2015-19875. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Chapter XV, Section 2 Entitled “NASDAQ Options Market-Fees and Rebates”

August 7, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”),^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on July 31, 2015, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq” or “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.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend the Exchange's transaction fees at Chapter XV, Section 2 entitled “NASDAQ Options Market—Fees and Rebates,” which governs pricing for NASDAQ members using the NASDAQ Options Market (“NOM”), NASDAQ's facility for executing and routing standardized equity and index options.

While the changes proposed herein are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated such changes to become operative on August 3, 3015.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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 Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

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

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to expand eligibility for one of the incentives under the Penny Pilot Options Rebates to Add Liquidity. The Penny Pilot was established in March 2008 and has since been expanded and extended through June 30, 2016.^[3] Today, the Exchange pays Customers ^[4] and Professionals ^[5] a Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity based on the following tiered rebate structure:

Monthly volume	Rebate to add liquidity
Tier 1—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of up to 0.10% of total industry customer equity and ETF option average daily volume (“ADV”) contracts per day in a month	$0.20
Tier 2—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.10% to 0.20% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	0.25
Tier 3—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.20% to 0.30% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	0.42
Tier 4—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.30% to 0.40% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month	0.43
Tier 5—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.40% to 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month, or Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 25,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant executed at least one order on NASDAQ's equity market	0.45
Tier 6—Participant has Total Volume of 100,000 or more contracts per day in a month, of which 25,000 or more contracts per day in a month must be Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options	0.45
Tier 7—Participant has Total Volume of 150,000 or more contracts per day in a month, of which 50,000 or more contracts per day in a month must be Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options	0.47
Tier 8—Participant adds Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month or Participant adds (1) Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 30,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant qualifies for rebates under the Qualified Market Maker (“QMM”) Program set forth in Rule 7014.	0.48

The Exchange is proposing to expand eligibility for one of the incentives applicable to Tier 8 Customer Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity. The Tier 8 Customer and Professional Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity is currently $0.48 per contract if Participants add Customer, Professional, Firm,^[6] Non-NOM Market Maker ^[7] and/or Broker-Dealer ^[8] liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options above 0.75% of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV of contracts traded in a month. This rebate also applies if (1) the Participant adds Customer and/or Professional liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options of 30,000 or more contracts per day in a month, (2) the Participant has certified for the Investor Support Program ^[9] set forth in Rule 7014, and (3) the Participant qualifies for rebates under the Qualified Market Maker (“QMM”) Program ^[10] set forth in Rule 7014.

Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 rebate and add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.25% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV of contracts traded in a month today also receive an additional $0.02 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer ^[11] Rebate to Add Liquidity for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in that month.^[12]

The Exchange is proposing to expand eligibility for this additional incentive under the Tier 8 Customer rebate by amending the qualification as follows: “Participants that add Customer, Professional, Firm, Non-NOM Market Maker and/or Broker-Dealer liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non- Penny Pilot Options of 1.15% or more of total industry customer equity and ETF option ADV contracts per day in a month will receive an additional $0.02 per contract Penny Pilot Options Customer Rebate to Add Liquidity for each transaction which adds liquidity in Penny Pilot Options in that month.” By lowering the percentage of total industry customer equity and ETF options ADV of contracts in a month required to be reached in order to qualify for the additional $0.02 per contract rebate, the Exchange expects that a greater number of Participants qualifying for the Tier 8 rebate will also receive the added incentive.

The Exchange expects that expanded eligibility for this incentive will encourage Participants to add greater liquidity to NOM. While the changes proposed herein are effective upon filing, the Exchange has designated such changes to become operative on August 3, 3015.

2. Statutory Basis

NASDAQ believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,^[13] in general, and with Section 6(b)(4) and 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[14] in particular, in that it provides for the equitable allocation of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among members and issuers and other persons using any facility or system which NASDAQ operates or controls, and is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

The Exchange's proposal to expand incentive eligibility is reasonable because it will incentivize Participants to add liquidity in Penny Pilot Options and/or Non-Penny Pilot Options. Participants that qualify for the Tier 8 rebate may choose to add greater liquidity to NOM because of the lower percentage qualifier (1.25% to 1.15%) to obtain the additional $0.02 per contract Customer rebate.

The Exchange's proposal to expand incentive eligibility is equitable and not unfairly discriminatory because all eligible Participants may qualify for the Tier 8 Customer Penny Pilot Options Rebate to Add Liquidity, provided they have the requisite volume. The added $0.0.2 per contract incentive will be uniformly paid in addition to the Tier 8 rebate. Customer liquidity is critically important to the market and all market participants. Greater customer liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities, which attracts market makers. An increase in the activity by market makers in turn facilitates tighter spreads and further order flow.

