Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 7.44-E, 56890-56894 [2018-24732]

Download as PDF 56890 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / Notices Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 13 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder.14 The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. Waiving the 30-day delay would permit the Exchange to more efficiently add Derivative Securities to the Exchange under UTP without the unnecessary requirement to file a 19b– 4(e) with the Commission. The Commission also notes that because the Exchange is adopting a rule that is substantially identical to a similar NYSE National rule, the proposed change does not present any new or novel issues. Thus, the Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.15 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. 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– BX–2018–051 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. 13 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 14 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 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 of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement. 15 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 247001 All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BX–2018–051. 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 website (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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–BX–2018–051 and should be submitted on or before December 5, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.16 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–24733 Filed 11–13–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–84547; File No. SR– NYSEARCA–2018–77] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 7.44–E November 7, 2018. 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 October 26, 2018, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE 16 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Arca’’ 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 The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.44–E, which sets forth the Exchange’s Retail Liquidity Program. The proposed change is available on the Exchange’s website at www.nyse.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 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. 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 Rule 7.44–E, which sets forth the Exchange’s Retail Liquidity Program (the ‘‘Program’’), to: (i) Expand the Program’s availability to all securities traded on the Exchange; (ii) remove unused functionality by eliminating the Type 2—Retail Order and no longer permit Retail Price Improvement Orders (‘‘RPI’’) to be designated as a Mid-Point Liquidity (‘‘MPL’’) Order; 3 and (iii) offer additional functionality to RPI Orders by allowing them to include an optional offset. The Exchange established the Program to attract retail order flow to the Exchange, and allow such order flow to receive potential price improvement.4 The Program is currently 3 Rule 7.31–E(d)(3). Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71176 (December 23, 2013), 78 FR 79524 (December 30, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca–2013–107) (‘‘RLP Approval Order’’). 4 See E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / Notices limited to trades occurring at prices equal to and greater than $1.00 a share. The program currently operates on a pilot basis and is set to expire on December 31, 2018. Under Exchange Rule 7.44–E, a class of market participant called Retail Liquidity Providers (‘‘RLPs’’) 5 and nonRLP member organizations are able to provide potential price improvement to retail investor orders in the form of a non-displayed order that is priced better than the best protected bid or offer (‘‘PBBO’’), called an RPI. When there is an RPI in a particular security priced at least $0.001 better than the PBB or PBO, the Exchange disseminates an indicator, known as the Retail Liquidity Identifier (‘‘RLI’’), that such interest exists. Retail Member Organizations (‘‘RMOs’’) can submit a Retail Order to the Exchange, which interacts, to the extent possible, with available contra-side RPIs and orders with a working price between the PBBO. The segmentation in the Program allows retail order flow to receive potential price improvement as a result of their order flow being deemed more desirable by liquidity providers.6 Expansion of Program’s Scope The Exchange proposes to expand the Program’s availability to all securities traded on the Exchange. Today, the Program is limited to NYSE Arca-listed securities and UTP Securities. Securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’) are specifically excluded from the Program. Rule 7.44–E(a)(4), therefore, states that a RPI Order is ‘‘non-displayed interest in NYSE Arcalisted securities and UTP Securities, excluding NYSE-listed (Tape A) securities, that would trade at prices better than the PBB or PBO by at least $0.001 and that is identified as such.’’ To expand the Program to all securities traded on the Exchange, including NYSE-listed securities, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.44–E(a)(4) to provide that a RPI Order is ‘‘nondisplayed interest that would trade at prices better than the PBB or PBO by at least $0.001 and that is identified as such.’’ This language is similar to that of Cboe BYX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BYX’’), which also operates a retail price improvement program that is available to all securities trading on BYX.7 5 The Program also allows for RLPs to register with the Exchange. However, any firm can enter RPI orders into the system. 6 RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 79528. 7 See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68303 (November 27, 2012), 77 FR 71652 (December 3, 2012) (‘‘BYX RPI Approval Order’’). See also and NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’) Rule 4780(a)(3). See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 69837 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 247001 Elimination of Type 2—Retail Orders The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.44–E(k) to remove unused functionality by eliminating the Type 2—Retail Order. As a result, the Exchange would now offer a single category of Retail Orders. To date, the Exchange has not received a Retail Order designated as Type 2 and, therefore, proposes to no longer support this functionality. Rule 7.44–E(a)(3) defines a ‘‘Retail Order’’ as an agency order or a riskless principal order that meets the criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03 that originates from a natural person and is submitted to the Exchange by an RMO, provided that no change is made to the terms of the order with respect to price or side of market and the order does not originate from a trading algorithm or any other computerized methodology. Under Rule 7.44–E(k), an RMO may designate how their Retail Order interacts with available contra-side interest by designating it as either a Type 1 or Type 2 Retail Order. A Type 1—Retail Order to buy (sell) is