Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Make Permanent the Retail Liquidity Program Pilot, Rule 107C, Which Is Currently Set To Expire on June 30, 2018
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)
Notices
Pages 28874-28884
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2018-13303
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Release No. 34-83454; File No. SR-NYSE-2018-28
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Make Permanent the Retail Liquidity Program Pilot, Rule 107C, Which Is Currently Set To Expire on June 30, 2018
June 15, 2018.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\
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notice is hereby given that on June 4, 2018, New York Stock Exchange LLC (``NYSE'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``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.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to make permanent Rule 107C, which sets forth the Exchange's pilot Retail Liquidity Program. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.
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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.
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Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to make permanent Rule 107C, which sets forth the Exchange's pilot Retail Liquidity Program (the ``Program''). In support of the proposal to make the pilot Program permanent, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to provide background on the Program and an analysis of the economic benefits for retail investors and the marketplace flowing from operation of the Program.
Background
In July 2012, the Commission approved the Program on a pilot basis.\3\ The purpose of the pilot was to analyze data and assess the impact of the Program on the marketplace. The pilot period was originally scheduled to end on July 31, 2013. The Exchange filed to extend the operation of the pilot on several occasions in order to prepare this rule filing. The pilot is currently set to expire on June 30, 2018.\4\
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\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67347 (July 3, 2012), 77 FR 40673 (July 10, 2012) (SR-NYSE-2011-55) (``RLP Approval Order''). In addition to approving the Program on a pilot basis, the Commission granted the Exchange's request for exemptive relief from Rule 612 of Regulation NMS, 17 CFR 242.612 (``Sub-Penny Rule''), which among other things prohibits a national securities exchange from accepting or ranking orders priced greater than $1.00 per share in an increment smaller than $0.01. See id.
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 82230 (December 7, 2017), 82 FR 58667 (December 13, 2017) (SR-NYSE-2017-64) (extending pilot to June 30, 2018). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 80844 (June 1, 2017), 82 FR 26562 (June 7, 2017) (SR-NYSE-2017-
26) (extending pilot to December 31, 2017); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79493 (December 7, 2016), 81 FR 90019 (December 13, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-82) (extending pilot to June 30, 2017); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78600 (August 17, 2016), 81 FR 57642 (August 23, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-54) (extending pilot to December 31, 2016); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 77426 (March 23, 2016), 81 FR 17533 (March 29, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-25) (extending pilot to August 31, 2016); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75993 (September 28, 2015), 80 FR 59844 (October 2, 2015) (SR-NYSE-2015-
41) (extending pilot to March 31, 2016); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74454 (March 6, 2015), 80 FR 13054 (March 12, 2015) (SR-
NYSE-2015-10) (extending pilot until September 30, 2015); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72629 (July 16, 2014), 79 FR 42564 (July 22, 2014) (NYSE-2014-35) (extending pilot until March 31, 2015); and Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70096 (Aug. 2, 2013), 78 FR 48520 (Aug. 8, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2013-48) (extending pilot to July 31, 2014).
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The Exchange established the Program to attract retail order flow to the Exchange, and allow such order flow to receive potential price improvement.\5\ The Program is currently limited to trades occurring at prices equal to or greater than $1.00 a share.
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\5\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 40674.
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As described in greater detail below, under Rule 107C, a new class of market participant called Retail Liquidity Providers (``RLPs'') \6\ and non-RLP member organizations are able to provide potential price improvement to retail investor orders in the form of a non-displayed order that is priced better than the best protected bid or offer (``PBBO''), called a Retail Price Improvement Order (``RPI''). When there is an RPI in a particular security, the Exchange disseminates an indicator, known as the Retail Liquidity Identifier (``RLI''), that such interest exists. Retail Member Organizations (``RMOs'') can submit a Retail Order to the Exchange, which interacts, to the extent possible, with available contra-side RPIs and Mid-Point Passive Liquidity (``MPL'') Orders.\7\ The segmentation in the Program allows retail order flow to receive potential price improvement as a result of their order flow being deemed more desirable by liquidity providers.\8\
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\6\ The Program also allows for RLPs to register with the Exchange. However, any firm can enter RPI orders into the system. Currently, four firms are registered as RLPs but are not registered in any symbols.
