Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Modify Certain Appendix B Web Site Publication Requirements Pursuant to the Regulation NMS Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program, 25027-25029 [2017-11143]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 31, 2017 / Notices
of the purposes of the Act. To the
contrary, this proposal is procompetitive because it allows Penny
Pilot issues to continue trading on the
Exchange.
Moreover, the Exchange believes that
the proposed rule change will allow for
further analysis of the Pilot and a
determination of how the Pilot should
be structured in the future; and will
serve to promote regulatory clarity and
consistency, thereby reducing burdens
on the marketplace and facilitating
investor protection.
The Pilot is an industry-wide
initiative supported by all other option
exchanges. The Exchange believes that
extending the Pilot will allow for
continued competition between market
participants on the Exchange trading
similar products as their counterparts
on other exchanges, while at the same
time allowing the Exchange to continue
to compete for order flow with other
exchanges in option issues trading as
part of the Pilot.
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
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
Because the foregoing 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, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 9 and
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4
thereunder.10
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: (i) Necessary or appropriate in
the public interest; (ii) for the protection
of investors; or (iii) otherwise in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
If the Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
9 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
the Commission written notice of its intent to file
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
requirement.
10 17
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14:54 May 30, 2017
Jkt 241001
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:
• 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–
Phlx–2017–36 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–Phlx–2017–36. 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 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–Phlx–2017–36 and should
be submitted on or before June 21, 2017.
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–11144 Filed 5–30–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–80754; File No. SR–CHX–
2017–10]
Electronic Comments
PO 00000
25027
Sfmt 4703
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness
of a Proposed Rule Change To Modify
Certain Appendix B Web Site
Publication Requirements Pursuant to
the Regulation NMS Plan To Implement
a Tick Size Pilot Program
May 24, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 2 thereunder,
notice is hereby given that on May 15,
2017, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.
(‘‘CHX’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘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
CHX proposes to amend Article 20,
Rule 13(b) of the Rules of the Exchange
(‘‘CHX Rules’’) to modify certain
Appendix B Web site data publication
requirements pursuant to the Regulation
NMS Plan to Implement a Tick Size
Pilot Program (‘‘Plan’’).
The text of this proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at (www.chx.com) and in 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
CHX included statements concerning
the purpose of and basis for the
proposed rule changes and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
11 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 31, 2017 / Notices
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
CHX 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
1. Purpose
Article 20, Rule 13(b) (Compliance
with Data Collection Requirements) 3
implements the data collection and Web
site publication requirements of the
Plan.4 Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A)
requires, among other things, that a CHX
Participant 5 that operates a Trading
Center subject to the Plan and for which
the Exchange is the designated
examining authority (‘‘DEA’’) shall
collect and transmit to the Exchange
data described under Items I and II of
Appendix B of the Plan. Subparagraph
(v) under Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A)
provides, among other things, that the
Exchange shall publish such Appendix
B.I. and B.II. data on the CHX Web site
within 120 calendar days following
month end at no charge and shall not
identify the Trading Center that
generated the data. Paragraph .08 of the
Interpretations and Policies under
Article 20, Rule 13(b) provides, among
other things, that the requirement that
the Exchange make certain data publicly
available on the Exchange or DEA’s Web
site pursuant to Appendix B and C to
the Plan shall commence at the
beginning of the Pilot Period,6 and that
the Exchange shall make Appendix C.I
data available to the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) for
aggregation and publication on the
FINRA Web site pursuant to FINRA
Rules and the Exchange will publish
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79538
(December 13, 2016), 81 FR 91979 (December 19,
2016) (SR–CHX–2016–21); see also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 77469 (March 29, 2016),
81 FR 19275 (April 4, 2016) (SR–CHX–2016–03).
4 The Plan Participants filed the Plan to comply
with an order issued by the Commission on June
24, 2014. See Letter from Brendon J. Weiss, Vice
President, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., to
Secretary, Commission, dated August 25, 2014
(‘‘SRO Tick Size Plan Proposal’’). See Securities
Exchange Act Release No 72460 (June 24, 2014), 79
FR 36840 (June 30, 2014); see also Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 74892 (May 6, 2015), 80
FR 27513 (May 13, 2015).
5 A ‘‘Participant’’ is a ‘‘member’’ of the Exchange
for purposes of the Act. See CHX Article 1, Rule
1(s). For clarity, the Exchange proposes to utilize
the term ‘‘CHX Participant’’ when referring to
members of the Exchange and the term ‘‘Plan
Participant’’ when referring to Participants of the
Plan.
