
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8548-8551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01718]



[[Page 8548]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79846; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2016-130]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Order Granting 
Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, 
Amending NYSE Arca Equities Rules 7.35 (Auctions), 7.10 (Clearly 
Erroneous Executions), 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers), and 7.11 (Limit 
Up--Limit Down Plan and Trading Pauses in Individual Securities Due to 
Extraordinary Market Volatility)

January 19, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On October 4, 2016, NYSE Arca, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``NYSE Arca'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to 
amend NYSE Arca Equities Rules 7.35 (Auctions), 7.10 (Clearly Erroneous 
Executions), 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers), and 7.11 (Limit Up--Limit 
Down Plan and Trading Pauses in Individual Securities Due to 
Extraordinary Market Volatility). The proposed rule change was 
published for comment in the Federal Register on October 24, 2016.\3\ 
On December 6, 2016, the Commission extended the time period within 
which to approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule 
change, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the 
proposed rule change to January 22, 2017.\4\ On January 18, 2017, the 
Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\5\ The 
Commission received no comments on the proposed rule change. This order 
approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79107 (October 18, 
2016), 81 FR 73159 (``Notice'').
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79480, 81 FR 89525 
(December 12, 2016).
    \5\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange stated that it anticipates 
that it will implement the proposed rule change in the third quarter 
of 2017. Because Amendment No. 1 does not materially alter the 
substance of the proposed rule change or raise unique or novel 
regulatory issues, Amendment No. 1 is not subject to notice and 
comment. Amendment No. 1 is available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nysearca-2016-130/nysearca2016130-1507307-130821.pdf.
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II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment 
No. 1

    In conjunction with the Twelfth Amendment to the National Market 
System Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility (``Plan''),\6\ 
the Exchange proposes to revise its Trading Halt Auction procedures and 
to make related changes.
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    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79845 (January 19, 
2017) (File No. 4-631).
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Auction Reference Price and Auction Collar for Trading Halt Auctions

    The Exchange proposes to revise the Auction Reference Price and the 
Auction Collar for Trading Halt Auctions. Currently, the upper (lower) 
boundary of the Auction Collar for a Trading Halt Auction is the 
Auction Reference Price increased (decreased) by the price collar 
threshold.\7\ The price collar threshold for a Trading Halt Auction is 
10% for securities with an Auction Reference Price of $25.00 or less, 
5% for securities with an Auction Reference Price greater than $25.00 
and less than or equal to $50.00, or 3% for securities with an Auction 
Reference Price greater than $50.00.\8\ The Auction Reference Price for 