\7\ The Exchange adopted MPL Orders in 2014 and amended Rule 107C to specify that MPL Orders could interact with incoming, contra-side Retail Orders submitted by a RMO in the Program. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71330 (January 16, 2014), 79 FR 3895 (January 23, 2014) (SR-NYSE-2013-71) (``Release No. 71330'').
\8\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 40679.
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In approving the pilot, the Commission concluded that the Program was reasonably designed to benefit retail investors by providing price improvement opportunities to retail order flow. Further, while the Commission noted that the Program would treat retail order flow differently from order flow submitted by other market participants, such segmentation would not be inconsistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ which requires that the rules of an exchange are not designed to permit unfair discrimination. As the Commission recognized, retail order segmentation was designed to create additional competition for retail order flow, leading to additional retail order flow to the exchange environment and ensuring that retail investors benefit from the better price that liquidity providers are willing to give their orders.\10\
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\9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\10\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 40679.
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As discussed below, the Exchange believes that the Program data supports these conclusions and that it is therefore appropriate to make the pilot Program permanent.\11\
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\11\ Rule 107C has been amended several times. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68709 (January 23, 2013), 78 FR 6160 (January 29, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2013-04) (amending Rule 107C to clarify that Retail Liquidity Providers may enter Retail Price Improvement Orders in a non-RLP capacity for securities to which the RLP is not assigned); 69103 (March 11, 2013), 78 FR 16547 (March 15, 2013) (SR-
NYSE-2013-20) (amending Rule 107C to clarify that a Retail Member Organization may submit Retail Orders to the Program in a riskless principal capacity as well as in an agency capacity, provided that (i) the entry of such riskless principal orders meets the requirements of FINRA Rule 5320.03, including that the RMO maintains supervisory systems to reconstruct, in a time-sequenced manner, all Retail Orders that are entered on a riskless principal basis; and (ii) the RMO does not include non-retail orders together with the Retail Orders as part of the riskless principal transaction); 69513 (May 3, 2013), 78 FR 27261 (May 9, 2013) (SR-NYSE-2013-08) (amending Rule 107C to allow Retail Member Organizations to attest that ``substantially all,'' rather than all, orders submitted to the Program qualifies as ``Retail Orders'' under the Rule); Release No. 71330, 79 FR at 3895 (amending Rule 107C to incorporate MPL Orders); and 76553 (December 3, 2015), 80 FR 76607 (December 9, 2015) (SR-
NYSE-2015-59) (``Release No. 76553'') (amending Rule 107C to distinguish between retail orders routed on behalf of other broker-
dealers and retail orders that are routed on behalf of introduced retail accounts that are carried on a fully disclosed basis).
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Description of Pilot Rule 107C That Would Become Permanent
Definitions
Rule 107C(a) contains the following definitions:
First, the term ``Retail Liquidity Provider'' is defined as a member organization that is approved by the Exchange under the Rule to act as such and to submit Retail Price Improvement Orders in accordance with the Rule.\12\
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\12\ See Rule 107C(a)(1).
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Second, the term ``Retail Member Organization'' (``RMO'') is defined as a member organization (or a division thereof) that has been approved by the Exchange to submit Retail Orders.\13\
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\13\ Id. at (2).
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Third, the term ``Retail Order'' means an agency order or a riskless principal order meeting the criteria of FINRA Rule 5320.03 that originates from a natural person and is submitted to the Exchange by a RMO, provided that no change is made to the terms of the order with respect to price or side of market and the order does not originate from a trading algorithm or any other computerized methodology. A Retail Order is an Immediate or Cancel Order and may be an odd lot, round lot, or partial round lot (``PRL'').\14\
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\14\ Id. at (3).
