Participants propose to clarify in the Plan the limited circumstances in which a trading center may calculate and apply Price Bands when a Reference Price is available but Price Bands have not been disseminated by the Processor (‘‘Synthetic Price Bands’’). Finally, in the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants propose to remove provisions related to Straddle States. However, as described in the Modification Letter, the Participants 7 See Letter from Elizabeth K. King, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, NYSE to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated January 13, 2017 (‘‘Modification Letter’’). 8 Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan. 9 The Primary Listing Exchanges filed proposed rule changes pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), and Rule 19b–4 thereunder, 17 CFR 240.19b–4, relating to the changes to the reopening procedures proposed in the Twelfth Amendment. See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 79162 (October 26, 2016), 81 FR 75875 (November 1, 2016) (SR–BatsBZX–2016–61; 79158 (October 26, 2016), 81 FR 75879 November 1, 2016) (SR–NASDAQ–2016–131); and 79107 (October 18, 2016), 81 FR 73159 (October 24, 2016) (SR– NYSEArca–2016–130). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No 79846, (January 19, 2017) (SR–NYSEArca–2016–130). VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:10 Jan 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 have requested the Commission to modify the Twelfth Amendment to retain the provisions related to Straddle States in the Plan. III. Summary of Comment Letters The Commission received two comment letters on the proposed Twelfth Amendment, both supporting the proposed changes to the Plan related to the reopening process. One commenter noted that the proposed amendments to the Plan along with the related proposed rule changes submitted by the exchanges 10 ‘‘should improve the transparency of the reopening process, allow reopening auctions to establish more accurate prices, and make it less likely that trading in a security will be halted again shortly after trading resumes.’’ 11 This commenter further noted that ‘‘[I]mplementing these proposals also should increase market confidence by reducing the likelihood of the Limit UpLimit Down Plan creating confusion during volatile markets, when clarity and certainty are most important.’’ 12 This commenter urged the Commission to approve the proposed Twelfth Amendment and corresponding rule changes, but noted that the Twelfth Amendment ‘‘does not address the discordance between the rules governing clearly erroneous executions and the limit up-limit down price bands, which contributes unnecessarily to uncertainty in the equity markets in volatile times.’’ 13 The second commenter urged the Commission to approve the Twelfth Amendment ‘‘without delay’’ and before considering a change to the Plan recommended by the Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee in which ‘‘securities in a limit state would not be halted pursuant to existing rules, but would be permitted to trade within established price bands.’’ 14 This commenter believes that ‘‘the Twelfth Amendment is an important step towards improving the equity markets and minimizing the likelihood of an event like August 24, 2015.’’ 15 IV. Discussion and Commission Findings Rule 608 under Regulation NMS provides that the Commission shall approve an NMS plan amendment, with such changes or subject to such conditions as the Commission may 10 See 11 See supra note 9. ICI Letter, supra note 6 at 2. 12 Id. 13 Id. 14 See Vanguard Letter, supra note 6, at 2. 15 Id. PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 deem necessary or appropriate, if it finds that the plan amendment is ‘‘necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a national market system, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.’’ 16 The Commission finds that the Twelfth Amendment, as modified, is consistent with Section 11A of the Act 17 and Rule 608 thereunder 18 because, for the reasons discussed below it is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, and that it removes impediments to, and perfects the mechanism of, a national market system. The Commission notes that the Participants proposed the Twelfth Amendment to address issues experienced on August 24, 2015. In particular, the Participants believe that the changes to the Plan set forth in the Twelfth Amendment should reduce the number of repeat Trading Pauses in a single NMS Stock and establish a more standardized process across Primary Listing Exchanges in reopening trading following a Trading Pause. A. Coordinated Reopening Procedures After a Trading Pause The Participants propose to remove the language in Plan Section VII(B)(3) that permits trading centers to begin trading an NMS Stock ten minutes after declaration of a Trading Pause in an NMS Stock if the Primary Listing Exchange has not either reported a Reopening Price or declared a Regulatory Halt.19 Accordingly, Trading Pauses would continue until a Primary Listing Market reports a Reopening Price, except in limited circumstances discussed below. In addition, the Participants propose to provide that trading centers may not resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock. The Commission believes that it is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly market to provide that a Trading Pause 16 17 CFR 242.608(b)(2). U.S.C. 78k–1. 18 17 CFR 242.608. 19 The Participants also propose to amend Section V(C) of the Plan to remove language, which describes the first Reference Price in situations when a Primary Listing Market does not reopen within ten minutes after the beginning of a Trading Pause. The Commission believes that with the adoption of the proposed amendments described above, the Plan text in Section V(C) is no longer necessary. 