Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Amend its Fee Schedule, 74321-74324 [2024-20633]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices
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–NYSEARCA–2024–71 and should be
submitted on or before October 3, 2024.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.25
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–20639 Filed 9–11–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–100959; File No. SR–
CboeEDGX–2024–055]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe
EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of a
Proposed Rule Change to Amend its
Fee Schedule
September 6, 2024.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on August
26, 2024, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.
(the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘EDGX’’) 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 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
Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the
‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘EDGX Options’’)
proposes to amend its Fee Schedule.
The text of the proposed rule change is
provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change
is also available on the Exchange’s
website (https://markets.cboe.com/us/
options/regulation/rule_filings/edgx/),
at the Exchange’s Office of the
25 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:43 Sep 11, 2024
Jkt 262001
Secretary, 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 its
fee schedule for its equity options
platform (‘‘EDGX Options’’) relating to
logical connectivity fees.3
By way of background, the Exchange
offers a variety of logical ports, which
provide users with the ability within the
Exchange’s System to accomplish a
specific function through a connection,
such as order entry, data receipt or
access to information. The Exchange
currently assesses, among other things,
the following logical port connectivity
fees on a monthly basis: $500 per port
for Logical Ports; 4 $500 per port for
Multicast PITCH Spin Server Ports
(‘‘Spin Ports’’) and GRP Ports; 5 and
$600 per port for Ports with Bulk
Quoting Capabilities 6 (‘‘Bulk Ports’’).
The Exchange proposes to increase the
monthly fees for the forgoing ports to
the following rates: $750 per port for
Logical Ports, Spin Ports and GRP Ports
and $1,000 per port for Bulk Ports. The
3 The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee
change on January 2, 2024 (SR–CboeEDGX–2024–
006). On March 1, 2024, the Exchange withdrew
that filing and submitted SR–CboeEDGX–2024–017.
On April 30, 2024, the Exchange withdrew that
filing and submitted SR–CboeEDGX–2024–023. On
June 28, 2024, the Exchange will be withdrawing
that filing and submitting SR–CboeEDGX–2024–040
On August 26, the Exchange withdrew that filing
and submitted this filing.
4 Logical Ports include FIX and BOE ports (used
for order entry), drop logical port (which grants
users the ability to receive and/or send drop copies)
and ports that are used for receipt of certain market
data feeds.
5 Spin Ports and GRP Ports are used to request
and receive a retransmission of data from the
Exchange’s Multicast PITCH data feeds.
6 Bulk Quoting Capabilities Ports provide users
with the ability to submit and update multiple bids
and offers in one message through logical ports
enabled for bulk-quoting.
PO 00000
Frm 00122
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74321
Exchange notes the proposed fee change
better enables it to continue to maintain
and improve its market technology and
services. Additionally, the proposed fee
amounts for Logical Ports, Spin Ports
and GRP Ports are the same as the fees
assessed on two of the Exchange’s
affiliated options exchanges for the
same corresponding logical connectivity
and the proposed fee amount for Bulk
Ports is even lower than the fees
assessed by the same affiliated options
exchanges for the same corresponding
Bulk Port connectivity.7 The proposed
fees are also in line with amounts
assessed by other exchanges for similar
connections, including the Exchange’s
affiliated options exchanges.8
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’) and the rules and regulations
thereunder applicable to the Exchange
and, in particular, the requirements of
Section 6(b) of the Act.9 Specifically,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section
6(b)(5) 10 requirements that the rules of
an exchange be designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged
in regulating, clearing, settling,
processing information with respect to,
and facilitating transactions in
securities, to remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
Additionally, the Exchange believes the
proposed rule change is consistent with
7 See Cboe Options Exchange Fee Schedule,
Logical Connectivity Fees, which assesses a
monthly fee between $750–$800 per port for Logical
Ports, Spin Ports, $750 per port for GRP Ports and
between $1,500–$3,000 per port for Bulk Ports and
see Cboe BZX Options Exchange Fee Schedule,
Options Logical Port Fees and Cboe Exchange Fees
Schedule, Logical Connectivity Fees, which
assesses a monthly fee of $750 per port for Logical
Ports, Spin Ports and GRP Ports and between
$1,500–$2,500 per port for Bulk Ports.
8 See, e.g., The Nasdaq Stock Market Options
Pricing Schedule, Section 3 Nasdaq Options
Market—Ports and Other Services, which assesses
a monthly fee of $650 per port for FIX Ports, which
is analogous to the Exchange’s Logical Ports, up to
$1,500 per port for SQF Ports which are similar
functionality as the Exchange’s Bulk Ports. See also
BOX Exchange LLC (‘‘BOX’’) Fee Schedule, Section
III, B. (Technology Fees), which assesses up to $500
per port per month for FIX Ports which are
analogous to the Exchange’s Logical Ports and
$1,000 for Market Making SOLA Access
Information Language (‘‘SAIL’’) Ports which are
analogous to the Exchange’s Bulk Ports.