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Finally, the term ``Retail Price Improvement Order'' means nondisplayed interest in NYSE-listed securities that is better than the best protected bid (``PBB'') or best protected offer (``PBO'') by at least $0.001 and that is identified as a Retail Price Improvement Order in a manner prescribed by the Exchange.\15\
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\15\ Id. at (4). Exchange systems prevent Retail Orders from interacting with Retail Price Improvement Orders if the RPI is not priced at least $0.001 better than the PBBO. An RPI remains non-
displayed in its entirety (the buy or sell interest, the offset, and the ceiling or floor). An RLP would only be permitted to enter a Retail Price Improvement Order for the particular security or securities to which it is assigned as RLP. An RLP is permitted, but not required, to submit RPIs for securities to which it is not assigned, and will be treated as a non-RLP member organization for those particular securities. Additionally, member organizations other than RLPs are permitted, but not required, to submit RPIs. An RPI may be an odd lot, round lot, or PRL. See id.
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RMO Qualifications and Application Process
Under Rule 107C(b), any member organization \16\ can qualify as an RMO if it conducts a retail business or routes \17\ retail orders on behalf of another broker-dealer. For purposes of Rule 107C(b), conducting a retail business includes carrying retail customer accounts on a fully disclosed basis. To become an RMO, a member organization must submit: (1) An application form; (2) supporting documentation sufficient to demonstrate the retail nature and characteristics of the applicant's order flow; \18\ and (3) an attestation, in a form prescribed by the Exchange, that any order submitted by the member organization as a Retail Order would meet the qualifications for such orders under Rule 107C.\19\
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\16\ An RLP may also act as an RMO for securities to which it is not assigned, subject to the qualification and approval process established by the proposed rule.
\17\ See Release No. 76553, 80 FR at 76607 (clarifying that one way to qualify as an RMO is to route retail orders on behalf of other broker-dealers).
\18\ The supporting documentation may include sample marketing literature, website screenshots, other publicly disclosed materials describing the member organization's retail order flow, and any other documentation and information requested by the Exchange in order to confirm that the applicant's order flow would meet the requirements of the Retail Order definition. See Rule 107C (b)(2)(B).
\19\ See id. at (b)(2)(A)-(C).
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An RMO must have written policies and procedures reasonably designed to assure that it will only designate orders as Retail Orders if all requirements of a Retail Order are met. Such written policies and procedures must require the member organization to (i) exercise due diligence before entering a Retail Order to assure that entry as a Retail Order is in compliance with the requirements of Rule 107C, and (ii) monitor whether orders entered as Retail Orders meet the applicable requirements. If the RMO represents Retail Orders from another broker-dealer customer, the RMO's supervisory procedures must be reasonably designed to assure that the orders it receives from such broker-dealer customer that it designates as Retail Orders meet the definition of a Retail Order. The RMO must (i) obtain an annual written representation, in a form acceptable to the Exchange, from each broker-
dealer customer that sends it orders to be designated as Retail Orders that entry of such orders as Retail Orders will be in compliance with the requirements of this rule, and (ii) monitor whether its broker-
dealer customer's Retail Order flow continues to meet the applicable requirements.\20\
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\20\ Id. at (b)(6).
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Following submission of the required materials, the Exchange provides written notice of its decision to the member organization.\21\ A disapproved applicant can appeal the disapproval by the Exchange as provided in Rule 107C(4), and/or reapply for RMO status 90 days after the disapproval notice is issued by the Exchange. An RMO can also voluntarily withdraw from such status at any time by giving written notice to the Exchange.\22\
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\21\ Id. at (b)(3).
\22\ Id. at (b)(5).
