Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 7, Section 3, 21045-21050 [2024-06320]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices modified by Amendment No. 1, and the issues raised therein. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,65 designates May 23, 2024, as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove the proposed rule change (File No. SR–CboeBZX–2023–069). submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR–CboeBZX–2023–069 and should be submitted on or before April 16, 2024. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.66 IV. Solicitation of Comments Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Sherry Haywood, Assistant Secretary. 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– CboeBZX–2023–069 on the subject line. [Release No. 34–99783; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2024–012] 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–CboeBZX–2023–069. 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication 65 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 [FR Doc. 2024–06319 Filed 3–25–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 7, Section 3 March 20, 2024. 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 March 7, 2024, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend The Nasdaq Options Market LLC’s (‘‘NOM’’) Rules at Options 7, Section 3, Nasdaq Options Market—Ports and Other Services.3 The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/ rulebook/nasdaq/rules, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 66 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12), (57). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 3 The Exchange initially filed the proposed pricing changes on November 28, 2023 (SR– NASDAQ–2023–050) to be effective on December 1, 2023. On December 5, 2023, the Exchange withdrew SR–NASDAQ–2023–050 and placed it with SR– NASDAQ–2023–054. On January 16, 2023, the Exchange withdrew SR–NASDAQ–2023–054 and submitted SR–NASDAQ–2024–003. On March 7, 2024, the Exchange withdrew SR–NASDAQ–2024– 003 and submitted this filing. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21045 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. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend Options 7, Section 3, Nasdaq Options Market—Ports and Other Services. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Options 7, Section 3(i) to increase the per port, per month SQF Port 4 and SQF Purge 5 Port Fees for all ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750.6 Today, NOM assesses SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports a per port, per month fee based on a tiered fee schedule. Specifically, NOM assesses an SQF Port and an SQF Purge Port fee of $1,500 per port, per month for the first 5 ports (1– 5), a $1,000 per port, per month fee for the next 15 ports (6–20), and a $750 per port, per month fee for all ports over 20 ports (21 and above). At this time, the Exchange proposes to amend the per port, per month fee for SQF Ports and SQF Ports above 20 ports 4 ‘‘Specialized Quote Feed’’ or ‘‘SQF’’ is an interface that allows Market Makers to connect, send, and receive messages related to quotes and Immediate-or-Cancel Orders into and from the Exchange. Features include the following: (1) options symbol directory messages (e.g., underlying instruments); (2) system event messages (e.g., start of trading hours messages and start of opening); (3) trading action messages (e.g., halts and resumes); (4) execution messages; (5) quote messages; (6) Immediate-or-Cancel Order messages; (7) risk protection triggers and purge notifications; and (8) opening imbalance messages. The SQF Purge Interface only receives and notifies of purge requests from the Market Maker. Market Makers may only enter interest into SQF in their assigned options series. Immediate-or-Cancel Orders entered into SQF are not subject to the Order Price Protection, Market Order Spread Protection, or Size Limitation in Options 3, Section 15(a)(1) and (a)(2), and (b)(2), respectively. See Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B). 5 SQF Purge is a specific port for the SQF interface that only receives and notifies of purge requests from the NOM Market Maker. 6 The Exchange also proposes a technical amendment to remove an extraneous period in Options 7, Section 3 in the second paragraph. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 21046 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, per month. The Exchange is not amending the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees for ports below 20 ports. Pursuant to Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B), NOM Market Makers may only enter interest into SQF in their assigned options series. Pursuant to Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B), the SQF interface allows NOM Market Makers to connect, send, and receive messages related to quotes, Immediate-or-Cancel Orders, and auction responses to the Exchange. A NOM Market Maker requires only one SQF Port to submit quotes in its assigned options series into NOM. An SQF Purge is a specific port for the SQF interface that only receives and notifies of purge requests from the Market Maker. A NOM Market Maker may submit all quotes through one SQF Port and utilize one SQF Purge Port to view its purge requests. While a NOM Market Maker may elect to obtain multiple SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports to organize its business,7 only one SQF Port and SQF Purge Port is necessary for a NOM Market Maker to fulfill its regulatory quoting obligations.8 2. Statutory Basis ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,9 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,10 in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from 7 For example, a NOM Market Maker may desire to utilize multiple SQF Ports for accounting purposes, to measure performance, for regulatory reasons or other determinations that are specific to that NOM Participant. The Exchange notes that 78% of NOM Market Makers pay the $1,000 per port, per month fee for 6–20 ports and 39% pay the proposed $750 per port, per month fee for over 20 ports. 8 NOM Market Makers have various regulatory requirements as provided for in Options 2, Section 4. Additionally, NOM Market Makers have certain quoting requirements with respect to their assigned options series as provided in Options 2, Section 5. The Exchange notes that SQF Ports are the only quoting protocol available on NOM and only NOM Market Makers may utilize SQF Ports. The same is true for SQF Purge Ports. 9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). 