Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the NYSE American Options Fee Schedule, 48672-48676 [2019-19905]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 179 / Monday, September 16, 2019 / Notices
(i) undue influence over an Underlying
Fund that is not in the same ‘‘group of
investment companies’’ as the Fund of
Funds through control or voting power,
or in connection with certain services,
transactions, and underwritings, (ii)
excessive layering of fees, and (iii)
overly complex fund structures, which
are the concerns underlying the limits
in sections 12(d)(1)(A), (B), and (C) of
the Act.
3. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act
provides that the Commission may
exempt any person, security, or
transaction, or any class or classes of
persons, securities, or transactions, from
any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the
exemption is consistent with the public
interest and the protection of investors.
Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the
Commission to grant an order
permitting a transaction otherwise
prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds
that (a) the terms of the proposed
transaction are fair and reasonable and
do not involve overreaching on the part
of any person concerned; (b) the
proposed transaction is consistent with
the policies of each registered
investment company involved; and (c)
the proposed transaction is consistent
with the general purposes of the Act.
Section 6(c) of the Act permits the
Commission to exempt any persons or
transactions from any provision of the
Act if such exemption is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest and
consistent with the protection of
investors and the purposes fairly
intended by the policy and provisions of
the Act.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Investment Management, pursuant to
delegated authority.
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meetings
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the
Government in the Sunshine Act, Public
Law 94–409, the Securities and
Exchange Commission will hold an
Open Meeting on Wednesday,
September 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: The meeting will be held in
Auditorium LL–002 at the
Commission’s headquarters, 100 F
Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.
STATUS: This meeting will begin at 10:00
a.m. (ET) and will be open to the public.
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1. The
Commission will consider whether to
adopt amendments to rules adopted
under section 13 of the Bank Holding
Company Act related to prohibitions
and restrictions on proprietary trading
and certain interests in, and
relationships with, hedge funds and
private equity funds (commonly known
as the ‘‘Volcker rule’’).
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED:
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For further information and to ascertain
what, if any, matters have been added,
deleted or postponed, please contact
Vanessa A. Countryman, Office of the
Secretary, at (202) 551–5400.
Dated: September 11, 2019.
Vanessa A. Countryman,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–20040 Filed 9–12–19; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–86917; File No. SR–
NYSEAMER–2019–36]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE
American LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend the NYSE
American Options Fee Schedule
September 10, 2019.
[FR Doc. 2019–19979 Filed 9–13–19; 8:45 am]
TIME AND DATE:
Seating will be on a first-come, firstserved basis. Visitors will be subject to
security checks. The meeting will be
webcast on the Commission’s website at
www.sec.gov.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3
notice is hereby given that, on
September 3, 2019, NYSE American
LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’ or the
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. 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).
U.S.C. 78a.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
2 15
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend the
NYSE American Options Fee Schedule
(‘‘Fee Schedule’’). The Exchange
proposes to implement the fee change
effective September 3, 2019. 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to amend
the Fee Schedule to modify the Strategy
Execution Fee Cap (‘‘Strategy Cap’’), as
set forth below.
Currently, Section I.J. of the Fee
Schedule provides that transaction fees
for ATP Holders are limited or capped
at $750 for certain options strategy
executions ‘‘on the same trading day in
the same option class’’ and such fees are
further capped at $25,000 per month per
initiating firm.4 Strategy executions that
qualify for the Strategy Cap are (a)
reversals and conversions, (b) box
spreads, (c) short stock interest spreads,
(d) merger spreads, and (e) jelly rolls,
which are described in detail in the Fee
Schedule (the ‘‘Strategy Executions’’).5
The Exchange proposes to increase
the daily Strategy Cap from $750 to
$1,000 and to include in the Cap all
Strategy Executions traded in the same
day (i.e., to eliminate the Cap
requirement that strategies be in the
4 See Fee Schedule, Section I. J. (Strategy
Execution Fee Cap), available here: https://
www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/americanoptions/NYSE_American_Options_Fee_
Schedule.pdf.
5 See id. Any qualifying Strategy Execution
executed as a QCC order will not be eligible for this
fee cap. See id.
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same option class). In connection with
this change, the Exchange proposes to
eliminate the $25,000 monthly Strategy
Cap. The Exchange believes that the
proposed Strategy Cap would encourage
ATP Holders to execute more Strategy
Executions, particularly those that
would not individually qualify for
inclusion in the Cap because of the
current per-symbol limitation, as such
strategies would become more
economically feasible (and thus more
attractive), when combined under the
proposed Cap with all of an ATP
Holder’s Strategy Executions on the
same trading day.
The Exchange proposes to implement
the rule change on September 3, 2019.
Background
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The Commission has repeatedly
expressed its preference for competition
over regulatory intervention in
determining prices, products, and
services in the securities markets. In
Regulation NMS, the Commission
highlighted the importance of market
forces in determining prices and SRO
revenues and, also, recognized that
current regulation of the market system
‘‘has been remarkably successful in
promoting market competition in its
broader forms that are most important to
investors and listed companies.’’ 6
There are currently 16 registered
options exchanges competing for order
flow. Based on publicly-available
information, and excluding index-based
options, no single exchange has more
than 16% of the market share of
executed volume of multiply-listed
equity and ETF options trades.7
Therefore, no exchange possesses
significant pricing power in the
execution of multiply-listed equity &
ETF options order flow. More
specifically, in the first quarter of 2019,
the Exchange had less than 10% market
share of executed volume of multiplylisted equity & ETF options trades.8
The Exchange believes that the evershifting market share among the
exchanges from month to month
demonstrates that market participants
can shift order flow, or discontinue or
reduce use of certain categories of
products, in response to fee changes.