a Limit Immediate-or-Cancel (‘‘IOC’’) Order that will trade only with available Retail Price Improvement Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book and will not route. The quantity of a Type 1—Retail Order to buy (sell) that does not trade with eligible orders to sell (buy) will be immediately and automatically cancelled. A Type-1 designated Retail Order will be rejected on arrival if the PBBO is locked or crossed. A Type 2—Retail Order may be a Limit Order designated IOC or Day or a Market Order, and functions as follows: • A Type 2—Retail Order IOC to buy (sell) is a Limit IOC Order that will trade first with available Retail Price Improvement Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book. Any remaining quantity of the Retail Order will trade with orders to sell (buy) on the NYSE Arca Book at prices equal to or above (below) the PBO (PBB) and will be traded as a Limit IOC Order and will not route. • A Type 2—Retail Order Day to buy (sell) is a Limit Order that will trade first with available RPI Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) (February 15, 2013), 78 FR 12397 (February 22, 2013) (‘‘NASDAQ RPI Approval Order’’). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75252 (June 22, 2015), 80 FR 36866 (June 26, 2015) (SR– NASDAQ–2015–024) (removing NASDAQ’s Retail Price Improvement Program from its rules). PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56891 with a working price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book. Any remaining quantity of the Retail Order, if marketable, will trade with orders to sell (buy) on the NYSE Arca Book or route, and if non-marketable, will be ranked in the NYSE Arca Book as a Limit Order. • A Type 2—Retail Order Market to buy (sell) is a Market Order that will trade first with available Retail Price Improvement Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below (above) the NBO (NBB). Any remaining quantity of the Retail Order will function as a Market Order. The Exchange proposes to no longer offer the Type 2—Retail Order and delete all references to it in Rule 7.44– E. Rule 7.44–E(k) would be amended to delete subparagraph (2) that describes the operation of the Type 2—Retail Order. The Exchange would continue to offer Type 1—Retail Orders, which would be referred to as ‘‘Retail Orders’’ in Rule 7.44–E(k) and described as: ‘‘[a] Retail Order to buy (sell) is a Limit IOC Order that will trade only with available Retail Price Improvement Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book and will not route. The quantity of a Retail Order to buy (sell) that does not trade with eligible orders to sell (buy) will be immediately and automatically cancelled. A Retail Order will be rejected on arrival if the PBBO is locked or crossed.’’ The Exchange does not propose to amend the operation of Retail Orders. The proposed text is substantially similar to current Rule 7.44–E(k)(1) with minor changes to remove references to ‘‘Type 1’’. The Exchange also proposes to make related changes to Rule 7.44–E(l). First, the last sentence in the first paragraph (l) would be amended to no longer state that any remaining unfilled quantity of a Retail Order posts to the NYSE Arca Book. Only Type 2—Retail Orders designated as Day were able to be posted the NYSE Arca Book and would no longer be offered by the Exchange. Retail Orders would be Limit IOC orders and would either execute or be cancelled upon entry and, therefore, never post to the NYSE Arca Book. As such, the last sentence of the first paragraph Rule 7.44–E(l) would be amended to remove a reference to posting to the NYSE Arca Book and state, ‘‘[a]ny remaining unfilled quantity of the Retail Order will cancel or execute [sic] in accordance with Rule 7.44–E(k).’’ The Exchange notes that treating all Retail Orders as IOC is similar to that of BYX and the Exchange’s affiliate, NYSE, both of E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1 56892 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / Notices which also operate retail price improvement programs that treats their similar retail orders as IOC.8 The Exchange also proposes to remove from Rule 7.44–E(l) an example that describes the operation of a Type 2—Retail Order and to replace all references to Type 1—Retail Orders in the remaining examples with the term Retail Order. RPI Orders The Exchange proposes to remove unused functionality by no longer permitting RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders. The Exchange also proposes to offer additional functionality to RPI Orders by allowing them to include an optional offset. RPIs are non-displayed and only execute against Retail Orders. RPIs are generally entered at a single limit price, rather than being pegged to the PBBO. One exception is that a RPI Order could also be designated as an MPL Order, in which case the order would be pegged to the midpoint of the PBBO and repriced as the PBBO changes. Designation as MPL Orders. The Exchange proposes to remove unused functionality that permits RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders. Rule 7.44–E(a)(4)(D) currently states that ‘‘[a]n RPI must be designated as either a Limit Non-Displayed Order or MPL Order, and an order so designated will interact with incoming Retail Orders only and will not interact with either a Type 2—Retail Order Day or Type 2— Retail Order Market that is resting on the NYSE Arca Book.’’ The Exchange notes that to date all RPI Orders have been designated as Non-Displayed Limit Orders, not MPL Orders. As proposed, RPI Orders could no longer be designated as MPL Orders. To effect this change, the Exchange proposes to revise the above-referenced sentence from Rule 7.44–E(a)(4)(D) to provide instead that ‘‘[a]n RPI . . . will interact with incoming Retail Orders only.’’ The remaining text of the current rule is no longer necessary because the reference to Non-Displayed Limit Orders is superfluous as RPI Orders by definition are non-displayed and must include a limit price.9 Further, references to Type 2—Retail Orders are unnecessary because they would no longer be offered by the Exchange, as proposed above. Optional Offset Functionality. The Exchange proposes to allow RPIs to include an optional offset. Rule 7.44– E(a)(4) would be amended to include 8 See NYSE Rule 107C(k). See also BYX Rule 11.24(f). 9 Under Rule 7.44–E(a). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 247001 new paragraph (a)(4)(C) 10 that would provide that an RPI may include an optional offset, which may be specified up to three decimals. The working price of an RPI to buy (sell) with an offset would be the lower (higher) of the PBB (PBO) plus (minus) the offset or the limit price of the RPI. An RPI with an offset would not be eligible to trade if the working price is below $1.00. If an RPI to buy (sell) with an offset would have a working price that is more than three decimals, the working price would be truncated to three decimals. RPIs that include an offset would interact with Retail Orders as follows. Assume an RLP enters RPI sell interest with an offset of $0.001 and a limit price of $10.10 while the PBO is $10.11. The RPI could interact with an incoming buy Retail Order at $10.109. If the PBO changes to $10.12, the RPI could interact with an incoming buy Retail Order at $10.119. If, however, the PBO changes again to $10.10, the RPI could not interact with the Retail Order because the price required to deliver the minimum $0.001 price improvement ($10.099) would violate the RLP’s limit price of $10.10. If an RLP otherwise enters an offset greater than the minimum required price improvement and the offset would produce a price that would violate the RLP’s limit price, the offset would be applied only to the extent that it respects the RLP’s limit price. By way of illustration, assume RPI buy interest is entered with an offset of $0.005 and a limit price of $10.112 while the PBB is at $10.11. The RPI could interact with an incoming sell Retail Order at $10.112, because it would produce the required price improvement without violating the RLP’s limit price, but it could not interact above the $10.112 limit price. The Exchange proposes to make a related change to Rule 7.16–E(f)(5)(C) to specify that, like Pegged Orders and MPL Orders, RPIs with an offset would use the National Best Bid (‘‘NBB’’) instead of the PBB as the reference price when a Short Sale Price Test is triggered pursuant to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO.11 * * * * * The Exchange anticipates implementing this proposed rule change in the second quarter of 2019, subject to Commission approval, and will publicly announce the exact implementation date by Trader Update. 10 The Exchange proposes to renumber the remaining paragraphs under Rule 7.44–E(a)(4) accordingly. 11 17 CFR 242.201. PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,12 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,13 in particular, because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to 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 and because it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. As explained below, the proposed rule change would further align the Program with that offered by the Exchange’s affiliate, NYSE, by adopting optional offset functionality for RPIs and removing unused functionality that is not offered by the NYSE. The proposal also expands the scope of the Program to mirror that of BYX and improve the Program’s overall competiveness. Each portion of the proposal is based on the rules of NYSE and/or BYX, and, therefore, does not raise any new or novel issues not already considered by the Commission. First, the proposal to expand the Program to include all securities traded on the Exchange is identical to the scope of a similar retail order price improvement program operated by BYX. Second, the proposal provide RLPs with greater pricing flexibility in the form of an optional offset for their RPIs is based on the rules of its affiliate, NYSE, and BYX, both of which permit their equivalent RPI Orders to include an offset. Lastly, the proposal to eliminate Type 2—Retail Orders and RPIs designated as MPL Orders is based on the rules of its affiliate, NYSE, or BYX, neither of which offer similar functionality as part of their respective retail price improvement programs. Expansion of Program’s Scope. The Exchange believes expanding the Program’s availability to all securities traded on the Exchange would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest by enabling Retail Orders in all securities to participate in the Program 12 15 13 15 E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 14NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / Notices and receive potential price improvement. The proposal should benefit retail investors by providing increased opportunities for price improvement in any security traded on the Exchange. The proposed scope of the Program would improve its competitiveness because it would be identical to BYX, which also operates a retail price improvement program that is available to all securities traded on BYX.14 Type 2—Retail Orders. The Exchange believes that its proposal to eliminate the Type 2—Retail Order would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system by simplifying and streamlining the operation of Retail Orders. To date, the Exchange has not received a Retail Order designated as Type 2 for participation in the Program. Therefore, no longer offering the Type 2—Retail Order should not impact market participants’ trading activity and would serve to remove unused functionality from the Program and the Exchange’s rules. The Proposal would also simplify the operation of the Program and allow the Exchange to no longer support functionality that is not utilized. Lastly, the proposal would result in all Retail Orders being treated as IOC, which is identical to the treatment of retail orders on the Exchange’s affiliate, NYSE, and BYX, both of which execute Retail Orders upon entry or cancel.15 RPI Orders Designated as MPL Orders. The Exchange believes that its proposal to no longer permit RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system by simplifying and streamlining the operation of RPIs. The Exchange notes that to date, all RPIs have been designated as Limit Orders, not MPL Orders. ETP Holders that that wish to interact with Retail Orders at the midpoint are not limited to utilizing RPI Orders designated as MPL Orders and may enter an MPL Order generally to interact with Retail Orders at the midpoint of PBBO. Therefore, elimination of this functionality from the Program would have little to no impact on an ETP Holder’s trading activity. The Exchange also notes that similar functionality is not offered as part of the retail price improvement programs operated by BYX and NYSE, neither of which specifically permit their retail price improvement orders to 14 See 15 See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3). NYSE Rule 107C(k). See also BYX Rule 11.24(f). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 247001 be designated as midpoint only order types.16 Options Offset Functionality. The Exchange believes that providing the option for RPI Orders to include an offset would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors and the public interest by enhancing the operation of the Program while creating additional price improvement opportunities for retail investors and their order flow. The proposed rule change should encourage RLPs and nonRLP member organizations to enter RPI Orders by allowing them to include an offset amount by which it is willing to improve the PBBO, subject to a the limit price of the order. Absent the ability, RLPs would only be able to enter RPIs with a single limit price. The ability to add an offset would provide RLPs with increased control over their RPIs as well as greater pricing flexibility. The anticipated increased availability of RPIs would, therefore, facilitate transactions in securities, remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system by increasing price improvement opportunities on the Exchange for retail order flow. The proposed rule change is based on and would operate in an identical manner as the rules of its affiliate, NYSE,17 and BYX,18 both of which permit their equivalent RPI Orders to include an optional offset. For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the Act. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,19 the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act because it should promote competition for retail order flow among exchanges and execution venues. The proposed rule change to expand the Program to include all securities traded on the Exchange and to allow RPIs to include an optional offset should increase competition because it would enable the Exchange to better compete with similar programs on other exchanges, such as 16 See BYX Rule 11.24(f). See NYSE Rule 107C(a)(4)(B). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67347 (July 3, 2012), 77 FR 40673 (July 10, 2012) (Order approving SR–NYSE–2011–55). 17 See NYSE Rule 107C(a)(4)(B). 18 See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3). 19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56893 BYX, that are of similar scope and offer the same functionality. The proposal to eliminate Type 2— Retail Orders and RPIs designated as MPL Orders are not intended to have a competitive impact. These changes simply remove functionality from the Program that has not been used at all to date. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will: (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be 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– NYSEARCA–2018–77 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–NYSEARCA–2018–77. 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 website (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1 56894 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / Notices 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 website 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 offices of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEARCA–2018–77 and should be submitted on or before December 5, 2018. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.20 Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–24732 Filed 11–13–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 10607] E.O. 13224 Designation of Jawad Nasrallah, aka, Mohammad Jawad Nasrallah, aka Juad Nasrallah, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Acting under the authority of and in accordance with section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended by Executive Order 13268 of July 2, 2002, and Executive Order 13284 of January 23, 2003, I hereby determine that the person known as Jawad Nasrallah, also known as Mohammad Jawad Nasrallah, also known also Juad Nasrallah, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Consistent with the determination in section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that prior notice to persons determined to be 20 17 subject to the Order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States would render ineffectual the blocking and other measures authorized in the Order because of the ability to transfer funds instantaneously, I determine that no prior notice needs to be provided to any person subject to this determination who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, because to do so would render ineffectual the measures authorized in the Order. This determination shall be published in the Federal Register. Dated: August 27, 2018. Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State. [FR Doc. 2018–24843 Filed 11–13–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AD–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 10605] Review of the Designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization of Hizballah (and Other Aliases) Based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled pursuant to Section 219(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)(4)(C)) (‘‘INA’’), and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, I conclude that the circumstances that were the basis for the designation of the aforementioned organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization have not changed in such a manner as to warrant revocation of the designation and that the national security of the United States does not warrant a revocation of the designation. Therefore, I hereby determine that the designation of the aforementioned organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, pursuant to Section 219 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189), shall be maintained. This determination shall be published in the Federal Register. Dated: July 23, 2018. Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State, Department of State. Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by the Office of the Federal Register on November 8, 2018. [FR Doc. 2018–24840 Filed 11–13–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AD–P CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:29 Nov 13, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 10608] E.O. 13224 Designation of Al-Mujahidin Brigades, aka Khatib Al-Mujahidin, aka Holy Warriors Battalion, aka Al Mujahideen Brigades, aka Ansar alMujahidin Movemement as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Acting under the authority of and in accordance with section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended by Executive Order 13268 of July 2, 2002, and Executive Order 13284 of January 23, 2003, I hereby determine that the person known as Al-Mujahidin Brigades, also known as Khatib Al-Mujahidin, also known as Holy Warriors Battalion, also known as Al Mujahideen Brigades, also known as Ansar al-Mujahidin Movemement, committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Consistent with the determination in section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that prior notice to persons determined to be subject to the Order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States would render ineffectual the blocking and other measures authorized in the Order because of the ability to transfer funds instantaneously, I determine that no prior notice needs to be provided to any person subject to this determination who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, because to do so would render ineffectual the measures authorized in the Order. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register. Dated: September 12, 2018. Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State. [FR Doc. 2018–24841 Filed 11–13–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–AD–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36241] Coos Bay Rail Line, Inc.—Change in Operators Exemption—Coos Bay Railroad Operating Company, LLC d/b/a Coos Bay Rail Link Coos Bay Rail Line, Inc. (Coos Rail), has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to assume operations over two interconnected railroad lines (the Line) owned by Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (the Port). The Line extends from milepost 652.114 at Danebo, Or., to E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56890-56894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24732]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-84547; File No. SR-NYSEARCA-2018-77]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule 7.44-E

November 7, 2018.