10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 $500 to $750 per port, per month is reasonable because SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports are unnecessary for a NOM Market Maker to fulfill its regulatory requirements.11 A NOM Market Maker requires only one SQF Port to submit quotes in its assigned options series into NOM. A NOM Market Maker may submit all quotes through one SQF Port and utilize one SQF Purge Port to view its purge requests. While a NOM Market Maker may elect to obtain multiple SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports to organize its business,12 only one SQF Port and SQF Purge Port is necessary for a NOM Market Maker to fulfill its regulatory quoting obligations. Participants may choose a greater number of SQF Ports or SQF Purge Ports, beyond one port, depending on that Participant’s particular business model. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fee increases are reasonable for two reasons. First, SQF Ports are a secure method for Market Makers to submit quotes into the Exchange’s match engine and for the Exchange to send messages related to those quotes to Market Makers. NOM must manage the security and message traffic, among other things, for each port. Amending the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port tiered fees to manage a Market Maker’s costs while also managing the quantity of SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports issued on NOM has led the Exchange to increase the tier for all ports over 20 ports to $750 per port, per month. Lowering the fee for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports allows the Exchange to manage message traffic and message rates associated with the current number of outstanding SQF Port and SQF Purge Ports and consider the Exchange’s ability to process messages. The ability to manage ports through pricing permits the Exchange to scale its needs with respect to processing messages in an efficient manner. The Exchange notes that Cboe Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Cboe’’) limits usage on each port and assesses fees for incremental usage.13 11 See NOM Options 2, Sections 4 and 5. example, a NOM Market Maker may desire to utilize multiple SQF Ports for accounting purposes, to measure performance, for regulatory reasons or other determinations that are specific to that Participant. 13 Each Cboe Binary Order Entry (‘‘BOE’’) or FIX Logical Port incur the logical port fee indicated when used to enter up to 70,000 orders per trading day per logical port as measured on average in a single month. For each incremental usage of up to 12 For PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Second, the Exchange notes that multiple ports are not necessary, however, to the extent that some Market Makers elect to obtain multiple ports, the Exchange is offering to lower their fees for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports, per month. NOM believes that lowering costs for ports beyond 20 ports allows for efficiencies and permits Market Makers to increase their number of ports beyond the 20 ports. Lowering the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees, per month, beyond 20 ports allows those Market Makers that want to obtain a larger number of SQF Port and SQF Purge ports to do so at a lower cost. In this case, the Exchange is raising the current SQF Port and SQF Purge Port Fee for over 20 ports from $500 to $750 per port, per month. Despite the increase, Market Makers will continue to pay less for over 20 SQF Port and SQF Purge Ports per month if they desire to obtain multiple ports on NOM. BOX Exchange LLC (‘‘BOX’’) assesses $1,000 per month for all SAIL Ports for Market Making and $500 per month per port up to 5 ports for order entry and $150 per month for each additional port.14 Miami International Securities Exchange’s (‘‘MIAX’’) MIAX Express Interface (‘‘MEI’’) Fee levels are based on a tiered fee structure based on the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month.15 The number of ports that members choose to purchase varies widely. Today, on NOM, 3 Market Makers have 1 SQF Port/SQF Purge Port, 1 Market Maker has 2–5 SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports, 3 Market Makers have between 6– 10 SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports, and 11 Market Makers have more than 10 SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports. The chart below represents the number of SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports that are subscribed to by members across the six Nasdaq affiliated options markets. 70,000 per day per logical port will incur an additional logical port fee of $800 per month. BOE or FIX Logical Ports provide users the ability to enter order/quotes. See Cboe’s Fees Schedule. 14 See BOX’s Fee Schedule. 15 MEI is a connection to MIAX systems that enables Market Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX. MIAX caps its MEI Ports. For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then the fee will be $14,500 instead of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. See MIAX’s Fee Schedule. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices 21047 SQF & SQF Purge Ports Across Nasdaq Exchanges fJ;;tSi!ISQfl/il)ircfll,,.20,?4 The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, per month is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all NOM Market Makers would be assessed the same fees for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports to the extent that these NOM Market Makers have subscribed to more than 20 SQF Ports or SQF Purge Ports. NOM Market Makers are the only market participants that are assessed SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees because they are the only market participants that are permitted to quote on the Exchange. SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports are only utilized in the Market Maker’s assigned options series. The following chart represents the classification of NOM Members and the percentage of Market Makers. N.OM Member Type Distribution March2024 .Clearing. ,..IA;..;ae~ ·13.