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RLP Qualifications
To qualify as an RLP under Rule 107C(c), a member organization must: (1) Already be approved as a Designated Market Maker (``DMM'') or Supplemental Liquidity Provider (``SLP''); (2) demonstrate an ability to meet the requirements of an RLP; (3) have mnemonics or the ability to accommodate other Exchange-supplied designations that identify to the Exchange RLP trading activity in assigned RLP securities; and (4) have adequate trading infrastructure and technology to support electronic trading.\23\
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\23\ Id. at (c)(1)-(4).
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RLP Application
Under Rule 107C(d), to become an RLP, a member organization must submit an RLP application form with all supporting documentation to the Exchange, which would determine whether an applicant was qualified to become an RLP as set forth above.\24\ After an applicant submits an RLP application to the Exchange with supporting documentation, the Exchange would notify the applicant member organization of its decision. The Exchange could approve one or more member organizations to act as an RLP for a particular security. The Exchange could also approve a particular member organization to act as RLP for one or more securities. Approved RLPs would be assigned securities according to requests made to, and approved by, the Exchange.\25\
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\24\ Id. at (d)(1).
\25\ Id. at (d)(2).
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If an applicant were approved by the Exchange to act as an RLP, the applicant would be required to establish connectivity with relevant Exchange systems before the applicant would be permitted to trade as an RLP on the Exchange.\26\ If the Exchange disapproves the application, the Exchange would provide a written notice to the member organization. The disapproved applicant could appeal the disapproval by the Exchange as provided in proposed Rule 107C(i) and/or reapply for RLP status 90 days
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after the disapproval notice is issued by the Exchange.\27\
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\26\ Id. at (d)(3).
\27\ Id. at (d)(4).
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Voluntary Withdrawal of RLP Status
An RLP would be permitted to withdraw its status as an RLP by giving notice to the Exchange under proposed NYSE Rule107C(e). The withdrawal would become effective when those securities assigned to the withdrawing RLP are reassigned to another RLP. After the Exchange receives the notice of withdrawal from the withdrawing RLP, the Exchange would reassign such securities as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days after the date the notice is received by the Exchange. If the reassignment of securities takes longer than the 30-
day period, the withdrawing RLP would have no further obligations and would not be held responsible for any matters concerning its previously assigned RLP securities.\28\
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\28\ See id. at (e).
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RLP Requirements
Under Rule 107C(f), an RLP may only enter Retail Price Improvement Orders electronically and directly into Exchange systems and facilities designated for this purpose and only for the securities to which it is assigned as RLP. An RLP entering Retail Price Improvement Orders in securities to which it is not assigned is not required to satisfy these requirements.\29\
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\29\ Id. at (f)(1).
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In order to be eligible for execution fees that are lower than non-
RLP rates, an RLP must maintain (1) a Retail Price Improvement Order that is better than the PBB at least five percent of the trading day for each assigned security; and (2) a Retail Price Improvement Order that is better than the PBO at least five percent of the trading day for each assigned security.\30\ An RLP's five-percent requirements is calculated by determining the average percentage of time the RLP maintains a Retail Price Improvement Order in each of its RLP securities during the regular trading day, on a daily and monthly basis.\31\ The Exchange determines whether an RLP has met this requirement by calculating the following:
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\30\ Id. at (f)(1)(A)-(B).
\31\ Id. at (f)(2).
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The ``Daily Bid Percentage,'' calculated by determining the percentage of time an RLP maintains a Retail Price Improvement Order with respect to the PBB during each trading day for a calendar month;
The ``Daily Offer Percentage,'' calculated by determining the percentage of time an RLP maintains a Retail Price Improvement Order with respect to the PBO during each trading day for a calendar month;
The ``Monthly Average Bid Percentage,'' calculated for each RLP security by summing the security's ``Daily Bid Percentages'' for each trading day in a calendar month then dividing the resulting sum by the total number of trading days in such calendar month; and
The ``Monthly Average Offer Percentage,'' calculated for each RLP security by summing the security's ``Daily Offer Percentage'' for each trading day in a calendar month and then dividing the resulting sum by the total number of trading days in such calendar month.