6 Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized
terms have the meaning ascribed to them in CHX
Article 20, Rule 13.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:54 May 30, 2017
Jkt 241001
Appendix B data on the Exchange Web
site, which shall commence on August
31, 2017.7
The Exchange is proposing to amend
certain provisions under Article 20,
Rule 13(b) to comport to recent
amendments to FINRA Rule 6191 8 that
were adopted to mitigate confidentiality
concerns previously raised by
commenters 9 regarding the publication
of data related to over-the-counter
(‘‘OTC’’) activity. Given that the
Exchange is the DEA for a relatively
small number of OTC Trading Centers,
publishing their data, whether on an
aggregated or a disaggregated basis,
raises concerns that the identities of
these Trading Centers could be
determined. In order to address these
concerns, pursuant to paragraph .15 of
the Supplementary Materials of FINRA
Rule 6191, FINRA will incorporate the
firms for which the Exchange is the DEA
into the anonymous, grouped masked
methodology and publish OTC-wide
statistics for Appendix B.I, B.II. and
7 On November 30, 2016, the SEC granted
exemptive relief to the Plan Participants to, among
other things, delay the publication of Web site data
pursuant to Appendices B and C to the Plan until
February 28, 2017, and to delay the ongoing Web
site publication by ninety days such that data
would be published within 120 calendar days
following the end of the month. See Letter from
David S. Shillman, Associate Director, Division of
Trading and Markets, Commission, to Marcia E.
Asquith, Senior Vice President and Corporate
Secretary, FINRA, dated November 30, 2016; see
also SR–CHX–2016–21, supra note 3. The Exchange
filed a proposed rule change for immediate
effectiveness that, among other things, delayed the
date by which Pre-Pilot and Pilot Appendix B data
is to be made publicly available on the Exchange’s
Web site from February 28, 2017, until April 28,
2017. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
80227 (March 13, 2017), 82 FR 14263 (March 17,
2017) (SR–CHX–2017–05). The Exchange recently
filed a proposed rule change for immediate
effectiveness that delayed the date by which PrePilot and Pilot Appendix B data is to be made
publicly available on the Exchange’s Web site from
April 28, 2017, until August 31, 2017. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80647 (May
10, 2017) (SR–CHX–2017–07). The SEC granted
exemptive relief to the Plan Participants to delay
the publication of their Appendix B data until
August 31, 2017. See Letter from David S. Shillman,
Associate Director, Division of Trading and
Markets, Commission, to Jennifer Piorko Mitchell,
Vice President and Deputy Corporate Secretary,
FINRA, dated April 28, 2017.
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80551
(April 28, 2017), 82 FR 20948 (May 4, 2017)
(‘‘Approval Order’’); see also Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 80193 (March 9, 2017), 82 FR
13901 (March 15, 2017) (SR–FINRA–2017–006); see
also infra note 10.
9 See Letter from William Hebert, Managing
Director, Financial Information Forum (‘‘FIF’’), to
Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary, Commission,
dated December 21, 2016 (‘‘FIF letter’’); see also
Letter from Adam C. Cooper, Senior Managing
Director and Chief Legal Officer, Citadel Securities,
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated
December 21, 2016 (‘‘Citadel letter’’); see also SR–
CHX–2016–21, supra note 3.
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
B.IV. data on the FINRA Web site.10 The
Exchange will publish Appendix B data
with respect to any Trading Center
operated by the Exchange on the
Exchange Web site. Thus, the Exchange
proposes to amend the CHX Rules as
follows:
• Amend Article 20, Rule
13(b)(2)(A)(v) to modify the Web site
publication requirement to provide that
the Exchange shall make the Appendix
B.I. and B.II. data collected pursuant to
current Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A)
available to FINRA for aggregation and
publication on the FINRA Web site
pursuant to FINRA Rules.