~ EN26MR24.015</GPH> VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 EN26MR24.014</GPH> ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 :)!0.69% 21048 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices Unlike other market participants, NOM Market Makers are subject to market making and quoting obligations.16 These liquidity providers are critical market participants in that they are the only market participants that provide liquidity to NOM on a continuous basis. Providing NOM Market Makers a means to cap their cost related to quoting and enabling all Market Makers to acquire SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports at a lower cost beyond 20 ports enables these market participants to provide the necessary liquidity to NOM at lower costs. Therefore, because NOM Market Makers fulfill a unique role on the Exchange, are the only market participant required to submit quotes as part of their obligations to operate on the Exchange, and, in light of that role, they are eligible for certain incentives. The proposed SQF Port and SQF Purge Fee cap is designed to continue to incent NOM Market Makers to quote on NOM, thereby promoting liquidity, quote competition, and trading opportunities. In 2022, NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Arca’’) proposed to restructure fees relating to OTPs for Market Makers.17 In that rule change,18 NYSE Arca argued that, Market Makers serve a unique and important function on the Exchange (and other options exchanges) given the quotedriven nature of options markets. Because options exchanges rely on actively quoting Market Makers to facilitate a robust marketplace that attracts order flow, options 16 See Options 2, Sections 4 and 5. Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95412 (June 23, 2022), 87 FR 38786 (June 29, 2022) (SR– NYSEArca–2022–36). NYSE Arca proposed to increase both the monthly fee per Market Maker OTP and the number of issues covered by each additional OTP because, among other reasons, the number of issues traded on the Exchange has increased significantly in recent years. 18 Id at 38788. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 17 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 exchanges must attract and retain Market Makers, including by setting competitive Market Maker permit fees. Stated otherwise, changes to Market Maker permit fees can have a direct effect on the ability of an exchange to compete for order flow. The Exchange also believes that the number of options exchanges on which Market Makers can effect option transactions also ensures competition in the marketplace and constrains the ability of exchanges to charge supracompetitive fees for access to its market by Market Makers. Further, NYSE ARCA noted that,19 The Exchange further believes that its ability to set Market Maker permit fees is constrained by competitive forces based on the fact that Market Makers can, and have, chosen to terminate their status as a Market Maker if they deem Market Maker permit fees to be unreasonable or excessive. Specifically, the Exchange notes that a BOX participant modified its access to BOX in connection with the implementation of a proposed change to BOX’s Market Maker permit fees. The Exchange has also observed that another options exchange group experienced decreases in market share following its proposed modifications of its access fees (including Market Maker trading permit fees), suggesting that market participants (including Market Makers) are sensitive to changes in exchanges’ access fees and may respond by shifting their order flow elsewhere if they deem the fees to be unreasonable or excessive. There is no requirement, regulatory or otherwise, that any Market Maker connect to and access any (or all of) the available options exchanges. The Exchange also is not aware of any reason why a Market Maker could not cease being a permit holder in response to unreasonable price increases. The Exchange does not assess any termination fee for a Market Maker to drop its OTP, nor is the Exchange aware of any other costs that would be incurred by a Market Maker to do so. The Exchange likewise believes that its lower SQF Ports and SQF Purge Port 19 Id PO 00000 at 38790. Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 monthly fees beyond 20 ports is constrained by competitive forces and that its proposed modifications to the SQF Port and SQF Purge Fees is reasonably designed in consideration of the competitive environment in which the Exchange operates, by balancing the value of the enhanced benefits available to Market Makers due to the current level of activity on the Exchange with a fee structure that will continue to incent Market Makers to support increased liquidity, quote competition, and trading opportunities on the Exchange, for the benefit of all market participants. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Intermarket Competition The proposal does not impose an undue burden on intermarket competition. The Exchange believes its proposal remains competitive with other options markets who also offer order entry protocols. The Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market participants can readily favor competing venues if they deem fee levels at a particular venue to be excessive. The chart below shows the February 2024 market share for multiply listed options by exchange. Of the 17 operating options exchanges, none currently has more than a 17.6% market share. Customers widely distribute their transactions across exchanges according to their business needs and the ability of each exchange to meet those needs through technology, liquidity and functionality. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices 21049 Options Market Share by Exchange: February 2024 CBOE 17.6% ARCA 12.5% PHLX 9.3% 7.0% AMEX EDGX 6.6% !SE 6.0% MlAX 6.0% BOX Options Exchanges- Parent Company BOX 5.8% 5.8% 5.5% MPRL NOM 5.0% BATS 4.0% 3.5% EMLD MEMX 3.1% CZ 1.4% GEMX 2'4% MRX 2.4% BXOP-2.0% MEMX-1.4% Source: OCC, l\!adsaq Economic Research 20 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95412 (June 23, 2022), 87 FR 38786 (June 29, 2022) (SR– NYSEArca–2022–36). 21 See Securities Exchange Act No. 96824(February 7, 2023), 88 FR 8975 (February 10, 2023) (SR–MRX–2023–05) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend MRX Options 7, Section 6). 22 Id at 8976. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 additional port.23 MIAX’s MEI Fee levels are based on a tiered fee structure based on the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month.24 If the Commission were to apply a different standard of review this proposal than it applied to other exchange fee filings, where Market Maker fees were increased and port fee caps were established, it would create a burden on competition such that it would impair NOM’s ability to compete among other options markets. Intramarket Competition The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, per month does not impose an undue burden on competition because all NOM Market Makers would be assessed the same fees for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports to the extent that these NOM Market Makers have subscribed to more than 20 SQF Ports or SQF Purge Ports. NOM Market Makers are the only market participants that are assessed SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees because they are the only market participants that are 23 See BOX’s Fee Schedule. is a connection to MIAX systems that enables Market Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX. MIAX caps its MEI Ports. For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the Market Maker’s total monthly executed volume during the relevant month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed option classes for that month, then the fee will be $14,500 instead of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. See MIAX’s Fee Schedule. 