    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 October 26, 2018, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'' 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 Rule 7.44-E, which sets forth the 
Exchange's Retail Liquidity Program. The proposed change is available 
on the Exchange's website at www.nyse.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 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.

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 Rule 7.44-E, which sets forth the 
Exchange's Retail Liquidity Program (the ``Program''), to: (i) Expand 
the Program's availability to all securities traded on the Exchange; 
(ii) remove unused functionality by eliminating the Type 2--Retail 
Order and no longer permit Retail Price Improvement Orders (``RPI'') to 
be designated as a Mid-Point Liquidity (``MPL'') Order; \3\ and (iii) 
offer additional functionality to RPI Orders by allowing them to 
include an optional offset.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Rule 7.31-E(d)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange established the Program to attract retail order flow 
to the Exchange, and allow such order flow to receive potential price 
improvement.\4\ The Program is currently

[[Page 56891]]

limited to trades occurring at prices equal to and greater than $1.00 a 
share. The program currently operates on a pilot basis and is set to 
expire on December 31, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71176 (December 23, 
2013), 78 FR 79524 (December 30, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-107) (``RLP 
Approval Order'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under Exchange Rule 7.44-E, a class of market participant called 
Retail Liquidity Providers (``RLPs'') \5\ and non-RLP member 
organizations are able to provide potential price improvement to retail 
investor orders in the form of a non-displayed order that is priced 
better than the best protected bid or offer (``PBBO''), called an RPI. 
When there is an RPI in a particular security priced at least $0.001 
better than the PBB or PBO, the Exchange disseminates an indicator, 
known as the Retail Liquidity Identifier (``RLI''), that such interest 
exists. Retail Member Organizations (``RMOs'') can submit a Retail 
Order to the Exchange, which interacts, to the extent possible, with 
available contra-side RPIs and orders with a working price between the 
PBBO. The segmentation in the Program allows retail order flow to 
receive potential price improvement as a result of their order flow 
being deemed more desirable by liquidity providers.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The Program also allows for RLPs to register with the 
Exchange. However, any firm can enter RPI orders into the system.
    \6\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 79528.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Expansion of Program's Scope
    The Exchange proposes to expand the Program's availability to all 
securities traded on the Exchange. Today, the Program is limited to 
NYSE Arca-listed securities and UTP Securities. Securities listed on 
the New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'') are specifically excluded 
from the Program. Rule 7.44-E(a)(4), therefore, states that a RPI Order 
is ``non-displayed interest in NYSE Arca-listed securities and UTP 
Securities, excluding NYSE-listed (Tape A) securities, that would trade 
at prices better than the PBB or PBO by at least $0.001 and that is 
identified as such.'' To expand the Program to all securities traded on 
the Exchange, including NYSE-listed securities, the Exchange proposes 
to amend Rule 7.44-E(a)(4) to provide that a RPI Order is ``non-
displayed interest that would trade at prices better than the PBB or 
PBO by at least $0.001 and that is identified as such.'' This language 
is similar to that of Cboe BYX Exchange, Inc. (``BYX''), which also 
operates a retail price improvement program that is available to all 
securities trading on BYX.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3). See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 68303 (November 27, 2012), 77 FR 71652 (December 3, 
2012) (``BYX RPI Approval Order''). See also and NASDAQ Stock Market 
LLC (``NASDAQ'') Rule 4780(a)(3). See Securities Exchange Act 
Release No. 69837 (February 15, 2013), 78 FR 12397 (February 22, 
2013) (``NASDAQ RPI Approval Order''). See also Securities Exchange 
Act Release No. 75252 (June 22, 2015), 80 FR 36866 (June 26, 2015) 
(SR-NASDAQ-2015-024) (removing NASDAQ's Retail Price Improvement 
Program from its rules).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elimination of Type 2--Retail Orders
    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.44-E(k) to remove unused 
functionality by eliminating the Type 2--Retail Order. As a result, the 
Exchange would now offer a single category of Retail Orders. To date, 
the Exchange has not received a Retail Order designated as Type 2 and, 
therefore, proposes to no longer support this functionality.