Finally, only Retail Price Improvement Orders would be used when calculating whether an RLP is in compliance with its five-percent requirements.\32\
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\32\ Id. at (f)(2)(A)-(E).
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The five-percent requirement is not applicable in the first two calendar months a member organization operates as an RLP and takes effect on the first day of the third consecutive calendar month the member organization operates as an RLP.\33\
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\33\ Id. at (f)(3).
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Failure of RLP To Meet Requirements
Rule 107C(g) addresses the consequences of an RLP's failure to meet its requirements. If, after the first two months an RLP acted as an RLP, an RLP fails to meet any of the Rule 107C(f) requirements for an assigned RLP security for three consecutive months, the Exchange could, in its discretion, take one or more of the following actions:
Revoke the assignment of any or all of the affected securities from the RLP;
revoke the assignment of unaffected securities from the RLP; or
disqualify the member organization from its status as an RLP.\34\
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\34\ Id. at (g)(1)(A)-(C).
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The Exchange determines if and when a member organization is disqualified from its status as an RLP. One calendar month prior to any such determination, the Exchange notifies an RLP of such impending disqualification in writing. When disqualification determinations are made, the Exchange provides a written disqualification notice to the member organization.\35\ A disqualified RLP could appeal the disqualification as provided in proposed Rule 107C(i) and/or reapply for RLP status 90 days after the disqualification notice is issued by the Exchange.\36\
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\35\ Id. at (2).
\36\ Id. at (3).
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Failure of RMO To Abide by Retail Order Requirements
Rule 107C(h) addresses an RMO's failure to abide by Retail Order requirements. If an RMO designates orders submitted to the Exchange as Retail Orders and the Exchange determines, in its sole discretion, that those orders fail to meet any of the requirements of Retail Orders, the Exchange may disqualify a member organization from its status as an RMO.\37\ When disqualification determinations are made, the Exchange shall provide a written disqualification notice to the member organization.\38\ A disqualified RMO could appeal the disqualification as provided in proposed Rule 107C(i) and/or reapply for RMO status 90 days after the disqualification notice is issued by the Exchange.\39\
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\37\ Id. at (h)(1).
\38\ Id. at (2).
\39\ Id. at (3).
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Appeal of Disapproval or Disqualification
Rule 107C(i) describes the appeal rights of member organizations. A member organization that disputes the Exchange's decision to disapprove it under Rule 107C(b) or (d) or disqualify it under Rule 107C(g) or (h) may request, within five business days after notice of the decision is issued by the Exchange, that a Retail Liquidity Program Panel (``RLP Panel'') review the decision to determine if it was correct.\40\ The RLP Panel would consist of the NYSE's Chief Regulatory Officer (``CRO''), or a designee of the CRO, and two officers of the Exchange designated by the CoHead of U.S. Listings and Cash Execution.\41\ The RLP Panel would review the facts and render a decision within the time frame prescribed by the Exchange.\42\ The RLP Panel can overturn or modify an action taken by the Exchange and all determinations by the RLP Panel would constitute final action by the Exchange on the matter at issue.\43\
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\40\ Id. at (i)(1). In the event a member organization is disqualified from its status as an RLP pursuant to proposed Rule 107C(g), the Exchange would not reassign the appellant's securities to a different RLP until the RLP Panel has informed the appellant of its ruling. Id. at (i)(1)(A).
\41\ Id. at (i)(2).
\42\ Id. at (3).
\43\ Id. at (4).
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Retail Liquidity Identifier
Under Rule 107C(j), the Exchange disseminates an identifier through proprietary Exchange data feeds or the Securities Information Processor (``SIP'') when RPI interest priced at least $0.001 better than the PBB or PBO for a
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particular security is available in Exchange systems (``Retail Liquidity Identifier''). The Retail Liquidity Identifier shall reflect the symbol for the particular security and the side (buy or sell) of the RPI interest, but shall not include the price or size of the RPI interest.\44\
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\44\ Id. at (j).
