Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX Emerald, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change by To Amend Its Fee Schedule With Respect to Open-Close Report Data, 52731-52735 [2021-20452]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
of the purposes of the Act. The
proposed change is designed to revise
the Closing Auction process on the
Exchange to make it more transparent
and deterministic, while still retaining
the DMM market model. The Exchange
believes that the proposed rule change
would promote intermarket
competition, particularly for issuers in
connection with their determination of
which exchange to select as a primary
listing exchange. The Exchange does not
believe that the proposed rule change
would impose any burden on intramarket competition that is not necessary
or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act because they are
designed to address the DMM’s unique
role at the Exchange, including the
DMM’s Rule 104(a)(3) obligation to
facilitate the Closing Auction by
supplying liquidity as needed for a fair
and orderly Closing Auction. The
proposed changes are designed to make
the process more transparent and
deterministic. The proposed changes
would also result in reducing the overall
DMM benefits because they would
eliminate discretion regarding DMM
Interest entered or cancelled after the
end of Core Trading Hours and require
that the DMM select a Closing Auction
Price from within a pre-determined and
transparency range of prices.
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 such longer period 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:
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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–
NYSE–2021–44 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–NYSE–2021–44. 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–NYSE–2021–44 and should
be submitted on or before October 13,
2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.54
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–20448 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–93023; File No. SR–
EMERALD–2021–28]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX
Emerald, LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed
Rule Change by To Amend Its Fee
Schedule With Respect to Open-Close
Report Data
September 16, 2021.
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
September 2, 2021, MIAX Emerald, LLC
(‘‘MIAX Emerald’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’), filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’) a
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 is filing a proposal to
amend the Exchange’s Fee Schedule
(‘‘Fee Schedule’’) to provide historical
Open-Close Report data for free by
amending the fees for the Open-Close
Report to: (i) Respond to ad hoc requests
for end-of-day data free of charge; and
(ii) provide mid-month subscribers data
for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://www.miaxoptions.com/rulefilings/emerald, at MIAX’s principal
office, and at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
1 15
54 17
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2 17
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U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange recently adopted a new
data product for options known as the
Open-Close Report,3 which the
Exchange made available for purchase
to Exchange Members 4 and nonMembers on June 1, 2021.5 The OpenClose Report is described under
Exchange Rule 531(b)(1). The Exchange
now proposes to provide historical
Open-Close Report data for free by
amending the fees for the Open-Close
Report to: (i) Respond to ad hoc requests
for end-of-day data free of charge; and
(ii) provide mid-month subscribers data
for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
General
By way of background, the Exchange
offers two versions of the Open-Close
Report, an end-of-day summary and
intra-day report.6 The end-of-day
version is a volume summary of trading
activity on the Exchange at the option
level by origin (Priority Customer, NonPriority Customer, Firm, Broker-Dealer,
and Market Maker 7), side of the market
(buy or sell), contract volume, and
transaction type (opening or closing).
The customer and professional customer
volume is further broken down into
trade size buckets (less than 100
contracts, 100–199 contracts, greater
than 199 contracts). The Open-Close
Data is proprietary Exchange trade data
and does not include trade data from
any other exchange. It is also a historical
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91963
(May 21, 2021), 86 FR 28662 (May 27, 2021) (SR–
EMERADL–2021–18 [sic]) (Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change
to Adopt a New Historical Market Data Product To
Be Known as the Open-Close Report).
4 The term ‘‘Member’’ means an individual or
organization that is registered with the Exchange
pursuant to Chapter II of these Rules for purposes
of trading on the Exchange as an ‘‘Electronic
Exchange Member’’ or ‘‘Market Maker.’’ Members
are deemed ‘‘members’’ under the Exchange Act.
See Exchange Rule 100.
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 92138
(June 9, 2021), 86 FR 31769 (June 15, 2021) (SR–
EMERALD–2021–20) (Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change
To Amend the MIAX Pearl [sic] Options Fee
Schedule To Adopt Fees for the Open-Close
Report).
6 The intraday Open-Close Report provides
similar information to that of Open-Close Data but
will be produced and updated every 10 minutes
during the trading day. Data is captured in
‘‘snapshots’’ taken every 10 minutes throughout the
trading day and is available to subscribers within
five minutes of the conclusion of each 10-minute
period.
7 See Exchange Rule 100.
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data product and not a real-time data
feed.
Members and non-Members may
purchase the Open-Close Report on a
monthly basis. The Exchange currently
assess a monthly fee of $600 per month
for subscribing to the end-of-day
summary Open-Close Report and $2,000
per month for subscribing to the intraday Open-Close Report. For mid-month
subscriptions, new subscribers are
currently charged for the full calendar
month for which they subscribe and
will be provided Open-Close Report
data for each trading day of the calendar
month from the day on which they
subscribed.