    Rule 7.44-E(a)(3) defines a ``Retail Order'' as an agency order or 
a riskless principal order that meets the criteria of FINRA Rule 
5320.03 that originates from a natural person and is submitted to the 
Exchange by an RMO, provided that no change is made to the terms of the 
order with respect to price or side of market and the order does not 
originate from a trading algorithm or any other computerized 
methodology. Under Rule 7.44-E(k), an RMO may designate how their 
Retail Order interacts with available contra-side interest by 
designating it as either a Type 1 or Type 2 Retail Order.
    A Type 1--Retail Order to buy (sell) is a Limit Immediate-or-Cancel 
(``IOC'') Order that will trade only with available Retail Price 
Improvement Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) 
with a working price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book 
and will not route. The quantity of a Type 1--Retail Order to buy 
(sell) that does not trade with eligible orders to sell (buy) will be 
immediately and automatically cancelled. A Type-1 designated Retail 
Order will be rejected on arrival if the PBBO is locked or crossed.
    A Type 2--Retail Order may be a Limit Order designated IOC or Day 
or a Market Order, and functions as follows:
     A Type 2--Retail Order IOC to buy (sell) is a Limit IOC 
Order that will trade first with available Retail Price Improvement 
Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working 
price below (above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book. Any remaining 
quantity of the Retail Order will trade with orders to sell (buy) on 
the NYSE Arca Book at prices equal to or above (below) the PBO (PBB) 
and will be traded as a Limit IOC Order and will not route.
     A Type 2--Retail Order Day to buy (sell) is a Limit Order 
that will trade first with available RPI Orders to sell (buy) and all 
other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below (above) the PBO 
(PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book. Any remaining quantity of the Retail 
Order, if marketable, will trade with orders to sell (buy) on the NYSE 
Arca Book or route, and if non-marketable, will be ranked in the NYSE 
Arca Book as a Limit Order.
     A Type 2--Retail Order Market to buy (sell) is a Market 
Order that will trade first with available Retail Price Improvement 
Orders to sell (buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working 
price below (above) the NBO (NBB). Any remaining quantity of the Retail 
Order will function as a Market Order.
    The Exchange proposes to no longer offer the Type 2--Retail Order 
and delete all references to it in Rule 7.44-E. Rule 7.44-E(k) would be 
amended to delete subparagraph (2) that describes the operation of the 
Type 2--Retail Order. The Exchange would continue to offer Type 1--
Retail Orders, which would be referred to as ``Retail Orders'' in Rule 
7.44-E(k) and described as:

``[a] Retail Order to buy (sell) is a Limit IOC Order that will 
trade only with available Retail Price Improvement Orders to sell 
(buy) and all other orders to sell (buy) with a working price below 
(above) the PBO (PBB) on the NYSE Arca Book and will not route. The 
quantity of a Retail Order to buy (sell) that does not trade with 
eligible orders to sell (buy) will be immediately and automatically 
cancelled. A Retail Order will be rejected on arrival if the PBBO is 
locked or crossed.''

    The Exchange does not propose to amend the operation of Retail 
Orders. The proposed text is substantially similar to current Rule 
7.44-E(k)(1) with minor changes to remove references to ``Type 1''.
    The Exchange also proposes to make related changes to Rule 7.44-
E(l). First, the last sentence in the first paragraph (l) would be 
amended to no longer state that any remaining unfilled quantity of a 
Retail Order posts to the NYSE Arca Book. Only Type 2--Retail Orders 
designated as Day were able to be posted the NYSE Arca Book and would 
no longer be offered by the Exchange. Retail Orders would be Limit IOC 
orders and would either execute or be cancelled upon entry and, 
therefore, never post to the NYSE Arca Book. As such, the last sentence 
of the first paragraph Rule 7.44-E(l) would be amended to remove a 
reference to posting to the NYSE Arca Book and state, ``[a]ny remaining 
unfilled quantity of the Retail Order will cancel or execute [sic] in 
accordance with Rule 7.44-E(k).'' The Exchange notes that treating all 
Retail Orders as IOC is similar to that of BYX and the Exchange's 
affiliate, NYSE, both of

[[Page 56892]]

which also operate retail price improvement programs that treats their 
similar retail orders as IOC.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See NYSE Rule 107C(k). See also BYX Rule 11.24(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also proposes to remove from Rule 7.44-E(l) an example 
that describes the operation of a Type 2--Retail Order and to replace 
all references to Type 1--Retail Orders in the remaining examples with 
the term Retail Order.
