80_FR_8766 80 FR 8734 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change to Rules 11.9 of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.

80 FR 8734 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change to Rules 11.9 of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 32 (February 18, 2015)

Page Range8734-8741
FR Document2015-03223

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8734-8741]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03223]



[[Page 8734]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-74250; File No. SR-BYX-2015-07)


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing of a Proposed Rule Change to Rules 11.9 of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.

 February 11, 2015.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on January 30, 2015, BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``BYX'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``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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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of the 
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange filed a proposal to amend Rules 11.9, 11.12, and 11.13 
to clarify and to include additional specificity regarding the current 
functionality of the Exchange's System,\3\ including the operation of 
its order types and order instructions, as further described below.
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    \3\ Exchange Rule 1.5(aa) defines ``System'' as ``the electronic 
communications and trading facility designated by the Board through 
which securities orders of Users are consolidated for ranking, 
execution and, when applicable, routing away.''
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at www.batstrading.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 parts of such 
statements.

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

1. Purpose
    On June 5, 2014, Chair Mary Jo White asked all national securities 
exchanges to conduct a comprehensive review of each order type offered 
to members and how it operates.\4\ The proposals set forth below, 
therefore, are the product of a comprehensive review of Exchange system 
functionality conducted by the Exchange and are intended to add 
additional clarity and specificity regarding the current functionality 
of the Exchange's System,\5\ including the operation of its order types 
and order instructions. The Exchange is not proposing any substantive 
modifications to the System.
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    \4\ See Mary Jo White, Chair, Commission, Speech at the Sandler 
O'Neill & Partners, L.P. Global Exchange and Brokerage Conference, 
(June 5, 2014) (available at http://www.sec.gov/News/Speech/Detail/Speech/1370542004312#.VD2HW610w6Y).
    \5\ Exchange Rule 1.5(aa) defines ``System'' as ``the electronic 
communications and trading facility designated by the Board through 
which securities orders of Users are consolidated for ranking, 
execution and, when applicable, routing away.''
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    The changes proposed below are designed to update the rulebook to 
reflect current System functionality and include: (i) Making clear that 
orders with a Time-in-Force (``TIF'') of Immediate-or-Cancel (``IOC'') 
can be routed away from the Exchange; (ii) specifying the methodology 
used by the Exchange to determine whether BATS Post Only Orders \6\ 
will remove liquidity from the BATS Book; \7\ (iii) adding additional 
detail to and re-structuring the description of Pegged Orders; (iv) 
adding additional detail to the description of Mid-Point Peg Orders; 
(v) adding additional detail to the description of Discretionary 
Orders; (vi) amending Rule 11.12, Priority of Orders, and Rule 11.13, 
Order Execution, to provide additional specificity and enhance the 
structure of Exchange rules describing the process for ranking, 
executing and routing orders; (vii) adding additional detail to the 
description of orders subject to Re-Route functionality; and (viii) 
making a series of conforming changes to Rules 11.9, 11.12 and 11.13 to 
update cross-references.
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    \6\ See Rule 11.9(c)(6).
    \7\ As defined in Rule 1.5(e).
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Routable Orders With Time in Force of Immediate-or-Cancel
    The Exchange proposes to modify Rule 11.9(b)(1) to update the 
description of the TIF of IOC to make clear that orders with a TIF of 
IOC are routable even though such TIF indicates an instruction to 
execute an order immediately in whole or in part and/or cancel it back. 
Under current rules, the TIF of IOC indicates that an order is to be 
executed in whole or in part as soon as such order is received and the 
portion not executed is to be cancelled. The Exchange proposes to 
expand upon the description of IOC to specify that an order with such 
TIF may be routed away from the Exchange but that in no event will an 
order with such TIF be posted to the BATS Book. The Exchange notes that 
IOC orders routed away from the Exchange are in turn routed as IOC 
orders. The Exchange also notes that current Rule 11.13(a)(2) already 
includes reference to routable IOCs, and the proposed modifications to 
the rule text are intended to add further specificity that IOCs are 
routable.
    In addition to the change described above, the Exchange proposes to 
make clear in Rule 11.9(b)(6) that an order with a TIF of FOK is not 
eligible for routing. Although orders with a TIF of FOK are generally 
treated the same as IOCs, the Exchange does not permit routing of 
orders with a FOK because the Exchange is unable to ensure the 
instruction of FOK (i.e., execution of an order in its entirety) 
through the routing process.
    Finally, in connection with these changes, the Exchange also 
proposes to modify current Rule 11.13(a)(2) (to be re-numbered as Rule 
11.13(b)(2)) to add the cancellation of an unfilled balance of an order 
as one possible outcome after an order has been routed away. Rule 
11.13(a)(2) currently describes other variations of how the Exchange 
handles an order after it has been routed away, but does not 
specifically state that it may be cancelled after the routing process, 
which would be the case with an order submitted to the Exchange with a 
TIF of IOC.
Computation of Economic Best Interest for BATS Post Only Orders
    The Exchange proposes to modify Rule 11.9(c)(6) to specify the 
methodology used by the Exchange to determine whether BATS Post Only 
Orders will remove liquidity from the Exchange's order book. Under the 
Exchange's current rules, a BATS Post Only Order is an order that an 
entering User \8\ intends to be posted to the BATS Book, and thus will 
not ordinarily remove liquidity from the Exchange. However, BATS Post 
Only Orders will

[[Page 8735]]

remove liquidity from the BATS Book if such execution is in the 
economic best interests of the User entering the BATS Post Only Order, 
taking into account applicable fees and rebates.\9\ Specifically, as 
set forth in Rule 11.9(c)(6), BATS Post Only Orders remove liquidity 
from the BATS Book if the value of ``price improvement'' associated 
with such execution equals or exceeds the sum of fees charged for such 
execution and the value of any rebate that would be provided if the 
order posted to the BATS Book and subsequently provided liquidity. The 
Exchange proposes three changes to the description of BATS Post Only 
Orders to make clear the methodology used in calculating whether a BATS 
Post Only Order should remove liquidity on entry. The Exchange notes 
that each of these changes will conform the Exchange's rule governing 
BATS Post Only Orders with Rule 11.6(n)(4) of the Exchange's affiliate, 
EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'').
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    \8\ As defined in Exchange Rule 1.5(cc), a User is ``any Member 
or Sponsored Participant who is authorized to obtain access to the 
System pursuant to Rule 11.3.''
    \9\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67092 (June 1, 
2012), 77 FR 33800 (June 7, 2012) (SR-BYX-2012-009) (notice of 
filing and immediate effectiveness of rule change to amend the 
operation of BATS Post Only Orders).
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    First, the Exchange proposes to clarify that rather than requiring 
price improvement, which indicates an execution at a better price level 
than an order's limit price, the Exchange calculates the value of the 
overall execution taking into account applicable fees and rebates. 
Accordingly, to the extent the fee and rebate structure on its own 
(i.e., even at the limit price) makes it economically advantageous to 
remove liquidity rather than post to the BATS Book and subsequently 
provide liquidity, the Exchange will allow a BATS Post Only Order to 
remove liquidity. The Exchange notes that under its current fee 
structure, which provides a rebate for orders that remove liquidity and 
a fee for orders that add liquidity, this, in turn, results in an 
execution of a BATS Post Only Order upon entry any time that there is 
contra-side liquidity. The Exchange proposes the changes herein and to 
generally maintain BATS Post Only Orders, however, to reflect the 
actual functionality of the System, which does perform the specified 
economic best interest analysis and also in the event the Exchange's 
fees change.
    Second, the Exchange proposes to make clear that this methodology 
is applied only to securities priced at $1.00 and above, and thus, that 
all BATS Post Only Orders in securities priced below $1.00 remove 
contra-side liquidity. The Exchange believes it is reasonable to allow 
BATS Post Only Orders to remove liquidity in lower priced securities 
because the Exchange's fee structure never has provided a significant 
rebate or charged a significant fee for such orders. Because the 
execution cost economics are relatively flat, the Exchange believes it 
is more efficient to simply allow all orders in such securities to 
remove liquidity.
    Third, the Exchange proposes to make clear its methodology for 
determining the applicable fees and rebates given the fact that the 
Exchange maintains a tiered pricing structure. Under the Exchange's 
current tiered pricing structure, an entering User may receive a 
variable rebate for adding liquidity depending on the User's volume 
during the month in question. The Exchange determines whether Users 
qualify for higher rebates at the end of the month, looking back at the 
User's activity during the month. To account for this variable rebate 
structure and to ensure that the Exchange does not determine that an 
execution is in an entering User's economic best interests when, in 
fact, it is not due to a different rebate or fee \10\ ultimately 
achieved by the User, the Exchange applies the highest possible rebate 
provided and highest possible fee charged for such executions on the 
Exchange. The Exchange proposes to make this rebate and fee assumption 
clear in the Exchange's rule text.
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    \10\ The Exchange notes that its current fee structure does not 
have a variable fee depending on trading activity during the month. 
If, in the future, the Exchange implements such a fee structure the 
Exchange will use the highest possible fee for purposes of Rule 
11.9(c)(6).
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Pegged Orders
    The Exchange proposes to restructure Rule 11.9(c)(8), related to 
Pegged Orders, and to add additional detail to such Rule regarding the 
handling of such orders. With respect to restructuring, the Exchange 
currently offers two types of Pegged Orders pursuant to Rule 
11.9(c)(8), Primary Pegged Orders and Market Pegged Orders, and 
believes that each types of Pegged Order would be easier to understand 
if described in separate paragraphs. Given the proposal to split the 
Rule to address Primary Pegged Orders and Market Pegged Orders 
separately, the Exchange also proposes to add an additional lead-in 
sentence that summarizes the operation of Pegged Orders generally.
Mid-Point Peg Orders
    The Exchange proposes to add additional specificity regarding Mid-
Point Peg Orders and the handling of such orders when the market is 
locked or crossed. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to add language 
stating that upon instruction from a User Mid-Point Peg Orders will not 
execute when the market is locked. The Exchange makes this feature 
optional because while some Users may prefer not to execute in a locked 
market given that there is no real mid-point in such a situation and it 
might be evidence of a pricing disparity in a security, other Users may 
prefer an execution. The Exchange also proposes to state that Mid-Point 
Peg Orders are not eligible to execute when the NBBO is crossed. The 
Exchange does not execute Mid-Point Peg Orders in a crossed market 
because the pricing of the mid-point, and the security generally, is 
uncertain in such a situation.
Discretionary Orders
    The Exchange proposes to amend the description of Discretionary 
Orders contained in Rule 11.9(c)(10) and to add additional detail 
regarding the execution of such orders, as set forth below. First, the 
current description indicates that a Discretionary Order has a 
displayed price and size and a non-displayed ``discretionary price.'' 
The Exchange proposes to make clear that although a Discretionary Order 
may have a displayed price and size as well as a discretionary price, a 
Discretionary Order may also be fully non-displayed, and thus, will 
have a non-displayed ranked price as well as a discretionary price. In 
addition to reflecting the ability to have a non-displayed 
Discretionary Order, the Exchange proposes various minor wording 
changes to improve the description of Discretionary Orders to make 
clear that such orders use the minimum amount of discretion when 
executing against incoming orders.
    The Exchange also proposes to make clear how a Discretionary Order 
interacts with a BATS Post Only Order or Partial Post Only at Limit 
Order entered at the displayed or non-displayed ranked price of such 
Discretionary Order that does not remove liquidity on entry pursuant to 
Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule 11.9(c)(7), respectively, by stating that the 
Discretionary Order is converted to an executable order and will remove 
liquidity against such incoming order. Similar to the Re-Route 
functionality described below, due to the fact that Discretionary 
Orders contain more aggressive prices at which they are willing to 
execute, the Exchange treats Discretionary Orders as aggressive orders 
that would prefer to execute at their displayed or non-displayed ranked 
price than to forgo an execution due to

