[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32930-32932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15083]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-83617; File No. SR-NYSEAMER-2018-36]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE American LLC; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Change To Modify the 
NYSE American Options Fee Schedule

July 10, 2018.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on July 2, 2018, NYSE American LLC (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE American'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, 
II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-
regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to 
solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to modify the NYSE American Options Fee 
Schedule (``Fee Schedule''). The Exchange proposes to implement the fee 
change effective July 2, 2018. The proposed change is available on the 
Exchange's

[[Page 32931]]

website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared 
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most 
significant parts of such statements.

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this filing is to modify the Fee Schedule, effective 
July 2, 2018, to provide an incentive for Floor Brokers to bring 
business to the Trading Floor in the newly listed options on the NYSE 
FANG+ Index (``NYSE FANG+''), which trades under the symbol FAANG.
    The Exchange proposes to introduce rebates for Floor Broker 
organizations that execute a certain number of FAANG contract sides on 
the Exchange in a calendar month, based on the highest Tier achieved 
(the ``Rebate'').
    The volume Tiers, and the associated proposed Rebate, are set forth 
as follows:

                              FAANG Rebate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Floor broker FAANG
            Tier                      executions              Rebate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................  From 200 to 999 contract           ($1,000)
                              sides.
2..........................  From 1,000 to 1,999                 (2,500)
                              contract sides.
3..........................  2,000 to 19,999 contract            (5,000)
                              sides.
4..........................  20,000 or more contract            (10,000)
                              sides.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes the proposed Rebate would further the 
Exchange's goal of introducing new products to the marketplace by 
encouraging trading in this index, in particular by encouraging Floor 
Brokers to bring business to the Trading Floor, which would in turn, 
benefit all market participants through increased liquidity and more 
opportunities to trade.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Act, in general, and furthers the objectives 
of Sections 6(b)(4) and (5) of the Act, in particular, because it 
provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees, and 
other charges among its members, issuers and other persons using its 
facilities and does not unfairly discriminate between customers, 
issuers, brokers or dealers.
    The Exchange believes the proposal to introduce a Floor Broker 
Rebate for executing a certain number of options contract sides on NYSE 
FANG+ is reasonable, equitable and not unfairly discriminatory for the 
following reasons. The Exchange believes the proposed rebates, which 
apply equally to all Floor Broker transactions in NYSE FANG+, 
regardless of account type, to be reasonable and equitable because 
business brought to the Trading Floor may be on behalf of any market 
participant. In addition, such orders benefit all market participants 
by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts Market Makers, 
Customers and other participants. An increase in activity, in turn, 
facilitates tighter spreads, which may result in a corresponding 
increase in order flow from all market participants.

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

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act, the Exchange does 
not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the proposed rebates for 
Floor Broker organizations that achieve the proposed Rebate would not 
place an unfair burden on competition as it would apply to all 
similarly situated Floor Brokers, and is applicable to business from 
all account types. The Exchange also believes the proposed Rebate is 
procompetitive as it would further the Exchange's goal of introducing 
new products to the marketplace and encouraging Floor Brokers to bring 
business to the Trading Floor, which would in turn, benefit all market 
participants. Market participants that do not wish to trade in NYSE 
FANG+ are not obliged to do so.
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed change will impair 
the ability of any market participants or competing order execution 
venues to maintain their competitive standing in the financial markets. 
Further, the proposed Rebate would be applied to all similarly situated 
participants (i.e., Floor Brokers), and, as such, the proposed change 
would not impose a disparate burden on competition either among or 
between classes of market participants.

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

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to 
Section 19(b)(3)(A) \4\ of the Act and subparagraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-
4 \5\ thereunder, because it establishes a due, fee, or other charge 
imposed by the Exchange.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \5\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings under 
Section 19(b)(2)(B) \6\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule

[[Page 32932]]

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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2018-36 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2018-36. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). 
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 
20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSEAMER-2018-36 and should be submitted 
on or before August 6, 2018.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-15083 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