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Retail Order Designations
Under Rule 107C(k), an RMO can designate how a Retail Order would interact with available contra-side interest as follows:
A Type 1-designated Retail Order interacts only with available contra-side Retail Price Improvement Orders and MPL Orders but would not interact with other available contra-side interest in Exchange systems or route to other markets. The portion of a Type 1- designated Retail Order that does not execute against contra-side Retail Price Improvement Orders would be immediately and automatically cancelled.\45\
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\45\ Id. at (k)(1). See note 7, supra.
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A Type 2-designated Retail Order interacts first with available contra-side Retail Price Improvement Orders and MPL Orders and any remaining portion of the Retail Order would be executed as a Regulation NMS-compliant Immediate or Cancel Order pursuant to Rule 13.\46\
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\46\ Id. at (2).
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A Type 3-designated Retail Order interacts first with available contra-side Retail Price Improvement Orders and MPL Orders and any remaining portion of the Retail Order would be executed as an NYSE Immediate or Cancel Order pursuant to Rule 13.\47\
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\47\ Id. at (k)(3).
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Priority and Order Allocation
Under Rule 107C(l), Retail Price Improvement Orders in the same security are ranked and allocated according to price then time of entry into Exchange systems. When determining the price to execute a Retail Order, Exchange systems consider all eligible RPIs and MPL Orders. If the only interest is RPIs, then the executions shall occur at the price level that completes the incoming order's execution. If the only interest is MPL Orders, the Retail Order shall execute at the midpoint of the PBBO. If both RPIs and MPL Orders are present, Exchange systems will evaluate at what price level the incoming Retail Order may be executed in full (``clean-up price''). If the clean-up price is equal to the midpoint of the PBBO, RPIs will receive priority over MPL Orders, and the Retail Order will execute against both RPIs and MPL Orders at the midpoint. If the clean-up price is worse than the midpoint of the PBBO, the Retail Order will execute first with the MPL Orders at the midpoint of the PBBO and any remaining quantity of the Retail Order will execute with the RPIs at the clean-up price. If the clean-up price is better than the midpoint of the PBBO, then the Retail Order will execute against the RPIs at the clean-up price and will ignore the MPL Orders. Any remaining unexecuted RPI interest and MPL Orders will remain available to interact with other incoming Retail Orders. Any remaining unexecuted portion of the Retail Order will cancel or execute in accordance with Rule 107C(k).
Examples of priority and order allocation are as follows:
Example 1:
PBBO for security ABC is $10.00-$10.05.
RLP 1 enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy ABC at $10.01 for 500.
RLP 2 then enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy ABC at $10.02 for 500.
RLP 3 then enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy ABC at $10.03 for 500.
An incoming Retail Order to sell ABC for 1,000 executes first against RLP 3's bid for 500, because it is the best priced bid, then against RLP 2's bid for 500, because it is the next best priced bid. RLP 1 is not filled because the entire size of the Retail Order to sell 1,000 is depleted. The Retail Order executes at the price that completes the order's execution. In this example, the entire 1,000 Retail Order to sell executes at $10.02 because it results in a complete fill.
However, assume the same facts above, except that RLP 2's Retail Price Improvement Order to buy ABC at $10.02 is for 100. The incoming Retail Order to sell 1,000 executes first against RLP 3's bid for 500, because it is the best priced bid, then against RLP 2's bid for 100, because it is the next best priced bid. RLP 1 then receives an execution for 400 of its bid for 500, at which point the entire size of the Retail Order to sell 1,000 is depleted. The Retail Order executes at the price that completes the order's execution, which is $10.01.
Example 2:
PBBO for security DEF is $10.00-10.01.