[[Page 8736]]

applicable fees or rebates. Accordingly, in order to facilitate 
transactions consistent with the instructions of its Users, the 
Exchange executes resting Discretionary Orders (and certain orders with 
a Re-Route instruction, as described below) against incoming orders, 
when such incoming orders would otherwise forego an execution. The 
Exchange notes that the determination of whether an order should 
execute on entry against resting interest, including against resting 
Discretionary Orders, is made prior to determining whether the price of 
such an incoming order should be adjusted pursuant to the Exchange's 
price sliding functionality pursuant to Rule 11.9(g). In other words, 
an execution will have already occurred as set forth above before the 
Exchange would consider whether an order could be displayed and/or 
posted to the BATS Book, and if so, at what price.
Examples--Discretionary Order Executes Against BATS Post Only Orders
    Assume that the NBBO is $10.00 by $10.05, and the Exchange's BBO is 
$9.99 by $10.06. Assume that the Exchange receives a non-routable order 
to buy 100 shares of a security at $10.00 per share designated with 
discretion to pay up to an additional $0.05 per share.
     Assume that the next order received by the Exchange is a 
BATS Post Only Order to sell 100 shares of the security at priced at 
$10.03 per share. The BATS Post Only Order would not remove any 
liquidity upon entry pursuant to the Exchange's economic best interest 
functionality, and would post to the BATS Book at $10.03. This would, 
in turn, trigger the discretion of the resting buy order and an 
execution would occur at $10.03. The BATS Post Only Order to sell would 
be treated as the adder of liquidity and the buy order with discretion 
would be treated as the remover of liquidity.
     Assume the same facts as above, but that the incoming BATS 
Post Only Order is priced at $10.00 instead of $10.03. As described 
above, under the Exchange's current fee structure, which provides a 
rebate for orders that remove liquidity and a fee for orders that add 
liquidity, the BATS Post Only Order would execute on entry at $10.00 
against the buy order with discretion pursuant to the Exchange's best 
interest functionality. The buy order with discretion would be treated 
as the adder of liquidity and the BATS Post Only Order to sell would be 
treated as the remover of liquidity. Assume, however, for purposes of 
this example that the BATS Post Only Order would not remove any 
liquidity upon entry pursuant to the Exchange's economic best interest 
functionality. Rather than cancelling the incoming BATS Post Only Order 
to sell back to the User, particularly when the resting order is 
willing to buy the security for up to $10.05 per share, the Exchange 
executes at $10.00 the BATS Post Only Order against the resting buy 
order with discretion. As is true in the example above, the BATS Post 
Only Order to sell would be treated as the liquidity adder and the buy 
order with discretion would be treated as the liquidity remover. As set 
forth in more detail below, if the incoming order was not a BATS Post 
Only Order to sell, the incoming order could be executed at the ranked 
price of the Discretionary Order without restriction and would 
therefore be treated as the liquidity remover.
    Additionally, the Exchange proposes to codify the process by which 
it handles all incoming orders that interact with Discretionary Orders. 
First, the Exchange proposes to codify its handling of a contra-side 
order that executes against a resting Discretionary Order at its 
displayed or non-displayed ranked price or that contains a time-in-
force of IOC or FOK and a price in the discretionary range by expressly 
stating that such an incoming order will remove liquidity against the 
Discretionary Order. Second, the Exchange proposes to codify its 
handling of orders that are intended to post to the BATS Book at a 
price within a Discretionary Order's discretionary range. This 
includes, but is not limited to, BATS Post Only Orders and Partial Post 
Only at Limit Orders. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to codify 
current System functionality whereby any contra-side order with a time-
in-force other than IOC or FOK and a price within the discretionary 
range but not at the displayed or non-displayed ranked price of a 
Discretionary Order will be posted to the BATS Book and then the 
Discretionary Order will remove liquidity against such posted order.
Examples--Discretionary Order Executes Against Non-Post Only Orders
    Assume that the NBBO is $10.00 by $10.05, and the Exchange's BBO is 
$9.99 by $10.06. Assume that the Exchange receives an order to buy 100 
shares of a security at $10.00 per share designated with discretion to 
pay up to an additional $0.05 per share.
     Assume that the next order received by the Exchange is a 
BATS Only Order to sell 100 shares of the security with a TIF other 
than IOC or FOK priced at $10.03 per share. The BATS Only Order would 
not remove any liquidity upon entry and would post to the BATS Book at 
$10.03. This would, in turn, trigger the discretion of the resting buy 
order and an execution would occur at $10.03. The BATS Only Order to 
sell would be treated as the adder of liquidity and the buy order with 
discretion would be treated as the remover of liquidity.
     Assume the same facts as above, but that the incoming BATS 
Only Order is priced at $10.00 instead of $10.03. The BATS Only Order 
would remove liquidity upon entry at $10.00 per share pursuant to the 
Exchange's order execution rules, as described in detail below. 
Contrary to the examples set forth above, the BATS Only Order to sell 
would be treated as the liquidity remover and the resting buy order 
with discretion would be treated as the liquidity adder. The Exchange 
notes that this example operates the same whether an order contains a 
TIF of IOC, FOK or any other TIF.
    The Exchange also proposes to modify the current description of the 
Discretionary Order by eliminating language stating, ``[i]f a 
Discretionary Order is not executed in full, the unexecuted portion of 
the order is automatically re-posted and displayed in the BATS Book 
with a new timestamp, at its original displayed price, and with its 
non-displayed discretionary price offset.'' The Exchange believes this 
language is unnecessarily confusing because the unexecuted portion of 
Discretionary Orders does not actually re-post solely because part of 
the order was executed. Rather, the remaining portion will remain 
resting on the BATS Book without being removed from the BATS Book.
    Finally, because Discretionary Orders have both a price at which 
they will be ranked and an additional discretionary price, the Exchange 
proposes to expressly state how the Exchange handles a routable 
Discretionary Order by stating that such an order will be routed away 
from the Exchange at its full discretionary price. As an example, 
assume the NBBO is $10.00 by $10.05 and the Exchange's BBO is $9.99 by 
$10.06. If the Exchange receives a routable Discretionary Order to buy 
at $10.00 with discretion to pay up to an additional $0.05 per share, 
the Exchange would route the order as a limit order to buy at $10.05. 
Any unexecuted portion of the order would be posted to the BATS Book 
with a ranked price of $10.00 and discretion to pay up to $10.05.
Priority and Execution Algorithm
    With respect to the Exchange's priority and execution algorithm, 
the

[[Page 8737]]