24 MEI PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 permitted to quote on the Exchange. SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports are only utilized in the Market Maker’s assigned options series. Unlike other market participants, NOM Market Makers are subject to market making and quoting obligations.25 These liquidity providers are critical market participants in that they are the only market participants that provide liquidity to NOM on a continuous basis. Providing NOM Market Makers a means to cap their cost related to quoting and enabling all Market Makers to acquire SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports at a lower cost beyond 20 ports enables these market participants to provide the necessary liquidity to NOM at lower costs. Therefore, because NOM Market Makers fulfill a unique role on the Exchange, are the only market participant required to submit quotes as part of their obligations to operate on the Exchange, and, in light of that role, they are eligible for certain incentives. The proposed lower monthly SQF Fee and SQF Purge Port fee is designed to continue to incent NOM Market Makers to quote on NOM, thereby promoting liquidity, quote competition, and trading opportunities. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were either solicited or received. 25 See E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM Options 2, Sections 4 and 5. 26MRN1 EN26MR24.016</GPH> ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Market share is the percentage of volume on a particular exchange relative to the total volume across all exchanges, and indicates the amount of order flow directed to that exchange. High levels of market share enhance the value of trading and ports. In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its fees to remain competitive with other exchanges. Because competitors are free to modify their own fees in response, and because market participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, the Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this market may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited. Other exchanges amended certain costs attributed to NOM Market Makers.20 In 2022, MRX proposed a monthly cap for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports of 17,500.21 MRX noted in its rule change that, ‘‘Only one SQF quote protocol is required for an MRX Market Maker to submit quotes into MRX and to meet its regulatory requirements.’’ 22 Additionally, BOX assesses $1,000 per month for all SAIL Ports for Market Making and $500 per month per port up to 5 ports for order entry and $150 per month for each 21050 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 59 / Tuesday, March 26, 2024 / Notices 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.26 At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings 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: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Electronic Comments Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR–NASDAQ–2024–012 and should be submitted on or before April 16, 2024. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.27 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–06320 Filed 3–25–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–99810; File No. SR– NYSENAT–2024–09] • 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– NASDAQ–2024–012 on the subject line. Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE National, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule Paper Comments Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that on March 8, 2024, NYSE National, Inc. (‘‘NYSE National’’ 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 selfregulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. • 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–NASDAQ–2024–012. 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, 26 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Mar 25, 2024 Jkt 262001 March 20, 2024. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee Schedule’’) regarding colocation services and fees to provide Users with wireless connectivity to MEMX market data. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of 27 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Exchange proposes to amend the Connectivity Fee Schedule (‘‘Fee Schedule’’) regarding colocation services and fees to provide Users 4 with wireless connectivity to MEMX LLC (‘‘MEMX’’) market data. The Exchange currently provides Users with wireless connections to nine market data feeds or combinations of feeds from third-party markets (the ‘‘Existing Third Party Data’’),5 and wired connections to more than 45 market data feeds or combinations of feeds.6 The Exchange proposes to add to the Fee Schedule wireless connections to the MEMX Memoir Depth market data feed 7 (‘‘MEMX Data’’ and, together with the Existing Third Party Data, the ‘‘Third Party Data’’). Users would be offered the proposed wireless connection to the MEMX Data through connections into the colocation center 4 For purposes of the Exchange’s colocation services, a ‘‘User’’ means any market participant that requests to receive colocation services directly from the Exchange. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83351 (May 31, 2018), 83 FR 26314 at n.9 (June 6, 2018) (SR–NYSENAT–2018–07). As specified in the Fee Schedule, a User that incurs colocation fees for a particular colocation service pursuant thereto would not be subject to colocation fees for the same colocation service charged by the Exchange’s affiliates the New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE American LLC, NYSE Arca, Inc., and NYSE Chicago, Inc. (together, the ‘‘Affiliate SROs’’). Each Affiliate SRO has submitted substantially the same proposed rule change to propose the changes described herein. See SR–NYSE–2024–15, SR– NYSEAMER–2024–18, SR–NYSEARCA–2024–26, and SR–NYSECHX–2024–11. 5 See 83 FR 26314, supra note 4, at 26319–20. 6 See id. at 26322–23. 7 MEMX Data would also include the test feed for MEMX Memoir market data. E:\FR\FM\26MRN1.SGM 26MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21045-21050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06320]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-99783; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2024-012]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend Options 7, Section 3