RLP 1 enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy DEF at $10.006 for 500.
RLP 2 enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy DEF at $10.005 for 500.
MPL 1 enters an MPL Order to buy DEF at $10.01 for 1,000.
RLP 3 enters a Retail Price Improvement Order to buy DEF at $10.002 for 1,000.
An incoming Retail Order to sell DEF for 2,500 arrives. The clean-
up price is $10.002. Because the midpoint of the PBBO is priced better than the clean-up price, the Retail Order executes with MPL 1 for 1,000 shares at $10.005. The Retail Order then executes at $10.002 against RLP 1's bid for 500, because it is the best-priced bid, then against RLP 2's bid for 500 because it is the next best-priced bid and then RLP 3 receives an execution for 500 of its bid for 1,000, at which point the entire size of the Retail Order to sell 2,500 is depleted.
Assume the same facts above. An incoming Retail Order to sell DEF for 1,000 arrives. The clean-up price is $10.005. Because the clean-up price is equal to the midpoint of the PBBO, RPIs will receive priority over MPL Orders. As a result, the Retail Order executes first against RLP 1's bid for 500, because it is the best-priced bid, then against RLP 2's bid for 500 because it is the next best-priced bid, at which point the entire size of the Retail Order to sell 1,000 is depleted.\48\
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\48\ Id. at (l).
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Rationale for Making Pilot Permanent
In approving the Program on a pilot basis, the Commission required the Exchange to ``monitor the scope and operation of the Program and study the data produced during that time with respect to such issues, and will propose any modifications to the Program that may be necessary or appropriate.'' \49\ As part of its assessment of the Program's potential impact, the Exchange posted core weekly and daily summary data on the Exchanges' website for public investors to review,\50\ and provided additional data to the Commission regarding potential investor benefits, including the level of price improvement provided by the Program. This data included statistics about participation, frequency and level of price improvement and effective and realized spreads.
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\49\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 40681.
\50\ See https://www.nyse.com/markets/liquidity-programs#nyse-nyse-mkt-rlp.
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In the RLP Approval Order, the Commission observed that the Program could promote competition for retail order flow among execution venues, and that this could benefit retail investors by creating additional price improvement
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opportunities for marketable retail order flow, most of which is currently executed in the Over-the-Counter (``OTC'') markets without ever reaching a public exchange.\51\ The Exchange sought, and believes it has achieved, the Program's goal of attracting retail order flow to the Exchange, and allowing such order flow to receive potential price improvement. As the Exchange's analysis of the Program data below demonstrates, the Program provided tangible price improvement to retail investors through a competitive pricing process. The data also demonstrates that the Program had an overall negligible impact on broader market structure.\52\
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\51\ RLP Approval Order, 77 FR at 40679.
\52\ See id. at 40682.
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Between August 1, 2012, when the Program began, and January 2, 2018, orders totaling in excess of 6.8 billion shares were executed through the Program, providing retail investors with $12.3 million in price improvement. As Table 1 shows, during 2016, an average of 2-3 million shares per day was executed in the Program. In 2017, an average of 3-4 million shares per day were executed in the Program. During the period 2016-17, average effective spreads in RLP executions ranged between $0.012 and $0.019. Fill rates reached as high as 25.7% in May 2018. Overall price improvement averaged $0.0014 per share, approximately 40% above the minimum of $0.001.\53\
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\53\ In 2016, the average price improvement reached as high as $0.0017-$0.0018.