Exchange is proposing various minor and structural changes that are 
intended to emphasize the processes by which orders are accepted, 
priced, ranked and executed, as well as a new provision related to the 
ability of orders to rest at locking prices that is consistent with the 
changes to provisions related to the operation of Discretionary Orders 
described above. First, the Exchange proposes to modify Rule 11.12, 
Priority of Orders, to make clear that the ranking of orders described 
in such rule is in turn dependent on Exchange Rule 11.13(a) which 
discusses the pricing and execution of orders. The Exchange believes 
that this has always been the case under Exchange rules based on the 
reference to the ``Execution Process'' in Rule 11.12; however, this 
reference did not include a cross-reference to Rule 11.13. The Exchange 
also proposes to change the reference within Rule 11.12 to refer to 
ranking rather than executing equally priced trading interest, as the 
Rule as a whole is intended to describe the manner in which resting 
orders are ranked and maintained, specifically in price and time 
priority, while awaiting execution against incoming orders. The 
Exchange does not believe that the proposed modifications substantively 
modify the operation of the rules; however, the Exchange believes that 
it is important to clarify that the ranking of orders is a separate 
process from the execution of orders.
    The Exchange also proposes to specify in Rule 11.12(a)(2)(C) that 
the priority afforded to Pegged Orders is applicable to all non-
displayed Pegged Orders. The Exchange recently began accepting Primary 
Pegged Orders that can be displayed, and if so displayed, the Exchange 
ranks such orders with all other displayed orders. Thus, the Exchange 
proposes to clarify that reference to Pegged Orders in 11.12(a)(2)(C), 
which have lower priority than the displayed size of limit orders and 
non-displayed orders, is a reference specifically to non-displayed 
Pegged Orders.
    Further, the Exchange proposes to adopt new Rule 11.12(a)(3), which 
recognizes existing match trade prevention rules that optionally 
prevent the execution of orders from the same User (i.e., based on the 
User's ``Unique Identifier'', as set forth in Rule 11.9(f)) by stating 
that in such a case the System will not permit such orders to execute 
against one another regardless of priority ranking. Proposed Rule 
11.12(a)(3) is based on EDGX Rule 11.9(a)(3). The Exchange also 
proposes changes to current Rule 11.9(a)(3) and (a)(4) to re-number 
such rules as (a)(4) and (a)(5) as well as to clarify that orders 
retain and lose ``time'' priority under certain circumstances, as 
opposed to priority generally, because retaining or losing price 
priority does not require the same descriptions, as price priority will 
always be retained unless the price of an order changes.
    Next, the Exchange proposes to re-structure Rule 11.13, which 
currently governs both execution and routing logic on the Exchange, by 
more clearly delineating between execution (to be contained in new 
paragraph (a)) and routing (to be contained in new paragraph (b)) and 
by adding additional sub-headings to the execution section. In this 
connection, the Exchange proposes to move language contained within 
Rule 11.13 to the beginning of new paragraph (a) such that the language 
is more generally applicable to the rules governing execution. 
Specifically, the Exchange proposes to relocate language stating that 
any order falling within the parameters of this paragraph shall be 
referred to as ``executable'' and that an order will be cancelled back 
to the User if, based on market conditions, User instructions, 
applicable Exchange Rules and/or the Act and the rules and regulations 
thereunder, such order is not executable, cannot be routed to another 
Trading Center pursuant to Rule 11.13(b) (as proposed to be re-
numbered) or cannot be posted to the BATS Book. The proposed sub-
headings for paragraph (a) regarding order execution are intended to 
delineate between the various rules and National Market System 
(``NMS'') plans that may render an order executable or not, including 
Regulation NMS and Regulation SHO. The Exchange is proposing to add a 
cross-reference in Rule 11.13(a)(3) to its rules related to the Limit 
Up-Limit Down Plan, which is contained in Rule 11.18(e).
    The Exchange proposes to adopt paragraph (C) of Rule 11.13(a)(4) to 
provide further clarity regarding the situations where orders are not 
executable, which although covered in other existing rules, would focus 
on the incoming order on the same side of a displayed order rather than 
the resting order that is rendered not executable because it is 
opposite such displayed order. The proposed provision would replace 
existing text set forth in Rule 11.13(a)(1) to acknowledge that, under 
certain circumstances, there can be locking interest on the Exchange 
but that such interest will not be displayed by the System as a locked 
market. Proposed paragraph (C) would further state that if an incoming 
order is on the same side of the market as an order displayed on the 
BATS Book and upon entry would execute against contra-side interest at 
the same price as such displayed order, such incoming order will be 
cancelled or posted to the BATS Book and ranked in accordance with Rule 
11.12. The Exchange does not allow non-displayed interest that locks a 
contra-side displayed order to execute at such price to avoid an 
apparent priority issue.
    To demonstrate the functionality in place on the Exchange described 
above, assume the NBBO is $10.10 by $10.11. Assume the Exchange has a 
posted and displayed bid to buy 100 shares of a security priced at 
$10.10 per share and a resting non-displayed bid to buy 100 shares of a 
security priced at $10.11 per share. For purposes of this example, 
assume the resting non-displayed bid has not selected the Re-Route 
functionality, which, as described in further detail below, could make 
a resting order executable against an incoming BATS Post Only Order 
under certain circumstances.
     Assume that the next order received by the Exchange is a 
BATS Post Only Order to sell 100 shares of the security priced at 
$10.11 per share. As described above, under the Exchange's current fee 
structure, which provides a rebate for orders that remove liquidity and 
a fee for orders that add liquidity, the BATS Post Only Order would 
execute on entry at $10.11 against the resting non-displayed bid 
pursuant to the Exchange's best interest functionality. The non-
displayed bid would be treated as the adder of liquidity and the BATS 
Post Only Order to sell would be treated as the remover of liquidity. 
Assume, however, for purposes of this example that the BATS Post Only 
Order would not remove any liquidity upon entry pursuant to the 
Exchange's economic best interest functionality. With that assumption, 
the BATS Post Only Order would instead post to the BATS Book, and would 
be displayed at $10.11. The display of this order would, in turn, make 
the resting non-displayed bid not executable at $10.11.
     Assume the next order received by the Exchange is an order 
to sell 100 shares of the security priced at $10.11 per share. The 
order would not remove any liquidity upon entry because there is a 
displayed order to sell at $10.11 posted on the BATS Book and thus, by 
rule, the Exchange does not maintain any executable buy interest priced 
at $10.11. If the later arriving order to sell at $10.11 contained a 
TIF other than IOC or FOK, it would be posted to the BATS Book and 
displayed at $10.11. If the later arriving order to sell at $10.11 
contained a TIF of IOC or FOK, it would be cancelled back to the User.

[[Page 8738]]

     To the extent the BATS Book is in the state set forth to 
conclude the examples above, with a non-executable bid to buy at $10.11 
and one or more offers to sell displayed by the Exchange at $10.11; 
there are several potential outcomes. For instance, any incoming order 
to buy at $10.11 or higher \11\ will execute against the displayed 
order(s) to sell, as such resting orders are fully executable and 
displayed as available offers on the BATS Book. Once all displayed 
liquidity to sell at $10.11 has been executed on the Exchange, the 
resting non-displayed bid to buy at $10.11 will again be fully 
executable. Similarly, if the resting displayed orders to sell that are 
priced at $10.11 are cancelled then the resting non-displayed bid to 
buy at $10.11 will again be fully executable at that price. As 
described in the text and examples below, an incoming sell order priced 
at $10.10 or better will execute against the resting bid at $10.105. 
Finally, the User representing the non-displayed bid to buy at $10.11 
could cancel the order.
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    \11\ The Exchange notes that an incoming order for purposes of 
comparison to a resting order can be any incoming order unless the 
terms of that incoming order itself preclude execution. For 
instance, in this example, an incoming buy order could be routable 
or non-routable, the order could be selected for potential display 
or could include instructions not to display the order, the order 
could have a discretionary price, or several other characteristics. 
Upon entry, unless the terms of the order preclude removing 
liquidity, such as a BATS Post Only order, the characteristics that 
govern the way that the order may be handled once posted to the 
Exchange's order book are irrelevant and any incoming buy order 
priced at $10.11 or higher will execute against the resting offers.
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    The Exchange is also proposing to modify and place in new paragraph 
(D) rule language contained in current Rule 11.13(a)(1) that governs 
the price at which non-displayed locking interest is executable in 
order to further clarify such rule text. Specifically, for bids or 
offers equal to or greater than $1.00 per share, in the event that an 
incoming order is a market order or is a limit order priced more 
aggressively than an order displayed on the Exchange, the Exchange will 
execute the incoming order at, in the case of an incoming sell order, 
one-half minimum price variation less than the price of the displayed 
order, and, in the case of an incoming buy order, at one-half minimum 
price variation more than the price of the displayed order. As is true 
under existing functionality, this order handling is inapplicable for 
bids or offers under $1.00 per share. Proposed paragraph (D) does not 
substantively modify the existing operation of the System but is 
intended to better describe in rule text the process for matching an 
incoming order against an order on the BATS Book when there is a 
displayed order on the same side of the market as the incoming order.
    To demonstrate the operation of this provision, again assume the 
NBBO is $10.10 by $10.11. Assume the Exchange has a posted and 
displayed bid to buy 100 shares of a security priced at $10.10 per 
share and a resting non-displayed bid to buy 100 shares of a security 
priced at $10.11 per share.
     Assume that the next order received by the Exchange is a 
BATS Post Only Order to sell 100 shares of the security priced at 
$10.11 per share. As described above, under the Exchange's current fee 
structure, which provides a rebate for orders that remove liquidity and 
a fee for orders that add liquidity, the BATS Post Only Order would 
execute on entry at $10.11 against the resting non-displayed bid 
pursuant to the Exchange's best interest functionality. The non-
displayed bid would be treated as the adder of liquidity and the BATS 
Post Only Order to sell would be treated as the remover of liquidity. 
Assume, however, for purposes of this example that the BATS Post Only 
Order would not remove any liquidity upon entry pursuant to the 
Exchange's economic best interest functionality. With that assumption, 
the BATS Post Only Order to sell would post to the BATS Book and would 
be displayed at $10.11. The display of this order would, in turn, make 
the resting non-displayed bid not executable at $10.11.
     If an incoming offer to sell 100 shares at $10.10 is 
entered into the BATS Book, the resting non-displayed bid originally 
priced at $10.11 will be executed at $10.105 per share, thus providing 
a half-penny of price improvement as compared to the order's limit 
price of $10.11. The execution at $10.105 per share also provides the 
incoming offer with a half-penny of price improvement as compared to 
its limit price of $10.10. The result would be the same for an incoming 
market order to sell or any other incoming limit order offer priced at 
$10.10 or below, which would execute against the non-displayed bid at a 
price of $10.105 per share. As above, an offer at the full price of the 
resting and displayed $10.11 offer would not execute against the 
resting non-displayed bid, but would instead either cancel or post to 
the BATS Book behind the original $10.11 offer in priority.
    The Exchange notes that it is proposing to add descriptive titles 
to paragraphs (A) and (B) of Rule 11.13(a)(4), which describe the 
process by which executable orders are matched within the System. 
Specifically, so long as it is otherwise executable, an incoming order 
to buy will be automatically executed to the extent that it is priced 
at an amount that equals or exceeds any order to sell in the BATS Book 
and an incoming order to sell will be automatically executed to the 
extent that it is priced at an amount that equals or is less than any 
order to buy in the BATS Book. These rules further state that an order 
to buy shall be executed at the price(s) of the lowest order(s) to sell 
having priority in the BATS Book and an order to sell shall be executed 
at the price(s) of the highest order(s) to buy having priority in the 
BATS Book. The Exchange emphasizes these current rules only insofar as 
to highlight the interconnected nature of the priority rule.
    The Exchange also proposes to modify existing paragraph (b) of Rule 
11.13 to re-number it as paragraph (b)(5) and to clarify the Exchange's 
rule regarding the priority of routed orders. Paragraph (b) currently 
sets forth the proposition that a routed order does not retain priority 
on the Exchange while it is being routed to other markets. The Exchange 
believes that its proposed clarification to paragraph (b) is 
appropriate because it more clearly states that a routed order is not 
ranked and maintained in the BATS Book pursuant to Rule 11.12(a), and 
therefore is not available to execute against incoming orders pursuant 
to Rule 11.13.
Re-Route Functionality
    The Exchange currently allows Users to submit various types of 
limit orders to the Exchange that are processed pursuant to current 
Exchange Rule 11.13, as described elsewhere in this proposal. To the 
extent an order has not been executed in its entirety against the BATS 
Book, Rule 11.13 describes the process of routing marketable limit 
orders \12\ to one or more Trading Centers, including a description of 
how the Exchange treats any unfilled balance that returns to the 
Exchange following the first attempt to fill the order through the 
routing process. If not filled through routing, and based on the order 
instructions, the unfilled balance of the order may be posted to the 
BATS Book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Market orders are also routed away pursuant to Rule 11.13, 
however the Exchange is not proposing any changes to the treatment 
of routed market orders at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to Exchange Rule 11.13(a)(4) (to be re-numbered as Rule 
11.13(b)(4) pursuant to this proposal), under certain circumstances the 
Exchange will re-route an order that has been posted to the BATS Book 
if subsequently locked or crossed by another accessible Trading Center. 
The Exchange offers two