March 20, 2024.
    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 March 7, 2024, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend The Nasdaq Options Market LLC's 
(``NOM'') Rules at Options 7, Section 3, Nasdaq Options Market--Ports 
and Other Services.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed pricing changes on 
November 28, 2023 (SR-NASDAQ-2023-050) to be effective on December 
1, 2023. On December 5, 2023, the Exchange withdrew SR-NASDAQ-2023-
050 and placed it with SR-NASDAQ-2023-054. On January 16, 2023, the 
Exchange withdrew SR-NASDAQ-2023-054 and submitted SR-NASDAQ-2024-
003. On March 7, 2024, the Exchange withdrew SR-NASDAQ-2024-003 and 
submitted this filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/nasdaq/rules, 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 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.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and 
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Options 7, Section 3, Nasdaq Options 
Market--Ports and Other Services. Specifically, the Exchange proposes 
to amend Options 7, Section 3(i) to increase the per port, per month 
SQF Port \4\ and SQF Purge \5\ Port Fees for all ports over 20 ports 
(21 and above) from $500 to $750.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ ``Specialized Quote Feed'' or ``SQF'' is an interface that 
allows Market Makers to connect, send, and receive messages related 
to quotes and Immediate-or-Cancel Orders into and from the Exchange. 
Features include the following: (1) options symbol directory 
messages (e.g., underlying instruments); (2) system event messages 
(e.g., start of trading hours messages and start of opening); (3) 
trading action messages (e.g., halts and resumes); (4) execution 
messages; (5) quote messages; (6) Immediate-or-Cancel Order 
messages; (7) risk protection triggers and purge notifications; and 
(8) opening imbalance messages. The SQF Purge Interface only 
receives and notifies of purge requests from the Market Maker. 
Market Makers may only enter interest into SQF in their assigned 
options series. Immediate-or-Cancel Orders entered into SQF are not 
subject to the Order Price Protection, Market Order Spread 
Protection, or Size Limitation in Options 3, Section 15(a)(1) and 
(a)(2), and (b)(2), respectively. See Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B).
    \5\ SQF Purge is a specific port for the SQF interface that only 
receives and notifies of purge requests from the NOM Market Maker.
    \6\ The Exchange also proposes a technical amendment to remove 
an extraneous period in Options 7, Section 3 in the second 
paragraph.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Today, NOM assesses SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports a per port, per 
month fee based on a tiered fee schedule. Specifically, NOM assesses an 
SQF Port and an SQF Purge Port fee of $1,500 per port, per month for 
the first 5 ports (1-5), a $1,000 per port, per month fee for the next 
15 ports (6-20), and a $750 per port, per month fee for all ports over 
20 ports (21 and above).
    At this time, the Exchange proposes to amend the per port, per 
month fee for SQF Ports and SQF Ports above 20 ports