Table 1--Summary Execution and Market Quality Statistics
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RPI Avg. Avg. daily Effective/ Price Realized
Date volume orders Eff. spread quoted ratio improvement spread Fill rate (%)
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Jan-16.................................. 3,257,495 11,495 $0.0167 0.736 $0.0017 $0.0051 14.7
Feb-16.................................. 3,119,642 10,400 0.0163 0.713 0.0018 0.0041 15.3
Mar-16.................................. 2,760,731 9,179 0.0142 0.706 0.0018 0.0029 16.5
Apr-16.................................. 2,277,189 8,432 0.0143 0.703 0.0018 0.0042 17.6
May-16.................................. 1,727,219 6,931 0.0151 0.693 0.0019 0.0054 16.4
Jun-16.................................. 2,003,149 9,122 0.0134 0.667 0.0019 0.0060 14.4
Jul-16.................................. 2,265,579 7,880 0.0126 0.668 0.0019 0.0034 18.1
Aug-16.................................. 2,009,630 5,626 0.0122 0.699 0.0017 -0.0019 16.4
Sep-16.................................. 1,620,236 4,801 0.0136 0.696 0.0017 0.0035 15.6
Oct-16.................................. 2,355,292 8,055 0.0143 0.693 0.0017 0.0041 19.7
Nov-16.................................. 2,702,894 9,915 0.0161 0.700 0.0018 0.0040 17.3
Dec-16.................................. 4,380,164 15,036 0.0142 0.710 0.0017 0.0034 20.5
Jan-17.................................. 2,921,604 11,184 0.0148 0.730 0.0016 0.0011 21.4
Feb-17.................................. 2,508,810 9,801 0.0165 0.754 0.0015 0.0023 20.3
Mar-17.................................. 2,585,694 9,517 0.0175 0.770 0.0015 0.0060 20.9
Apr-17.................................. 2,875,573 10,174 0.0156 0.764 0.0014 0.0056 23.5
May-17.................................. 3,741,955 15,179 0.0150 0.763 0.0014 0.0026 25.7
Jun-17.................................. 5,040,922 17,245 0.0155 0.688 0.0018 0.0046 19.2
Jul-17.................................. 3,906,133 14,582 0.0154 0.712 0.0017 0.0020 19.8
Aug-17.................................. 3,803,586 14,841 0.0174 0.700 0.0018 0.0055 19.5
Sep-17.................................. 3,398,110 12,782 0.0152 0.773 0.0014 0.0017 23.2
Oct-17.................................. 3,839,683 13,467 0.0156 0.773 0.0014 0.0022 25.2
Nov-17.................................. 4,193,873 14,499 0.0161 0.775 0.0014 0.0028 24.2
Dec-17.................................. 3,673,405 19,036 0.0180 0.782 0.0014 0.0027 19.0
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As Table 2 shows, approximately 45% of all orders in the Program in 2016-17 were for a round lot or fewer shares. More than 60% of retail orders removing liquidity from the Exchange were for 300 shares or less. Further, the number of very large orders was relatively steady, with orders larger than 7,500 shares typically accounting for 4-5% of orders received. Despite relatively low fill rates, large orders account for a sizable portion of the shares executed in the Program.
Table 2--Composition of Retail Taking Orders by Order Size Category
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501-1,000 1001-2,000 2001-4,000 4001-7,500 7500-15,000 >15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
50............................................. 63 0.0088 0 0.0000
25.00-50.00..................................... 179 0.0251 0 0.0000
10.00-25.00..................................... 1,599 0.2238 0 0.0000
5.00-10.00...................................... 5,569 0.7795 0 0.0000
1.00-5.00....................................... 58,368 8.1696 6 0.1733
0.75-1.00....................................... 18,527 2.5932 18 0.5198
0.50-0.75....................................... 29,869 4.1807 111 3.2053
0.25-0.50....................................... 64,440 9.0194 764 22.0618
0.10-0.25....................................... 116,211 16.2657 736 21.2532
0.05-0.10....................................... 101,813 14.2504 538 15.5357
0.01-0.05....................................... 181,194 25.3611 1,161 33.5258
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-NYSE-2018-28 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2018-28. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (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
Page 28884
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 offices of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSE-2018-28, and should be submitted on or before July 12, 2018.
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\56\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\56\
Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
FR Doc. 2018-13303 Filed 6-20-18; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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