Accordingly, competitive forces
6 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
(June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005)
(S7–10–04) (‘‘Reg NMS Adopting Release’’).
7 The OCC publishes options and futures volume
in a variety of formats, including daily and monthly
volume by exchange, available here: https://
www.theocc.com/market-data/volume/default.jsp.
8 Based on OCC data, see id., the Exchange’s
market share in equity-based options declined from
9.82% for the month of January to 8.84% for the
month of April.
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constrain options exchange transaction
fees.
In response to this competitive
environment, the Exchange has
established incentives, such as the
Strategy Cap, to encourage ATP Holders
to participate in certain large volume
options strategies that capture
potentially small profits by capping the
fees paid for such transactions.
As noted above, the current Strategy
Cap limits or caps at $750 transaction
fees for options Strategy Executions ‘‘on
the same trading day in the same option
class’’ and further caps such fees at
$25,000 per month.9
Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to modify the
Strategy Cap by eliminating the
requirement that Strategy Executions on
the same trading day all be in the same
symbol for inclusion in the Cap.
Specifically, as proposed, the daily
Strategy Cap on transaction fees for
options Strategy Executions would be
changed from $750 to $1,000 and would
apply to all Strategy Executions by an
ATP Holder on the same trading day
(regardless of option class/symbol). In
addition, given the proposal to cap an
ATP Holder’s fee for all Strategy
Executions in a given trading day at
$1,000, the Exchange proposed to
eliminate the $25,000 per month
Strategy Cap as unnecessary.
For example, per the current Fee
Schedule, an ATP Holder that executes
the following Strategy Executions on the
same trading day would be charged as
follows:
• A Jelly Roll in ABC for $800 in fees,
capped at $750;
• A Reversal Conversion in DEF for
$500 in fees; and
• A Merger Spread in XYZ for $600.
The total fees for these Strategy
Executions under the current Fee
Schedule would be $1,850. Under the
proposed Strategy Cap, the same trades
would be billed as follows:
• A Jelly Roll in ABC for $800 in fees;
• A Reversal Conversion in DEF for
$500 in fees; and
• A Merger Spread in XYZ for $600.
The total fees for these Strategy
Executions under the proposed Fee
Schedule would be $1,000. Thus,
although the amount of the Cap would
be increased, the number of eligible
Strategy Executions would also be
increased, making it easier to meet the
Strategy Cap.
The Exchange’s fees are constrained
by intermarket competition, as ATP
Holders may direct their order flow to
9 See Fee Schedule, Section I. J. (Strategy
Execution Fee Cap), supra note 4.
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48673
any of the 16 options exchanges,
including those with similar Strategy
Fee Caps.10 Thus, ATP Holders have a
choice of where they direct their order
flow. This proposed change is designed
to incent ATP Holders to increase their
Strategy Execution volumes by
executing (often smaller) strategies that
are not necessarily economically viable
on a per symbol basis, but which may
be profitable when fees on Strategy
Executions—regardless of symbol—are
capped for the trading day. The
Exchange notes that all market
participants stand to benefit from
increased volume, which promotes
market depth, facilitates tighter spreads
and enhances price discovery, and may
lead to a corresponding increase in
order flow from other market
participants.
The Exchange cannot predict with
certainty whether any ATP Holders
would avail themselves of this proposed
fee change. At present, whether or when
an ATP Holder qualifies for the current
daily Strategy Cap (of $750) varies dayto-day in a given month. Thus, the
Exchange cannot predict with any
certainty the number of ATP Holders
that may qualify for the modified
Strategy Cap, but believes that ATP
Holders would be encourage to take
advantage of the modified Cap. The
Exchange believes the proposed Strategy
Cap, which applies to all qualifying
strategies executed on the same trading
day, regardless of symbol, would
provide an incentive for ATP Holders to
submit these types of strategy orders to
the Exchange Trading Floor, which
brings increased liquidity and order
flow for the benefit of all market
participants.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,11 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Sections
6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,12 in particular,
because it provides for the equitable
10 See e.g., BOX Options Market LLC (‘‘BOX’’) fee
schedule, Section II.D (Strategy QOO Order Fee Cap
and Rebate). BOX caps fees for each participants at
$1,000 for the following strategies executed on the
same trading day: short stock interest, [sic],
reversal, conversion, jelly roll, and box spread
strategies. BOX also caps participant fees at $1,000
for all dividend strategies executed on the same
trading day in the same options class. BOX also
offers a $500 rebate to floor brokers for presenting
certain Strategy QOO Orders on the BOX trading
floor, which is applied ‘‘once the $1,000 fee cap for
all dividend, short stock interest, merger, reversal,
conversion, jelly roll, and box spread strategies is
met.’’ See id. The Exchange does not include
dividend strategies in the Strategy Cap, nor does the
Exchange does not offer a similar rebate.