[[Page 8739]]

optional Re-Route instructions, the Super Aggressive Re-Route 
instruction and the Aggressive Re-Route instruction. The Super 
Aggressive Re-Route instruction reflects the willingness of the sender 
of the routable order posted to the BATS Book to route to away Trading 
Centers and to remove liquidity from such Trading Centers any time such 
order is locked or crossed (i.e., rather than passively waiting for an 
execution on the BATS Book). The Aggressive Re-Route instruction 
subjects an order to the routing process after being posted to the BATS 
Book only if the order is subsequently crossed by an accessible Trading 
Center (rather than if the order is locked or crossed). The Exchange 
proposes two changes to its rules to reflect current operation of the 
System in connection with Re-Route functionality, as described below.
Non-Displayed Routable Orders
    First, the Exchange proposes to add language to the Aggressive Re-
Route instruction that makes clear that any routable non-displayed 
limit order posted to the BATS Book that is crossed by another 
accessible Trading Center will be automatically routed to that Trading 
Center. As described in Rule 11.9(g)(4), the Exchange re-prices non-
displayed orders to the extent they are crossed by another Trading 
Center to avoid trading-through Protected Quotations displayed by such 
Trading Center. In the process of such price sliding, to the extent a 
non-displayed order is routable, the Exchange will attempt to route the 
order to the Trading Center displaying the crossing quotation that 
prompted the price sliding process.
    As an example of a routable non-displayed order that is handled 
consistent with the Aggressive Re-Route instruction, assume the 
Exchange receives a non-displayed order to buy 300 shares of a security 
at $10.10 per share. Assume further that the NBBO is $10.09 by $10.10 
when the order is received, and the Exchange's lowest priced offer is 
priced at $10.11. The Exchange will route the order away from the 
Exchange as a bid to buy 300 shares at $10.10. Assume that the order 
obtains one 100 share execution through the routing process and then 
returns to the Exchange. The Exchange will post the order as a non-
displayed bid to buy 200 shares at $10.10. If displayed liquidity then 
appears at one or more Trading Centers priced at $10.09 or lower (i.e., 
crossing the posted bid to buy at $10.10), the Exchange will take the 
non-displayed bid off of the BATS Book and again route such order to 
the displayed liquidity at other Trading Centers.
    Second, the Exchange proposes to codify existing System 
functionality by adding rule text to state that, consistent with the 
Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction described in Rule 11.13(b)(4)(B), 
when any order with a Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction is locked 
by an incoming BATS Post Only Order or Partial Post Only at Limit Order 
that does not remove liquidity pursuant to Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule 
11.9(c)(7), respectively,\13\ the Re-Route order is converted to an 
executable order and will remove liquidity against such incoming order. 
The Exchange applies this logic in order to facilitate executions that 
would otherwise not occur due to the instruction of a BATS Post Only 
Order or Partial Post Only at Limit Order to not remove liquidity. 
Because a Super Aggressive Re-Route eligible order is willing to route 
to an away Trading Center and remove liquidity (i.e., pay a fee at such 
Trading Center) when locked or crossed, the Exchange believes it is 
reasonable and consistent with the instruction to force an execution 
between an incoming BATS Post Only Order and an order that has been 
posted to the BATS Book with the Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction. 
The Exchange notes that the determination of whether an order should 
execute on entry against resting interest, including against resting 
orders with a Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction, is made prior to 
determining whether the price of such an incoming order should be 
adjusted pursuant to the Exchange's price sliding functionality 
pursuant to Rule 11.9(g). The Exchange has limited the proposed 
language to BATS Post Only Orders that lock orders with a Super 
Aggressive Re-Route instruction because BATS Post Only Orders that 
cross resting orders will always remove liquidity because it is in 
their economic best interest to do so.\14\ Similarly, Partial Post Only 
Limit Orders execute against crossing interest as set forth in Rule 
11.9(c)(7)(A). The Exchange also proposes to make clear that although 
it will execute an order with a Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction 
against a BATS Post Only Order that would lock it, if an order that 
does not contain a Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction maintains 
higher priority than one or more Super Aggressive Re-Route eligible 
orders, the Super Aggressive Re-Route eligible order(s) with lower 
priority will not be converted, as described above, and the incoming 
BATS Post Only Order or Partial Post Only at Limit Order will be posted 
or cancelled in accordance with Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule 11.9(c)(7), 
respectively. The Exchange believes it is necessary to avoid applying 
the Re-Route functionality to Re-Route eligible orders that are resting 
behind orders that are not Re-Route eligible orders to avoid violating 
the Exchange's priority rule, Rule 11.12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The Exchange notes that pursuant to Rule 11.9(c)(6), BATS 
Post Only Orders remove liquidity in certain circumstances based on 
an economic analysis that takes into account applicable fees and 
rebates. The Exchange has proposed clarifications to this economic 
analysis as described above. Similarly, Partial Post Only at Limit 
Orders are permitted to remove price improving liquidity as well as 
a User-selected percentage of the remaining order at the limit price 
if, following such removal, the order can post at its limit price. 
See Rule 11.9(c)(7).
    \14\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example--Super Aggressive Re-Route and BATS Post Only Orders
    Assume that the Exchange receives an order to buy 300 shares of a 
security at $10.10 per share designated with a Super Aggressive Re-
Route instruction. Assume further that the NBBO is $10.09 by $10.10 
when the order is received, and the Exchange's lowest offer is priced 
at $10.11. The Exchange will route the order away from the Exchange as 
a bid to buy 300 shares at $10.10. Assume that the order obtains one 
100 share execution through the routing process and then returns to the 
Exchange. The Exchange will post the order as a bid to buy 200 shares 
at $10.10. If the Exchange subsequently receives a BATS Post Only Order 
to sell priced at $10.09 per share, such order will execute against the 
posted order to buy with an execution price of $10.10. The posted buy 
order will be treated as the liquidity provider and the incoming BATS 
Post Only Order to sell will be treated as the liquidity remover, based 
on the Exchange's rules that execute BATS Post Only Orders on entry if 
such execution is in their economic interest.
    However, assuming the same facts as above, if the incoming BATS 
Post Only Order to sell is priced at $10.10 and also assuming that the 
incoming BATS Post Only Order does not remove liquidity pursuant to the 
economic best interest functionality,\15\ the posted order with a Super 
Aggressive Re-Route instruction will execute against such order at 
$10.10. In this scenario, the posted order to buy will be treated as 
the liquidity remover and the incoming BATS Post Only Order to sell 
will be treated as the liquidity provider.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ As described above, an incoming BATS Post Only Order to 
sell would in fact remove on entry at $10.10 based on the Exchange's 
current fee structure and economic best interest functionality.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, assume that the NBBO is $10.10 by $10.11 and that the 
Exchange has a displayed bid to buy 100 shares

[[Page 8740]]

of a security at $10.10 and a displayed offer to sell 100 shares of a 
security at $10.11. Assume that the displayed bid has not been 
designated with the Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction. Assume next 
that the Exchange receives a second displayable bid to buy 100 shares 
of the same security at $10.10 that has been designated as routable and 
subject to the Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction. Because there is 
no liquidity to which the Exchange can route the order, the second 
order will post to the BATS Book as a bid to buy at $10.10 behind the 
original displayed bid to buy at $10.10. If the Exchange then received 
a BATS Post Only Order to sell 100 shares at $10.10 then no execution 
would occur assuming again that the incoming BATS Post Only Order 
cannot remove liquidity at $10.10 based on the economic best interest 
analysis,\16\ the first order with priority to buy at $10.10 was not 
designated with the Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction and the 
second booked order to buy at $10.10 is not permitted to bypass the 
first order as this would result in a violation of the Exchange's 
priority rule, Rule 11.12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent 
with Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') 
\17\ and further the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \18\ 
because they are designed 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, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in 
securities, and, in general, to protect investors and the public 
interest. The proposed rule changes are also designed to support the 
principles of Section 11A(a)(1) \19\ of the Act in that they seek to 
assure fair competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange 
markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \19\ 15 U.S. C. 78k-1(a)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The modifications related to routable orders with a TIF of IOC, 
Pegged Orders, Mid-Point Peg Orders, Discretionary Orders, and the 
Exchange's priority, execution and routing rules are each designed to 
add clarity and transparency regarding Exchange System functionality 
without substantively modifying such functionality. Specifically, the 
Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes will provide 
additional clarity and specificity regarding the functionality of the 
System and thus would promote just and equitable principles of trade 
and remove impediments to a free and open market. The Exchange also 
believes that the proposed amendments will contribute to the protection 
of investors and the public interest by making the Exchange's rules 
easier to understand.
    With respect to the additional specificity proposed in connection 
with BATS Post Only Orders, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
rule change is consistent with the Act in that the change will help to 
clarify the methodology used by the Exchange to determine whether BATS 
Post Only Orders will remove liquidity from the BATS Book. The Exchange 
again notes that any methodology other than using the highest possible 
rebate and highest possible fee could result in the Exchange 
determining that an execution was in an entering User's economic best 
interest when, in fact, it was not. For the reasons articulated above, 
the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with and supports 
just and equitable principles of trade, removes impediments to, and 
helps to perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market and a 
national market system, and, in general, protects investors and the 
public interest.
    The Exchange also believes it is consistent with the Act to execute 
Discretionary orders and orders with a Super Aggressive Re-Route 
instruction against marketable liquidity (i.e., BATS Post Only Orders 
and Partial Post Only Orders) when an execution would not otherwise 
occur is consistent with both: (i) The Act, by facilitating executions, 
removing impediments and perfecting the mechanism of a free and open 
market and national market system; and (ii) a User's instructions, 
which have evidenced a willingness by the User to pay applicable 
execution fees and/or execute at more aggressive prices than they are 
currently ranked in favor of an execution. The Exchange also believes 
that the proposed rule change provides additional specificity regarding 
the functionality of the System with regard to routable non-displayed 
orders that have been crossed by another accessible Trading Center, 
thereby promoting just and equitable principles of trade and removing 
impediments to a free and open market.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
rule changes are not designed to address any competitive issue but 
rather to add specificity and clarity to Exchange rules, thus providing 
greater transparency regarding the operation of the System.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received written comments on 
the proposed rule changes.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may 
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to 
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the Exchange consents, the Commission will: (a) By order approve 
or disapprove such proposed rule change, or (b) institute proceedings 
to determine whether the proposed rule change should be 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-BYX-2015-07 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-BYX-2015-07. 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