End-of-Day Ad Hoc Request (Historical
Data)
The Exchange now proposes to
provide Members and Non-Members
who request on an ad hoc basis
historical end-of-day Open-Close Report
data free of charge.8 An ad hoc request
may be for any number of months
beginning with June 2021, the month in
which the Exchange first made the
Open-Close Report available. For
example, as of the date of this filing, a
market participant may request end-ofday Open-Close Report data for the
month of June 2021 or July 2021, or may
request such data for both June and July
2021 and would not be charged a fee for
such request(s). The Exchange notes that
other exchanges that provide similar
data products allow for ad hoc requests
of their end-of-day data for a fee 9 and,
like the Exchange proposes herein,
allow for ad hoc requests back to a
certain month.10
8 The Exchange does not propose to allow for ad
hoc requests for intra-day Open-Close Report data.
9 See Price List—U.S. Derivatives Data for Nasdaq
PHLX, LLC (‘‘PHLX’’), The Nasdaq Stock Market,
LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’), Nasdaq ISE, LLC (‘‘ISE’’), and
Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (‘‘GEMX’’), available at https://
www.nasdaqtrader.com/
Trader.aspx?id=DPPriceListOptions#web.
Particularly, PHLX offers ‘‘Nasdaq PHLX Options
Trade Outline (PHOTO)’’ and assesses $400 for
historical end-of-day data; Nasdaq offers the
‘‘Nasdaq Options Trade Outline (NOTO)’’ and
assesses $250 for historical end-of-day data; ISE
offers the ‘‘Nasdaq ISE Open/Close Trade Profile’’
and assesses $600 per month for historical end-ofday data and $27,500 for complete history; and
GEMX offers the ‘‘Nasdaq GEMX Open/Close Trade
Profile’’ and assesses $400 for historical end-of-day
data.
Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘EDGX’’) and Cboe
BZX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BZX’’) both assess $400 for
historical end-of-day data per request per month.
See the EDGX fee schedule available at https://
markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_
schedule/edgx/ and the BZX fee schedule available
at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/
membership/fee_schedule/bzx/. Both EDGX and
BZX allow for ad-hoc requests to be for any number
of months beginning with January 2018 for which
the data is available.
10 Both EDGX and BZX allow for ad-hoc requests
to be for any number of months beginning with
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The Exchange also proposes to make
the historical monthly data available
fifteen (15) days after the end of the
month for which it is requested. The
Exchange proposes this delay because it
is making historical end-of-day OpenClose Report data free of charge and
seeks to not encourage subscribers to
request historical end-of-day OpenClose Report data over a paid
subscription.
Mid-Month Subscriptions
The Exchange also proposes to amend
the data range of Open-Close Report
data it provides to mid-month
subscribers. As noted above, the
Exchange currently charges new midmonth subscribers for the full calendar
month for which they subscribe, but
only provides Open-Close Report data
for each trading day of the calendar
month from the day on which they
subscribed. The Exchange now proposes
to provide new mid-month subscribers
data for each trading day of the calendar
month prior to the day on which they
subscribe. In other words, those that
subscribe mid-month will be provided
Open-Close Data retroactively for each
trading day of the month in which they
subscribed and prospectively for each
trading day for the remainder of that
calendar month pursuant to either the
end-of-day or intra-day subscription
they chose. This is identical to how the
Exchange provides data to mid-month
subscribers of the Exchange’s Liquidity
Taker Event report.11
Implementation Date
The Exchange intends to provide
historical Open-Close Report data for
free pursuant this proposal
immediately.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act,12 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)
of the Act,13 in particular, in that it is
designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
January 2018 for which the data is available. See the
EDGX fee schedule available at https://
markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_
schedule/edgx/ and the BZX fee schedule available
at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/
membership/fee_schedule/bzx/.
11 See the Exchange’s fee schedule available at
https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/
fee_schedule-files/MIAX_Pearl_Options_Fee_
Schedule_08122021.pdf [sic] (providing that ‘‘[n]ew
subscribers will be charged for the full calendar
month for which they subscribe and will be
provided Liquidity Taker Event Report data for each
trading day of the calendar month prior to the day
on which they subscribed.’’).
12 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
13 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and to protect investors and the
public interest, and that it is not
designed to permit unfair
discrimination among customers,
brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also
believes that its proposed changes to its
Fee Schedule concerning fees for the
Open-Close Report is consistent with
Section 6(b) of the Act 14 in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4)
of the Act 15 in particular, in that it is
an equitable allocation of dues, fees and
other charges among its members and
other recipients of Exchange data.