17 15 E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM 26JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 16 / Thursday, January 26, 2017 / Notices jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES continue until the Primary Listing Exchange has reopened trading using its established reopening procedures, even if such reopening is more than 10 minutes after the beginning of a Trading Pause, and to require that trading centers may not resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock. The Commission believes that these two provisions together support a more standardized process for reopening trading after a Trading Pause has been declared. Further, these provisions ensure that trading would not resume after a Trading Pause without Price Bands. B. Systems and Technology Issues The Participants propose to amend Section VII(B)(2) of the Plan to clarify that the only time trading centers may resume trading in an NMS Stock in the absence of a Reopening Price from the Primary Listing Exchange is if the Primary Listing Exchange notifies the Processor that it is unable to reopen trading due to a systems or technology issue. The Commission believes that this change is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly market because if a Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen trading due to a systems or technology issue, trading should be permitted to resume in that NMS Stock on other trading centers. Further, the Participants propose to add a new sentence to Section V(C)(1) of the Plan to specify that if the Primary Listing Exchange notifies the Processor that it is unable to reopen an NMS Stock due to a systems or technology issue, the next Reference Price would be the last effective Price Band that was in a Limit State before the Trading Pause. The Participants also propose to use this process for determining a Reference Price in situations where the Primary Listing Exchange reopens trading with a quotation that has a zero bid or offer, or both. The Commission believes that it is appropriate to use the last effective Price Band as the new Reference Price in these situations. As noted by the Participants, using the last effective Price Band that triggered the Trading Pause should be a closer approximation of the most recent trading in the NMS Stock, which should help to prevent repeat Trading Pauses. The Participants also propose to provide that if, under Section VII(B)(2), the Primary Listing Exchange notifies the Processor that it is unable to reopen an NMS Stock due to a systems or technology issue and it has not declared a Regulatory Halt, the Processor will VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:10 Jan 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 calculate and disseminate Price Bands by applying triple the Percentage Parameters set forth in Appendix A to the Plan for the first 30 seconds such Price Bands are disseminated. The Commission notes that the Plan currently reflects that triple Percentage Parameters are applied if trading resumes ten minutes after a Trading Pause has been declared when the Primary Listing Exchange has not issued a Reopening Price. Accordingly, the Commission believes that that it is appropriate to apply triple Percentage Parameters to the new limited instances when a Reopening Price is not disseminated. Finally, the Participants propose to amend Section VII(B)(4) of the Plan to clarify that the Processor shall update the Price Bands, as set forth in Section V(C)(1)–(2) of the Plan, after receiving notification from the Primary Listing Exchange of a Reopening Price following a Trading Pause (or a resume message in the case of a reopening quote that has a zero bid or zero offer, or both), or notification that the Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen trading following a Trading Pause due to a systems or technology issue. In instances when the Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen due to a systems or technology issue, the Processor shall update the Price Bands no earlier than ten minutes after the beginning of the Trading Pause. The Commission believes that these changes are appropriate to clarify the requirements of the Processor to update the Price Bands in all situations following a Trading Pause. C. Trading Pauses Before the End of Regular Trading Hours The Participants propose to amend Section VII(C)(1) of the Plan to provide that if an NMS Stock is in a Trading Pause during the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours, the Primary Listing Exchange shall, rather than seek to resume trading through its established reopening procedures, attempt to execute a closing transaction using its established closing procedures. The Commission believes that this change is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly market to accommodate the new standardized process for reopening trading. As noted above, all trading centers must wait to resume trading in an NMS Stock subject to a Trading Pause until the Primary Listing Exchange has reported a Reopening Price. It is possible that a Trading Pause that was declared before the last ten PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8553 minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours could be extended until after the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours. The Commission believes that it is appropriate to amend the Plan to reflect in such case, that trading in the NMS Stock should not resume, and instead the Primary Listing Exchange should attempt to execute a closing transaction using established closing procedures. D. Synthetic Price Bands The Participants propose to amend Section V(A)(1) of the Plan to clarify that if the Processor has not yet disseminated Price Bands, but a Reference Price is available, a trading center may calculate and apply Synthetic Price Bands based on the same Reference Price that the Processor would use for calculating such Price Bands until the trading center receives Price Bands from the Processor. The Commission believes that this change is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly market because it will make clear that, while a trading center may not resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock, when a Reference Price is available, a trading center is permitted to calculate and apply its own Synthetic Price Bands before Price Bands have been received from the Processor. E. Straddle States In