a Trading Halt Auction is the last consolidated round-lot price of that 
trading day, and if none, the prior day's Official Closing Price.\9\
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    \7\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(10)(A).
    \8\ See id. NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(10)(A) also 
specifies a sunset date for the price collar thresholds for Trading 
Halt Auctions.
    \9\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(8)(A).
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    Under the proposal, for a Trading Halt Auction following a trading 
pause under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11 (``Trading Pause''), if the 
Limit State that preceded the Trading Pause was at the Lower (Upper) 
Price Band, the Auction Reference Price would be the Lower (Upper) 
Price Band.\10\ Moreover, for securities with an Auction Reference 
Price above $3.00, the Price Collar Threshold for the Trading Halt 
Auction would be the Auction Reference Price multiplied by 5 percent. 
For securities with an Auction Reference Price of $3.00 and below, the 
Price Collar Threshold would be $0.15.\11\
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    \10\ The proposed definition of Auction Reference Price for a 
Trading Pause is designed to be consistent across listing exchanges. 
For all other Trading Halt Auctions, the Auction Reference Price 
would continue to be as specified in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.35(a)(8). See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(A). The 
Exchange also proposes to make a conforming change to NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.35(a)(8)(A) to add the clause ``except as provided 
for in Rule 7.35(e)(7)(A),'' which would clarify that the Auction 
Reference Price for a Trading Halt Auction following a Trading Pause 
would be determined pursuant to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.35(e)(7)(A).
    \11\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7). These 
proposed Price Collar Thresholds are designed to be consistent 
across listing exchanges. The Exchange also proposes to make 
conforming changes to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(10)(A) to 
delete the reference to Trading Halt Auctions and to delete language 
that specifies the sunset date for the current price collar 
thresholds applicable to Trading Halt Auctions.
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    As proposed, for a Trading Halt Auction following a Trading Pause, 
if the Auction Reference Price is the Lower (Upper) Price Band, the 
Lower (Upper) Auction Collar would be the Auction Reference Price 
decreased (increased) by the Price Collar Threshold, rounded down to 
the nearest MPV, and the Upper (Lower) Auction Collar would be the 
Upper (Lower) Price Band.\12\ For a Trading Halt Auction following a 
trading halt due to extraordinary market volatility under NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.12 (``MWCB Halt'') or a regulatory halt, the Lower 
(Upper) Auction Collar would be the Auction Reference Price decreased 
(increased) by the Price Collar Threshold, rounded down to the nearest 
MPV.\13\
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    \12\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(B)(i). The 
proposed Auction Collars for a Trading Pause are designed to be 
consistent across listing exchanges.
    \13\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(B)(ii).
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Extension of Re-Opening Time and Expansion of Auction Collars for 
Trading Halt Auctions