[[Page 21046]]

(21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, per month. The Exchange is 
not amending the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees for ports below 20 
ports.
    Pursuant to Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B), NOM Market Makers may 
only enter interest into SQF in their assigned options series. Pursuant 
to Options 3, Section 7(e)(1)(B), the SQF interface allows NOM Market 
Makers to connect, send, and receive messages related to quotes, 
Immediate-or-Cancel Orders, and auction responses to the Exchange. A 
NOM Market Maker requires only one SQF Port to submit quotes in its 
assigned options series into NOM. An SQF Purge is a specific port for 
the SQF interface that only receives and notifies of purge requests 
from the Market Maker. A NOM Market Maker may submit all quotes through 
one SQF Port and utilize one SQF Purge Port to view its purge requests. 
While a NOM Market Maker may elect to obtain multiple SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports to organize its business,\7\ only one SQF Port and SQF 
Purge Port is necessary for a NOM Market Maker to fulfill its 
regulatory quoting obligations.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ For example, a NOM Market Maker may desire to utilize 
multiple SQF Ports for accounting purposes, to measure performance, 
for regulatory reasons or other determinations that are specific to 
that NOM Participant. The Exchange notes that 78% of NOM Market 
Makers pay the $1,000 per port, per month fee for 6-20 ports and 39% 
pay the proposed $750 per port, per month fee for over 20 ports.
    \8\ NOM Market Makers have various regulatory requirements as 
provided for in Options 2, Section 4. Additionally, NOM Market 
Makers have certain quoting requirements with respect to their 
assigned options series as provided in Options 2, Section 5. The 
Exchange notes that SQF Ports are the only quoting protocol 
available on NOM and only NOM Market Makers may utilize SQF Ports. 
The same is true for SQF Purge Ports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\9\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 
6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,\10\ in particular, in that it provides 
for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and other 
charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility, 
and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, 
issuers, brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, 
per month is reasonable because SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 
ports are unnecessary for a NOM Market Maker to fulfill its regulatory 
requirements.\11\ A NOM Market Maker requires only one SQF Port to 
submit quotes in its assigned options series into NOM. A NOM Market 
Maker may submit all quotes through one SQF Port and utilize one SQF 
Purge Port to view its purge requests. While a NOM Market Maker may 
elect to obtain multiple SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports to organize its 
business,\12\ only one SQF Port and SQF Purge Port is necessary for a 
NOM Market Maker to fulfill its regulatory quoting obligations. 
Participants may choose a greater number of SQF Ports or SQF Purge 
Ports, beyond one port, depending on that Participant's particular 
business model. Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed SQF 
Port and SQF Purge Port fee increases are reasonable for two reasons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See NOM Options 2, Sections 4 and 5.
    \12\ For example, a NOM Market Maker may desire to utilize 
multiple SQF Ports for accounting purposes, to measure performance, 
for regulatory reasons or other determinations that are specific to 
that Participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First, SQF Ports are a secure method for Market Makers to submit 
quotes into the Exchange's match engine and for the Exchange to send 
messages related to those quotes to Market Makers. NOM must manage the 
security and message traffic, among other things, for each port. 
Amending the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port tiered fees to manage a Market 
Maker's costs while also managing the quantity of SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports issued on NOM has led the Exchange to increase the tier for 
all ports over 20 ports to $750 per port, per month. Lowering the fee 
for SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports allows the Exchange to 
manage message traffic and message rates associated with the current 
number of outstanding SQF Port and SQF Purge Ports and consider the 
Exchange's ability to process messages. The ability to manage ports 
through pricing permits the Exchange to scale its needs with respect to 
processing messages in an efficient manner. The Exchange notes that 
Cboe Exchange, Inc. (``Cboe'') limits usage on each port and assesses 
fees for incremental usage.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ Each Cboe Binary Order Entry (``BOE'') or FIX Logical Port 
incur the logical port fee indicated when used to enter up to 70,000 
orders per trading day per logical port as measured on average in a 
single month. For each incremental usage of up to 70,000 per day per 
logical port will incur an additional logical port fee of $800 per 
month. BOE or FIX Logical Ports provide users the ability to enter 
order/quotes. See Cboe's Fees Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the Exchange notes that multiple ports are not necessary, 
however, to the extent that some Market Makers elect to obtain multiple 
ports, the Exchange is offering to lower their fees for SQF Ports and 
SQF Purge Ports over 20 ports, per month. NOM believes that lowering 
costs for ports beyond 20 ports allows for efficiencies and permits 
Market Makers to increase their number of ports beyond the 20 ports. 
Lowering the SQF Port and SQF Purge Port fees, per month, beyond 20 
ports allows those Market Makers that want to obtain a larger number of 
SQF Port and SQF Purge ports to do so at a lower cost. In this case, 
the Exchange is raising the current SQF Port and SQF Purge Port Fee for 
over 20 ports from $500 to $750 per port, per month. Despite the 
increase, Market Makers will continue to pay less for over 20 SQF Port 
and SQF Purge Ports per month if they desire to obtain multiple ports 
on NOM. BOX Exchange LLC (``BOX'') assesses $1,000 per month for all 
SAIL Ports for Market Making and $500 per month per port up to 5 ports 
for order entry and $150 per month for each additional port.\14\ Miami 
International Securities Exchange's (``MIAX'') MIAX Express Interface 
(``MEI'') Fee levels are based on a tiered fee structure based on the 
Market Maker's total monthly executed volume during the relevant 
month.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See BOX's Fee Schedule.
    \15\ MEI is a connection to MIAX systems that enables Market 
Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX. MIAX 
caps its MEI Ports. For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the 
Market Maker's total monthly executed volume during the relevant 
month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume 
reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed 
option classes for that month, then the fee will be $14,500 instead 
of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. See MIAX's Fee 
Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The number of ports that members choose to purchase varies widely. 
Today, on NOM, 3 Market Makers have 1 SQF Port/SQF Purge Port, 1 Market 
Maker has 2-5 SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports, 3 Market Makers have between 
6-10 SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports, and 11 Market Makers have more than 10 
SQF Ports/SQF Purge Ports. The chart below represents the number of SQF 
Ports and SQF Purge Ports that are subscribed to by members across the 
six Nasdaq affiliated options markets.