RPI Orders
    The Exchange proposes to remove unused functionality by no longer 
permitting RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders. The Exchange also 
proposes to offer additional functionality to RPI Orders by allowing 
them to include an optional offset.
    RPIs are non-displayed and only execute against Retail Orders. RPIs 
are generally entered at a single limit price, rather than being pegged 
to the PBBO. One exception is that a RPI Order could also be designated 
as an MPL Order, in which case the order would be pegged to the 
midpoint of the PBBO and re-priced as the PBBO changes.
    Designation as MPL Orders. The Exchange proposes to remove unused 
functionality that permits RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders. 
Rule 7.44-E(a)(4)(D) currently states that ``[a]n RPI must be 
designated as either a Limit Non-Displayed Order or MPL Order, and an 
order so designated will interact with incoming Retail Orders only and 
will not interact with either a Type 2--Retail Order Day or Type 2--
Retail Order Market that is resting on the NYSE Arca Book.'' The 
Exchange notes that to date all RPI Orders have been designated as Non-
Displayed Limit Orders, not MPL Orders.
    As proposed, RPI Orders could no longer be designated as MPL 
Orders. To effect this change, the Exchange proposes to revise the 
above-referenced sentence from Rule 7.44-E(a)(4)(D) to provide instead 
that ``[a]n RPI . . . will interact with incoming Retail Orders only.'' 
The remaining text of the current rule is no longer necessary because 
the reference to Non-Displayed Limit Orders is superfluous as RPI 
Orders by definition are non-displayed and must include a limit 
price.\9\ Further, references to Type 2--Retail Orders are unnecessary 
because they would no longer be offered by the Exchange, as proposed 
above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Under Rule 7.44-E(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Optional Offset Functionality. The Exchange proposes to allow RPIs 
to include an optional offset. Rule 7.44-E(a)(4) would be amended to 
include new paragraph (a)(4)(C) \10\ that would provide that an RPI may 
include an optional offset, which may be specified up to three 
decimals. The working price of an RPI to buy (sell) with an offset 
would be the lower (higher) of the PBB (PBO) plus (minus) the offset or 
the limit price of the RPI. An RPI with an offset would not be eligible 
to trade if the working price is below $1.00. If an RPI to buy (sell) 
with an offset would have a working price that is more than three 
decimals, the working price would be truncated to three decimals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ The Exchange proposes to renumber the remaining paragraphs 
under Rule 7.44-E(a)(4) accordingly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    RPIs that include an offset would interact with Retail Orders as 
follows. Assume an RLP enters RPI sell interest with an offset of 
$0.001 and a limit price of $10.10 while the PBO is $10.11. The RPI 
could interact with an incoming buy Retail Order at $10.109. If the PBO 
changes to $10.12, the RPI could interact with an incoming buy Retail 
Order at $10.119. If, however, the PBO changes again to $10.10, the RPI 
could not interact with the Retail Order because the price required to 
deliver the minimum $0.001 price improvement ($10.099) would violate 
the RLP's limit price of $10.10.
    If an RLP otherwise enters an offset greater than the minimum 
required price improvement and the offset would produce a price that 
would violate the RLP's limit price, the offset would be applied only 
to the extent that it respects the RLP's limit price. By way of 
illustration, assume RPI buy interest is entered with an offset of 
$0.005 and a limit price of $10.112 while the PBB is at $10.11. The RPI 
could interact with an incoming sell Retail Order at $10.112, because 
it would produce the required price improvement without violating the 
RLP's limit price, but it could not interact above the $10.112 limit 
price.
    The Exchange proposes to make a related change to Rule 7.16-
E(f)(5)(C) to specify that, like Pegged Orders and MPL Orders, RPIs 
with an offset would use the National Best Bid (``NBB'') instead of the 
PBB as the reference price when a Short Sale Price Test is triggered 
pursuant to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 17 CFR 242.201.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    The Exchange anticipates implementing this proposed rule change in 
the second quarter of 2019, subject to Commission approval, and will 
publicly announce the exact implementation date by Trader Update.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\12\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,\13\ in particular, because it is designed 
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, 
processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions 
in securities, to 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 and because it is not 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers. As explained below, the proposed rule change would 
further align the Program with that offered by the Exchange's 
affiliate, NYSE, by adopting optional offset functionality for RPIs and 
removing unused functionality that is not offered by the NYSE. The 
proposal also expands the scope of the Program to mirror that of BYX 
and improve the Program's overall competiveness. Each portion of the 
proposal is based on the rules of NYSE and/or BYX, and, therefore, does 
not raise any new or novel issues not already considered by the 
Commission. First, the proposal to expand the Program to include all 
securities traded on the Exchange is identical to the scope of a 
similar retail order price improvement program operated by BYX. Second, 
the proposal provide RLPs with greater pricing flexibility in the form 
of an optional offset for their RPIs is based on the rules of its 
affiliate, NYSE, and BYX, both of which permit their equivalent RPI 
Orders to include an offset. Lastly, the proposal to eliminate Type 2--
Retail Orders and RPIs designated as MPL Orders is based on the rules 
of its affiliate, NYSE, or BYX, neither of which offer similar 
functionality as part of their respective retail price improvement 
programs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Expansion of Program's Scope. The Exchange believes expanding the 
Program's availability to all securities traded on the Exchange would 
remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open 
market and a national market system and, in general, protect investors 
and the public interest by enabling Retail Orders in all securities to 
participate in the Program

[[Page 56893]]

and receive potential price improvement. The proposal should benefit 
retail investors by providing increased opportunities for price 
improvement in any security traded on the Exchange. The proposed scope 
of the Program would improve its competitiveness because it would be 
identical to BYX, which also operates a retail price improvement 
program that is available to all securities traded on BYX.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type 2--Retail Orders. The Exchange believes that its proposal to 
eliminate the Type 2--Retail Order would remove impediments to, and 
perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market 
system by simplifying and streamlining the operation of Retail Orders. 