11 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
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allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and
other charges among its members,
issuers and other persons using its
facilities and does not unfairly
discriminate between customers,
issuers, brokers or dealers.
The Proposed Rule Change Is
Reasonable
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market. The Commission
has repeatedly expressed its preference
for competition over regulatory
intervention in determining prices,
products, and services in the securities
markets. In Regulation NMS, the
Commission highlighted the importance
of market forces in determining prices
and SRO revenues and, also, recognized
that current regulation of the market
system ‘‘has been remarkably successful
in promoting market competition in its
broader forms that are most important to
investors and listed companies.’’ 13
There are currently 16 registered
options exchanges competing for order
flow. Based on publicly-available
information, and excluding index-based
options, no single exchange has more
than 16% of the market share of
executed volume of multiply-listed
equity and ETF options trades.14
Therefore, no exchange possesses
significant pricing power in the
execution of multiply-listed equity &
ETF options order flow. More
specifically, in the first quarter of 2019,
the Exchange had less than 10% market
share of executed volume of multiplylisted equity & ETF options trades.15
The Exchange believes that the evershifting market share among the
exchanges from month to month
demonstrates that market participants
can shift order flow, or discontinue or
reduce use of certain categories of
products, in response to fee changes.
Accordingly, competitive forces
constrain options exchange transaction
fees. Stated otherwise, changes to
exchange transaction fees can have a
direct effect on the ability of an
exchange to compete for order flow.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed modification to the Strategy
Cap is designed to incent ATP Holders
to increase the number and type of
Strategy Executions sent to the
Exchange. In addition, the proposal caps
fees on all similar transactions,
regardless of size and similarly-situated
ATP Holders can opt to try to achieve
13 See Reg NMS Adopting Release, supra note 6,
at 37499.
14 See supra note 7.
15 Based on OCC data, see supra note 8, in 2019,
the Exchange’s market share in equity-based
options declined from 9.82% for the month of
January to 8.84% for the month of April.
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the modified Strategy Cap. The proposal
is designed to encourage ATP Holders to
send all Strategy Executions to the
Exchange regardless of size or type. To
the extent that the proposed change
attracts more Strategy Executions to the
Exchange Trading Floor, this increased
order flow would continue to make the
Exchange a more competitive venue for,
among other things, order execution,
which, in turn, promotes just and
equitable principles of trade and
removes impediments to and perfects
the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system.
Finally, to the extent the proposed
change continues to attract greater
volume and liquidity (to the Floor or
otherwise), the Exchange believes the
proposed change would improve the
Exchange’s overall competitiveness and
strengthen its market quality for all
market participants. In the backdrop of
the competitive environment in which
the Exchange operates, the proposed
rule change is a reasonable attempt by
the Exchange to increase the depth of its
market and improve its market share
relative to its competitors. The
Exchange’s fees are constrained by
intermarket competition, as ATP
Holders may direct their order flow to
any of the 16 options exchanges,
including those with similar Strategy
Fee Caps.16 Thus, ATP Holders have a
choice of where they direct their order
flow—including their Strategy
Executions. The proposed rule change is
designed to incent ATP Holders to
direct liquidity to the Exchange—in
particular Strategy Executions, thereby
promoting market depth, price
discovery and improvement and
enhancing order execution
opportunities for market participants.
The Exchange cannot predict with
certainty whether any ATP Holders
would avail themselves of this proposed
fee change. At present, whether or when
an ATP Holder qualifies for the current
daily Strategy Cap (of $750) varies dayto-day in a given month. Thus, the
Exchange cannot predict with any
certainty the number of ATP Holders
that may qualify for the modified
Strategy Cap, but believes that ATP
Holders would be encourage to take
advantage of the modified Cap. The
Exchange believes the proposed Strategy
Cap, which applies to all qualifying
strategies executed on the same trading
day, regardless of symbol, would
provide an incentive for ATP Holders to
submit these types of strategy orders to
the Exchange Trading Floor, which
brings increased liquidity and order
16 See supra note 10 (regarding BOX Strategy
Cap).
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flow for the benefit of all market
participants.
The Proposed Rule Change Is an
Equitable Allocation of Credits and Fees
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is an equitable allocation of
its fees and credits. The proposal is
based on the amount and type of
business transacted on the Exchange
and ATP Holders can opt to avail
themselves of the Strategy Cap or not.
Moreover, the proposal is designed to
encourage ATP Holders to aggregate all
Strategy Executions at the Exchange as
a primary execution venue. To the
extent that the proposed change attracts
more Strategy Executions to the
Exchange, this increased order flow
would continue to make the Exchange a
more competitive venue for, among
other things, order execution. Thus, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule
change would improve market quality
for all market participants on the
Exchange and, as a consequence, attract
more order flow to the Exchange thereby
improving market-wide quality and
price discovery.
The Proposed Rule Change Is Not
Unfairly Discriminatory
The Exchange believes it is not
unfairly discriminatory to modify the
Strategy Cap because the proposed
modification would be available to all
similarly-situated market participants
on an equal and non-discriminatory
basis.