• Amend paragraph .08 of the
Interpretations and Policies of Article
20, Rule 13(b) to provide that
notwithstanding the provisions of
Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2) and (b)(3), with
respect to data for the Pre-Pilot Period
and the Pilot Period, the Exchange shall
make the Appendix B.I. and B.II. data
collected pursuant to Article 20, Rule
13(b)(2)(A) and the Appendix C.I. data
collected pursuant to Article 20, Rule
13(b)(4)(A) available to FINRA for
aggregation and publication on the
FINRA Web site pursuant to FINRA
Rules and the Exchange will publish
Appendix B data with respect to any
Trading Center operated by the
Exchange on the Exchange Web site,
which shall commence on August 31,
2017.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act 11 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 12
in particular, in that it is designed to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to foster cooperation and
coordination with persons engaged in
facilitating 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 are not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Plan is designed to allow the
Commission, market participants, and
the public to study and assess the
10 On April 28, 2017, the SEC granted exemptive
relief to FINRA and CHX to permit the publication
of Appendix B data related to OTC trading activity
on an aggregated basis using the anonymous,
grouped masking methodology adopted by FINRA.
See Letter from David S. Shillman, Associate
Director, Division of Trading and Markets,
Commission, to Marcia E. Asquith, Executive Vice
President Board and External Relations, FINRA,
dated April 28, 2017; see also Approval Order,
supra note 8.
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 31, 2017 / Notices
impact of increment conventions on the
liquidity and trading of the common
stock of small-capitalization companies.
The Exchange believes that this
proposal is consistent with the Act and
Section VII(A) of the Plan because it
mitigates confidentiality concerns
regarding the identity of certain OTC
Trading Centers for which the Exchange
is the DEA.13
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange notes that the proposed rule
change implements the provisions of the
Plan.
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
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 asserts that the
proposed rule change: (1) Will not
significantly affect the protection of
investors or the public interest, (2) will
not impose any significant burden on
competition, and (3) and will not
become operative for 30 days from the
date on which it was filed, or such
shorter time as the Commission may
designate. In addition, the Exchange
provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed
rule change, along with a brief
description and text of the proposed
rule change, at least five business days
prior to the date of filing, or such
shorter time as designated by the
Commission.14
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change raises no novel
issues. The Exchange notes that the
proposed rule change is intended to
address the requirement in Section
VII(A) of the Plan that the data made
publicly available will not identify the
Trading Center that generated the data,
as well as the confidentiality concerns
raised in connection with the
publication of Appendix B data.15 The
Exchange also notes that the proposal
does not alter the information required
to be submitted to the SEC. As such, the
Exchange has designated this rule filing
supra note 9.
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
15 See supra note 9.
as non-controversial under Section
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 16 and paragraph
(f)(6) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.17
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
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 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–
CHX–2017–10 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–CHX–2017–10. 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
13 See
14 17
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:54 May 30, 2017
16 15
17 17
Jkt 241001
PO 00000
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
CFR 240.19b–4.
Frm 00096
Fmt 4703
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments
received will be posted without change;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–CHX–
2017–10 and should be submitted on or
before June 21, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.18
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–11143 Filed 5–30–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
the provisions of the Government in the
Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
the Securities and Exchange
Commission will hold a closed meeting
on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 2 p.m.
Commissioners, Counsel to the
Commissioners, the Secretary to the
Commission, and recording secretaries
will attend the closed meeting. Certain
staff members who have an interest in
the matters also may be present.
The General Counsel of the
Commission, or his designee, has
certified that, in his opinion, one or
more of the exemptions set forth in 5
U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), 9(B) and (10)
and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (a)(5), (a)(7),
(a)(9)(ii) and (a)(10), permit
consideration of the scheduled matter at
the closed meeting.
Chairman Clayton, as duty officer,
voted to consider the items listed for the
closed meeting in closed session.
The subject matter of the closed
meeting will be:
Institution and settlement of
injunctive actions;
Institution and settlement of
administrative proceedings; and
Other matters relating to enforcement
proceedings.
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
For further information and to
ascertain what, if any, matters have been
added, deleted or postponed; please
contact Brent J. Fields from the Office of
the Secretary at (202) 551–5400.
18 17
Sfmt 4703
25029
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
31MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25027-25029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11143]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-80754; File No. SR-CHX-2017-10]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc.;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change
To Modify Certain Appendix B Web Site Publication Requirements Pursuant
to the Regulation NMS Plan To Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program
May 24, 2017.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given
that on May 15, 2017, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc. (``CHX'' or the
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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
CHX proposes to amend Article 20, Rule 13(b) of the Rules of the
Exchange (``CHX Rules'') to modify certain Appendix B Web site data
publication requirements pursuant to the Regulation NMS Plan to
Implement a Tick Size Pilot Program (``Plan'').