[[Page 8741]]

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 at 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090 on 
official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 
Copies of such 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-BYX-2015-07, and should be submitted on 
or before March 11, 2015.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-03223 Filed 2-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                8734                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        even though such TIF indicates an
                                                COMMISSION                                              Statement of the Purpose of, and                         instruction to execute an order
                                                                                                        Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                   immediately in whole or in part and/or
                                                [Release No. 34–74250; File No. SR–BYX–                 Change                                                   cancel it back. Under current rules, the
                                                2015–07)                                                                                                         TIF of IOC indicates that an order is to
                                                                                                        1. Purpose
                                                                                                                                                                 be executed in whole or in part as soon
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS                        On June 5, 2014, Chair Mary Jo White                  as such order is received and the
                                                Y–Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a                 asked all national securities exchanges                  portion not executed is to be cancelled.
                                                Proposed Rule Change to Rules 11.9 of                   to conduct a comprehensive review of                     The Exchange proposes to expand upon
                                                BATS Y–Exchange, Inc.                                   each order type offered to members and                   the description of IOC to specify that an
                                                                                                        how it operates.4 The proposals set forth                order with such TIF may be routed away
                                                February 11, 2015.                                      below, therefore, are the product of a                   from the Exchange but that in no event
                                                   Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  comprehensive review of Exchange                         will an order with such TIF be posted
                                                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    system functionality conducted by the                    to the BATS Book. The Exchange notes
                                                ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  Exchange and are intended to add                         that IOC orders routed away from the
                                                notice is hereby given that on January                  additional clarity and specificity                       Exchange are in turn routed as IOC
                                                30, 2015, BATS Y–Exchange, Inc. (the                    regarding the current functionality of                   orders. The Exchange also notes that
                                                ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BYX’’) filed with the                 the Exchange’s System,5 including the                    current Rule 11.13(a)(2) already
                                                Securities and Exchange Commission                      operation of its order types and order                   includes reference to routable IOCs, and
                                                (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                      instructions. The Exchange is not                        the proposed modifications to the rule
                                                change as described in Items I, II and III              proposing any substantive modifications                  text are intended to add further
                                                below, which Items have been prepared                   to the System.                                           specificity that IOCs are routable.
                                                by the Exchange. The Commission is                         The changes proposed below are
                                                                                                                                                                    In addition to the change described
                                                publishing this notice to solicit                       designed to update the rulebook to
                                                                                                                                                                 above, the Exchange proposes to make
                                                comments on the proposed rule change                    reflect current System functionality and
                                                                                                                                                                 clear in Rule 11.9(b)(6) that an order
                                                from interested persons.                                include: (i) Making clear that orders
                                                                                                                                                                 with a TIF of FOK is not eligible for
                                                                                                        with a Time-in-Force (‘‘TIF’’) of
                                                I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                                routing. Although orders with a TIF of
                                                                                                        Immediate-or-Cancel (‘‘IOC’’) can be
                                                Statement of the Terms of the Substance                                                                          FOK are generally treated the same as
                                                                                                        routed away from the Exchange; (ii)
                                                of the Proposed Rule Change                                                                                      IOCs, the Exchange does not permit
                                                                                                        specifying the methodology used by the
                                                                                                                                                                 routing of orders with a FOK because
                                                                                                        Exchange to determine whether BATS
                                                   The Exchange filed a proposal to                                                                              the Exchange is unable to ensure the
                                                                                                        Post Only Orders 6 will remove liquidity
                                                amend Rules 11.9, 11.12, and 11.13 to                                                                            instruction of FOK (i.e., execution of an
                                                                                                        from the BATS Book; 7 (iii) adding
                                                clarify and to include additional                                                                                order in its entirety) through the routing
                                                                                                        additional detail to and re-structuring
                                                specificity regarding the current                                                                                process.
                                                                                                        the description of Pegged Orders; (iv)
                                                functionality of the Exchange’s System,3                                                                            Finally, in connection with these
                                                                                                        adding additional detail to the
                                                including the operation of its order                                                                             changes, the Exchange also proposes to
                                                                                                        description of Mid-Point Peg Orders; (v)
                                                types and order instructions, as further                                                                         modify current Rule 11.13(a)(2) (to be
                                                                                                        adding additional detail to the
                                                described below.                                                                                                 re-numbered as Rule 11.13(b)(2)) to add
                                                                                                        description of Discretionary Orders; (vi)
                                                   The text of the proposed rule change                 amending Rule 11.12, Priority of Orders,                 the cancellation of an unfilled balance
                                                is available at the Exchange’s Web site                 and Rule 11.13, Order Execution, to                      of an order as one possible outcome
                                                at www.batstrading.com, at the                          provide additional specificity and                       after an order has been routed away.
                                                principal office of the Exchange, and at                enhance the structure of Exchange rules                  Rule 11.13(a)(2) currently describes
                                                the Commission’s Public Reference                       describing the process for ranking,                      other variations of how the Exchange
                                                Room.                                                   executing and routing orders; (vii)                      handles an order after it has been routed
                                                                                                        adding additional detail to the                          away, but does not specifically state that
                                                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                               it may be cancelled after the routing
                                                Statement of the Purpose of, and                        description of orders subject to Re-Route
                                                                                                        functionality; and (viii) making a series                process, which would be the case with
                                                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                                                                           an order submitted to the Exchange with
                                                Change                                                  of conforming changes to Rules 11.9,
                                                                                                        11.12 and 11.13 to update cross-                         a TIF of IOC.
                                                  In its filing with the Commission, the                references.                                              Computation of Economic Best Interest
                                                Exchange included statements                                                                                     for BATS Post Only Orders
                                                concerning the purpose of and basis for                 Routable Orders With Time in Force of
                                                the proposed rule change and discussed                  Immediate-or-Cancel                                        The Exchange proposes to modify
                                                any comments it received on the                           The Exchange proposes to modify                        Rule 11.9(c)(6) to specify the
                                                proposed rule change. The text of these                 Rule 11.9(b)(1) to update the description                methodology used by the Exchange to
                                                statements may be examined at the                       of the TIF of IOC to make clear that                     determine whether BATS Post Only
                                                places specified in Item IV below. The                  orders with a TIF of IOC are routable                    Orders will remove liquidity from the
                                                Exchange has prepared summaries, set                                                                             Exchange’s order book. Under the
                                                forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of                    4 See Mary Jo White, Chair, Commission, Speech        Exchange’s current rules, a BATS Post
                                                the most significant parts of such                      at the Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. Global           Only Order is an order that an entering
                                                                                                        Exchange and Brokerage Conference, (June 5, 2014)        User 8 intends to be posted to the BATS
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                statements.                                             (available at http://www.sec.gov/News/Speech/
                                                                                                        Detail/Speech/1370542004312#.VD2HW610w6Y).
                                                                                                                                                                 Book, and thus will not ordinarily
                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                   5 Exchange Rule 1.5(aa) defines ‘‘System’’ as ‘‘the   remove liquidity from the Exchange.
                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   electronic communications and trading facility           However, BATS Post Only Orders will
                                                  3 Exchange Rule 1.5(aa) defines ‘‘System’’ as ‘‘the   designated by the Board through which securities
                                                electronic communications and trading facility          orders of Users are consolidated for ranking,               8 As defined in Exchange Rule 1.5(cc), a User is

                                                designated by the Board through which securities        execution and, when applicable, routing away.’’          ‘‘any Member or Sponsored Participant who is
                                                                                                           6 See Rule 11.9(c)(6).
                                                orders of Users are consolidated for ranking,                                                                    authorized to obtain access to the System pursuant
                                                execution and, when applicable, routing away.’’            7 As defined in Rule 1.5(e).                          to Rule 11.3.’’



                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:32 Feb 17, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00146   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM     18FEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices                                              8735