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
74322
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices
the Section 6(b)(5) 11 requirement that
the rules of an exchange not be designed
to permit unfair discrimination between
customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.
The Exchange also believes the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b)(4) 12 of the Act, which
requires that Exchange rules provide for
the equitable allocation of reasonable
dues, fees, and other charges among its
Members and other persons using its
facilities.
The Exchange believes the proposed
fees are reasonable as they are the same,
or even lower than, the amounts
assessed by affiliated options exchanges
for the same functionality (and which
were similarly adopted via the rule
filing process and filed with the
Commission). The proposed fees are
also in line with fees assessed by other
exchanges, for analogous connections.13
Further, the Exchange notes that an
affiliated options exchange and other
exchanges that offer similar pricing for
similar or the same connections have a
comparable, or even lower, market share
as the Exchange.14
Additionally, the Exchange believes
the proposed fee increase is reasonable
in light of recent and anticipated
connectivity-related upgrades and
changes. The Exchange and its affiliated
exchanges recently launched a multiyear initiative to improve Cboe
Exchange Platform performance and
capacity requirements, including for its
U.S. options markets, to increase
competitiveness, support growth and
advance a consistent world class
platform. The goal of the project, among
other things, is to provide faster and
more consistent order handling and
matching performance for options,
while ensuring quicker processing time
and supporting increasing volumes. For
example, the Exchange is currently
performing order handler and matching
engine hardware upgrades across its
markets to advance this goal. The
Exchange anticipates that upgrades to
its matching engines may result in a
latency reduction up to 40% to 50% on
the Exchange and that upgrades to its
order handlers may offer lower
variability in the processing of message,
which can reduce the time a message
11 Id.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
12 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
notes 7 and 8.
14 See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market
Volume Summary (August 20, 2024), available at
https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_
statistics/. For example, the Exchange’s affiliate
Cboe BZX Options Exchange represents
approximately 4% of the market share, BOX
Options has a market share of approximately 6%
and Nasdaq Options Market has a market share of
approximately 5% compared to the Exchange’s
approximate 7% market share.
13 Supra
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:43 Sep 11, 2024
Jkt 262001
takes to get to the matching engine. The
Exchange expended, and will continue
to expend, resources to innovate and
modernize technology so that it may
benefit its Members and continue to
compete among other options markets.
The Exchange also notes that neither
it—nor its options exchange affiliates—
have passed through or offset current or
projected costs associated with these
upgrades. The ability to continue to
innovate with technology and offer new
products to market participants allows
the Exchange to remain competitive in
the options space which currently has
18 options markets and potential new
entrants. The Exchange also notes
market participants may continue to
choose the method of connectivity
based on their specific needs, and no
broker-dealer is required to become a
Member of, let alone connect directly to,
the Exchange. There is also no
regulatory requirement that any market
participant connect to any one
particular exchange. Market participants
may voluntarily choose to become a
member of one or more of a number of
different exchanges, of which, the
Exchange is but one choice.
Additionally, any Exchange member
that is dissatisfied with the proposal is
free to choose not to be a member of the
Exchange and send order flow to
another exchange. Moreover, direct
connectivity is not a requirement to
participate on the Exchange. The
Exchange also believes substitutable
products and services are available to
market participants, including, among
other things, other options exchanges to
which a market participant may connect
in lieu of the Exchange and/or trading
of any options product, such as within
the Over-the-Counter (OTC) markets,
which do not require connectivity to the
Exchange. Indeed, there are currently 18
registered options exchanges that trade
options (14 of which are not affiliated
with Cboe), some of which have similar
or lower connectivity fees.15 Based on
publicly available information, no single
options exchange has more than
approximately 19% of the market share
and currently the Exchange represents
only approximately 7% of the market
share.16 Further, low barriers to entry
mean that new exchanges may rapidly
enter the market and offer additional
substitute platforms to further compete
15 Supra note 7 and 8. See also NYSE American
Options Fee Schedule, Section V (Technology and
System Access Fees), which has a similar market
share of 6% and offers lower fees for analogous
Logical Ports than proposed by the Exchange.
16 See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market
Volume Summary (August 20, 2024), available at
https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_
statistics/.
PO 00000
Frm 00123
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
with the Exchange and the products it
offers. For example, there are 5
exchanges that have been added in the
U.S. options markets in the last 5 years
(i.e., Nasdaq MRX, LLC, MIAX Pearl,
LLC, MIAX Emerald LLC, MEMX LLC
and most recently MIAX Sapphire LLC).
As for market participants that
determine to continue to maintain
membership or to join the Exchange for
business purposes, those business
reasons presumably result in revenue
capable of covering the proposed fee.
Further, for such market participants
that choose to connect to the Exchange,
the Exchange believes the proposed fees
continue to provide flexibility with
respect to how to connect to the
Exchange based on each market
participants’ respective business needs.