The proposal is based on the amount
and type of business transacted on the
Exchange and ATP Holders are not
obligated to try to achieve the Strategy
Cap. Rather, the proposal is designed
encourage ATP Holders to utilize the
Exchange as a primary trading venue for
Strategy Executions (if they have not
done so previously) or increase volume
sent to the Exchange. To the extent that
the proposed change attracts more
Strategy Executions to the Exchange,
this increased order flow would
continue to make the Exchange a more
competitive venue for, among other
things, order execution. Thus, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule
change would improve market quality
for all market participants on the
Exchange and, as a consequence, attract
more order flow to the Exchange thereby
improving market-wide quality and
price discovery. The resulting increased
volume and liquidity would provide
more trading opportunities and tighter
spreads to all market participants and
thus would promote just and equitable
principles of trade, remove
impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market
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and a national market system and, in
general, to protect investors and the
public interest.
Finally, the Exchange believes that it
is subject to significant competitive
forces, as described below in the
Exchange’s statement regarding the
burden on competition.
For the foregoing 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, the Exchange does not believe
that the proposed rule change would
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Instead, as discussed above, the
Exchange believes that the proposed
changes would encourage the
submission of additional liquidity to a
public exchange, thereby promoting
market depth, price discovery and
transparency and enhancing order
execution opportunities for all market
participants. As a result, the Exchange
believes that the proposed change
furthers the Commission’s goal in
adopting Regulation NMS of fostering
integrated competition among orders,
which promotes ‘‘more efficient pricing
of individual stocks for all types of
orders, large and small.’’ 17
Intramarket Competition. The
proposed change is designed to attract
additional order flow (particularly
Strategy Executions) to the Exchange.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed Strategy Cap would incent
market participants to direct their
Strategy Execution volume to the
Exchange. Greater liquidity benefits all
market participants on the Exchange
and increased Strategy Executions
would increase opportunities for
execution of other trading interest. The
proposed Strategy Cap would be
available to all similarly-situated market
participants that incur transaction fees
on Strategy Executions, and, as such,
the proposed change would not impose
a disparate burden on competition
among market participants on the
Exchange.
Intermarket Competition. The
Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market in which market
participants can readily favor one of the
16 competing option exchanges if they
deem fee levels at a particular venue to
be excessive. In such an environment,
the Exchange must continually adjust its
fees to remain competitive with other
17 See Reg NMS Adopting Release, supra note 6,
at 37499.
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exchanges and to attract order flow to
the Exchange. Based on publiclyavailable information, and excluding
index-based options, no single exchange
has more than 16% of the market share
of executed volume of multiply-listed
equity and ETF options trades.18
Therefore, no exchange possesses
significant pricing power in the
execution of multiply-listed equity &
ETF options order flow. More
specifically, in the first quarter of 2019,
the Exchange had less than 10% market
share of executed volume of multiplylisted equity & ETF options trades.19
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change reflects this
competitive environment because it
modifies the Exchange’s fees in a
manner designed to encourage ATP
Holders to direct trading interest
(particularly Strategy Executions) to the
Exchange, to provide liquidity and to
attract order flow. To the extent that this
purpose is achieved, all the Exchange’s
market participants should benefit from
the improved market quality and
increased opportunities for price
improvement.
The Exchange believes that the
proposed change could promote
competition between the Exchange and
other execution venues, including those
that currently offer similar Strategy
Caps, by encouraging additional orders
to be sent to the Exchange for execution.
The Exchange also believes that the
proposed change is designed to provide
the public and investors with a Fee
Schedule that is clear and consistent,
thereby reducing burdens on the
marketplace and facilitating investor
protection.
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
The foregoing rule change is effective
upon filing pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A) 20 of the Act and
subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–421
thereunder, because it establishes a due,
18 See
supra note 7.
on OCC data, supra note 8, the
Exchange’s market share in equity-based options
declined from 9.82% for the month of January to
8.84% for the month of April.
20 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
21 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
19 Based
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48675
fee, or other charge imposed by the
Exchange.
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of such proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission shall institute proceedings
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) 22 of the Act to
determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
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 No. SR–
NYSEAMER–2019–36 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 No.
SR–NYSEAMER–2019–36. 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 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
22 15
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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 No.
SR–NYSEAMER–2019–36, and should
be submitted on or before October 7,
2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.23
Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–19905 Filed 9–13–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
Upon Written Request, Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549–2736
jspears on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Extension:
Rule 7d–2, SEC File No. 270–464, OMB
Control No. 3235–0527
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 350l–3520), the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the
‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget a
request for extension and approval of
the collection of information discussed
below.
In Canada, as in the United States,
individuals can invest a portion of their
earnings in tax-deferred retirement
savings accounts (‘‘Canadian retirement
accounts’’). These accounts, which
operate in a manner similar to
individual retirement accounts in the
United States, encourage retirement
savings by permitting savings on a taxdeferred basis. Individuals who
establish Canadian retirement accounts
while living and working in Canada and
who later move to the United States
(‘‘Canadian-U.S. Participants’’ or
‘‘participants’’) often continue to hold
their retirement assets in their Canadian
retirement accounts rather than
prematurely withdrawing (or ‘‘cashing
out’’) those assets, which would result
in immediate taxation in Canada.