                                                remove liquidity from the BATS Book if                  Orders to remove liquidity in lower                     or crossed. Specifically, the Exchange
                                                such execution is in the economic best                  priced securities because the Exchange’s                proposes to add language stating that
                                                interests of the User entering the BATS                 fee structure never has provided a                      upon instruction from a User Mid-Point
                                                Post Only Order, taking into account                    significant rebate or charged a                         Peg Orders will not execute when the
                                                applicable fees and rebates.9                           significant fee for such orders. Because                market is locked. The Exchange makes
                                                Specifically, as set forth in Rule                      the execution cost economics are                        this feature optional because while
                                                11.9(c)(6), BATS Post Only Orders                       relatively flat, the Exchange believes it               some Users may prefer not to execute in
                                                remove liquidity from the BATS Book if                  is more efficient to simply allow all                   a locked market given that there is no
                                                the value of ‘‘price improvement’’                      orders in such securities to remove                     real mid-point in such a situation and
                                                associated with such execution equals                   liquidity.                                              it might be evidence of a pricing
                                                or exceeds the sum of fees charged for                     Third, the Exchange proposes to make                 disparity in a security, other Users may
                                                such execution and the value of any                     clear its methodology for determining                   prefer an execution. The Exchange also
                                                rebate that would be provided if the                    the applicable fees and rebates given the               proposes to state that Mid-Point Peg
                                                order posted to the BATS Book and                       fact that the Exchange maintains a tiered               Orders are not eligible to execute when
                                                subsequently provided liquidity. The                    pricing structure. Under the Exchange’s                 the NBBO is crossed. The Exchange
                                                Exchange proposes three changes to the                  current tiered pricing structure, an                    does not execute Mid-Point Peg Orders
                                                description of BATS Post Only Orders                    entering User may receive a variable                    in a crossed market because the pricing
                                                to make clear the methodology used in                   rebate for adding liquidity depending on                of the mid-point, and the security
                                                calculating whether a BATS Post Only                    the User’s volume during the month in                   generally, is uncertain in such a
                                                Order should remove liquidity on entry.                 question. The Exchange determines                       situation.
                                                The Exchange notes that each of these                   whether Users qualify for higher rebates
                                                                                                        at the end of the month, looking back at                Discretionary Orders
                                                changes will conform the Exchange’s
                                                rule governing BATS Post Only Orders                    the User’s activity during the month. To                   The Exchange proposes to amend the
                                                with Rule 11.6(n)(4) of the Exchange’s                  account for this variable rebate structure              description of Discretionary Orders
                                                affiliate, EDGX Exchange, Inc.                          and to ensure that the Exchange does                    contained in Rule 11.9(c)(10) and to add
                                                (‘‘EDGX’’).                                             not determine that an execution is in an                additional detail regarding the
                                                   First, the Exchange proposes to clarify              entering User’s economic best interests                 execution of such orders, as set forth
                                                that rather than requiring price                        when, in fact, it is not due to a different             below. First, the current description
                                                improvement, which indicates an                         rebate or fee 10 ultimately achieved by                 indicates that a Discretionary Order has
                                                execution at a better price level than an               the User, the Exchange applies the                      a displayed price and size and a non-
                                                order’s limit price, the Exchange                       highest possible rebate provided and                    displayed ‘‘discretionary price.’’ The
                                                calculates the value of the overall                     highest possible fee charged for such                   Exchange proposes to make clear that
                                                execution taking into account applicable                executions on the Exchange. The                         although a Discretionary Order may
                                                fees and rebates. Accordingly, to the                   Exchange proposes to make this rebate                   have a displayed price and size as well
                                                extent the fee and rebate structure on its              and fee assumption clear in the                         as a discretionary price, a Discretionary
                                                own (i.e., even at the limit price) makes               Exchange’s rule text.                                   Order may also be fully non-displayed,
                                                it economically advantageous to remove                                                                          and thus, will have a non-displayed
                                                liquidity rather than post to the BATS                  Pegged Orders                                           ranked price as well as a discretionary
                                                Book and subsequently provide                             The Exchange proposes to restructure                  price. In addition to reflecting the
                                                liquidity, the Exchange will allow a                    Rule 11.9(c)(8), related to Pegged                      ability to have a non-displayed
                                                BATS Post Only Order to remove                          Orders, and to add additional detail to                 Discretionary Order, the Exchange
                                                liquidity. The Exchange notes that                      such Rule regarding the handling of                     proposes various minor wording
                                                under its current fee structure, which                  such orders. With respect to                            changes to improve the description of
                                                provides a rebate for orders that remove                restructuring, the Exchange currently                   Discretionary Orders to make clear that
                                                liquidity and a fee for orders that add                 offers two types of Pegged Orders                       such orders use the minimum amount of
                                                liquidity, this, in turn, results in an                 pursuant to Rule 11.9(c)(8), Primary                    discretion when executing against
                                                execution of a BATS Post Only Order                     Pegged Orders and Market Pegged                         incoming orders.
                                                upon entry any time that there is contra-               Orders, and believes that each types of                    The Exchange also proposes to make
                                                side liquidity. The Exchange proposes                   Pegged Order would be easier to                         clear how a Discretionary Order
                                                the changes herein and to generally                     understand if described in separate                     interacts with a BATS Post Only Order
                                                maintain BATS Post Only Orders,                         paragraphs. Given the proposal to split                 or Partial Post Only at Limit Order
                                                however, to reflect the actual                          the Rule to address Primary Pegged                      entered at the displayed or non-
                                                functionality of the System, which does                 Orders and Market Pegged Orders                         displayed ranked price of such
                                                perform the specified economic best                     separately, the Exchange also proposes                  Discretionary Order that does not
                                                interest analysis and also in the event                 to add an additional lead-in sentence                   remove liquidity on entry pursuant to
                                                the Exchange’s fees change.                             that summarizes the operation of Pegged                 Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule 11.9(c)(7),
                                                   Second, the Exchange proposes to                     Orders generally.                                       respectively, by stating that the
                                                make clear that this methodology is                                                                             Discretionary Order is converted to an
                                                applied only to securities priced at                    Mid-Point Peg Orders                                    executable order and will remove
                                                $1.00 and above, and thus, that all                       The Exchange proposes to add                          liquidity against such incoming order.
                                                BATS Post Only Orders in securities                     additional specificity regarding Mid-                   Similar to the Re-Route functionality
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                priced below $1.00 remove contra-side                   Point Peg Orders and the handling of                    described below, due to the fact that
                                                liquidity. The Exchange believes it is                  such orders when the market is locked                   Discretionary Orders contain more
                                                reasonable to allow BATS Post Only                                                                              aggressive prices at which they are
                                                                                                           10 The Exchange notes that its current fee           willing to execute, the Exchange treats
                                                  9 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67092       structure does not have a variable fee depending on     Discretionary Orders as aggressive
                                                (June 1, 2012), 77 FR 33800 (June 7, 2012) (SR–         trading activity during the month. If, in the future,
                                                BYX–2012–009) (notice of filing and immediate           the Exchange implements such a fee structure the
                                                                                                                                                                orders that would prefer to execute at
                                                effectiveness of rule change to amend the operation     Exchange will use the highest possible fee for          their displayed or non-displayed ranked
                                                of BATS Post Only Orders).                              purposes of Rule 11.9(c)(6).                            price than to forgo an execution due to


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                                                8736                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                applicable fees or rebates. Accordingly,                remove any liquidity upon entry                       entry and would post to the BATS Book
                                                in order to facilitate transactions                     pursuant to the Exchange’s economic                   at $10.03. This would, in turn, trigger
                                                consistent with the instructions of its                 best interest functionality. Rather than              the discretion of the resting buy order
                                                Users, the Exchange executes resting                    cancelling the incoming BATS Post                     and an execution would occur at $10.03.
                                                Discretionary Orders (and certain orders                Only Order to sell back to the User,                  The BATS Only Order to sell would be
                                                with a Re-Route instruction, as                         particularly when the resting order is                treated as the adder of liquidity and the
                                                described below) against incoming                       willing to buy the security for up to                 buy order with discretion would be
                                                orders, when such incoming orders                       $10.05 per share, the Exchange executes               treated as the remover of liquidity.
                                                would otherwise forego an execution.                    at $10.00 the BATS Post Only Order                       • Assume the same facts as above, but
                                                The Exchange notes that the                             against the resting buy order with                    that the incoming BATS Only Order is
                                                determination of whether an order                       discretion. As is true in the example                 priced at $10.00 instead of $10.03. The
                                                should execute on entry against resting                 above, the BATS Post Only Order to sell               BATS Only Order would remove
                                                interest, including against resting                     would be treated as the liquidity adder               liquidity upon entry at $10.00 per share
                                                Discretionary Orders, is made prior to                  and the buy order with discretion would               pursuant to the Exchange’s order
                                                determining whether the price of such                   be treated as the liquidity remover. As               execution rules, as described in detail
                                                an incoming order should be adjusted                    set forth in more detail below, if the                below. Contrary to the examples set
                                                pursuant to the Exchange’s price sliding                incoming order was not a BATS Post                    forth above, the BATS Only Order to
                                                functionality pursuant to Rule 11.9(g).                 Only Order to sell, the incoming order                sell would be treated as the liquidity
                                                In other words, an execution will have                  could be executed at the ranked price of              remover and the resting buy order with
                                                already occurred as set forth above                     the Discretionary Order without                       discretion would be treated as the
                                                before the Exchange would consider                      restriction and would therefore be                    liquidity adder. The Exchange notes that
                                                whether an order could be displayed                     treated as the liquidity remover.                     this example operates the same whether
                                                and/or posted to the BATS Book, and if                     Additionally, the Exchange proposes                an order contains a TIF of IOC, FOK or
                                                so, at what price.                                      to codify the process by which it                     any other TIF.
                                                                                                        handles all incoming orders that interact                The Exchange also proposes to modify
                                                Examples—Discretionary Order                            with Discretionary Orders. First, the                 the current description of the
                                                Executes Against BATS Post Only                         Exchange proposes to codify its                       Discretionary Order by eliminating
                                                Orders                                                  handling of a contra-side order that                  language stating, ‘‘[i]f a Discretionary
                                                   Assume that the NBBO is $10.00 by                    executes against a resting Discretionary              Order is not executed in full, the
                                                $10.05, and the Exchange’s BBO is $9.99                 Order at its displayed or non-displayed               unexecuted portion of the order is
                                                by $10.06. Assume that the Exchange                     ranked price or that contains a time-in-              automatically re-posted and displayed
                                                receives a non-routable order to buy 100                force of IOC or FOK and a price in the                in the BATS Book with a new
                                                shares of a security at $10.00 per share                discretionary range by expressly stating              timestamp, at its original displayed
                                                designated with discretion to pay up to                 that such an incoming order will                      price, and with its non-displayed
                                                an additional $0.05 per share.                          remove liquidity against the                          discretionary price offset.’’ The
                                                   • Assume that the next order received                Discretionary Order. Second, the                      Exchange believes this language is
                                                by the Exchange is a BATS Post Only                     Exchange proposes to codify its                       unnecessarily confusing because the
                                                Order to sell 100 shares of the security                handling of orders that are intended to               unexecuted portion of Discretionary
                                                at priced at $10.03 per share. The BATS                 post to the BATS Book at a price within               Orders does not actually re-post solely
                                                Post Only Order would not remove any                    a Discretionary Order’s discretionary                 because part of the order was executed.
                                                liquidity upon entry pursuant to the                    range. This includes, but is not limited              Rather, the remaining portion will
                                                Exchange’s economic best interest                       to, BATS Post Only Orders and Partial                 remain resting on the BATS Book
                                                functionality, and would post to the                    Post Only at Limit Orders. Specifically,              without being removed from the BATS
                                                BATS Book at $10.03. This would, in                     the Exchange proposes to codify current               Book.
                                                turn, trigger the discretion of the resting             System functionality whereby any                         Finally, because Discretionary Orders
                                                buy order and an execution would occur                  contra-side order with a time-in-force                have both a price at which they will be
                                                at $10.03. The BATS Post Only Order to                  other than IOC or FOK and a price                     ranked and an additional discretionary
                                                sell would be treated as the adder of                   within the discretionary range but not at             price, the Exchange proposes to
                                                liquidity and the buy order with                        the displayed or non-displayed ranked                 expressly state how the Exchange
                                                discretion would be treated as the                      price of a Discretionary Order will be                handles a routable Discretionary Order
                                                remover of liquidity.                                   posted to the BATS Book and then the                  by stating that such an order will be
                                                   • Assume the same facts as above, but                Discretionary Order will remove                       routed away from the Exchange at its
                                                that the incoming BATS Post Only                        liquidity against such posted order.                  full discretionary price. As an example,
                                                Order is priced at $10.00 instead of                                                                          assume the NBBO is $10.00 by $10.05
                                                $10.03. As described above, under the                   Examples—Discretionary Order                          and the Exchange’s BBO is $9.99 by
                                                Exchange’s current fee structure, which                 Executes Against Non-Post Only Orders                 $10.06. If the Exchange receives a
                                                provides a rebate for orders that remove                   Assume that the NBBO is $10.00 by                  routable Discretionary Order to buy at
                                                liquidity and a fee for orders that add                 $10.05, and the Exchange’s BBO is $9.99               $10.00 with discretion to pay up to an
                                                liquidity, the BATS Post Only Order                     by $10.06. Assume that the Exchange                   additional $0.05 per share, the Exchange
                                                would execute on entry at $10.00                        receives an order to buy 100 shares of                would route the order as a limit order
                                                against the buy order with discretion                   a security at $10.00 per share designated             to buy at $10.05. Any unexecuted
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                                                pursuant to the Exchange’s best interest                with discretion to pay up to an                       portion of the order would be posted to
                                                functionality. The buy order with                       additional $0.05 per share.                           the BATS Book with a ranked price of
                                                discretion would be treated as the adder                   • Assume that the next order received              $10.00 and discretion to pay up to
                                                of liquidity and the BATS Post Only                     by the Exchange is a BATS Only Order                  $10.05.
                                                Order to sell would be treated as the                   to sell 100 shares of the security with a
                                                remover of liquidity. Assume, however,                  TIF other than IOC or FOK priced at                   Priority and Execution Algorithm
                                                for purposes of this example that the                   $10.03 per share. The BATS Only Order                   With respect to the Exchange’s
                                                BATS Post Only Order would not                          would not remove any liquidity upon                   priority and execution algorithm, the