The text of this proposed rule change is available on the
Exchange's Web site at (www.chx.com) and in 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 CHX included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule changes and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these
[[Page 25028]]
statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below.
The CHX 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
Article 20, Rule 13(b) (Compliance with Data Collection
Requirements) \3\ implements the data collection and Web site
publication requirements of the Plan.\4\ Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A)
requires, among other things, that a CHX Participant \5\ that operates
a Trading Center subject to the Plan and for which the Exchange is the
designated examining authority (``DEA'') shall collect and transmit to
the Exchange data described under Items I and II of Appendix B of the
Plan. Subparagraph (v) under Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A) provides,
among other things, that the Exchange shall publish such Appendix B.I.
and B.II. data on the CHX Web site within 120 calendar days following
month end at no charge and shall not identify the Trading Center that
generated the data. Paragraph .08 of the Interpretations and Policies
under Article 20, Rule 13(b) provides, among other things, that the
requirement that the Exchange make certain data publicly available on
the Exchange or DEA's Web site pursuant to Appendix B and C to the Plan
shall commence at the beginning of the Pilot Period,\6\ and that the
Exchange shall make Appendix C.I data available to the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (``FINRA'') for aggregation and
publication on the FINRA Web site pursuant to FINRA Rules and the
Exchange will publish Appendix B data on the Exchange Web site, which
shall commence on August 31, 2017.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79538 (December 13,
2016), 81 FR 91979 (December 19, 2016) (SR-CHX-2016-21); see also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77469 (March 29, 2016), 81 FR
19275 (April 4, 2016) (SR-CHX-2016-03).
\4\ The Plan Participants filed the Plan to comply with an order
issued by the Commission on June 24, 2014. See Letter from Brendon
J. Weiss, Vice President, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., to
Secretary, Commission, dated August 25, 2014 (``SRO Tick Size Plan
Proposal''). See Securities Exchange Act Release No 72460 (June 24,
2014), 79 FR 36840 (June 30, 2014); see also Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 74892 (May 6, 2015), 80 FR 27513 (May 13, 2015).
\5\ A ``Participant'' is a ``member'' of the Exchange for
purposes of the Act. See CHX Article 1, Rule 1(s). For clarity, the
Exchange proposes to utilize the term ``CHX Participant'' when
referring to members of the Exchange and the term ``Plan
Participant'' when referring to Participants of the Plan.
\6\ Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms have the
meaning ascribed to them in CHX Article 20, Rule 13.
\7\ On November 30, 2016, the SEC granted exemptive relief to
the Plan Participants to, among other things, delay the publication
of Web site data pursuant to Appendices B and C to the Plan until
February 28, 2017, and to delay the ongoing Web site publication by
ninety days such that data would be published within 120 calendar
days following the end of the month. See Letter from David S.
Shillman, Associate Director, Division of Trading and Markets,
Commission, to Marcia E. Asquith, Senior Vice President and
Corporate Secretary, FINRA, dated November 30, 2016; see also SR-
CHX-2016-21, supra note 3. The Exchange filed a proposed rule change
for immediate effectiveness that, among other things, delayed the
date by which Pre-Pilot and Pilot Appendix B data is to be made
publicly available on the Exchange's Web site from February 28,
2017, until April 28, 2017. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
80227 (March 13, 2017), 82 FR 14263 (March 17, 2017) (SR-CHX-2017-
05). The Exchange recently filed a proposed rule change for
immediate effectiveness that delayed the date by which Pre-Pilot and
Pilot Appendix B data is to be made publicly available on the
Exchange's Web site from April 28, 2017, until August 31, 2017. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80647 (May 10, 2017) (SR-CHX-
2017-07). The SEC granted exemptive relief to the Plan Participants
to delay the publication of their Appendix B data until August 31,
2017. See Letter from David S. Shillman, Associate Director,
Division of Trading and Markets, Commission, to Jennifer Piorko
Mitchell, Vice President and Deputy Corporate Secretary, FINRA,
dated April 28, 2017.