For example, the amount and type of
logical ports are determined by factors
relevant and specific to each market
participant, including its business
model, costs of connectivity, how its
business is segmented and allocated and
volume of messages sent to the
Exchange. Moreover, the Exchange
notes that it does not have unlimited
system capacity and the proposed fees
are also designed to encourage market
participants to be efficient with their
respective logical port usage and
discourage the purchasing of large
amounts of superfluous ports. There is
also no requirement that any market
participant maintain a specific number
of logical ports and a market participant
may choose to maintain as many or as
few of such ports as each deems
appropriate. Further, market
participants may reduce or discontinue
use of these ports in response to the
proposed fees. Indeed, when the
Exchange last increased pricing for
logical ports in 2018, the Exchange
observed within the first two months
that market participants did in fact
reduce the number of logical ports they
maintained. Particularly, Logical Port
quantities were reduced by
approximately 20%. The Exchange
similarly saw a decline in logical port
quantities after the current proposed
rate change in January 2024.
Specifically, as of May 2024, Logical
Port quantities have been reduced by
approximately 8% since the
announcement of the proposed fee
change. This demonstrates that market
participants can and do choose to
disconnect, or reduce, their connectivity
from the Exchange, including in
response to fee increases. The Exchange
also does not assess any termination fee
for a market participant to drop its
connectivity or membership, nor is the
Exchange aware of any other costs that
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
would be incurred by a market
participant to do so.
As noted above, there is no regulatory
requirement that any market participant
connect to any one options exchange,
nor that any market participant connect
at a particular connection speed or act
in a particular capacity on the
Exchange, or trade any particular
product offered on an exchange.
Moreover, membership is not a
requirement to participate on the
Exchange. Indeed, the Exchange is
unaware of any one options exchange
whose membership includes every
registered broker-dealer. By way of
example, while the Exchange has 51
members that trade options, Cboe BZX
has 61 members that trade options, and
Cboe C2 has 52 Trading Permit Holders
(‘‘TPHs’’) (i.e., members). There is also
no firm that is a Member of EDGX
Options only. Further, based on
previously publicly available
information regarding a sample of the
Exchange’s competitors, NYSE
American Options has 71 members,17
and NYSE Arca Options has 69
members,18 MIAX Options has 46
members 19 and MIAX Pearl Options has
40 members.20 Accordingly, excessive
fees would simply serve to reduce
demand for these products, which
market participants are under no
regulatory obligation to utilize.
The Exchange lastly notes that it is
not required by the Exchange Act, nor
any other rule or regulation, to
undertake a cost-of-service or ratemaking approach with respect to fee
proposals. Moreover, Congress’s intent
in enacting the 1975 Amendments to the
Act was to enable competition—rather
than government order—to determine
prices. The principal purpose of the
amendments was to facilitate the
creation of a national market system for
the trading of securities. Congress
intended that this ‘‘national market
system evolve through the interplay of
competitive forces as unnecessary
regulatory restrictions are removed.’’ 21
Other provisions of the Act confirm that
intent. For example, the Act provides
that an exchange must design its rules
‘‘to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system,
17 See https://www.nyse.com/markets/americanoptions/membership#directory.
18 See https://www.nyse.com/markets/arcaoptions/membership#directory.
19 See https://www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/
files/page-files/MIAX_Options_Exchange_
Members_April_2023_04282023.pdf.
20 See https://www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/
files/page-files/MIAX_Pearl_Exchange_Members_
01172023_0.pdf.
21 See H.R. Rep. No. 94–229, at 92 (1975) (Conf.
Rep.) (emphasis added)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:43 Sep 11, 2024
Jkt 262001
and, in general, to protect investors and
the public interest.’’ 22 Likewise, the Act
grants the Commission authority to
amend or repeal ‘‘[t]he rules of [an]
exchange [that] impose any burden on
competition not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of this chapter.’’ 23 In short,
the promotion of free and open
competition was a core congressional
objective in creating the national market
system.24 Indeed, the Commission has
historically interpreted that mandate to
promote competitive forces to determine
prices whenever compatible with a
national market system. Accordingly,
the Exchange believes it has met its
burden to demonstrate that its proposed
fee change is reasonable and consistent
with the immediate filing process
chosen by Congress, which created a
system whereby market forces
determine access fees in the vast
majority of cases, subject to oversight
only in particular cases of abuse or
market failure. The Exchange also
believes that, even if it were possible as
a matter of economic theory, cost-based
pricing for the proposed fee would be so
complicated that it could not be done
practically. Indeed, the Exchange
believes that classification of costs
could likely not be done without ongoing debate over formulas for
allocation,25 continual auditing, and
22 15
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
U.S.C. 78f(8).
24 See also 15 U.S.C. 78k–l(a)(1)(C)(ii) (purposes
of Exchange Act include to promote ‘‘fair
competition among brokers and dealers, among
exchange markets, and between exchange markets
and markets other than exchange markets’’); Order,
73 FR 74781 (‘‘The Exchange Act and its legislative
history strongly support the Commission’s reliance
on competition, whenever possible, in meeting its
regulatory responsibilities for overseeing the SROs
and the national market system.’’).