the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants proposed to remove provisions in the Plan related to Straddle States. In its Modification Letter, the Participants request that the Commission approve the Twelfth Amendment, as modified, to retain the provisions related to Straddle States.20 The Participants note that they intend to further study alternatives to eliminating Straddle States from the Plan. The Commission deems it necessary to modify the Twelfth Amendment so that the provisions related to Straddle States are retained. The Commission believes that further data analysis is appropriate to evaluate alternatives to eliminating Straddle States from the Plan. For the reasons noted above, the Commission finds that the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan, as modified, is consistent with Section 11A of the Act 21 and Rule 608 thereunder.22 20 See Modification Letter, supra note 7. U.S.C. 78k–1. 22 17 CFR 242.608. Consistent with their representations set forth in the Notice, the 21 15 E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM Continued 26JAN1 8554 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 16 / Thursday, January 26, 2017 / Notices V. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 11A of the Act 23 and Rule 608 thereunder,24 that the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan (File No. 4– 631), as modified, be, and it hereby is, approved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.25 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–01717 Filed 1–25–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change [Release No. 34–79849; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2017–005] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Eliminate Fees at Rule 7015(h) Assessed for VTE Terminal Connectivity January 19, 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 January 11, 2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The Exchange proposes to eliminate the Exchange’s fees at Rule 7015(h) assessed for VTE terminal connectivity, which is no longer offered by the Exchange. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. Commission expects the Participants to implement the Twelfth Amendment, as modified, no later than six months after the date of this order. 23 15 U.S.C. 78k–1. 24 17 CFR 242.608. 25 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(29). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:10 Jan 25, 2017 Jkt 241001 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. 1. Purpose The purpose of the proposed rule change is to eliminate VTE terminal fees under Rule 7015(h), since the Exchange no longer offers VTE terminal connectivity. A VTE terminal was a basic front-end user interface used by Nasdaq members to connect to, and enter orders in, The Nasdaq Market Center. Members using VTE terminals paid the exchanges and market centers separately for data feeds and services provided by Nasdaq, other exchanges or market centers through VTE.3 Effective June 1, 2016, the Exchange increased the fees assessed for VTE connectivity, noting that the pricing changes were warranted in order to appropriately balance the decreasing demand for the product with increasing platform, overhead, and technology infrastructure costs.4 The Exchange also noted that, because VTE was based on outdated technology and that members have other options for connecting to, and entering orders in, The Nasdaq Market Center, Nasdaq planned to phase out the service in its entirety on or before January 31, 2017.5 There are currently no subscribers to VTE terminals, and the Exchange has begun the process of decommissioning the service. Accordingly, the Exchange is proposing to eliminate the VTE terminal fees and related text from its rulebook. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) 3 Such fees are filed with the SEC and separately assessed by the exchanges and market centers at the same rate irrespective of the method of accessing the data feeds. 4 Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78051 (June 13, 2016), 81 FR 39739 (June 17, 2016) (SR– NASDAQ–2016–078). 5 Id. PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of the Act,6 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,7 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange believes that elimination of the fees is reasonable because the Exchange no longer offers the service, thus making the fees irrelevant. The Exchange believes that elimination of the fee and related rule text is an equitable allocation and is not unfairly discriminatory because there are no longer subscribers to the service, and elimination of the fee and related rule text will not impact members differently. Thus, the proposed change will not discriminate among members in any way and will be allocated equitably. 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 proposed change removes fees and related text from the rules, which applied to a connectivity service that the Exchange no longer offers. The Exchange notes that VTE connectivity was entirely optional and members were able avail themselves of numerous other means of accessing The Nasdaq Market Center. In fact, the Exchange determined to decommission the connectivity option because of declining subscribership, the age of the technology, and because members have other options for connecting to, and entering orders in, The Nasdaq Market Center. Members recognized the limited utility of the connectivity option in light of more modern options, and over time all subscribers chose to cancel their subscriptions. Thus, the proposed change is not burdening competition in any way, but rather reflects the consequences of robust competition where trading venues are compelled to offer superior connectivity options, which ultimately supplant connectivity based on old technology. 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. 6 15 7 15 E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). 26JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8551-8554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01717]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79845; File No. 4-631]