In adopting Regulation NMS, the
Commission granted self-regulatory
organizations (‘‘SROs’’) and brokerdealers increased authority and
flexibility to offer new and unique
market data to the public. It was
believed that this authority would
expand the amount of data available to
consumers, and also spur innovation
and competition for the provision of
market data. Particularly, the OpenClose Report further broadens the
availability of U.S. option market data to
investors consistent with the principles
of Regulation NMS. The data product
also promotes increased transparency
through the dissemination of the OpenClose Report. Particularly, information
regarding opening and closing activity
across different option series during the
trading day may indicate investor
sentiment, which may allow market
participants to make better informed
trading decisions throughout the day.
Subscribers to the data may also be able
to enhance their ability to analyze
option trade and volume data and create
and test trading models and analytical
strategies. The Exchange believes the
Open-Close Report provides a valuable
tool that subscribers can use to gain
comprehensive insight into the trading
activity in a particular series, but also
emphasizes such data is not necessary
for trading. Moreover, other exchanges
offer a similar data product.16 This
proposal simply and solely seeks to
provide historical Open-Close Report
data to market participants for free by
amending the fees for the Open-Close
Report to: (i) Respond to ad hoc requests
for end-of-day data free of charge; and
(ii) provide mid-month subscribers data
for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
The Exchange operates in a highly
competitive environment. Indeed, there
14 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
16 See supra notes 9 and 10.
15 15
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are currently 16 registered options
exchanges that trade options. Based on
publicly available information, no single
options exchange has more than 15% of
the market share and currently the
Exchange represents only approximately
5.54% of the market share.17 The
Commission has repeatedly expressed
its preference for competition over
regulatory intervention in determining
prices, products, and services in the
securities markets. Particularly, 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.’’ 18
Making similar data products available
to market participants fosters
competition in the marketplace, and
constrains the ability of exchanges to
charge supra-competitive fees. In the
event that a market participant views
one exchange’s data product as more or
less attractive than the competition they
can and do switch between similar
products. The proposed fees are a result
of the competitive environment, as the
Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract
purchasers of the recently introduced
Open-Close Data product.
The Exchange believes its proposal to
provide Open-Close data in response to
ad hoc request for end-of-day data free
of charge is reasonable as the proposed
rate is lower than the fees assessed by
other exchanges that provide data in
response to ad hoc request for their
similar data products.19 In fact, the
Exchange understands that no other
exchange provides such data free of
charge.20 Indeed, proposing fees that are
excessively higher than established fees
for similar data products would simply
serve to reduce demand for the
Exchange’s data product, which as
noted, is entirely optional. Like the
Exchange’s Open-Close Report, other
exchanges offer similar data products
that each provide insight into trading on
those markets and may likewise aid in
assessing investor sentiment. Although
each of these similar Open-Close data
products provide only proprietary trade
data and not trade data from other
exchanges, it is possible investors are
still able to gauge overall investor
17 See the Exchange’s ‘‘The market at a glance’’,
available at https://www.miaxoptions.com/ (last
visited September 1, 2021).
18 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
(June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005)
(‘‘Regulation NMS Adopting Release’’).
19 See supra notes 9 and 10.
20 See supra note 9.
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52733
sentiment across different option series
based on open and closing interest on
any one exchange.21 Similarly, market
participants may be able to analyze
option trade and volume data, and
create and test trading models and
analytical strategies using only OpenClose data relating to trading activity on
one or more of the other markets that
provide similar data products. As such,
if a market participant views another
exchange’s Open-Close data as more
attractive than its proposed Open-Close
Report, then such market participant
can merely choose not to subscribe to
the Exchange’s Open-Close Report and
instead purchase another exchange’s
Open-Close data product, which offer
similar data points, albeit based on that
other market’s trading activity.
The Exchange also believes its
proposal to amend the fees for the
Open-Close Report to: (i) Provide
historical end-of-day data free of charge
and (ii) provide mid-month subscribers
data for the entire month in which they
subscribe, is reasonable as it would
further support its recent introduction
of the Open-Close Report, which is
designed to aid investors by providing
insight into trading on the Exchange.
Providing market data, such as the
Open-Close Report, is also a means by
which exchanges compete to attract
business. Subscribers that receive endof-day Open-Close data for free in
response to an ad hoc request may use
such data to evaluate the usefulness of
the Exchange’s Open-Close Report and
decide, based on that data, whether to
subscribe to the Open-Close Report on
a monthly basis. In addition, providing
new mid-month subscribers data for the
entire calendar month would further
enhance the value of the Open-Close
Report and encourage mid-month
subscriptions market participants that
seek to subscribe to the Open-Close
Report not having to wait to the first of
the next month to subscribe and receive
a full month of Open-Close Report Data
for the current monthly fee. To the
extent that the Exchange is successful in
attracting subscribers for the Open-Close
Report through this proposal, it may
earn trading revenues and further
enhance the value of its data products.