25 See, e.g., letter from Brian Sopinsky, General
Counsel, Susquehanna International Group, LLP
(‘‘SIG’’), to Vanessa Countryman, Secretary,
Commission, dated February 7, 2023, letters from
Gerald D. O’Connell, SIG, to Vanessa Countryman,
Secretary, Commission, dated March 21, 2023, May
24, 2023, July 24, 2023 and September 18, 2023,
and letters from John C. Pickford, SIG, to Vanessa
Countryman, Secretary, Commission, dated January
4, 2024, and March 1, 2024 and letters from Thomas
M. Merritt, Deputy General Counsel, Virtu
Financial, Inc. (‘‘Virtu’’), to Vanessa Countryman,
Secretary, Commission, dated November 8, 2023
and January 2, 2024. See also Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 93883 (December 30, 2021), 87 FR
523 (January 5, 2022) (SR–IEX–2021–14)
(Suspension of and Order Instituting Proceedings
To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove
a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee
Schedule for Market Data Fees) and Securities
Exchange Act Release No. 94888 (May 11, 2022), 87
FR 29892 (May 17, 2022) (SR–PEARL–2022–18)
(Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To
Amend the MIAX PEARL Options Fee Schedule To
Increase Certain Connectivity Fees and To Increase
the Monthly Fees for MIAX Express Network Full
Service Port; Suspension of and Order Instituting
Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or
Disapprove the Proposed Rule Change).
23 15
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74323
considerable expense. The Exchange
also believes cost-based analysis could
create disincentives to reduce costs
through efficient operation or
innovation. Moreover, the industry
could experience frequent rate increases
based on escalating expense levels. The
Exchange lastly cautions that as
disputes arise regarding the appropriate
measure and calculation of relevant
costs and allocation of common costs,
the Commission could find itself
engaging in the kind of rigid ratemaking
not contemplated by Section 11A of the
Exchange Act and which the
Commission has historically sought to
avoid.
The Exchange also believes that the
proposed fee change is not unfairly
discriminatory because it would be
assessed uniformly across all market
participants that purchase the respective
logical ports. All Members have the
option to select any connectivity option,
and there is no differentiation among
Members with regard to the fees charged
for the services offered by the Exchange.
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 that is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act. The
Exchange believes the proposed fee
change will not impact intramarket
competition because it will apply to all
similarly situated market participants
equally (i.e., all market participants that
choose to purchase the relevant logical
ports).
The Exchange believes the proposed
fees will not impact intermarket
competition because they are also in
line with, or even lower than some fees
for similar connectivity on other
exchanges, and therefore may stimulate
intermarket competition by attracting
additional firms to connect to the
Exchange or at least should not deter
interested participants from connecting
directly to the Exchange. Further, if the
changes proposed herein are
unattractive to market participants, the
Exchange can, and likely will, see a
decline in usage of these ports as a
result. The Exchange operates in a
highly competitive market in which
market participants can determine
whether or not to connect directly to the
Exchange based on the value received
compared to the cost of doing so.
Indeed, market participants have
numerous alternative venues that they
may participate on and direct their
order flow, including 13 (soon to be 14)
non-Cboe affiliated options markets, as
well as off-exchange venues, where
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
74324
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices
competitive products are available for
trading. Moreover, the Commission has
repeatedly expressed its preference for
competition over regulatory
intervention in determining prices,
products, and services in the securities
markets. Specifically, 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.’’ 26 The
fact that this market is competitive has
also long been recognized by the courts.
In NetCoalition v. Securities and
Exchange Commission, the D.C. Circuit
stated as follows: ‘‘[n]o one disputes
that competition for order flow is
‘fierce.’ . . . As the SEC explained, ‘[i]n
the U.S. national market system, buyers
and sellers of securities, and the brokerdealers that act as their order-routing
agents, have a wide range of choices of
where to route orders for execution’;
[and] ‘no exchange can afford to take its
market share percentages for granted’
because ‘no exchange possesses a
monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in
the execution of order flow from broker
dealers’ . . . .’’.27 Accordingly, the
Exchange does not believe its proposed
change imposes any burden on
competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor
received comments on the proposed
rule change.
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)
of the Act 28 and paragraph (f) of Rule
19b–4 29 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
26 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808
(June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
27 NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525, 539 (D.C.
Cir. 2010) (quoting Securities Exchange Act Release
No. 59039 (December 2, 2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782–
83 (December 9, 2008) (SR–NYSEArca–2006–21)).
28 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
29 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:43 Sep 11, 2024
Jkt 262001
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
Commission will institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include file number SR–
CboeEDGX–2024–055 on the subject
line.
• 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–CboeEDGX–2024–055. 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.