[[Page 21047]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR24.014

    The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, 
per month is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all NOM 
Market Makers would be assessed the same fees for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports to the extent that these NOM Market Makers have subscribed 
to more than 20 SQF Ports or SQF Purge Ports. NOM Market Makers are the 
only market participants that are assessed SQF Port and SQF Purge Port 
fees because they are the only market participants that are permitted 
to quote on the Exchange. SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports are only 
utilized in the Market Maker's assigned options series. The following 
chart represents the classification of NOM Members and the percentage 
of Market Makers.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR24.015


[[Page 21048]]


    Unlike other market participants, NOM Market Makers are subject to 
market making and quoting obligations.\16\ These liquidity providers 
are critical market participants in that they are the only market 
participants that provide liquidity to NOM on a continuous basis. 
Providing NOM Market Makers a means to cap their cost related to 
quoting and enabling all Market Makers to acquire SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports at a lower cost beyond 20 ports enables these market 
participants to provide the necessary liquidity to NOM at lower costs. 
Therefore, because NOM Market Makers fulfill a unique role on the 
Exchange, are the only market participant required to submit quotes as 
part of their obligations to operate on the Exchange, and, in light of 
that role, they are eligible for certain incentives. The proposed SQF 
Port and SQF Purge Fee cap is designed to continue to incent NOM Market 
Makers to quote on NOM, thereby promoting liquidity, quote competition, 
and trading opportunities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Options 2, Sections 4 and 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 2022, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``NYSE Arca'') proposed to restructure 
fees relating to OTPs for Market Makers.\17\ In that rule change,\18\ 
NYSE Arca argued that,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95412 (June 23, 
2022), 87 FR 38786 (June 29, 2022) (SR-NYSEArca-2022-36). NYSE Arca 
proposed to increase both the monthly fee per Market Maker OTP and 
the number of issues covered by each additional OTP because, among 
other reasons, the number of issues traded on the Exchange has 
increased significantly in recent years.
    \18\ Id at 38788.

    Market Makers serve a unique and important function on the 
Exchange (and other options exchanges) given the quote-driven nature 
of options markets. Because options exchanges rely on actively 
quoting Market Makers to facilitate a robust marketplace that 
attracts order flow, options exchanges must attract and retain 
Market Makers, including by setting competitive Market Maker permit 
fees. Stated otherwise, changes to Market Maker permit fees can have 
a direct effect on the ability of an exchange to compete for order 
flow. The Exchange also believes that the number of options 
exchanges on which Market Makers can effect option transactions also 
ensures competition in the marketplace and constrains the ability of 
exchanges to charge supracompetitive fees for access to its market 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Market Makers.

    Further, NYSE ARCA noted that,\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Id at 38790.

    The Exchange further believes that its ability to set Market 
Maker permit fees is constrained by competitive forces based on the 
fact that Market Makers can, and have, chosen to terminate their 
status as a Market Maker if they deem Market Maker permit fees to be 
unreasonable or excessive. Specifically, the Exchange notes that a 
BOX participant modified its access to BOX in connection with the 
implementation of a proposed change to BOX's Market Maker permit 
fees. The Exchange has also observed that another options exchange 
group experienced decreases in market share following its proposed 
modifications of its access fees (including Market Maker trading 
permit fees), suggesting that market participants (including Market 
Makers) are sensitive to changes in exchanges' access fees and may 
respond by shifting their order flow elsewhere if they deem the fees 
to be unreasonable or excessive.
    There is no requirement, regulatory or otherwise, that any 
Market Maker connect to and access any (or all of) the available 
options exchanges. The Exchange also is not aware of any reason why 
a Market Maker could not cease being a permit holder in response to 
unreasonable price increases. The Exchange does not assess any 
termination fee for a Market Maker to drop its OTP, nor is the 
Exchange aware of any other costs that would be incurred by a Market 
Maker to do so.

    The Exchange likewise believes that its lower SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Port monthly fees beyond 20 ports is constrained by competitive 
forces and that its proposed modifications to the SQF Port and SQF 
Purge Fees is reasonably designed in consideration of the competitive 
environment in which the Exchange operates, by balancing the value of 
the enhanced benefits available to Market Makers due to the current 
level of activity on the Exchange with a fee structure that will 
continue to incent Market Makers to support increased liquidity, quote 
competition, and trading opportunities on the Exchange, for the benefit 
of all market participants.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Intermarket Competition
    The proposal does not impose an undue burden on intermarket 
competition. The Exchange believes its proposal remains competitive 
with other options markets who also offer order entry protocols. The 
Exchange notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which 
market participants can readily favor competing venues if they deem fee 
levels at a particular venue to be excessive. The chart below shows the 
February 2024 market share for multiply listed options by exchange. Of 
the 17 operating options exchanges, none currently has more than a 
17.6% market share. Customers widely distribute their transactions 
across exchanges according to their business needs and the ability of 
each exchange to meet those needs through technology, liquidity and 
functionality.