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The Exchange is proposing to amend certain provisions under Article
20, Rule 13(b) to comport to recent amendments to FINRA Rule 6191 \8\
that were adopted to mitigate confidentiality concerns previously
raised by commenters \9\ regarding the publication of data related to
over-the-counter (``OTC'') activity. Given that the Exchange is the DEA
for a relatively small number of OTC Trading Centers, publishing their
data, whether on an aggregated or a disaggregated basis, raises
concerns that the identities of these Trading Centers could be
determined. In order to address these concerns, pursuant to paragraph
.15 of the Supplementary Materials of FINRA Rule 6191, FINRA will
incorporate the firms for which the Exchange is the DEA into the
anonymous, grouped masked methodology and publish OTC-wide statistics
for Appendix B.I, B.II. and B.IV. data on the FINRA Web site.\10\ The
Exchange will publish Appendix B data with respect to any Trading
Center operated by the Exchange on the Exchange Web site. Thus, the
Exchange proposes to amend the CHX Rules as follows:
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\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80551 (April 28,
2017), 82 FR 20948 (May 4, 2017) (``Approval Order''); see also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80193 (March 9, 2017), 82 FR
13901 (March 15, 2017) (SR-FINRA-2017-006); see also infra note 10.
\9\ See Letter from William Hebert, Managing Director, Financial
Information Forum (``FIF''), to Robert W. Errett, Deputy Secretary,
Commission, dated December 21, 2016 (``FIF letter''); see also
Letter from Adam C. Cooper, Senior Managing Director and Chief Legal
Officer, Citadel Securities, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, dated December 21, 2016 (``Citadel letter''); see also
SR-CHX-2016-21, supra note 3.
\10\ On April 28, 2017, the SEC granted exemptive relief to
FINRA and CHX to permit the publication of Appendix B data related
to OTC trading activity on an aggregated basis using the anonymous,
grouped masking methodology adopted by FINRA. See Letter from David
S. Shillman, Associate Director, Division of Trading and Markets,
Commission, to Marcia E. Asquith, Executive Vice President Board and
External Relations, FINRA, dated April 28, 2017; see also Approval
Order, supra note 8.
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Amend Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A)(v) to modify the Web
site publication requirement to provide that the Exchange shall make
the Appendix B.I. and B.II. data collected pursuant to current Article
20, Rule 13(b)(2)(A) available to FINRA for aggregation and publication
on the FINRA Web site pursuant to FINRA Rules.
Amend paragraph .08 of the Interpretations and Policies of
Article 20, Rule 13(b) to provide that notwithstanding the provisions
of Article 20, Rule 13(b)(2) and (b)(3), with respect to data for the
Pre-Pilot Period and the Pilot Period, the Exchange shall make the
Appendix B.I. and B.II. data collected pursuant to Article 20, Rule
13(b)(2)(A) and the Appendix C.I. data collected pursuant to Article
20, Rule 13(b)(4)(A) available to FINRA for aggregation and publication
on the FINRA Web site pursuant to FINRA Rules and the Exchange will
publish Appendix B data with respect to any Trading Center operated by
the Exchange on the Exchange Web site, which shall commence on August
31, 2017.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act \11\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(5) of the Act \12\ in particular, in that it is designed to
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 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 are not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or
dealers.
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The Plan is designed to allow the Commission, market participants,
and the public to study and assess the
[[Page 25029]]
impact of increment conventions on the liquidity and trading of the
common stock of small-capitalization companies. The Exchange believes
that this proposal is consistent with the Act and Section VII(A) of the
Plan because it mitigates confidentiality concerns regarding the
identity of certain OTC Trading Centers for which the Exchange is the
DEA.\13\
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\13\ See supra note 9.
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange
notes that the proposed rule change implements the provisions of the
Plan.
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 asserts that the proposed rule change: (1) Will not
significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest, (2) will not impose any significant burden on competition,
and (3) and will not become operative for 30 days from the date on
which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may
designate. In addition, the Exchange provided the Commission with
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least
five business days prior to the date of filing, or such shorter time as
designated by the Commission.\14\
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\14\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
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The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change raises no novel
issues. The Exchange notes that the proposed rule change is intended to
address the requirement in Section VII(A) of the Plan that the data
made publicly available will not identify the Trading Center that
generated the data, as well as the confidentiality concerns raised in
connection with the publication of Appendix B data.\15\ The Exchange
also notes that the proposal does not alter the information required to
be submitted to the SEC. As such, the Exchange has designated this rule
filing as non-controversial under Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \16\
and paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\17\
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\15\ See supra note 9.
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\17\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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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 under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 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-CHX-2017-10 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-CHX-2017-10. 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 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-CHX-2017-10 and should be
submitted on or before June 21, 2017.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\18\
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\18\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-11143 Filed 5-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P