The Exchange also believes it proposal
to make historical end-of-day OpenClose Report data on a delayed basis is
a reasonable means to not encourage
subscribers to request historical end-ofday Open-Close Report data over a paid
subscription. If the market deems the
proposal to be unfair or inequitable,
21 The exchange notes that its Open-Close Report
data product does not include data on any
exclusive, singly-listed option series.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
firms can diminish or discontinue their
use of the data and/or avail themselves
of similar products offered by other
exchanges.22 The Exchange therefore
believes that its proposal reflects the
competitive environment and would be
properly assessed on Member or nonMember users. The Exchange also
believes the proposal is equitable and
not unfairly discriminatory as it would
apply equally to all users who choose to
purchase or receive such data.
As noted above, a wide variety of
market participants to subscribe to the
Open-Close Report, including but not
limited to individual customers, buyside investors and investment banks.
The Exchange reiterates that the
decision as to whether or not to
subscribe to the Open-Close Report is
entirely optional for all potential
subscribers. Indeed, no market
participant is required to subscribe to
the Open-Close Report, and the
Exchange is not required to make the
Open-Close Report available to all
investors. Rather, the Exchange is
voluntarily making additional OpenClose Report data available via ad hoc
requests for end-of-day data and to midmonth subscribers under this proposal
at the request of customers, and market
participants may choose to receive this
data based on their own business needs.
Potential subscribe to or request the data
at any time if they believe it to be
valuable or may decline to subscribe
such data.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will result in
any burden on competition that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. Rather, the
Exchange believes that the proposal will
promote competition by permitting the
Exchange to enhance the value of a data
product that is similar to those offered
by other competitor options
exchanges.23 The Exchange made OpenClose Data available in order to keep
pace with changes in the industry and
evolving customer needs, and believes
the data product will continue to
contribute to robust competition among
national securities exchanges. At least
eight other U.S. options exchanges offer
a market data product that is
substantially similar to the Open-Close
Report. As a result, the Exchange
believes this proposed rule change
permits fair competition among national
securities exchanges.
22 See
23 See
supra notes 9 and 10.
supra note 9.
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Furthermore, the Exchange operates
in a highly competitive environment,
and its ability to price the Open-Close
Report is constrained by competition
among exchanges that offer similar data
products to their customers. As
discussed, there are currently a number
of similar products available to market
participants and investors. At least eight
other U.S. options exchanges offer a
market data product that is substantially
similar to the Open-Close Report, which
the Exchange must consider in its
pricing discipline in order to compete
for the market data.24 For example,
proposing fees that are excessively
higher than established fees for similar
data products would simply serve to
reduce demand for the Exchange’s data
product, which as discussed, market
participants are under no obligation to
utilize. In this competitive environment,
potential purchasers are free to choose
which, if any, similar product to
purchase to satisfy their need for market
information. As a result, the Exchange
believes this proposed rule change
permits fair competition among national
securities exchanges.
The Exchange also does not believe
the proposal would cause any
unnecessary or inappropriate burden on
intermarket competition as other
exchanges are free to introduce their
own comparable data product and lower
their prices to better compete with the
Exchange’s offering. The Exchange does
not believe the proposed rule change
would cause any unnecessary or
inappropriate burden on intramarket
competition. Particularly, the proposal
would apply uniformly to any market
participant, in that it does not
differentiate between subscribers to the
Open-Close Report. The proposal is
modest and would allow any interested
Member or non-Member to subscribe to
or request such data based on their
business needs.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither
solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become
effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,25 and Rule
24 See, e.g., Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Livevol
Fees, Open-Close Data. See also Nasdaq ISE Options
7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10.A and Nasdaq PHLX
Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10, PHLX
Options Trade Outline (‘‘PHOTO’’).
25 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
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19b–4(f)(2) 26 thereunder. At any time
within 60 days of the filing of the
proposed rule change, the Commission
summarily may temporarily suspend
such rule change if it appears to the
Commission that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public
interest, for the protection of investors,
or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall
institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule should be
approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
EMERALD–2021–28 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–EMERALD–2021–28. 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
26 17
E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
22SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 22, 2021 / Notices
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–EMERALD–2021–28
and should be submitted on or before
October 13, 2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.27
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–20452 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 11543]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information
Collection: Electronic Choice of
Address and Agent
Notice of request for public
comment and submission to OMB of
proposed collection of information.
ACTION:
The Department of State has
submitted the information collection
described below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
approval. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we
are requesting comments on this
collection from all interested
individuals and organizations. The
purpose of this Notice is to allow 30
days for public comment.
DATES: Submit comments up to October
22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct requests for additional
information regarding the collection
listed in this notice, including requests
for copies of the proposed collection
instrument, and supporting documents,
to A. Lages at PRA_BurdenComments@
state.gov or (202) 485–7586.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
• Title of Information Collection:
Electronic Choice of Address and Agent.