    Currently, NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(2) provides that, after 
trading in a security has been halted or paused, the NYSE Arca 
Marketplace will disseminate the estimated time at which trading in 
that security will re-open (``Re-Opening Time''). The Exchange proposes 
to add to this rule that the initial Re-Opening Time for a Trading Halt 
Auction following a Trading Pause or MWCB Halt would be at the 
scheduled end of the Trading Pause or MWCB Halt.
    Under the proposal, the Exchange would extend the Re-Opening Time 
for a Trading Halt Auction under certain circumstances. Specifically, a 
Trading Halt Auction would not be conducted if the Indicative Match 
Price,\14\ before being adjusted based on Auction Collars,\15\ is below 
(above) the Lower (Upper) Auction Collar or if there is a sell (buy) 
Market Imbalance,\16\ either of

[[Page 8549]]

which would be defined as an ``Impermissible Price.'' \17\ As proposed, 
if there is an Impermissible Price at the initial Re-Opening Time, the 
pause or halt would be extended an additional five minutes and a new 
Re-Opening Time would be disseminated (``First Extension'').\18\ If 
there is an Impermissible Price at the end of the First Extension, the 
pause or halt would be extended an additional five minutes and a new 
Re-Opening Time would be disseminated (``Subsequent Extension'').\19\ 
The trading pause or halt would continue to be extended if there is an 
Impermissible Price at the Re-Opening Time for a Subsequent 
Extension.\20\
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    \14\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(8) defines ``Indicative 
Match Price'' to mean the best price at which the maximum volume of 
shares, including the non-displayed quantity of Reserve Orders, is 
tradable in the applicable auction, subject to Auction Collars. The 
Exchange states that for purposes of proposed NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 7.35(e)(5), the Indicative Match Price would not be calculated 
subject to Auction Collars. See Notice, supra note 3, at 73160.
    \15\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(10) defines ``Auction 
Collar'' to mean the price collar thresholds for the Indicative 
Match Price for the Core Open Auction, Trading Halt Auction, or 
Closing Auction.
    \16\ NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(7)(B) defines ``Market 
Imbalance'' to mean the imbalance of any remaining buy (sell) Market 
Orders that are not matched for trading in the applicable auction.
    \17\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(5). The 
Exchange also proposes to make conforming changes in NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.11(b).
    \18\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(6)(A). The 
Exchange would not conduct a Trading Halt Auction before the Re-
Opening Time for the First Extension. See id.
    \19\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(6)(B). The 
Exchange would conduct a Trading Halt Auction before the Re-Opening 
Time for a Subsequent Extension if the Indicative Match Price, 
before being adjusted based on Auction Collars, is within the 
applicable Auction Collars and there is no Market Imbalance. See id.
    \20\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(6)(C).
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    Under the proposal, the Auction Collar on the side of the 
Impermissible price would be widened for each Extension, and the 
Auction Collar on the opposite side of the Impermissible Price would 
remain the same as the last-calculated Auction Collar on that side.\21\ 
Specifically, if the Impermissible Price is on the side of the Lower 
(Upper) Auction Collar, the last-calculated Lower (Upper) Auction 
Collar would be decreased (increased) by a Price Collar Threshold and 
the Upper (Lower) Auction Collar would stay the same.\22\ If the side 
of the Impermissible Price changes from the Lower (Upper) Auction 
Collar to the Upper (Lower) Auction Collar, the last-calculated Upper 
(Lower) Auction Collar would be widened for that Extension and the 
last-calculated Lower (Upper) Auction Collar would remain the same.\23\
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    \21\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(C).
    \22\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(C)(i).
    \23\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(7)(C)(ii). The 
proposed extensions and widening of the Auction Collars are designed 
to be consistent across listing exchanges.
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    As proposed, if the Re-Opening Time for a Trading Halt Auction 
would be in the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Core 
Trading Hours, the Exchange would not conduct a Trading Halt Auction in 
that security and would not transition to continuous trading. Instead, 
the Exchange would remain paused and would conduct a Closing Auction in 
such security as provided for in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(d).\24\ 
In such circumstances, Market-on-Open (``MOO'') Orders, Limit-on-Open 
(``LOO'') Orders, and IO Orders (as defined below) entered during the 
pause or halt would not participate in the Closing Auction and would 
expire at the end of the Core Trading Session.\25\ Additionally, the 
Auction Collars for the Closing Auction for such security would be the 
most recently widened Auction Collars for the Trading Halt Auction that 
did not occur.\26\
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    \24\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(10). The 
concept of holding a closing auction instead of a re-opening auction 
if a Trading Pause exists in the last ten minutes of trading is 
designed to be consistent across listing exchanges and to reflect 
the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan.
    \25\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(10)(A).
    \26\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(10)(B). The 
Exchange proposes to make a conforming change to NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 7.35(a)(10)(A) to make clear that the price collar thresholds 
for a Closing Auction are defined in NYSE Arca Equites Rule 
7.35(a)(10)(A), except as provided for in proposed NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.35(e)(10)(B).
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Other Changes to the Trading Halt Auction