23 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:14 Sep 13, 2019
Jkt 247001
Once in the United States, however,
these participants historically have been
unable to manage their Canadian
retirement account investments. Most
investment companies (‘‘funds’’) that
are ‘‘qualified companies’’ for Canadian
retirement accounts are not registered
under the U.S. securities laws.
Securities of those unregistered funds,
therefore, generally cannot be publicly
offered and sold in the United States
without violating the registration
requirement of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (‘‘Investment Company
Act’’).1 As a result of this registration
requirement, Canadian-U.S. Participants
previously were not able to purchase or
exchange securities for their Canadian
retirement accounts as needed to meet
their changing investment goals or
income needs.
The Commission issued a rulemaking
in 2000 that enabled Canadian-U.S.
Participants to manage the assets in
their Canadian retirement accounts by
providing relief from the U.S.
registration requirements for offers of
securities of foreign issuers to CanadianU.S. Participants and sales to Canadian
retirement accounts.2 Rule 7d–2 under
the Investment Company Act 3 permits
foreign funds to offer securities to
Canadian-U.S. Participants and sell
securities to Canadian retirement
accounts without registering as
investment companies under the
Investment Company Act.
Rule 7d–2 contains a ‘‘collection of
information’’ requirement within the
meaning of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995.4 Rule 7d–2 requires written
offering materials for securities offered
or sold in reliance on that rule to
disclose prominently that those
securities and the fund issuing those
securities are not registered with the
Commission, and that those securities
and the fund issuing those securities are
exempt from registration under U.S.
securities laws. Rule 7d–2 does not
require any documents to be filed with
the Commission.
Rule 7d–2 requires written offering
documents for securities offered or sold
1 15 U.S.C. 80a. In addition, the offering and
selling of securities that are not registered pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933 (‘‘Securities Act’’) is
generally prohibited by U.S. securities laws. 15
U.S.C. 77.
2 See Offer and Sale of Securities to Canadian
Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings Accounts, Release
Nos. 33–7860, 34–42905, IC–24491 (June 7, 2000)
[65 FR 37672 (June 15, 2000)]. This rulemaking also
included new rule 237 under the Securities Act,
permitting securities of foreign issuers to be offered
to Canadian-U.S. Participants and sold to Canadian
retirement accounts without being registered under
the Securities Act. 17 CFR 230.237.
3 17 CFR 270.7d–2.
4 44 U.S.C. 3501–3502.
PO 00000
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
in reliance on the rule to disclose
prominently that the securities are not
registered with the Commission and
may not be offered or sold in the United
States unless registered or exempt from
registration under the U.S. securities
laws, and also to disclose prominently
that the fund that issued the securities
is not registered with the Commission.
The burden under the rule associated
with adding this disclosure to written
offering documents is minimal and is
non-recurring. The foreign issuer,
underwriter, or broker-dealer can redraft
an existing prospectus or other written
offering material to add this disclosure
statement, or may draft a sticker or
supplement containing this disclosure
to be added to existing offering
materials. In either case, based on
discussions with representatives of the
Canadian fund industry, the staff
estimates that it would take an average
of 10 minutes per document to draft the
requisite disclosure statement.
The staff estimates that there are 4,086
publicly offered Canadian funds that
potentially would rely on the rule to
offer securities to participants and sell
securities to their Canadian retirement
accounts without registering under the
Investment Company Act.5 The staff
estimates that all of these funds have
previously relied upon the rule and
have already made the one-time change
to their offering documents required to
rely on the rule. The staff estimates that
204 (5 percent) additional Canadian
funds would newly rely on the rule each
year to offer securities to Canadian-U.S.
Participants and sell securities to their
Canadian retirement accounts, thus
incurring the paperwork burden
required under the rule. The staff
estimates that each of those funds, on
average, distributes 3 different written
offering documents concerning those
securities, for a total of 612 offering
documents. The staff therefore estimates
that 204 respondents would make 612
responses by adding the new disclosure
statement to 612 written offering
documents. The staff therefore estimates
that the annual burden associated with
the rule 7d–2 disclosure requirement
would be 102 hours (612 offering
documents × 10 minutes per document).
The total annual cost of these burden
hours is estimated to be $42,330 (102
hours × $415 per hour of attorney
time).6
5 Investment Company Institute, 2019 Investment
Company Fact Book (2019) at 258, tbl. 66.
6 The Commission’s estimate concerning the wage
rate for attorney time is based on salary information
for the securities industry compiled by the
Securities Industry and Financial Markets
Association (‘‘SIFMA’’). The $380 per hour figure
for an attorney is from SIFMA’s Management &
E:\FR\FM\16SEN1.SGM
16SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48672-48676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19905]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-86917; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-36]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the
NYSE American Options Fee Schedule
September 10, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that, on September 3, 2019, NYSE American LLC (``NYSE American''
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I,
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. 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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
\3\ 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 the NYSE American Options Fee
Schedule (``Fee Schedule''). The Exchange proposes to implement the fee
change effective September 3, 2019. 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 the
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this filing is to amend the Fee Schedule to modify
the Strategy Execution Fee Cap (``Strategy Cap''), as set forth below.