27 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:44 Sep 21, 2021
Jkt 253001
• OMB Control Number: 1405–0186.
• Type of Request: Extension of a
Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: CA/VO.
• Form Number: DS–261.
• Respondents: Beneficiaries of
approved immigrant visa petitions.
• Estimated Number of Respondents:
11,000.
• Estimated Number of Responses:
11,000.
• Average Time per Response: 10
minutes.
• Total Estimated Burden Time: 1,833
hours.
• Frequency: On Occasion.
• Obligation to Respond: Required to
Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department to:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department.
• Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the time and cost burden for
this proposed collection, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used.
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected.
• Minimize the reporting burden on
those who are to respond, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Please note that comments submitted
in response to this Notice are public
record. Before including any detailed
personal information, you should be
aware that your comments as submitted,
including your personal information,
will be available for public review.
Abstract of Proposed Collection
The DS–261 allows the beneficiary of
an approved and current immigrant visa
petition to provide the Department with
his or her preferred email address,
which will be used for communications
with the beneficiary. The DS–261 also
allows the beneficiary to appoint an
agent to receive mailings from the
National Visa Center (NVC) and assist in
the filing of various application forms
and/or paying the required fees. The
beneficiary is not required to appoint an
agent but must provide current contact
information. All cases will be held at
NVC until the DS–261 is electronically
submitted to the Department.
PO 00000
Frm 00104
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52735
Methodology
Applicants will complete the form
online and submit it electronically to
the Department.
Julie M. Stufft,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2021–20472 Filed 9–21–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2011–0389; FMCSA–
2012–0050; FMCSA–2014–0381; FMCSA–
2015–0117; FMCSA–2016–0008; FMCSA–
2019–0028; FMCSA–2019–0030; FMCSA–
2019–0031]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption
Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure
Disorders
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of renewal of
exemptions; request for comments.
AGENCY:
FMCSA announces its
decision to renew exemptions for 13
individuals from the requirement in the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate
commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
drivers have ‘‘no established medical
history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy
or any other condition which is likely
to cause loss of consciousness or any
loss of ability to control a CMV.’’ The
exemptions enable these individuals
who have had one or more seizures and
are taking anti-seizure medication to
continue to operate CMVs in interstate
commerce.
DATES: The exemptions are applicable
on September 30, 2021. The exemptions
expire on September 30, 2023.
Comments must be received on or
before October 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Docket No.
FMCSA–2011–0389, Docket No.
FMCSA–2012–0050, Docket No.
FMCSA–2014–0381, Docket No.
FMCSA–2015–0117, Docket No.
FMCSA–2016–0008, Docket No.
FMCSA–2019–0028, Docket No.
FMCSA–2019–0030, or Docket No.
FMCSA–2019–0031 using any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket
number, FMCSA–2011–0389, FMCSA–
2012–0050, FMCSA–2014–0381,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM
22SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52731-52735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20452]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-93023; File No. SR-EMERALD-2021-28]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; MIAX Emerald, LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change by To
Amend Its Fee Schedule With Respect to Open-Close Report Data
September 16, 2021.
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 September 2, 2021, MIAX Emerald, LLC (``MIAX Emerald'' or
``Exchange''), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') a 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 is filing a proposal to amend the Exchange's Fee
Schedule (``Fee Schedule'') to provide historical Open-Close Report
data for free by amending the fees for the Open-Close Report to: (i)
Respond to ad hoc requests for end-of-day data free of charge; and (ii)
provide mid-month subscribers data for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
website at https://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings/emerald, at MIAX's
principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in
sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such
statements.
[[Page 52732]]
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange recently adopted a new data product for options known
as the Open-Close Report,\3\ which the Exchange made available for
purchase to Exchange Members \4\ and non-Members on June 1, 2021.\5\
The Open-Close Report is described under Exchange Rule 531(b)(1). The
Exchange now proposes to provide historical Open-Close Report data for
free by amending the fees for the Open-Close Report to: (i) Respond to
ad hoc requests for end-of-day data free of charge; and (ii) provide
mid-month subscribers data for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 91963 (May 21,
2021), 86 FR 28662 (May 27, 2021) (SR-EMERADL-2021-18 [sic]) (Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to
Adopt a New Historical Market Data Product To Be Known as the Open-
Close Report).
\4\ The term ``Member'' means an individual or organization that
is registered with the Exchange pursuant to Chapter II of these
Rules for purposes of trading on the Exchange as an ``Electronic
Exchange Member'' or ``Market Maker.'' Members are deemed
``members'' under the Exchange Act. See Exchange Rule 100.