    The Exchange proposes to adopt an Imbalance Offset Order (``IO 
Order''), which would be a Limit Order to buy (sell) that is to be 
traded only in a Trading Halt Auction.\27\ An IO Order would be 
accepted only during a halt or pause, including any extensions.\28\ It 
would participate in a Trading Halt Auction only if: (i) There is an 
imbalance in the security on the opposite side of the market from the 
IO Order after taking into account all other orders eligible to trade 
at the Indicative Match Price; and (ii) the limit price of the IO Order 
to buy (sell) is at or above (below) the Indicative Match Price.\29\ 
The working price of an IO Order to buy (sell) would be adjusted to be 
equal to the Indicative Match Price, provided that the working price of 
the IO Order would not be higher (lower) than its limit price.\30\ An 
IO Order that participates in a Trading Halt Auction would be ranked in 
time priority among IO Orders after all other orders eligible to 
participate in the auction have been allocated.\31\
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    \27\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(c)(5).
    \28\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(c)(5)(A).
    \29\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(c)(5)(B).
    \30\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(c)(5)(C).
    \31\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.31(c)(5)(D).
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    The Exchange also proposes to add an Auction Imbalance Freeze 
before a Trading Halt Auction.\32\ As proposed, the Trading Halt 
Auction Imbalance Freeze would begin five seconds before the Re-Opening 
Time, including the Re-Opening Time for each Extension.\33\ If a pause 
or halt is extended, the Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze for the 
prior period would end, new orders and order instructions received 
during the prior period's Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze would 
be processed, and the Exchange would accept order entry and 
cancellation as provided for in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.18(c) until 
the next Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze.\34\ During the Trading 
Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze, order entry and cancellation would be 
processed as follows:
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    \32\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8). See also 
proposed changes to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(3).
    \33\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8).
    \34\ See id.
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     MOO Orders and LOO Orders that are on the same side of the 
Imbalance, would flip the Imbalance, or would create a new Imbalance 
would be rejected.\35\
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    \35\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8)(A).
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     Market Orders (other than MOO Orders) and Limit Orders 
would be accepted but would not be included in the calculation of the 
Indicative Match Price or the Trading Halt Auction Imbalance 
Information.\36\ Such orders would participate in the Trading Halt 
Auction only to offset the Imbalance that is remaining after all orders 
entered before the Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze, including the 
non-display quantity of Reserve Orders, are allocated in the Trading 
Halt Auction, and would be allocated in price-time priority under NYSE 
Arca Equities Rules 7.36(c)-(g) consistent with the priority ranking 
associated with each order and ahead of any IO Orders.\37\
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    \36\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8)(B).
    \37\ See id.
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     Requests to cancel and requests to cancel and replace 
Market Orders, LOO Orders, Limit Orders, and IO Orders would be 
accepted but not processed until after the Trading Halt Auction 
concludes, as provided for in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(h).\38\
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    \38\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8)(C).

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[[Page 8550]]

     All other order instructions would be accepted.\39\
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    \39\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(8)(D).
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    The Exchange also proposes to specify that Limit Orders that were 
eligible to participate in the Trading Halt Auction but did not 
participate would transition to continuous trading as provided for in 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(h).\40\
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    \40\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(e)(9).
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    The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.10(a) to 
provide that executions as a result of a Trading Halt Auction are not 
eligible for a request to review as clearly erroneous under NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.10(b).\41\
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    \41\ The proposal to exclude re-opening auction trades from the 
clearly erroneous execution rule is designed to be consistent across 
listing exchanges.
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Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Information

    NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.35(a)(4) currently defines ``Auction 
Imbalance Information'' to mean the information that is disseminated by 
the Exchange for an auction and includes, if applicable, the Total 
Imbalance, Market Imbalance, Indicative Match Price, and Matched 
Volume.\42\ The Exchange now proposes to add the following to Auction 
Imbalance Information: Auction Reference Price, Auction Collar, Book 
Clearing Price,\43\ Far Clearing Price,\44\ Imbalance Freeze 
Indicator,\45\ and Auction Indicator.\46\
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    \42\ See NYSE Arca Equities Rules 7.35(a)(7) (defining ``Total 
Imbalance'' and ``Market Imbalance''); 7.35(a)(8) (defining 
``Indicative Match Price''); and 7.35(a)(9) (defining ``Matched 
Volume'').
    \43\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Book Clearing Price'' to 
mean the price at which all interest eligible to participate in an 
auction could be traded if not subject to the Auction Collar. The 
Book Clearing Price would be zero if a sell (buy) imbalance cannot 
be filled by any buy (sell) orders. See proposed NYSE Arca Equities 
Rule 7.35(a)(11).
    \44\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Far Clearing Price'' to 
mean the price at which Auction-Only Orders could be traded within 
the Auction Collar. See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.35(a)(12).
    \45\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Imbalance Freeze 
Indicator'' to mean an indicator of whether a security is currently 
in an Auction Imbalance Freeze. See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.35(a)(14).
    \46\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Auction Indicator'' to 
mean an indicator of whether an auction could be conducted, based on 
the applicable Auction Collar and Imbalance. See proposed NYSE Arca 
Equities Rule 7.35(a)(13).
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Other Changes Relating to Trading Pauses