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices                                             8737

                                                Exchange is proposing various minor                     orders retain and lose ‘‘time’’ priority              entry would execute against contra-side
                                                and structural changes that are intended                under certain circumstances, as opposed               interest at the same price as such
                                                to emphasize the processes by which                     to priority generally, because retaining              displayed order, such incoming order
                                                orders are accepted, priced, ranked and                 or losing price priority does not require             will be cancelled or posted to the BATS
                                                executed, as well as a new provision                    the same descriptions, as price priority              Book and ranked in accordance with
                                                related to the ability of orders to rest at             will always be retained unless the price              Rule 11.12. The Exchange does not
                                                locking prices that is consistent with the              of an order changes.                                  allow non-displayed interest that locks
                                                changes to provisions related to the                       Next, the Exchange proposes to re-                 a contra-side displayed order to execute
                                                operation of Discretionary Orders                       structure Rule 11.13, which currently                 at such price to avoid an apparent
                                                described above. First, the Exchange                    governs both execution and routing                    priority issue.
                                                proposes to modify Rule 11.12, Priority                 logic on the Exchange, by more clearly                   To demonstrate the functionality in
                                                of Orders, to make clear that the ranking               delineating between execution (to be                  place on the Exchange described above,
                                                of orders described in such rule is in                  contained in new paragraph (a)) and                   assume the NBBO is $10.10 by $10.11.
                                                turn dependent on Exchange Rule                         routing (to be contained in new                       Assume the Exchange has a posted and
                                                11.13(a) which discusses the pricing                    paragraph (b)) and by adding additional               displayed bid to buy 100 shares of a
                                                and execution of orders. The Exchange                   sub-headings to the execution section.                security priced at $10.10 per share and
                                                believes that this has always been the                  In this connection, the Exchange                      a resting non-displayed bid to buy 100
                                                case under Exchange rules based on the                  proposes to move language contained                   shares of a security priced at $10.11 per
                                                reference to the ‘‘Execution Process’’ in               within Rule 11.13 to the beginning of                 share. For purposes of this example,
                                                Rule 11.12; however, this reference did                 new paragraph (a) such that the                       assume the resting non-displayed bid
                                                not include a cross-reference to Rule                   language is more generally applicable to              has not selected the Re-Route
                                                11.13. The Exchange also proposes to                    the rules governing execution.                        functionality, which, as described in
                                                change the reference within Rule 11.12                  Specifically, the Exchange proposes to                further detail below, could make a
                                                to refer to ranking rather than executing               relocate language stating that any order              resting order executable against an
                                                equally priced trading interest, as the                 falling within the parameters of this                 incoming BATS Post Only Order under
                                                Rule as a whole is intended to describe                 paragraph shall be referred to as                     certain circumstances.
                                                the manner in which resting orders are                  ‘‘executable’’ and that an order will be                 • Assume that the next order received
                                                ranked and maintained, specifically in                  cancelled back to the User if, based on               by the Exchange is a BATS Post Only
                                                price and time priority, while awaiting                 market conditions, User instructions,                 Order to sell 100 shares of the security
                                                execution against incoming orders. The                  applicable Exchange Rules and/or the                  priced at $10.11 per share. As described
                                                Exchange does not believe that the                      Act and the rules and regulations                     above, under the Exchange’s current fee
                                                proposed modifications substantively                    thereunder, such order is not                         structure, which provides a rebate for
                                                modify the operation of the rules;                      executable, cannot be routed to another               orders that remove liquidity and a fee
                                                however, the Exchange believes that it                  Trading Center pursuant to Rule                       for orders that add liquidity, the BATS
                                                is important to clarify that the ranking                11.13(b) (as proposed to be re-                       Post Only Order would execute on entry
                                                of orders is a separate process from the                numbered) or cannot be posted to the                  at $10.11 against the resting non-
                                                execution of orders.                                    BATS Book. The proposed sub-headings                  displayed bid pursuant to the
                                                   The Exchange also proposes to specify                for paragraph (a) regarding order                     Exchange’s best interest functionality.
                                                in Rule 11.12(a)(2)(C) that the priority                execution are intended to delineate                   The non-displayed bid would be treated
                                                afforded to Pegged Orders is applicable                 between the various rules and National                as the adder of liquidity and the BATS
                                                to all non-displayed Pegged Orders. The                 Market System (‘‘NMS’’) plans that may                Post Only Order to sell would be treated
                                                Exchange recently began accepting                       render an order executable or not,                    as the remover of liquidity. Assume,
                                                Primary Pegged Orders that can be                       including Regulation NMS and                          however, for purposes of this example
                                                displayed, and if so displayed, the                     Regulation SHO. The Exchange is                       that the BATS Post Only Order would
                                                Exchange ranks such orders with all                     proposing to add a cross-reference in                 not remove any liquidity upon entry
                                                other displayed orders. Thus, the                       Rule 11.13(a)(3) to its rules related to              pursuant to the Exchange’s economic
                                                Exchange proposes to clarify that                       the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, which is                best interest functionality. With that
                                                reference to Pegged Orders in                           contained in Rule 11.18(e).                           assumption, the BATS Post Only Order
                                                11.12(a)(2)(C), which have lower                           The Exchange proposes to adopt                     would instead post to the BATS Book,
                                                priority than the displayed size of limit               paragraph (C) of Rule 11.13(a)(4) to                  and would be displayed at $10.11. The
                                                orders and non-displayed orders, is a                   provide further clarity regarding the                 display of this order would, in turn,
                                                reference specifically to non-displayed                 situations where orders are not                       make the resting non-displayed bid not
                                                Pegged Orders.                                          executable, which although covered in                 executable at $10.11.
                                                   Further, the Exchange proposes to                    other existing rules, would focus on the                 • Assume the next order received by
                                                adopt new Rule 11.12(a)(3), which                       incoming order on the same side of a                  the Exchange is an order to sell 100
                                                recognizes existing match trade                         displayed order rather than the resting               shares of the security priced at $10.11
                                                prevention rules that optionally prevent                order that is rendered not executable                 per share. The order would not remove
                                                the execution of orders from the same                   because it is opposite such displayed                 any liquidity upon entry because there
                                                User (i.e., based on the User’s ‘‘Unique                order. The proposed provision would                   is a displayed order to sell at $10.11
                                                Identifier’’, as set forth in Rule 11.9(f))             replace existing text set forth in Rule               posted on the BATS Book and thus, by
                                                by stating that in such a case the System               11.13(a)(1) to acknowledge that, under                rule, the Exchange does not maintain
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                will not permit such orders to execute                  certain circumstances, there can be                   any executable buy interest priced at
                                                against one another regardless of                       locking interest on the Exchange but                  $10.11. If the later arriving order to sell
                                                priority ranking. Proposed Rule                         that such interest will not be displayed              at $10.11 contained a TIF other than
                                                11.12(a)(3) is based on EDGX Rule                       by the System as a locked market.                     IOC or FOK, it would be posted to the
                                                11.9(a)(3). The Exchange also proposes                  Proposed paragraph (C) would further                  BATS Book and displayed at $10.11. If
                                                changes to current Rule 11.9(a)(3) and                  state that if an incoming order is on the             the later arriving order to sell at $10.11
                                                (a)(4) to re-number such rules as (a)(4)                same side of the market as an order                   contained a TIF of IOC or FOK, it would
                                                and (a)(5) as well as to clarify that                   displayed on the BATS Book and upon                   be cancelled back to the User.