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

The proposed rule change will not impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed expanded incentive will incentivize market participants to add greater liquidity on NOM to obtain the added $0.02 per contract Customer rebate. Customer liquidity is critically important to the market and benefits all market participants. Greater customer liquidity benefits all market participants by providing more trading opportunities and attracting greater participation by specialists and market makers. An increase in the activity of these market participants in turn facilitates tighter spreads. All Participants are eligible for the rebates if they transact the requisite volume.

The Exchange operates in a highly competitive market in which many sophisticated and knowledgeable market participants can readily and do send order flow to competing exchanges if they deem fee levels or rebate incentives at a particular exchange to be excessive or inadequate. These market forces ensure that the Exchange's fees and rebates remain competitive with the fee structures at other trading platforms.

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

No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Act.^[15]

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (ii) for the protection of investors; or (iii) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml);​; or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-NASDAQ-2015-090 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-NASDAQ-2015-090. 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 Web site (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 Web site 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; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2015-090 and should be submitted on or before September 3, 2015.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[16]

Jill M. Peterson,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 57579 (March 28, 2008), 73 FR 18587 (April 4, 2008) (SR-NASDAQ-2008-026) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness establishing Penny Pilot); 60874 (October 23, 2009), 74 FR 56682 (November 2, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-091) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness expanding and extending Penny Pilot); 60965 (November 9, 2009), 74 FR 59292 (November 17, 2009) (SR-NASDAQ-2009-097) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 61455 (February 1, 2010), 75 FR 6239 (February 8, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-013) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 62029 (May 4, 2010), 75 FR 25895 (May 10, 2010) (SR-NASDAQ-2010-053) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness adding seventy-five classes to Penny Pilot); 65969 (December 15, 2011), 76 FR 79268 (December 21, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-169) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness extension and replacement of Penny Pilot); 67325 (June 29, 2012), 77 FR 40127 (July 6, 2012) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-075) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2012); 68519 (December 21, 2012), 78 FR 136 (January 2, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2012-143) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2013); 69787 (June 18, 2013), 78 FR 37858 (June 24, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-082) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2013); 71105 (December 17, 2013), 78 FR 77530 (December 23, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2014); 79 FR 31151 (May 23, 2014), 79 FR 31151 (May 30, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-056) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through December 31, 2014); 73686 (December 2, 2014), 79 FR 71477 (November 25, 2014) (SR-NASDAQ-2014-115) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness and extension and replacement of Penny Pilot through June 30, 2015) and 75283 (June 24, 2015), 80 FR 37347 (June 30, 2015) (SR-NASDAQ-2015-063) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change Relating to Extension of the Exchange's Penny Pilot Program and Replacement of Penny Pilot Issues That Have Been Delisted.) See also NOM Rules, Chapter VI, Section 5.

4.  The term “Customer” refers to a customer in a transaction that is marked by a Participant in the Customer range for clearing purposes at The Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”). Such a transaction is not for the account of a broker, dealer or “Professional” (see next footnote).

5.  The term “Professional” means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s), See Chapter I, Section 1(a)(48). All Professional orders must be appropriately marked by Participants.

6.  The term “Firm” refers to a firm participating in a transaction marked by a Participant in the Firm range for clearing purposes at OCC.

7.  The term “NOM Market Maker” is a Participant that has registered as a Market Maker on NOM pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 2, and must also remain in good standing pursuant to Chapter VII, Section 4. In order to receive NOM Market Maker pricing in all securities, the Participant must be registered as a NOM Market Maker in at least one security.

8.  The term “Broker-Dealer” refers to a broker or dealer participating in a transaction when such transaction is not subject to transaction fees applicable to specific categories of transaction participants (other than brokers and dealers).

9.  For a detailed description of the ISP, see Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63270 (November 8, 2010), 75 FR 69489 (November 12, 2010) (NASDAQ-2010-141) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness) (the “ISP Filing”). See also Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 63414 (December 2, 2010), 75 FR 76505 (December 8, 2010) (NASDAQ-2010-153) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness); and 63628 (January 3, 2011), 76 FR 1201 (January 7, 2011) (NASDAQ-2010-154) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness).

10.  A QMM is a NASDAQ member that makes a significant contribution to market quality by providing liquidity at the national best bid and offer (“NBBO”) in a large number of stocks for a significant portion of the day. In addition, the NASDAQ equity member must avoid imposing the burdens on NASDAQ and its market participants that may be associated with excessive rates of entry of orders away from the inside and/or order cancellation. The designation “QMM” reflects the QMM's commitment to provide meaningful and consistent support to market quality and price discovery by extensive quoting at the NBBO in a large number of securities. In return for its contributions, certain financial benefits are provided to a QMM with respect to a particular MPID (a “QMM MPID”), as described under Rule 7014(e).

11.  This $0.02 per contract incentive applies only to the Tier 8 Customer rebate, and not the Professional rebate.

12.  See note “e” in Chapter XV, Section 2(1).

13.  15 U.S.C. 78f.

14.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(4) and (5).

15.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).

16.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).