Joint Industry Plan; Order Approving the Twelfth Amendment to the 
National Market System Plan To Address Extraordinary Market Volatility 
by Bats BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGA 
Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., 
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., Investors Exchange LLC, 
NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX LLC, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, National 
Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, and 
NYSE Arca, Inc.

January 19, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On September 19, 2016, NYSE Group, Inc., on behalf of the other 
parties \1\ to the National Market System Plan to Address Extraordinary 
Market Volatility (the ``Plan''), filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') pursuant to Section 11A of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act'') \2\ and Rule 608 
thereunder,\3\ a proposal to amend the Plan.\4\ The proposal represents 
the twelfth amendment to the Plan, and reflects proposed changes 
unanimously approved by the Participants (``Twelfth Amendment''). The 
proposed Twelfth Amendment was published for comment in the Federal 
Register on December 2, 2016.\5\ The Commission received two comment 
letters regarding the amendment.\6\ On January 17, 2017, the 
Participants submitted a letter to the Commission related to the 
Twelfth Amendment, which requests that the Commission modify the 
Twelfth Amendment to retain provisions in the

[[Page 8552]]

Plan related to Straddle States.\7\ This order approves the Twelfth 
Amendment to the Plan, as modified.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ NYSE Group, Inc. filed on behalf of the following parties to 
the Plan: Bats BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX Exchange, Inc., Bats 
EDGA Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago Stock 
Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., 
Investors Exchange LLC, NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX LLC, The Nasdaq 
Stock Market LLC, National Stock Exchange, Inc., New York Stock 
Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC, and NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Participants'').
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
    \3\ 17 CFR 242.608.
    \4\ See Letter from Elizabeth King, General Counsel and 
Corporate Secretary, NYSE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, 
Commission, dated September 16, 2016.
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79410 (November 28, 
2016), 81 FR 87114 (``Notice'').
    \6\ See Letters from Mortimer J. Buckley, Chief Investment 
Officer, Vanguard, dated December 23, 2016 (``Vanguard Letter''); 
and David W. Blass, General Counsel, Investment Company Institute, 
dated December 22, 2016 (``ICI Letter'') to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Commission.
    \7\ See Letter from Elizabeth K. King, General Counsel and 
Corporate Secretary, NYSE to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, 
dated January 13, 2017 (``Modification Letter'').
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II. Description of the Proposal