\5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 92138 (June 9,
2021), 86 FR 31769 (June 15, 2021) (SR-EMERALD-2021-20) (Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To
Amend the MIAX Pearl [sic] Options Fee Schedule To Adopt Fees for
the Open-Close Report).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
General
By way of background, the Exchange offers two versions of the Open-
Close Report, an end-of-day summary and intra-day report.\6\ The end-
of-day version is a volume summary of trading activity on the Exchange
at the option level by origin (Priority Customer, Non-Priority
Customer, Firm, Broker-Dealer, and Market Maker \7\), side of the
market (buy or sell), contract volume, and transaction type (opening or
closing). The customer and professional customer volume is further
broken down into trade size buckets (less than 100 contracts, 100-199
contracts, greater than 199 contracts). The Open-Close Data is
proprietary Exchange trade data and does not include trade data from
any other exchange. It is also a historical data product and not a
real-time data feed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The intraday Open-Close Report provides similar information
to that of Open-Close Data but will be produced and updated every 10
minutes during the trading day. Data is captured in ``snapshots''
taken every 10 minutes throughout the trading day and is available
to subscribers within five minutes of the conclusion of each 10-
minute period.
\7\ See Exchange Rule 100.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members and non-Members may purchase the Open-Close Report on a
monthly basis. The Exchange currently assess a monthly fee of $600 per
month for subscribing to the end-of-day summary Open-Close Report and
$2,000 per month for subscribing to the intra-day Open-Close Report.
For mid-month subscriptions, new subscribers are currently charged for
the full calendar month for which they subscribe and will be provided
Open-Close Report data for each trading day of the calendar month from
the day on which they subscribed.
End-of-Day Ad Hoc Request (Historical Data)
The Exchange now proposes to provide Members and Non-Members who
request on an ad hoc basis historical end-of-day Open-Close Report data
free of charge.\8\ An ad hoc request may be for any number of months
beginning with June 2021, the month in which the Exchange first made
the Open-Close Report available. For example, as of the date of this
filing, a market participant may request end-of-day Open-Close Report
data for the month of June 2021 or July 2021, or may request such data
for both June and July 2021 and would not be charged a fee for such
request(s). The Exchange notes that other exchanges that provide
similar data products allow for ad hoc requests of their end-of-day
data for a fee \9\ and, like the Exchange proposes herein, allow for ad
hoc requests back to a certain month.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ The Exchange does not propose to allow for ad hoc requests
for intra-day Open-Close Report data.
\9\ See Price List--U.S. Derivatives Data for Nasdaq PHLX, LLC
(``PHLX''), The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (``Nasdaq''), Nasdaq ISE,
LLC (``ISE''), and Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (``GEMX''), available at https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/Trader.aspx?id=DPPriceListOptions#web.
Particularly, PHLX offers ``Nasdaq PHLX Options Trade Outline
(PHOTO)'' and assesses $400 for historical end-of-day data; Nasdaq
offers the ``Nasdaq Options Trade Outline (NOTO)'' and assesses $250
for historical end-of-day data; ISE offers the ``Nasdaq ISE Open/
Close Trade Profile'' and assesses $600 per month for historical
end-of-day data and $27,500 for complete history; and GEMX offers
the ``Nasdaq GEMX Open/Close Trade Profile'' and assesses $400 for
historical end-of-day data.
Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'') and Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc.
(``BZX'') both assess $400 for historical end-of-day data per
request per month. See the EDGX fee schedule available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_schedule/edgx/ and the
BZX fee schedule available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_schedule/bzx/. Both EDGX and BZX allow for ad-hoc
requests to be for any number of months beginning with January 2018
for which the data is available.
\10\ Both EDGX and BZX allow for ad-hoc requests to be for any
number of months beginning with January 2018 for which the data is
available. See the EDGX fee schedule available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_schedule/edgx/ and the
BZX fee schedule available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/membership/fee_schedule/bzx/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also proposes to make the historical monthly data
available fifteen (15) days after the end of the month for which it is
requested. The Exchange proposes this delay because it is making
historical end-of-day Open-Close Report data free of charge and seeks
to not encourage subscribers to request historical end-of-day Open-
Close Report data over a paid subscription.