[[Page 21049]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR24.016

    Market share is the percentage of volume on a particular exchange 
relative to the total volume across all exchanges, and indicates the 
amount of order flow directed to that exchange. High levels of market 
share enhance the value of trading and ports.
    In such an environment, the Exchange must continually adjust its 
fees to remain competitive with other exchanges. Because competitors 
are free to modify their own fees in response, and because market 
participants may readily adjust their order routing practices, the 
Exchange believes that the degree to which fee changes in this market 
may impose any burden on competition is extremely limited.
    Other exchanges amended certain costs attributed to NOM Market 
Makers.\20\ In 2022, MRX proposed a monthly cap for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports of 17,500.\21\ MRX noted in its rule change that, ``Only 
one SQF quote protocol is required for an MRX Market Maker to submit 
quotes into MRX and to meet its regulatory requirements.'' \22\ 
Additionally, BOX assesses $1,000 per month for all SAIL Ports for 
Market Making and $500 per month per port up to 5 ports for order entry 
and $150 per month for each additional port.\23\ MIAX's MEI Fee levels 
are based on a tiered fee structure based on the Market Maker's total 
monthly executed volume during the relevant month.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 95412 (June 23, 
2022), 87 FR 38786 (June 29, 2022) (SR-NYSEArca-2022-36).
    \21\ See Securities Exchange Act No. 96824(February 7, 2023), 88 
FR 8975 (February 10, 2023) (SR-MRX-2023-05) (Notice of Filing and 
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend MRX Options 
7, Section 6).
    \22\ Id at 8976.
    \23\ See BOX's Fee Schedule.
    \24\ MEI is a connection to MIAX systems that enables Market 
Makers to submit simple and complex electronic quotes to MIAX. MIAX 
caps its MEI Ports. For these Monthly MIAX MEI Fees levels, if the 
Market Maker's total monthly executed volume during the relevant 
month is less than 0.060% of the total monthly executed volume 
reported by OCC in the market maker account type for MIAX-listed 
option classes for that month, then the fee will be $14,500 instead 
of the fee otherwise applicable to such level. See MIAX's Fee 
Schedule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If the Commission were to apply a different standard of review this 
proposal than it applied to other exchange fee filings, where Market 
Maker fees were increased and port fee caps were established, it would 
create a burden on competition such that it would impair NOM's ability 
to compete among other options markets.
Intramarket Competition
    The Exchange believes that increasing the fee for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports over 20 ports (21 and above) from $500 to $750 per port, 
per month does not impose an undue burden on competition because all 
NOM Market Makers would be assessed the same fees for SQF Ports and SQF 
Purge Ports to the extent that these NOM Market Makers have subscribed 
to more than 20 SQF Ports or SQF Purge Ports. NOM Market Makers are the 
only market participants that are assessed SQF Port and SQF Purge Port 
fees because they are the only market participants that are permitted 
to quote on the Exchange. SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports are only 
utilized in the Market Maker's assigned options series. Unlike other 
market participants, NOM Market Makers are subject to market making and 
quoting obligations.\25\ These liquidity providers are critical market 
participants in that they are the only market participants that provide 
liquidity to NOM on a continuous basis. Providing NOM Market Makers a 
means to cap their cost related to quoting and enabling all Market 
Makers to acquire SQF Ports and SQF Purge Ports at a lower cost beyond 
20 ports enables these market participants to provide the necessary 
liquidity to NOM at lower costs. Therefore, because NOM Market Makers 
fulfill a unique role on the Exchange, are the only market participant 
required to submit quotes as part of their obligations to operate on 
the Exchange, and, in light of that role, they are eligible for certain 
incentives. The proposed lower monthly SQF Fee and SQF Purge Port fee 
is designed to continue to incent NOM Market Makers to quote on NOM, 
thereby promoting liquidity, quote competition, and trading 
opportunities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See Options 2, Sections 4 and 5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

[[Page 21050]]

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.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) 
necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the 
protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings 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 [email protected]. Please include 
file number SR-NASDAQ-2024-012 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-NASDAQ-2024-012. 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 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not 
include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We 
may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted 
material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All 
submissions should refer to file number SR-NASDAQ-2024-012 and should 
be submitted on or before April 16, 2024.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-06320 Filed 3-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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