    In the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants propose to implement a 
modified reopening process following a Trading Pause.\8\ In particular, 
the Participants propose to amend the Plan to provide that a Trading 
Pause will continue until the Primary Listing Exchange has reopened 
trading using its established reopening procedures, even if such 
reopening is more than 10 minutes after the beginning of a Trading 
Pause, require that trading centers may not resume trading in an NMS 
Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock, 
and delete language made unnecessary in light of the proposed reopening 
procedures.\9\ In addition, the Participants propose to address the 
situation where there is no Reopening Price from the Primary Listing 
Exchange due to a systems or technology issue and make related changes 
regarding how the Reference Price would be determined and Price Bands 
calculated and disseminated following a resumption of trading. Further, 
the Participants propose to amend the Plan to provide that if an NMS 
Stock is in a Trading Pause during the last ten minutes of trading 
before the end of Regular Trading Hours, the Primary Listing Exchange 
shall attempt to execute a closing transaction using its established 
closing procedures. Finally, the Participants propose to clarify in the 
Plan the limited circumstances in which a trading center may calculate 
and apply Price Bands when a Reference Price is available but Price 
Bands have not been disseminated by the Processor (``Synthetic Price 
Bands'').
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    \8\ Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the 
same meaning as set forth in the Plan.
    \9\ The Primary Listing Exchanges filed proposed rule changes 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), and 
Rule 19b-4 thereunder, 17 CFR 240.19b-4, relating to the changes to 
the reopening procedures proposed in the Twelfth Amendment. See 
Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 79162 (October 26, 2016), 81 FR 
75875 (November 1, 2016) (SR-BatsBZX-2016-61; 79158 (October 26, 
2016), 81 FR 75879 November 1, 2016) (SR-NASDAQ-2016-131); and 79107 
(October 18, 2016), 81 FR 73159 (October 24, 2016) (SR-NYSEArca-
2016-130). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No 79846, 
(January 19, 2017) (SR-NYSEArca-2016-130).
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    Finally, in the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants propose to 
remove provisions related to Straddle States. However, as described in 
the Modification Letter, the Participants have requested the Commission 
to modify the Twelfth Amendment to retain the provisions related to 
Straddle States in the Plan.

III. Summary of Comment Letters

    The Commission received two comment letters on the proposed Twelfth 
Amendment, both supporting the proposed changes to the Plan related to 
the reopening process. One commenter noted that the proposed amendments 
to the Plan along with the related proposed rule changes submitted by 
the exchanges \10\ ``should improve the transparency of the reopening 
process, allow reopening auctions to establish more accurate prices, 
and make it less likely that trading in a security will be halted again 
shortly after trading resumes.'' \11\ This commenter further noted that 
``[I]mplementing these proposals also should increase market confidence 
by reducing the likelihood of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan creating 
confusion during volatile markets, when clarity and certainty are most 
important.'' \12\ This commenter urged the Commission to approve the 
proposed Twelfth Amendment and corresponding rule changes, but noted 
that the Twelfth Amendment ``does not address the discordance between 
the rules governing clearly erroneous executions and the limit up-limit 
down price bands, which contributes unnecessarily to uncertainty in the 
equity markets in volatile times.'' \13\ The second commenter urged the 
Commission to approve the Twelfth Amendment ``without delay'' and 
before considering a change to the Plan recommended by the Equity 
Market Structure Advisory Committee in which ``securities in a limit 
state would not be halted pursuant to existing rules, but would be 
permitted to trade within established price bands.'' \14\ This 
commenter believes that ``the Twelfth Amendment is an important step 
towards improving the equity markets and minimizing the likelihood of 
an event like August 24, 2015.'' \15\
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    \10\ See supra note 9.
    \11\ See ICI Letter, supra note 6 at 2.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
    \14\ See Vanguard Letter, supra note 6, at 2.
    \15\ Id.
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IV. Discussion and Commission Findings

    Rule 608 under Regulation NMS provides that the Commission shall 
approve an NMS plan amendment, with such changes or subject to such 
conditions as the Commission may deem necessary or appropriate, if it 
finds that the plan amendment is ``necessary or appropriate in the 
public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of 
fair and orderly markets, to remove impediments to, and perfect the 
mechanism of, a national market system, or otherwise in furtherance of 
the purposes of the Act.'' \16\ The Commission finds that the Twelfth 
Amendment, as modified, is consistent with Section 11A of the Act \17\ 
and Rule 608 thereunder \18\ because, for the reasons discussed below 
it is appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of 
investors and the maintenance of fair and orderly markets, and that it 
removes impediments to, and perfects the mechanism of, a national 
market system. The Commission notes that the Participants proposed the 
Twelfth Amendment to address issues experienced on August 24, 2015. In 
particular, the Participants believe that the changes to the Plan set 
forth in the Twelfth Amendment should reduce the number of repeat 
Trading Pauses in a single NMS Stock and establish a more standardized 
process across Primary Listing Exchanges in reopening trading following 
a Trading Pause.
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    \16\ 17 CFR 242.608(b)(2).
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
    \18\ 17 CFR 242.608.
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A. Coordinated Reopening Procedures After a Trading Pause