Mid-Month Subscriptions
The Exchange also proposes to amend the data range of Open-Close
Report data it provides to mid-month subscribers. As noted above, the
Exchange currently charges new mid-month subscribers for the full
calendar month for which they subscribe, but only provides Open-Close
Report data for each trading day of the calendar month from the day on
which they subscribed. The Exchange now proposes to provide new mid-
month subscribers data for each trading day of the calendar month prior
to the day on which they subscribe. In other words, those that
subscribe mid-month will be provided Open-Close Data retroactively for
each trading day of the month in which they subscribed and
prospectively for each trading day for the remainder of that calendar
month pursuant to either the end-of-day or intra-day subscription they
chose. This is identical to how the Exchange provides data to mid-month
subscribers of the Exchange's Liquidity Taker Event report.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ See the Exchange's fee schedule available at https://www.miaxoptions.com/sites/default/files/fee_schedule-files/MIAX_Pearl_Options_Fee_Schedule_08122021.pdf [sic] (providing that
``[n]ew subscribers will be charged for the full calendar month for
which they subscribe and will be provided Liquidity Taker Event
Report data for each trading day of the calendar month prior to the
day on which they subscribed.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Implementation Date
The Exchange intends to provide historical Open-Close Report data
for free pursuant this proposal immediately.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with Section 6(b) of the Act,\12\ in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\13\ in particular, in that it
is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices,
to
[[Page 52733]]
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national
market system, and to protect investors and the public interest, and
that it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination among
customers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also believes that its
proposed changes to its Fee Schedule concerning fees for the Open-Close
Report is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act \14\ in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(4) of the Act \15\ in
particular, in that it is an equitable allocation of dues, fees and
other charges among its members and other recipients of Exchange data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In adopting Regulation NMS, the Commission granted self-regulatory
organizations (``SROs'') and broker-dealers increased authority and
flexibility to offer new and unique market data to the public. It was
believed that this authority would expand the amount of data available
to consumers, and also spur innovation and competition for the
provision of market data. Particularly, the Open-Close Report further
broadens the availability of U.S. option market data to investors
consistent with the principles of Regulation NMS. The data product also
promotes increased transparency through the dissemination of the Open-
Close Report. Particularly, information regarding opening and closing
activity across different option series during the trading day may
indicate investor sentiment, which may allow market participants to
make better informed trading decisions throughout the day. Subscribers
to the data may also be able to enhance their ability to analyze option
trade and volume data and create and test trading models and analytical
strategies. The Exchange believes the Open-Close Report provides a
valuable tool that subscribers can use to gain comprehensive insight
into the trading activity in a particular series, but also emphasizes
such data is not necessary for trading. Moreover, other exchanges offer
a similar data product.\16\ This proposal simply and solely seeks to
provide historical Open-Close Report data to market participants for
free by amending the fees for the Open-Close Report to: (i) Respond to
ad hoc requests for end-of-day data free of charge; and (ii) provide
mid-month subscribers data for the entire month in which they
subscribe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See supra notes 9 and 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange operates in a highly competitive environment. Indeed,
there are currently 16 registered options exchanges that trade options.
Based on publicly available information, no single options exchange has
more than 15% of the market share and currently the Exchange represents
only approximately 5.54% of the market share.\17\ The Commission has
repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over regulatory
intervention in determining prices, products, and services in the
securities markets. Particularly, 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.'' \18\ Making similar data products available to
market participants fosters competition in the marketplace, and
constrains the ability of exchanges to charge supra-competitive fees.
In the event that a market participant views one exchange's data
product as more or less attractive than the competition they can and do
switch between similar products. The proposed fees are a result of the
competitive environment, as the Exchange seeks to adopt fees to attract
purchasers of the recently introduced Open-Close Data product.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ See the Exchange's ``The market at a glance'', available at
https://www.miaxoptions.com/ (last visited September 1, 2021).
\18\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9,
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005) (``Regulation NMS Adopting
Release'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes its proposal to provide Open-Close data in
response to ad hoc request for end-of-day data free of charge is
reasonable as the proposed rate is lower than the fees assessed by
other exchanges that provide data in response to ad hoc request for
their similar data products.\19\ In fact, the Exchange understands that
no other exchange provides such data free of charge.\20\ Indeed,
proposing fees that are excessively higher than established fees for
similar data products would simply serve to reduce demand for the
Exchange's data product, which as noted, is entirely optional. Like the
Exchange's Open-Close Report, other exchanges offer similar data
products that each provide insight into trading on those markets and
may likewise aid in assessing investor sentiment. Although each of
these similar Open-Close data products provide only proprietary trade
data and not trade data from other exchanges, it is possible investors
are still able to gauge overall investor sentiment across different
option series based on open and closing interest on any one
exchange.\21\ Similarly, market participants may be able to analyze
option trade and volume data, and create and test trading models and
analytical strategies using only Open-Close data relating to trading
activity on one or more of the other markets that provide similar data
products. As such, if a market participant views another exchange's
Open-Close data as more attractive than its proposed Open-Close Report,
then such market participant can merely choose not to subscribe to the
Exchange's Open-Close Report and instead purchase another exchange's
Open-Close data product, which offer similar data points, albeit based
on that other market's trading activity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ See supra notes 9 and 10.
\20\ See supra note 9.