Frm 00125
Fmt 4703
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.30
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–20633 Filed 9–11–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–100968; File No. PCAOB–
2024–002]
Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board; Order Granting Approval of QC
1000, A Firm’s System of Quality
Control, and Related Amendments to
PCAOB Standards, Rules, and Forms
September 9, 2024.
Paper Comments
PO 00000
All submissions should refer to file
number SR–CboeEDGX–2024–055 and
should be submitted on or before
October 3, 2024.
Sfmt 4703
I. Introduction
On May 24, 2024, the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board
(the ‘‘Board’’ or the ‘‘PCAOB’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’),
pursuant to Section 107(b) 1 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (‘‘SOX’’)
and Section 19(b) 2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Exchange
Act’’), a proposal to adopt Quality
Control (‘‘QC’’) 1000, A Firm’s System of
Quality Control (‘‘QC 1000’’), and
supersede existing PCAOB QC
standards; adopt EI 1000, Integrity and
Objectivity, and supersede existing ET
102, Integrity and Objectivity; and
amend several other related existing
auditing standards, rules, and forms
(collectively, the ‘‘Amendments’’).3
The Amendments were published for
comment in the Federal Register on
June 11, 2024.4 On July 1, 2024, the
Commission extended the public
comment period until July 16, 2024, and
extended the date by which the
Commission shall either approve or
disapprove, or institute proceedings to
determine whether to approve or
disapprove, the Amendments to August
30 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 7217(b).
2 15 U.S.C. 78s(b).
3 See Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules on A
Firm’s System of Quality Control and Related
Amendments to PCAOB Standards, Release No. 34–
100277 (June 5, 2024) [89 FR 49588 (June 11, 2024)]
(‘‘Notice of Filing of Proposed Rules’’), available at
https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/pcaob/2024/34100277.pdf.
4 Id.
1 15
E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM
12SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74321-74324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20633]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-100959; File No. SR-CboeEDGX-2024-055]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to
Amend its Fee Schedule
September 6, 2024.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on August 26, 2024, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``EDGX'') 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 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
Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``EDGX Options'')
proposes to amend its Fee Schedule. The text of the proposed rule
change is provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the
Exchange's website (https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/edgx/), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 its fee schedule for its equity
options platform (``EDGX Options'') relating to logical connectivity
fees.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Exchange initially filed the proposed fee change on
January 2, 2024 (SR-CboeEDGX-2024-006). On March 1, 2024, the
Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted SR-CboeEDGX-2024-017. On
April 30, 2024, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted SR-
CboeEDGX-2024-023. On June 28, 2024, the Exchange will be
withdrawing that filing and submitting SR-CboeEDGX-2024-040 On
August 26, the Exchange withdrew that filing and submitted this
filing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By way of background, the Exchange offers a variety of logical
ports, which provide users with the ability within the Exchange's
System to accomplish a specific function through a connection, such as
order entry, data receipt or access to information. The Exchange
currently assesses, among other things, the following logical port
connectivity fees on a monthly basis: $500 per port for Logical Ports;
\4\ $500 per port for Multicast PITCH Spin Server Ports (``Spin
Ports'') and GRP Ports; \5\ and $600 per port for Ports with Bulk
Quoting Capabilities \6\ (``Bulk Ports''). The Exchange proposes to
increase the monthly fees for the forgoing ports to the following
rates: $750 per port for Logical Ports, Spin Ports and GRP Ports and
$1,000 per port for Bulk Ports. The Exchange notes the proposed fee
change better enables it to continue to maintain and improve its market
technology and services. Additionally, the proposed fee amounts for
Logical Ports, Spin Ports and GRP Ports are the same as the fees
assessed on two of the Exchange's affiliated options exchanges for the
same corresponding logical connectivity and the proposed fee amount for
Bulk Ports is even lower than the fees assessed by the same affiliated
options exchanges for the same corresponding Bulk Port connectivity.\7\
The proposed fees are also in line with amounts assessed by other
exchanges for similar connections, including the Exchange's affiliated
options exchanges.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Logical Ports include FIX and BOE ports (used for order
entry), drop logical port (which grants users the ability to receive
and/or send drop copies) and ports that are used for receipt of
certain market data feeds.
\5\ Spin Ports and GRP Ports are used to request and receive a
retransmission of data from the Exchange's Multicast PITCH data
feeds.
\6\ Bulk Quoting Capabilities Ports provide users with the
ability to submit and update multiple bids and offers in one message
through logical ports enabled for bulk-quoting.
\7\ See Cboe Options Exchange Fee Schedule, Logical Connectivity
Fees, which assesses a monthly fee between $750-$800 per port for
Logical Ports, Spin Ports, $750 per port for GRP Ports and between
$1,500-$3,000 per port for Bulk Ports and see Cboe BZX Options
Exchange Fee Schedule, Options Logical Port Fees and Cboe Exchange
Fees Schedule, Logical Connectivity Fees, which assesses a monthly
fee of $750 per port for Logical Ports, Spin Ports and GRP Ports and
between $1,500-$2,500 per port for Bulk Ports.