    The Exchange proposes various changes to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.11. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to state that if a primary 
listing market issues a Trading Pause, the Exchange would resume 
trading as provided for in NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.18(a).\47\ NYSE 
Arca Equities Rule 7.18(a) provides that, if a UTP Listing Market 
declares a UTP Regulatory Halt for a security, during Core Trading 
Hours, the Exchange will halt trading until it receives the first Price 
Band in the halted security. The Exchange also proposes to state that 
if the Exchange is unable to re-open trading at the end of the Trading 
Pause due to a systems or technology issue, it would immediately notify 
the single plan processor responsible for consolidation of information 
for the security pursuant to Rule 603 of Regulation NMS.\48\ In 
addition, the Exchange proposes to delete obsolete rule text that 
governed Trading Pauses before the Plan was fully implemented.\49\
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    \47\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11(b)(2). This 
change is designed to be consistent across listing exchanges and to 
reflect the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan. Relatedly, the Exchange 
proposes to delete the rule text that currently states that if a 
primary listing market issues a Trading Pause, the Exchange would 
pause trading in that security until trading has resumed on the 
primary listing market or notice has been received from the primary 
listing market that trading may resume, and that if the primary 
listing market does not re-open the security within 10 minutes of 
notification of a Trading Pause, the Exchange may resume trading in 
the security. See id.
    \48\ See proposed NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11(b)(1). This 
change is designed to be consistent across listing exchanges and to 
reflect the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan.
    \49\ See proposed changes to NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11(b).
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    The Exchange represents that it will announce the implementation 
date of the proposed rule change via Trader Update to be issued after 
this proposed rule change is approved. The Exchange anticipates that 
this implementation will occur in the third quarter of 2017.\50\
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    \50\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 5. For a more detailed 
description of the proposed rule change, see Notice, supra note 3.
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III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
exchange.\51\ In particular, the Commission finds that the proposed 
rule change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\52\ which 
requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities 
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 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. As noted 
above, the Commission received no comment letters regarding the 
proposed rule change.
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    \51\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \52\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Commission notes that the proposed rule change is designed, 
together with the Twelfth Amendment to the Plan,\53\ to address the 
issues experienced on August 24, 2015 by reducing the number of repeat 
Trading Pauses in a single NMS Stock.\54\ The Commission notes that the 
proposed rule change is also designed to further the goal of 
establishing a standardized approach for how Primary Listing Exchanges 
would conduct certain aspects of an automated re-opening following a 
Trading Pause, which should provide certainty for market participants 
regarding how a security would re-open following a Trading Pause, 
regardless of the listing exchange.\55\
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    \53\ See supra note 6.
    \54\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165.
    \55\ See id.
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    With respect to the proposed Auction Reference Price and Auction 
Collars, the Commission finds reasonable the Exchange's belief that the 
price of the limit state that preceded the Trading Pause (i.e., either 
the Lower or Upper Price Band price) would better reflect the most 
recent price of the security, and therefore should be used as the 
Auction Reference Price.\56\ Moreover, the Commission believes that the 
proposed method for calculating the initial Auction Collars (i.e., the 
Auction Collar on the opposite side of the trading pressure would be 
the Price Band in place before the Trading Pause was triggered) would 
address the concept of mean reversion, as well as avoid a security from 
trading outside of a price that it would have been permitted to trade 
before the Trading Pause.\57\
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    \56\ See id.
    \57\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73161-62, 73165. As noted 
above, for MWCB Halts and regulatory halts, the Price Collar 
Threshold would continue to be applied on both sides of the Auction 
Reference Price. See supra note 13 and accompanying text.
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    The Commission believes that extending the Trading Pause and 
widening Auction Collars on the side of the Impermissible Price would 
be a measured approach to provide additional time to attract offsetting 
interest, to help to address an imbalance that may not be resolved 
within the prior Auction Collars, and to reduce the