To date, the Exchange has not received a Retail Order designated as 
Type 2 for participation in the Program. Therefore, no longer offering 
the Type 2--Retail Order should not impact market participants' trading 
activity and would serve to remove unused functionality from the 
Program and the Exchange's rules. The Proposal would also simplify the 
operation of the Program and allow the Exchange to no longer support 
functionality that is not utilized. Lastly, the proposal would result 
in all Retail Orders being treated as IOC, which is identical to the 
treatment of retail orders on the Exchange's affiliate, NYSE, and BYX, 
both of which execute Retail Orders upon entry or cancel.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See NYSE Rule 107C(k). See also BYX Rule 11.24(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    RPI Orders Designated as MPL Orders. The Exchange believes that its 
proposal to no longer permit RPI Orders to be designated as MPL Orders 
would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and 
open market and a national market system by simplifying and 
streamlining the operation of RPIs. The Exchange notes that to date, 
all RPIs have been designated as Limit Orders, not MPL Orders. ETP 
Holders that that wish to interact with Retail Orders at the midpoint 
are not limited to utilizing RPI Orders designated as MPL Orders and 
may enter an MPL Order generally to interact with Retail Orders at the 
midpoint of PBBO. Therefore, elimination of this functionality from the 
Program would have little to no impact on an ETP Holder's trading 
activity. The Exchange also notes that similar functionality is not 
offered as part of the retail price improvement programs operated by 
BYX and NYSE, neither of which specifically permit their retail price 
improvement orders to be designated as midpoint only order types.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See BYX Rule 11.24(f). See NYSE Rule 107C(a)(4)(B). See 
also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67347 (July 3, 2012), 77 FR 
40673 (July 10, 2012) (Order approving SR-NYSE-2011-55).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Options Offset Functionality. The Exchange believes that providing 
the option for RPI Orders to include an offset would remove impediments 
to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a 
national market system and, in general, protect investors and the 
public interest by enhancing the operation of the Program while 
creating additional price improvement opportunities for retail 
investors and their order flow. The proposed rule change should 
encourage RLPs and non-RLP member organizations to enter RPI Orders by 
allowing them to include an offset amount by which it is willing to 
improve the PBBO, subject to a the limit price of the order. Absent the 
ability, RLPs would only be able to enter RPIs with a single limit 
price. The ability to add an offset would provide RLPs with increased 
control over their RPIs as well as greater pricing flexibility. The 
anticipated increased availability of RPIs would, therefore, facilitate 
transactions in securities, remove impediments to, and perfect the 
mechanisms of a free and open market and a national market system by 
increasing price improvement opportunities on the Exchange for retail 
order flow. The proposed rule change is based on and would operate in 
an identical manner as the rules of its affiliate, NYSE,\17\ and 
BYX,\18\ both of which permit their equivalent RPI Orders to include an 
optional offset.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See NYSE Rule 107C(a)(4)(B).
    \18\ See BYX Rule 11.24(a)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For these reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposal is 
consistent with the Act.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\19\ the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change will not impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act because it should promote competition for retail 
order flow among exchanges and execution venues. The proposed rule 
change to expand the Program to include all securities traded on the 
Exchange and to allow RPIs to include an optional offset should 
increase competition because it would enable the Exchange to better 
compete with similar programs on other exchanges, such as BYX, that are 
of similar scope and offer the same functionality.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposal to eliminate Type 2--Retail Orders and RPIs designated 
as MPL Orders are not intended to have a competitive impact. These 
changes simply remove functionality from the Program that has not been 
used at all to date.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed 
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate 
if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its 
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory 
organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be 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 [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEARCA-2018-77 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-NYSEARCA-2018-77. 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 website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the

[[Page 56894]]

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 website 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 offices of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSEARCA-2018-77 and should be submitted 
on or before December 5, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-24732 Filed 11-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

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