\8\ See, e.g., The Nasdaq Stock Market Options Pricing Schedule,
Section 3 Nasdaq Options Market--Ports and Other Services, which
assesses a monthly fee of $650 per port for FIX Ports, which is
analogous to the Exchange's Logical Ports, up to $1,500 per port for
SQF Ports which are similar functionality as the Exchange's Bulk
Ports. See also BOX Exchange LLC (``BOX'') Fee Schedule, Section
III, B. (Technology Fees), which assesses up to $500 per port per
month for FIX Ports which are analogous to the Exchange's Logical
Ports and $1,000 for Market Making SOLA Access Information Language
(``SAIL'') Ports which are analogous to the Exchange's Bulk Ports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular,
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\9\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) \10\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating
transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and,
in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
[[Page 74322]]
the Section 6(b)(5) \11\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not
be designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers,
brokers, or dealers. The Exchange also believes the proposed rule
change is consistent with Section 6(b)(4) \12\ of the Act, which
requires that Exchange rules provide for the equitable allocation of
reasonable dues, fees, and other charges among its Members and other
persons using its facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\10\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\11\ Id.
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange believes the proposed fees are reasonable as they are
the same, or even lower than, the amounts assessed by affiliated
options exchanges for the same functionality (and which were similarly
adopted via the rule filing process and filed with the Commission). The
proposed fees are also in line with fees assessed by other exchanges,
for analogous connections.\13\ Further, the Exchange notes that an
affiliated options exchange and other exchanges that offer similar
pricing for similar or the same connections have a comparable, or even
lower, market share as the Exchange.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Supra notes 7 and 8.
\14\ See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market Volume Summary
(August 20, 2024), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_statistics/. For example, the Exchange's affiliate Cboe BZX
Options Exchange represents approximately 4% of the market share,
BOX Options has a market share of approximately 6% and Nasdaq
Options Market has a market share of approximately 5% compared to
the Exchange's approximate 7% market share.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additionally, the Exchange believes the proposed fee increase is
reasonable in light of recent and anticipated connectivity-related
upgrades and changes. The Exchange and its affiliated exchanges
recently launched a multi-year initiative to improve Cboe Exchange
Platform performance and capacity requirements, including for its U.S.
options markets, to increase competitiveness, support growth and
advance a consistent world class platform. The goal of the project,
among other things, is to provide faster and more consistent order
handling and matching performance for options, while ensuring quicker
processing time and supporting increasing volumes. For example, the
Exchange is currently performing order handler and matching engine
hardware upgrades across its markets to advance this goal. The Exchange
anticipates that upgrades to its matching engines may result in a
latency reduction up to 40% to 50% on the Exchange and that upgrades to
its order handlers may offer lower variability in the processing of
message, which can reduce the time a message takes to get to the
matching engine. The Exchange expended, and will continue to expend,
resources to innovate and modernize technology so that it may benefit
its Members and continue to compete among other options markets. The
Exchange also notes that neither it--nor its options exchange
affiliates--have passed through or offset current or projected costs
associated with these upgrades. The ability to continue to innovate
with technology and offer new products to market participants allows
the Exchange to remain competitive in the options space which currently
has 18 options markets and potential new entrants. The Exchange also
notes market participants may continue to choose the method of
connectivity based on their specific needs, and no broker-dealer is
required to become a Member of, let alone connect directly to, the
Exchange. There is also no regulatory requirement that any market
participant connect to any one particular exchange. Market participants
may voluntarily choose to become a member of one or more of a number of
different exchanges, of which, the Exchange is but one choice.
Additionally, any Exchange member that is dissatisfied with the
proposal is free to choose not to be a member of the Exchange and send
order flow to another exchange. Moreover, direct connectivity is not a
requirement to participate on the Exchange. The Exchange also believes
substitutable products and services are available to market
participants, including, among other things, other options exchanges to
which a market participant may connect in lieu of the Exchange and/or
trading of any options product, such as within the Over-the-Counter
(OTC) markets, which do not require connectivity to the Exchange.
Indeed, there are currently 18 registered options exchanges that trade
options (14 of which are not affiliated with Cboe), some of which have
similar or lower connectivity fees.\15\ Based on publicly available
information, no single options exchange has more than approximately 19%
of the market share and currently the Exchange represents only
approximately 7% of the market share.\16\ Further, low barriers to
entry mean that new exchanges may rapidly enter the market and offer
additional substitute platforms to further compete with the Exchange
and the products it offers. For example, there are 5 exchanges that
have been added in the U.S. options markets in the last 5 years (i.e.,
Nasdaq MRX, LLC, MIAX Pearl, LLC, MIAX Emerald LLC, MEMX LLC and most
recently MIAX Sapphire LLC).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ Supra note 7 and 8. See also NYSE American Options Fee
Schedule, Section V (Technology and System Access Fees), which has a
similar market share of 6% and offers lower fees for analogous
Logical Ports than proposed by the Exchange.