Currently, Section I.J. of the Fee Schedule provides that
transaction fees for ATP Holders are limited or capped at $750 for
certain options strategy executions ``on the same trading day in the
same option class'' and such fees are further capped at $25,000 per
month per initiating firm.\4\ Strategy executions that qualify for the
Strategy Cap are (a) reversals and conversions, (b) box spreads, (c)
short stock interest spreads, (d) merger spreads, and (e) jelly rolls,
which are described in detail in the Fee Schedule (the ``Strategy
Executions'').\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Fee Schedule, Section I. J. (Strategy Execution Fee
Cap), available here: https://www.nyse.com/publicdocs/nyse/markets/american-options/NYSE_American_Options_Fee_Schedule.pdf.
\5\ See id. Any qualifying Strategy Execution executed as a QCC
order will not be eligible for this fee cap. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to increase the daily Strategy Cap from $750
to $1,000 and to include in the Cap all Strategy Executions traded in
the same day (i.e., to eliminate the Cap requirement that strategies be
in the
[[Page 48673]]
same option class). In connection with this change, the Exchange
proposes to eliminate the $25,000 monthly Strategy Cap. The Exchange
believes that the proposed Strategy Cap would encourage ATP Holders to
execute more Strategy Executions, particularly those that would not
individually qualify for inclusion in the Cap because of the current
per-symbol limitation, as such strategies would become more
economically feasible (and thus more attractive), when combined under
the proposed Cap with all of an ATP Holder's Strategy Executions on the
same trading day.
The Exchange proposes to implement the rule change on September 3,
2019.
Background
The Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for
competition over regulatory intervention in determining prices,
products, and services in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS,
the Commission highlighted the importance of market forces in
determining prices and SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current
regulation of the market system ``has been remarkably successful in
promoting market competition in its broader forms that are most
important to investors and listed companies.'' \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9,
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (S7-10-04) (``Reg NMS
Adopting Release'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are currently 16 registered options exchanges competing for
order flow. Based on publicly-available information, and excluding
index-based options, no single exchange has more than 16% of the market
share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options
trades.\7\ Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power
in the execution of multiply-listed equity & ETF options order flow.
More specifically, in the first quarter of 2019, the Exchange had less
than 10% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity &
ETF options trades.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ The OCC publishes options and futures volume in a variety of
formats, including daily and monthly volume by exchange, available
here: https://www.theocc.com/market-data/volume/default.jsp.
\8\ Based on OCC data, see id., the Exchange's market share in
equity-based options declined from 9.82% for the month of January to
8.84% for the month of April.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the
exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can
shift order flow, or discontinue or reduce use of certain categories of
products, in response to fee changes. Accordingly, competitive forces
constrain options exchange transaction fees.
In response to this competitive environment, the Exchange has
established incentives, such as the Strategy Cap, to encourage ATP
Holders to participate in certain large volume options strategies that
capture potentially small profits by capping the fees paid for such
transactions.
As noted above, the current Strategy Cap limits or caps at $750
transaction fees for options Strategy Executions ``on the same trading
day in the same option class'' and further caps such fees at $25,000
per month.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Fee Schedule, Section I. J. (Strategy Execution Fee
Cap), supra note 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to modify the Strategy Cap by eliminating the
requirement that Strategy Executions on the same trading day all be in
the same symbol for inclusion in the Cap. Specifically, as proposed,
the daily Strategy Cap on transaction fees for options Strategy
Executions would be changed from $750 to $1,000 and would apply to all
Strategy Executions by an ATP Holder on the same trading day
(regardless of option class/symbol). In addition, given the proposal to
cap an ATP Holder's fee for all Strategy Executions in a given trading
day at $1,000, the Exchange proposed to eliminate the $25,000 per month
Strategy Cap as unnecessary.
For example, per the current Fee Schedule, an ATP Holder that
executes the following Strategy Executions on the same trading day
would be charged as follows:
A Jelly Roll in ABC for $800 in fees, capped at $750;
A Reversal Conversion in DEF for $500 in fees; and
A Merger Spread in XYZ for $600.
The total fees for these Strategy Executions under the current Fee
Schedule would be $1,850. Under the proposed Strategy Cap, the same
trades would be billed as follows:
A Jelly Roll in ABC for $800 in fees;
A Reversal Conversion in DEF for $500 in fees; and
A Merger Spread in XYZ for $600.
The total fees for these Strategy Executions under the proposed Fee
Schedule would be $1,000. Thus, although the amount of the Cap would be
increased, the number of eligible Strategy Executions would also be
increased, making it easier to meet the Strategy Cap.
