87 FR 65 pgs. 19722-19723 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend NYSE Rule 6A

Type: NOTICEVolume: 87Number: 65Pages: 19722 - 19723
Docket number: [Release No. 34-94558; File No. SR-NYSE-2022-15]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2022-07080 Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]
Agency: Securities and Exchange Commission
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 19722, 19723

[top] page 19722

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-94558; File No. SR-NYSE-2022-15]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; New York Stock Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend NYSE Rule 6A

March 30, 2022.

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 March 24, 2022, New York Stock Exchange LLC ("NYSE" or the "Exchange") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

Footnotes:

1 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2 ?15 U.S.C. 78a.

3 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 6A ("Trading Floor") to exclude from the definition of Trading Floor the presence of fully enclosed telephone booths located in 18 Broad Street. 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.

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

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

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

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend NYSE Rule 6A ("Trading Floor") to exclude from the definition of "Trading Floor" the presence of fully enclosed telephone booths located in 18 Broad Street.

The Exchange currently defines "Trading Floor"? 4 in Rule 6A(a) to mean the restricted-access physical areas designated by the Exchange for the trading of securities, commonly known as the "Main Room" and the "Buttonwood Room."? 5 Rule 6A(b) currently specifies that the Exchange's Trading Floor does not include (i) areas designated by the Exchange where NYSE American-listed options are traded, commonly known as the "Buttonwood Room," which, for the purposes of the Exchange's Rules, are referred to as the "NYSE American Options Trading Floor," or (ii) the physical area within fully enclosed telephone booths located in 18 Broad Street at the Southeast wall of the Trading Floor. 6

Footnotes:

4 ?Access to the Trading Floor is restricted at each entrance by turnstiles and only authorized visitors, members or member firm employees are permitted to enter.

5 ? See NYSE Rule 6A. The term "Trading Floor" is distinct from the term "Floor." The term "Floor" means the trading Floor of the Exchange and the premises immediately adjacent thereto, such as the various entrances and lobbies of the 11 Wall Street, 18 New Street, 8 Broad Street, 12 Broad Street and 18 Broad Street Buildings, and also means the telephone facilities available in these locations. See NYSE Rule 6.

6 ? See id. See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 59479 (March 2, 2009), 74 FR 10325 (March 10, 2009) (SR-NYSE-2009-23) (Notice of filing adopting NYSE Rule 6A and explaining that the proposed definition of "Trading Floor" will provide a more accurate description of the physical areas of the Floor where trading is actually conducted); and 78855 (September 15, 2016), 81 FR 64966 (September 21, 2016) (SR-NYSE-2016-31) (Approval of filing amending Rule 6A renaming the physical area formerly known as the "Garage" to the "Buttonwood Room" and excluding the physical area within fully enclosed telephone booths located in 18 Board Street from the definition of Trading Floor) ("2016 Filing")).

The telephone booths were installed in 2016 to facilitate communication by DMMs with issuers but can be used by anyone on the Trading Floor. 7 The telephone booths, however, have been underutilized. As a result, the Exchange has determined to completely remove the telephone booths at 18 Broad Street. To reflect this change, the Exchange proposes to delete the phrase "the physical area within fully enclosed telephone booths located in 18 Broad Street at the Southeast wall of the Trading Floor" from Rule 6A(b). The Exchange does not anticipate that removal of the telephone booths will in any way impede a DMM's obligation to regularly communicate with their listed issuers. 8

Footnotes:

7 ? See 2016 Filing, 81 FR at 64966.

8 ? See Rule 104(j).

Once the telephone booths are removed, the area where the telephone booths are located will again be a part of the Trading Floor and would fall within the broader definition of Floor under Exchange rules. The Exchange will thus retain jurisdiction in this area to regulate conduct that is inconsistent with Exchange Rules and the federal securities laws and rules thereunder.

2. Statutory Basis


[top] The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent with, and further the objectives of, Section 6(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934? 9 (the "Act"), in that they are designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, 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. The proposed rule page 19723 change would exclude from the definition of Trading Floor the presence of fully-enclosed telephone booths that are located on the perimeter of the Trading Floor. The Exchange believes that excluding the presence of these telephone booths from the definition of Trading Floor is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices and to promote just and equitable principles of trade because the area where the telephone booths are located will once again become a part of the Trading Floor and thus allow the Exchange to regulate conduct that is inconsistent with Exchange Rules and the federal securities laws and rules thereunder. The Exchange also believes that the proposed change would protect investors and the public interest because removing reference to telephone booths from the definition of Trading Floor would make the Exchange's rulebook more transparent and facilitate market participants' understanding of the rules applicable to them.

Footnotes:

9 ?15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is not designed to address any issues relating to competition. Rather, the proposed rule change would remove the physical area where telephone booths are located from the definition of Trading Floor and revert jurisdiction in that area back to the Exchange.

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 Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act? 10 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder. 11 Because the proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative prior to 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.

Footnotes:

10 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

11 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)? 12 normally does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), 13 the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest.

Footnotes:

12 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

13 ?17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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)? 14 of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.

Footnotes:

14 ?15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).

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 ( http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or

• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NYSE-2022-15 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-2022-15. 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-NYSE-2022-15 and should be submitted on or before April 26, 2022.

Footnotes:

15 ?17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority. 15

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2022-07080 Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8011-01-P