\21\ The exchange notes that its Open-Close Report data product
does not include data on any exclusive, singly-listed option series.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also believes its proposal to amend the fees for the
Open-Close Report to: (i) Provide historical end-of-day data free of
charge and (ii) provide mid-month subscribers data for the entire month
in which they subscribe, is reasonable as it would further support its
recent introduction of the Open-Close Report, which is designed to aid
investors by providing insight into trading on the Exchange. Providing
market data, such as the Open-Close Report, is also a means by which
exchanges compete to attract business. Subscribers that receive end-of-
day Open-Close data for free in response to an ad hoc request may use
such data to evaluate the usefulness of the Exchange's Open-Close
Report and decide, based on that data, whether to subscribe to the
Open-Close Report on a monthly basis. In addition, providing new mid-
month subscribers data for the entire calendar month would further
enhance the value of the Open-Close Report and encourage mid-month
subscriptions market participants that seek to subscribe to the Open-
Close Report not having to wait to the first of the next month to
subscribe and receive a full month of Open-Close Report Data for the
current monthly fee. To the extent that the Exchange is successful in
attracting subscribers for the Open-Close Report through this proposal,
it may earn trading revenues and further enhance the value of its data
products. The Exchange also believes it proposal to make historical
end-of-day Open-Close Report data on a delayed basis is a reasonable
means to not encourage subscribers to request historical end-of-day
Open-Close Report data over a paid subscription. If the market deems
the proposal to be unfair or inequitable,
[[Page 52734]]
firms can diminish or discontinue their use of the data and/or avail
themselves of similar products offered by other exchanges.\22\ The
Exchange therefore believes that its proposal reflects the competitive
environment and would be properly assessed on Member or non-Member
users. The Exchange also believes the proposal is equitable and not
unfairly discriminatory as it would apply equally to all users who
choose to purchase or receive such data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ See supra notes 9 and 10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above, a wide variety of market participants to subscribe
to the Open-Close Report, including but not limited to individual
customers, buy-side investors and investment banks. The Exchange
reiterates that the decision as to whether or not to subscribe to the
Open-Close Report is entirely optional for all potential subscribers.
Indeed, no market participant is required to subscribe to the Open-
Close Report, and the Exchange is not required to make the Open-Close
Report available to all investors. Rather, the Exchange is voluntarily
making additional Open-Close Report data available via ad hoc requests
for end-of-day data and to mid-month subscribers under this proposal at
the request of customers, and market participants may choose to receive
this data based on their own business needs. Potential subscribe to or
request the data at any time if they believe it to be valuable or may
decline to subscribe such data.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Rather, the
Exchange believes that the proposal will promote competition by
permitting the Exchange to enhance the value of a data product that is
similar to those offered by other competitor options exchanges.\23\ The
Exchange made Open-Close Data available in order to keep pace with
changes in the industry and evolving customer needs, and believes the
data product will continue to contribute to robust competition among
national securities exchanges. At least eight other U.S. options
exchanges offer a market data product that is substantially similar to
the Open-Close Report. As a result, the Exchange believes this proposed
rule change permits fair competition among national securities
exchanges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See supra note 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furthermore, the Exchange operates in a highly competitive
environment, and its ability to price the Open-Close Report is
constrained by competition among exchanges that offer similar data
products to their customers. As discussed, there are currently a number
of similar products available to market participants and investors. At
least eight other U.S. options exchanges offer a market data product
that is substantially similar to the Open-Close Report, which the
Exchange must consider in its pricing discipline in order to compete
for the market data.\24\ For example, proposing fees that are
excessively higher than established fees for similar data products
would simply serve to reduce demand for the Exchange's data product,
which as discussed, market participants are under no obligation to
utilize. In this competitive environment, potential purchasers are free
to choose which, if any, similar product to purchase to satisfy their
need for market information. As a result, the Exchange believes this
proposed rule change permits fair competition among national securities
exchanges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ See, e.g., Cboe Options Fees Schedule, Livevol Fees, Open-
Close Data. See also Nasdaq ISE Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section
10.A and Nasdaq PHLX Options 7 Pricing Schedule, Section 10, PHLX
Options Trade Outline (``PHOTO'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also does not believe the proposal would cause any
unnecessary or inappropriate burden on intermarket competition as other
exchanges are free to introduce their own comparable data product and
lower their prices to better compete with the Exchange's offering. The
Exchange does not believe the proposed rule change would cause any
unnecessary or inappropriate burden on intramarket competition.
Particularly, the proposal would apply uniformly to any market
participant, in that it does not differentiate between subscribers to
the Open-Close Report. The proposal is modest and would allow any
interested Member or non-Member to subscribe to or request such data
based on their business needs.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were neither solicited nor received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act,\25\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) \26\ thereunder.
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change,
the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it
appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate
in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such
action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether
the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
\26\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-EMERALD-2021-28 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-EMERALD-2021-28. 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
[[Page 52735]]
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-EMERALD-2021-
28 and should be submitted on or before October 13, 2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\27\
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\27\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-20452 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P