The Exchange's fees are constrained by intermarket competition, as
ATP Holders may direct their order flow to any of the 16 options
exchanges, including those with similar Strategy Fee Caps.\10\ Thus,
ATP Holders have a choice of where they direct their order flow. This
proposed change is designed to incent ATP Holders to increase their
Strategy Execution volumes by executing (often smaller) strategies that
are not necessarily economically viable on a per symbol basis, but
which may be profitable when fees on Strategy Executions--regardless of
symbol--are capped for the trading day. The Exchange notes that all
market participants stand to benefit from increased volume, which
promotes market depth, facilitates tighter spreads and enhances price
discovery, and may lead to a corresponding increase in order flow from
other market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See e.g., BOX Options Market LLC (``BOX'') fee schedule,
Section II.D (Strategy QOO Order Fee Cap and Rebate). BOX caps fees
for each participants at $1,000 for the following strategies
executed on the same trading day: short stock interest, [sic],
reversal, conversion, jelly roll, and box spread strategies. BOX
also caps participant fees at $1,000 for all dividend strategies
executed on the same trading day in the same options class. BOX also
offers a $500 rebate to floor brokers for presenting certain
Strategy QOO Orders on the BOX trading floor, which is applied
``once the $1,000 fee cap for all dividend, short stock interest,
merger, reversal, conversion, jelly roll, and box spread strategies
is met.'' See id. The Exchange does not include dividend strategies
in the Strategy Cap, nor does the Exchange does not offer a similar
rebate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange cannot predict with certainty whether any ATP Holders
would avail themselves of this proposed fee change. At present, whether
or when an ATP Holder qualifies for the current daily Strategy Cap (of
$750) varies day-to-day in a given month. Thus, the Exchange cannot
predict with any certainty the number of ATP Holders that may qualify
for the modified Strategy Cap, but believes that ATP Holders would be
encourage to take advantage of the modified Cap. The Exchange believes
the proposed Strategy Cap, which applies to all qualifying strategies
executed on the same trading day, regardless of symbol, would provide
an incentive for ATP Holders to submit these types of strategy orders
to the Exchange Trading Floor, which brings increased liquidity and
order flow for the benefit of all market participants.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\11\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act,\12\ in particular,
because it provides for the equitable
[[Page 48674]]
allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its
members, issuers and other persons using its facilities and does not
unfairly discriminate between customers, issuers, brokers or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Proposed Rule Change Is Reasonable
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market. The
Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over
regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services
in the securities markets. In Regulation NMS, the Commission
highlighted the importance of market forces in determining prices and
SRO revenues and, also, recognized that current regulation of the
market system ``has been remarkably successful in promoting market
competition in its broader forms that are most important to investors
and listed companies.'' \13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See Reg NMS Adopting Release, supra note 6, at 37499.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are currently 16 registered options exchanges competing for
order flow. Based on publicly-available information, and excluding
index-based options, no single exchange has more than 16% of the market
share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity and ETF options
trades.\14\ Therefore, no exchange possesses significant pricing power
in the execution of multiply-listed equity & ETF options order flow.
More specifically, in the first quarter of 2019, the Exchange had less
than 10% market share of executed volume of multiply-listed equity &
ETF options trades.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See supra note 7.
\15\ Based on OCC data, see supra note 8, in 2019, the
Exchange's market share in equity-based options declined from 9.82%
for the month of January to 8.84% for the month of April.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the ever-shifting market share among the
exchanges from month to month demonstrates that market participants can
shift order flow, or discontinue or reduce use of certain categories of
products, in response to fee changes. Accordingly, competitive forces
constrain options exchange transaction fees. Stated otherwise, changes
to exchange transaction fees can have a direct effect on the ability of
an exchange to compete for order flow.
The Exchange believes that the proposed modification to the
Strategy Cap is designed to incent ATP Holders to increase the number
and type of Strategy Executions sent to the Exchange. In addition, the
proposal caps fees on all similar transactions, regardless of size and
similarly-situated ATP Holders can opt to try to achieve the modified
Strategy Cap. The proposal is designed to encourage ATP Holders to send
all Strategy Executions to the Exchange regardless of size or type. To
the extent that the proposed change attracts more Strategy Executions
to the Exchange Trading Floor, this increased order flow would continue
to make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, among other things,
order execution, which, in turn, promotes just and equitable principles
of trade and removes impediments to and perfects the mechanism of a
free and open market and a national market system.
Finally, to the extent the proposed change continues to attract
greater volume and liquidity (to the Floor or otherwise), the Exchange
believes the proposed change would improve the Exchange's overall
competitiveness and strengthen its market quality for all market
participants. In the backdrop of the competitive environment in which
the Exchange operates, the proposed rule change is a reasonable attempt
by the Exchange to increase the depth of its market and improve its
market share relative to its competitors. The Exchange's fees are
constrained by intermarket competition, as ATP Holders may direct their
order flow to any of the 16 options exchanges, including those with
similar Strategy Fee Caps.\16\ Thus, ATP Holders have a choice of where
they direct their order flow--including their Strategy Executions. The
proposed rule change is designed to incent ATP Holders to direct
liquidity to the Exchange--in particular Strategy Executions, thereby
promoting market depth, price discovery and improvement and enhancing
order execution opportunities for market participants.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See supra note 10 (regarding BOX Strategy Cap).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange cannot predict with certainty whether any ATP Holders
would avail themselves of this proposed fee change. At present, whether
or when an ATP Holder qualifies for the current daily Strategy Cap (of
$750) varies day-to-day in a given month. Thus, the Exchange cannot
predict with any certainty the number of ATP Holders that may qualify
for the modified Strategy Cap, but believes that ATP Holders would be
encourage to take advantage of the modified Cap. The Exchange believes
the proposed Strategy Cap, which applies to all qualifying strategies
executed on the same trading day, regardless of symbol, would provide
an incentive for ATP Holders to submit these types of strategy orders
to the Exchange Trading Floor, which brings increased liquidity and
order flow for the benefit of all market participants.