[[Page 8551]]

potential for triggering another Trading Pause.\58\ Also, as the 
Exchange noted, widening Auction Collars only in the direction of the 
imbalance would address issues relating to the concept of mean 
reversion.\59\ Moreover, the Commission notes that the proposal to 
conduct a Closing Auction if a security is in a Trading Pause during 
the last ten minutes of trading before the end of Regular Trading Hours 
(instead of a Trading Halt Auction) would be consistent with the 
Twelfth Amendment to the Plan.\60\
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    \58\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165. The Exchange notes that 
applying specific aspects of the proposed changes to Trading Halt 
Auctions following a MWCB Halt or regulatory halt would promote 
consistency in how the Exchange conducts its Trading Halt Auctions, 
thus reducing complexity in the marketplace. See id.
    \59\ See id.
    \60\ As the Exchange noted, the proposed changes related to the 
treatment of MOO Orders, LOO Orders, and IO Orders under these 
circumstances would provide transparency regarding how orders that 
are designated to participate in a Trading Halt Auction only would 
be handled. See Notice, supra note 3, at 73162. Also, as the 
Exchange noted, if the Exchange goes directly from an unresolved 
Trading Pause, MWCB Halt, or regulatory halt to a Closing Auction, 
the existing narrower price collar thresholds applicable to the 
Closing Auction could result in Auction Collars that do not 
correlate to the trading condition for the stock. See id.
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    The Commission believes that precluding ETP Holders from requesting 
a review of a Trading Halt Auction as a clearly erroneous execution is 
appropriate. As the Exchange noted, the proposed re-opening procedures 
would allow for widened collars, which may result in a re-opening price 
that would be away from prior trading prices, but the re-opening price 
would be the result of a measured and transparent process that reduces 
the potential that such trade would be considered erroneous.\61\
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    \61\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165.
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    With respect to the proposed IO Order, as the Exchange noted, the 
IO Order is designed to attract offsetting interest for Trading Halt 
Auctions and would provide an option for market participants that are 
willing to participate in an auction to offset an imbalance, but do not 
want such orders to participate in continuous trading.\62\
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    \62\ See id. The Exchange notes that the proposed IO Order is 
based in part on the Closing Offset Order offered by the New York 
Stock Exchange LLC. See id.
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    The Commission notes that, according to the Exchange, the proposed 
Trading Halt Auction Imbalance Freeze would provide market participants 
with a brief period to assess the imbalance going into a Trading Halt 
Auction.\63\ Moreover, during the Trading Halt Imbalance Freeze, order 
entry and cancellation would be revised in a manner designed to reduce 
imbalance.\64\ Further, the Exchange represents that allowing Limit 
Orders that do not participate in a Trading Halt Auction, but have a 
limit price within the applicable Auction Collars, to roll into 
continuous trading likely would not impact the pricing of post-auction 
trading and trigger another Trading Pause because the limit price of 
such orders would have been within the same price range that trading 
would have been permitted.\65\
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    \63\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165-66.
    \64\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73166. Currently, the Exchange 
provides an Auction Imbalance Freeze for the Early Open Auction, 
Core Open Auction, and Closing Auction. See NYSE Arca Equities Rule 
7.35(a)(3).
    \65\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73166.
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    In addition, the Commission believes that the proposed enhancements 
to the Auction Imbalance Information would further promote transparency 
around Trading Halt Auctions.\66\
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    \66\ See id.
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    Finally, the Exchange represents that the proposed amendments to 
NYSE Arca Equities Rule 7.11 would remove obsolete rule text and amend 
the remaining rule text to conform to the Twelfth Amendment to the 
Plan.\67\
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    \67\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 73165.
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    Based on the Exchange's representations mentioned above and in the 
Notice, and for the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent 
with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \68\ and the rules and regulations 
thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange.
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    \68\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\69\ that the proposed rule change (SR-NYSEArca-2016-130), as 
modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved.
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    \69\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\70\
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    \70\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-01718 Filed 1-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