\16\ See Cboe Global Markets U.S. Options Market Volume Summary
(August 20, 2024), available at https://markets.cboe.com/us/options/market_statistics/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for market participants that determine to continue to maintain
membership or to join the Exchange for business purposes, those
business reasons presumably result in revenue capable of covering the
proposed fee. Further, for such market participants that choose to
connect to the Exchange, the Exchange believes the proposed fees
continue to provide flexibility with respect to how to connect to the
Exchange based on each market participants' respective business needs.
For example, the amount and type of logical ports are determined by
factors relevant and specific to each market participant, including its
business model, costs of connectivity, how its business is segmented
and allocated and volume of messages sent to the Exchange. Moreover,
the Exchange notes that it does not have unlimited system capacity and
the proposed fees are also designed to encourage market participants to
be efficient with their respective logical port usage and discourage
the purchasing of large amounts of superfluous ports. There is also no
requirement that any market participant maintain a specific number of
logical ports and a market participant may choose to maintain as many
or as few of such ports as each deems appropriate. Further, market
participants may reduce or discontinue use of these ports in response
to the proposed fees. Indeed, when the Exchange last increased pricing
for logical ports in 2018, the Exchange observed within the first two
months that market participants did in fact reduce the number of
logical ports they maintained. Particularly, Logical Port quantities
were reduced by approximately 20%. The Exchange similarly saw a decline
in logical port quantities after the current proposed rate change in
January 2024. Specifically, as of May 2024, Logical Port quantities
have been reduced by approximately 8% since the announcement of the
proposed fee change. This demonstrates that market participants can and
do choose to disconnect, or reduce, their connectivity from the
Exchange, including in response to fee increases. The Exchange also
does not assess any termination fee for a market participant to drop
its connectivity or membership, nor is the Exchange aware of any other
costs that
[[Page 74323]]
would be incurred by a market participant to do so.
As noted above, there is no regulatory requirement that any market
participant connect to any one options exchange, nor that any market
participant connect at a particular connection speed or act in a
particular capacity on the Exchange, or trade any particular product
offered on an exchange. Moreover, membership is not a requirement to
participate on the Exchange. Indeed, the Exchange is unaware of any one
options exchange whose membership includes every registered broker-
dealer. By way of example, while the Exchange has 51 members that trade
options, Cboe BZX has 61 members that trade options, and Cboe C2 has 52
Trading Permit Holders (``TPHs'') (i.e., members). There is also no
firm that is a Member of EDGX Options only. Further, based on
previously publicly available information regarding a sample of the
Exchange's competitors, NYSE American Options has 71 members,\17\ and
NYSE Arca Options has 69 members,\18\ MIAX Options has 46 members \19\
and MIAX Pearl Options has 40 members.\20\ Accordingly, excessive fees
would simply serve to reduce demand for these products, which market
participants are under no regulatory obligation to utilize.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ See https://www.nyse.com/markets/american-options/membership#directory.
\18\ See https://www.nyse.com/markets/arca-options/membership#directory.
\19\ See https://www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_Options_Exchange_Members_April_2023_04282023.pdf.
\20\ See https://www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/files/page-files/MIAX_Pearl_Exchange_Members_01172023_0.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange lastly notes that it is not required by the Exchange
Act, nor any other rule or regulation, to undertake a cost-of-service
or rate-making approach with respect to fee proposals. Moreover,
Congress's intent in enacting the 1975 Amendments to the Act was to
enable competition--rather than government order--to determine prices.
The principal purpose of the amendments was to facilitate the creation
of a national market system for the trading of securities. Congress
intended that this ``national market system evolve through the
interplay of competitive forces as unnecessary regulatory restrictions
are removed.'' \21\ Other provisions of the Act confirm that intent.
For example, the Act provides that an exchange must design its rules
``to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.'' \22\ Likewise, the Act grants the
Commission authority to amend or repeal ``[t]he rules of [an] exchange
[that] impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of this chapter.'' \23\ In short, the
promotion of free and open competition was a core congressional
objective in creating the national market system.\24\ Indeed, the
Commission has historically interpreted that mandate to promote
competitive forces to determine prices whenever compatible with a
national market system. Accordingly, the Exchange believes it has met
its burden to demonstrate that its proposed fee change is reasonable
and consistent with the immediate filing process chosen by Congress,
which created a system whereby market forces determine access fees in
the vast majority of cases, subject to oversight only in particular
cases of abuse or market failure. The Exchange also believes that, even
if it were possible as a matter of economic theory, cost-based pricing
for the proposed fee would be so complicated that it could not be done
practically. Indeed, the Exchange believes that classification of costs
could likely not be done without on-going debate over formulas for
allocation,\25\ continual auditing, and considerable expense. The
Exchange also believes cost-based analysis could create disincentives
to reduce costs through efficient operation or innovation. Moreover,
the industry could experience frequent rate increases based on
escalating expense levels. The Exchange lastly cautions that as
disputes arise regarding the appropriate measure and calculation of
relevant costs and allocation of common costs, the Commission could
find itself engaging in the kind of rigid ratemaking not contemplated
by Section 11A of the Exchange Act and which the Commission has
historically sought to avoid.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ See H.R. Rep. No. 94-229, at 92 (1975) (Conf. Rep.)