    The Participants propose to remove the language in Plan Section 
VII(B)(3) that permits trading centers to begin trading an NMS Stock 
ten minutes after declaration of a Trading Pause in an NMS Stock if the 
Primary Listing Exchange has not either reported a Reopening Price or 
declared a Regulatory Halt.\19\ Accordingly, Trading Pauses would 
continue until a Primary Listing Market reports a Reopening Price, 
except in limited circumstances discussed below. In addition, the 
Participants propose to provide that trading centers may not resume 
trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price Bands 
in such NMS Stock.
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    \19\ The Participants also propose to amend Section V(C) of the 
Plan to remove language, which describes the first Reference Price 
in situations when a Primary Listing Market does not reopen within 
ten minutes after the beginning of a Trading Pause. The Commission 
believes that with the adoption of the proposed amendments described 
above, the Plan text in Section V(C) is no longer necessary.
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    The Commission believes that it is appropriate in the public 
interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair 
and orderly market to provide that a Trading Pause

[[Page 8553]]

continue until the Primary Listing Exchange has reopened trading using 
its established reopening procedures, even if such reopening is more 
than 10 minutes after the beginning of a Trading Pause, and to require 
that trading centers may not resume trading in an NMS Stock following a 
Trading Pause without Price Bands in such NMS Stock. The Commission 
believes that these two provisions together support a more standardized 
process for reopening trading after a Trading Pause has been declared. 
Further, these provisions ensure that trading would not resume after a 
Trading Pause without Price Bands.

B. Systems and Technology Issues

    The Participants propose to amend Section VII(B)(2) of the Plan to 
clarify that the only time trading centers may resume trading in an NMS 
Stock in the absence of a Reopening Price from the Primary Listing 
Exchange is if the Primary Listing Exchange notifies the Processor that 
it is unable to reopen trading due to a systems or technology issue. 
The Commission believes that this change is appropriate in the public 
interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair 
and orderly market because if a Primary Listing Exchange is unable to 
reopen trading due to a systems or technology issue, trading should be 
permitted to resume in that NMS Stock on other trading centers.
    Further, the Participants propose to add a new sentence to Section 
V(C)(1) of the Plan to specify that if the Primary Listing Exchange 
notifies the Processor that it is unable to reopen an NMS Stock due to 
a systems or technology issue, the next Reference Price would be the 
last effective Price Band that was in a Limit State before the Trading 
Pause. The Participants also propose to use this process for 
determining a Reference Price in situations where the Primary Listing 
Exchange reopens trading with a quotation that has a zero bid or offer, 
or both. The Commission believes that it is appropriate to use the last 
effective Price Band as the new Reference Price in these situations. As 
noted by the Participants, using the last effective Price Band that 
triggered the Trading Pause should be a closer approximation of the 
most recent trading in the NMS Stock, which should help to prevent 
repeat Trading Pauses.
    The Participants also propose to provide that if, under Section 
VII(B)(2), the Primary Listing Exchange notifies the Processor that it 
is unable to reopen an NMS Stock due to a systems or technology issue 
and it has not declared a Regulatory Halt, the Processor will calculate 
and disseminate Price Bands by applying triple the Percentage 
Parameters set forth in Appendix A to the Plan for the first 30 seconds 
such Price Bands are disseminated. The Commission notes that the Plan 
currently reflects that triple Percentage Parameters are applied if 
trading resumes ten minutes after a Trading Pause has been declared 
when the Primary Listing Exchange has not issued a Reopening Price. 
Accordingly, the Commission believes that that it is appropriate to 
apply triple Percentage Parameters to the new limited instances when a 
Reopening Price is not disseminated.
    Finally, the Participants propose to amend Section VII(B)(4) of the 
Plan to clarify that the Processor shall update the Price Bands, as set 
forth in Section V(C)(1)-(2) of the Plan, after receiving notification 
from the Primary Listing Exchange of a Reopening Price following a 
Trading Pause (or a resume message in the case of a reopening quote 
that has a zero bid or zero offer, or both), or notification that the 
Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen trading following a 
Trading Pause due to a systems or technology issue. In instances when 
the Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen due to a systems or 
technology issue, the Processor shall update the Price Bands no earlier 
than ten minutes after the beginning of the Trading Pause. The 
Commission believes that these changes are appropriate to clarify the 
requirements of the Processor to update the Price Bands in all 
situations following a Trading Pause.