The Proposed Rule Change Is an Equitable Allocation of Credits and Fees
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is an equitable
allocation of its fees and credits. The proposal is based on the amount
and type of business transacted on the Exchange and ATP Holders can opt
to avail themselves of the Strategy Cap or not. Moreover, the proposal
is designed to encourage ATP Holders to aggregate all Strategy
Executions at the Exchange as a primary execution venue. To the extent
that the proposed change attracts more Strategy Executions to the
Exchange, this increased order flow would continue to make the Exchange
a more competitive venue for, among other things, order execution.
Thus, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change would improve
market quality for all market participants on the Exchange and, as a
consequence, attract more order flow to the Exchange thereby improving
market-wide quality and price discovery.
The Proposed Rule Change Is Not Unfairly Discriminatory
The Exchange believes it is not unfairly discriminatory to modify
the Strategy Cap because the proposed modification would be available
to all similarly-situated market participants on an equal and non-
discriminatory basis.
The proposal is based on the amount and type of business transacted
on the Exchange and ATP Holders are not obligated to try to achieve the
Strategy Cap. Rather, the proposal is designed encourage ATP Holders to
utilize the Exchange as a primary trading venue for Strategy Executions
(if they have not done so previously) or increase volume sent to the
Exchange. To the extent that the proposed change attracts more Strategy
Executions to the Exchange, this increased order flow would continue to
make the Exchange a more competitive venue for, among other things,
order execution. Thus, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change
would improve market quality for all market participants on the
Exchange and, as a consequence, attract more order flow to the Exchange
thereby improving market-wide quality and price discovery. The
resulting increased volume and liquidity would provide more trading
opportunities and tighter spreads to all market participants and thus
would promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market
[[Page 48675]]
and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest.
Finally, the Exchange believes that it is subject to significant
competitive forces, as described below in the Exchange's statement
regarding the burden on competition.
For the foregoing 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, the Exchange does
not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. Instead, as discussed above, the Exchange believes
that the proposed changes would encourage the submission of additional
liquidity to a public exchange, thereby promoting market depth, price
discovery and transparency and enhancing order execution opportunities
for all market participants. As a result, the Exchange believes that
the proposed change furthers the Commission's goal in adopting
Regulation NMS of fostering integrated competition among orders, which
promotes ``more efficient pricing of individual stocks for all types of
orders, large and small.'' \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ See Reg NMS Adopting Release, supra note 6, at 37499.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intramarket Competition. The proposed change is designed to attract
additional order flow (particularly Strategy Executions) to the
Exchange. The Exchange believes that the proposed Strategy Cap would
incent market participants to direct their Strategy Execution volume to
the Exchange. Greater liquidity benefits all market participants on the
Exchange and increased Strategy Executions would increase opportunities
for execution of other trading interest. The proposed Strategy Cap
would be available to all similarly-situated market participants that
incur transaction fees on Strategy Executions, and, as such, the
proposed change would not impose a disparate burden on competition
among market participants on the Exchange.
Intermarket Competition. The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive market in which market participants can readily favor one
of the 16 competing option exchanges if they deem fee levels at a
particular venue to be excessive. In such an environment, the Exchange
must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other
exchanges and to attract order flow to the Exchange. Based on publicly-
available information, and excluding index-based options, no single
exchange has more than 16% of the market share of executed volume of
multiply-listed equity and ETF options trades.\18\ Therefore, no
exchange possesses significant pricing power in the execution of
multiply-listed equity & ETF options order flow. More specifically, in
the first quarter of 2019, the Exchange had less than 10% market share
of executed volume of multiply-listed equity & ETF options trades.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See supra note 7.
\19\ Based on OCC data, supra note 8, the Exchange's market
share in equity-based options declined from 9.82% for the month of
January to 8.84% for the month of April.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change reflects this
competitive environment because it modifies the Exchange's fees in a
manner designed to encourage ATP Holders to direct trading interest
(particularly Strategy Executions) to the Exchange, to provide
liquidity and to attract order flow. To the extent that this purpose is
achieved, all the Exchange's market participants should benefit from
the improved market quality and increased opportunities for price
improvement.
The Exchange believes that the proposed change could promote
competition between the Exchange and other execution venues, including
those that currently offer similar Strategy Caps, by encouraging
additional orders to be sent to the Exchange for execution. The
Exchange also believes that the proposed change is designed to provide
the public and investors with a Fee Schedule that is clear and
consistent, thereby reducing burdens on the marketplace and
facilitating investor protection.
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
The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to
Section 19(b)(3)(A) \20\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule
19b-4\21\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other
charge imposed by the Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\21\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \22\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic 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 No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-36 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 No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-36. 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 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
[[Page 48676]]
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 No. SR-NYSEAMER-2019-36, and should be
submitted on or before October 7, 2019.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\23\
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\23\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Jill M. Peterson,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-19905 Filed 9-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