(emphasis added)
\22\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(8).
\24\ See also 15 U.S.C. 78k-l(a)(1)(C)(ii) (purposes of Exchange
Act include to promote ``fair competition among brokers and dealers,
among exchange markets, and between exchange markets and markets
other than exchange markets''); Order, 73 FR 74781 (``The Exchange
Act and its legislative history strongly support the Commission's
reliance on competition, whenever possible, in meeting its
regulatory responsibilities for overseeing the SROs and the national
market system.'').
\25\ See, e.g., letter from Brian Sopinsky, General Counsel,
Susquehanna International Group, LLP (``SIG''), to Vanessa
Countryman, Secretary, Commission, dated February 7, 2023, letters
from Gerald D. O'Connell, SIG, to Vanessa Countryman, Secretary,
Commission, dated March 21, 2023, May 24, 2023, July 24, 2023 and
September 18, 2023, and letters from John C. Pickford, SIG, to
Vanessa Countryman, Secretary, Commission, dated January 4, 2024,
and March 1, 2024 and letters from Thomas M. Merritt, Deputy General
Counsel, Virtu Financial, Inc. (``Virtu''), to Vanessa Countryman,
Secretary, Commission, dated November 8, 2023 and January 2, 2024.
See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93883 (December 30,
2021), 87 FR 523 (January 5, 2022) (SR-IEX-2021-14) (Suspension of
and Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or
Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Its Fee Schedule for
Market Data Fees) and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 94888 (May
11, 2022), 87 FR 29892 (May 17, 2022) (SR-PEARL-2022-18) (Notice of
Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend the MIAX PEARL Options Fee
Schedule To Increase Certain Connectivity Fees and To Increase the
Monthly Fees for MIAX Express Network Full Service Port; Suspension
of and Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve
or Disapprove the Proposed Rule Change).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also believes that the proposed fee change is not
unfairly discriminatory because it would be assessed uniformly across
all market participants that purchase the respective logical ports. All
Members have the option to select any connectivity option, and there is
no differentiation among Members with regard to the fees charged for
the services offered by the Exchange.
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 that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the
proposed fee change will not impact intramarket competition because it
will apply to all similarly situated market participants equally (i.e.,
all market participants that choose to purchase the relevant logical
ports).
The Exchange believes the proposed fees will not impact intermarket
competition because they are also in line with, or even lower than some
fees for similar connectivity on other exchanges, and therefore may
stimulate intermarket competition by attracting additional firms to
connect to the Exchange or at least should not deter interested
participants from connecting directly to the Exchange. Further, if the
changes proposed herein are unattractive to market participants, the
Exchange can, and likely will, see a decline in usage of these ports as
a result. The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which
market participants can determine whether or not to connect directly to
the Exchange based on the value received compared to the cost of doing
so. Indeed, market participants have numerous alternative venues that
they may participate on and direct their order flow, including 13 (soon
to be 14) non-Cboe affiliated options markets, as well as off-exchange
venues, where
[[Page 74324]]
competitive products are available for trading. Moreover, the
Commission has repeatedly expressed its preference for competition over
regulatory intervention in determining prices, products, and services
in the securities markets. Specifically, 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.'' \26\ The fact that this market is
competitive has also long been recognized by the courts. In
NetCoalition v. Securities and Exchange Commission, the D.C. Circuit
stated as follows: ``[n]o one disputes that competition for order flow
is `fierce.' . . . As the SEC explained, `[i]n the U.S. national market
system, buyers and sellers of securities, and the broker-dealers that
act as their order-routing agents, have a wide range of choices of
where to route orders for execution'; [and] `no exchange can afford to
take its market share percentages for granted' because `no exchange
possesses a monopoly, regulatory or otherwise, in the execution of
order flow from broker dealers' . . . .''.\27\ Accordingly, the
Exchange does not believe its proposed change imposes any burden on
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 51808 (June 9,
2005), 70 FR 37496, 37499 (June 29, 2005).
\27\ NetCoalition v. SEC, 615 F.3d 525, 539 (D.C. Cir. 2010)
(quoting Securities Exchange Act Release No. 59039 (December 2,
2008), 73 FR 74770, 74782-83 (December 9, 2008) (SR-NYSEArca-2006-
21)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
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) of the Act \28\ and paragraph (f) of Rule 19b-4 \29\
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 will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\28\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\29\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-CboeEDGX-2024-055 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-CboeEDGX-2024-055. 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-CboeEDGX-2024-055
and should be submitted on or before October 3, 2024.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-20633 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P