C. Trading Pauses Before the End of Regular Trading Hours

    The Participants propose to amend Section VII(C)(1) of the Plan to 
provide that if an NMS Stock is in a Trading Pause during the last ten 
minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours, the Primary 
Listing Exchange shall, rather than seek to resume trading through its 
established reopening procedures, attempt to execute a closing 
transaction using its established closing procedures. The Commission 
believes that this change is appropriate in the public interest, for 
the protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly 
market to accommodate the new standardized process for reopening 
trading. As noted above, all trading centers must wait to resume 
trading in an NMS Stock subject to a Trading Pause until the Primary 
Listing Exchange has reported a Reopening Price. It is possible that a 
Trading Pause that was declared before the last ten minutes of trading 
before the end of Regular Trading Hours could be extended until after 
the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading 
Hours. The Commission believes that it is appropriate to amend the Plan 
to reflect in such case, that trading in the NMS Stock should not 
resume, and instead the Primary Listing Exchange should attempt to 
execute a closing transaction using established closing procedures.

D. Synthetic Price Bands

    The Participants propose to amend Section V(A)(1) of the Plan to 
clarify that if the Processor has not yet disseminated Price Bands, but 
a Reference Price is available, a trading center may calculate and 
apply Synthetic Price Bands based on the same Reference Price that the 
Processor would use for calculating such Price Bands until the trading 
center receives Price Bands from the Processor. The Commission believes 
that this change is appropriate in the public interest, for the 
protection of investors and the maintenance of a fair and orderly 
market because it will make clear that, while a trading center may not 
resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price 
Bands in such NMS Stock, when a Reference Price is available, a trading 
center is permitted to calculate and apply its own Synthetic Price 
Bands before Price Bands have been received from the Processor.

E. Straddle States

    In the Twelfth Amendment, the Participants proposed to remove 
provisions in the Plan related to Straddle States. In its Modification 
Letter, the Participants request that the Commission approve the 
Twelfth Amendment, as modified, to retain the provisions related to 
Straddle States.\20\ The Participants note that they intend to further 
study alternatives to eliminating Straddle States from the Plan. The 
Commission deems it necessary to modify the Twelfth Amendment so that 
the provisions related to Straddle States are retained. The Commission 
believes that further data analysis is appropriate to evaluate 
alternatives to eliminating Straddle States from the Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ See Modification Letter, supra note 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the reasons noted above, the Commission finds that the Twelfth 
Amendment to the Plan, as modified, is consistent with Section 11A of 
the Act \21\ and Rule 608 thereunder.\22\
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    \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
    \22\ 17 CFR 242.608. Consistent with their representations set 
forth in the Notice, the Commission expects the Participants to 
implement the Twelfth Amendment, as modified, no later than six 
months after the date of this order.

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[[Page 8554]]

V. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 11A of the Act \23\ 
and Rule 608 thereunder,\24\ that the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan 
(File No. 4-631), as modified, be, and it hereby is, approved.
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    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1.
    \24\ 17 CFR 242.608.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\25\
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    \25\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(29).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-01717 Filed 1-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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