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                                                8738                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                   • To the extent the BATS Book is in                  order on the BATS Book when there is                  incoming order to buy will be
                                                the state set forth to conclude the                     a displayed order on the same side of                 automatically executed to the extent
                                                examples above, with a non-executable                   the market as the incoming order.                     that it is priced at an amount that equals
                                                bid to buy at $10.11 and one or more                       To demonstrate the operation of this               or exceeds any order to sell in the BATS
                                                offers to sell displayed by the Exchange                provision, again assume the NBBO is                   Book and an incoming order to sell will
                                                at $10.11; there are several potential                  $10.10 by $10.11. Assume the Exchange                 be automatically executed to the extent
                                                outcomes. For instance, any incoming                    has a posted and displayed bid to buy                 that it is priced at an amount that equals
                                                order to buy at $10.11 or higher 11 will                100 shares of a security priced at $10.10             or is less than any order to buy in the
                                                execute against the displayed order(s) to               per share and a resting non-displayed                 BATS Book. These rules further state
                                                sell, as such resting orders are fully                  bid to buy 100 shares of a security                   that an order to buy shall be executed
                                                executable and displayed as available                   priced at $10.11 per share.                           at the price(s) of the lowest order(s) to
                                                offers on the BATS Book. Once all                          • Assume that the next order received              sell having priority in the BATS Book
                                                displayed liquidity to sell at $10.11 has               by the Exchange is a BATS Post Only                   and an order to sell shall be executed at
                                                been executed on the Exchange, the                      Order to sell 100 shares of the security              the price(s) of the highest order(s) to buy
                                                resting non-displayed bid to buy at                     priced at $10.11 per share. As described              having priority in the BATS Book. The
                                                $10.11 will again be fully executable.                  above, under the Exchange’s current fee               Exchange emphasizes these current
                                                Similarly, if the resting displayed orders              structure, which provides a rebate for                rules only insofar as to highlight the
                                                to sell that are priced at $10.11 are                   orders that remove liquidity and a fee                interconnected nature of the priority
                                                cancelled then the resting non-                         for orders that add liquidity, the BATS               rule.
                                                displayed bid to buy at $10.11 will                     Post Only Order would execute on entry                   The Exchange also proposes to modify
                                                again be fully executable at that price.                at $10.11 against the resting non-                    existing paragraph (b) of Rule 11.13 to
                                                As described in the text and examples                   displayed bid pursuant to the                         re-number it as paragraph (b)(5) and to
                                                below, an incoming sell order priced at                 Exchange’s best interest functionality.               clarify the Exchange’s rule regarding the
                                                $10.10 or better will execute against the               The non-displayed bid would be treated                priority of routed orders. Paragraph (b)
                                                resting bid at $10.105. Finally, the User               as the adder of liquidity and the BATS                currently sets forth the proposition that
                                                representing the non-displayed bid to                   Post Only Order to sell would be treated              a routed order does not retain priority
                                                buy at $10.11 could cancel the order.                   as the remover of liquidity. Assume,                  on the Exchange while it is being routed
                                                   The Exchange is also proposing to                    however, for purposes of this example                 to other markets. The Exchange believes
                                                modify and place in new paragraph (D)                   that the BATS Post Only Order would                   that its proposed clarification to
                                                rule language contained in current Rule                 not remove any liquidity upon entry                   paragraph (b) is appropriate because it
                                                11.13(a)(1) that governs the price at                   pursuant to the Exchange’s economic                   more clearly states that a routed order
                                                which non-displayed locking interest is                 best interest functionality. With that                is not ranked and maintained in the
                                                executable in order to further clarify                  assumption, the BATS Post Only Order
                                                                                                                                                              BATS Book pursuant to Rule 11.12(a),
                                                such rule text. Specifically, for bids or               to sell would post to the BATS Book
                                                                                                                                                              and therefore is not available to execute
                                                offers equal to or greater than $1.00 per               and would be displayed at $10.11. The
                                                                                                                                                              against incoming orders pursuant to
                                                share, in the event that an incoming                    display of this order would, in turn,
                                                                                                                                                              Rule 11.13.
                                                order is a market order or is a limit                   make the resting non-displayed bid not
                                                order priced more aggressively than an                  executable at $10.11.                                 Re-Route Functionality
                                                order displayed on the Exchange, the                       • If an incoming offer to sell 100
                                                                                                                                                                 The Exchange currently allows Users
                                                Exchange will execute the incoming                      shares at $10.10 is entered into the
                                                                                                                                                              to submit various types of limit orders
                                                order at, in the case of an incoming sell               BATS Book, the resting non-displayed
                                                                                                                                                              to the Exchange that are processed
                                                order, one-half minimum price variation                 bid originally priced at $10.11 will be
                                                                                                                                                              pursuant to current Exchange Rule
                                                less than the price of the displayed                    executed at $10.105 per share, thus
                                                                                                                                                              11.13, as described elsewhere in this
                                                order, and, in the case of an incoming                  providing a half-penny of price
                                                                                                                                                              proposal. To the extent an order has not
                                                buy order, at one-half minimum price                    improvement as compared to the order’s
                                                                                                        limit price of $10.11. The execution at               been executed in its entirety against the
                                                variation more than the price of the                                                                          BATS Book, Rule 11.13 describes the
                                                displayed order. As is true under                       $10.105 per share also provides the
                                                                                                        incoming offer with a half-penny of                   process of routing marketable limit
                                                existing functionality, this order                                                                            orders 12 to one or more Trading
                                                handling is inapplicable for bids or                    price improvement as compared to its
                                                                                                        limit price of $10.10. The result would               Centers, including a description of how
                                                offers under $1.00 per share. Proposed
                                                                                                        be the same for an incoming market                    the Exchange treats any unfilled balance
                                                paragraph (D) does not substantively
                                                                                                        order to sell or any other incoming limit             that returns to the Exchange following
                                                modify the existing operation of the
                                                                                                        order offer priced at $10.10 or below,                the first attempt to fill the order through
                                                System but is intended to better
                                                                                                        which would execute against the non-                  the routing process. If not filled through
                                                describe in rule text the process for
                                                                                                        displayed bid at a price of $10.105 per               routing, and based on the order
                                                matching an incoming order against an
                                                                                                        share. As above, an offer at the full price           instructions, the unfilled balance of the
                                                  11 The Exchange notes that an incoming order for      of the resting and displayed $10.11 offer             order may be posted to the BATS Book.
                                                purposes of comparison to a resting order can be        would not execute against the resting                    Pursuant to Exchange Rule 11.13(a)(4)
                                                any incoming order unless the terms of that
                                                                                                        non-displayed bid, but would instead                  (to be re-numbered as Rule 11.13(b)(4)
                                                incoming order itself preclude execution. For                                                                 pursuant to this proposal), under certain
                                                instance, in this example, an incoming buy order        either cancel or post to the BATS Book
                                                could be routable or non-routable, the order could      behind the original $10.11 offer in                   circumstances the Exchange will re-
                                                                                                                                                              route an order that has been posted to
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                                                be selected for potential display or could include      priority.
                                                instructions not to display the order, the order           The Exchange notes that it is                      the BATS Book if subsequently locked
                                                could have a discretionary price, or several other                                                            or crossed by another accessible Trading
                                                characteristics. Upon entry, unless the terms of the    proposing to add descriptive titles to
                                                order preclude removing liquidity, such as a BATS       paragraphs (A) and (B) of Rule                        Center. The Exchange offers two
                                                Post Only order, the characteristics that govern the    11.13(a)(4), which describe the process
                                                way that the order may be handled once posted to                                                                12 Market orders are also routed away pursuant to

                                                the Exchange’s order book are irrelevant and any
                                                                                                        by which executable orders are matched                Rule 11.13, however the Exchange is not proposing
                                                incoming buy order priced at $10.11 or higher will      within the System. Specifically, so long              any changes to the treatment of routed market
                                                execute against the resting offers.                     as it is otherwise executable, an                     orders at this time.



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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices                                                       8739

                                                optional Re-Route instructions, the                        Second, the Exchange proposes to                    Route instruction maintains higher
                                                Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction                   codify existing System functionality by                priority than one or more Super
                                                and the Aggressive Re-Route                             adding rule text to state that, consistent             Aggressive Re-Route eligible orders, the
                                                instruction. The Super Aggressive Re-                   with the Super Aggressive Re-Route                     Super Aggressive Re-Route eligible
                                                Route instruction reflects the                          instruction described in Rule                          order(s) with lower priority will not be
                                                willingness of the sender of the routable               11.13(b)(4)(B), when any order with a                  converted, as described above, and the
                                                order posted to the BATS Book to route                  Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction                  incoming BATS Post Only Order or
                                                to away Trading Centers and to remove                   is locked by an incoming BATS Post                     Partial Post Only at Limit Order will be
                                                liquidity from such Trading Centers any                 Only Order or Partial Post Only at Limit               posted or cancelled in accordance with
                                                time such order is locked or crossed                    Order that does not remove liquidity                   Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule 11.9(c)(7),
                                                (i.e., rather than passively waiting for an             pursuant to Rule 11.9(c)(6) or Rule                    respectively. The Exchange believes it is
                                                execution on the BATS Book). The                        11.9(c)(7), respectively,13 the Re-Route               necessary to avoid applying the Re-
                                                Aggressive Re-Route instruction subjects                order is converted to an executable                    Route functionality to Re-Route eligible
                                                an order to the routing process after                   order and will remove liquidity against                orders that are resting behind orders
                                                being posted to the BATS Book only if                   such incoming order. The Exchange                      that are not Re-Route eligible orders to
                                                the order is subsequently crossed by an                 applies this logic in order to facilitate              avoid violating the Exchange’s priority
                                                accessible Trading Center (rather than if               executions that would otherwise not                    rule, Rule 11.12.
                                                the order is locked or crossed). The                    occur due to the instruction of a BATS
                                                Exchange proposes two changes to its                    Post Only Order or Partial Post Only at                Example—Super Aggressive Re-Route
                                                rules to reflect current operation of the               Limit Order to not remove liquidity.                   and BATS Post Only Orders
                                                System in connection with Re-Route                      Because a Super Aggressive Re-Route                       Assume that the Exchange receives an
                                                functionality, as described below.                      eligible order is willing to route to an               order to buy 300 shares of a security at
                                                                                                        away Trading Center and remove                         $10.10 per share designated with a
                                                Non-Displayed Routable Orders
                                                                                                        liquidity (i.e., pay a fee at such Trading             Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction.
                                                   First, the Exchange proposes to add                  Center) when locked or crossed, the                    Assume further that the NBBO is $10.09
                                                language to the Aggressive Re-Route                     Exchange believes it is reasonable and                 by $10.10 when the order is received,
                                                instruction that makes clear that any                   consistent with the instruction to force               and the Exchange’s lowest offer is
                                                routable non-displayed limit order                      an execution between an incoming                       priced at $10.11. The Exchange will
                                                posted to the BATS Book that is crossed                 BATS Post Only Order and an order that                 route the order away from the Exchange
                                                by another accessible Trading Center                    has been posted to the BATS Book with                  as a bid to buy 300 shares at $10.10.
                                                will be automatically routed to that                    the Super Aggressive Re-Route                          Assume that the order obtains one 100
                                                Trading Center. As described in Rule                    instruction. The Exchange notes that the               share execution through the routing
                                                11.9(g)(4), the Exchange re-prices non-                 determination of whether an order                      process and then returns to the
                                                displayed orders to the extent they are                 should execute on entry against resting                Exchange. The Exchange will post the
                                                crossed by another Trading Center to                    interest, including against resting orders             order as a bid to buy 200 shares at
                                                avoid trading-through Protected                         with a Super Aggressive Re-Route                       $10.10. If the Exchange subsequently
                                                Quotations displayed by such Trading                    instruction, is made prior to                          receives a BATS Post Only Order to sell
                                                Center. In the process of such price                    determining whether the price of such                  priced at $10.09 per share, such order
                                                sliding, to the extent a non-displayed                  an incoming order should be adjusted                   will execute against the posted order to
                                                order is routable, the Exchange will                    pursuant to the Exchange’s price sliding               buy with an execution price of $10.10.
                                                attempt to route the order to the Trading               functionality pursuant to Rule 11.9(g).                The posted buy order will be treated as
                                                Center displaying the crossing quotation                The Exchange has limited the proposed                  the liquidity provider and the incoming
                                                that prompted the price sliding process.                language to BATS Post Only Orders that
                                                   As an example of a routable non-                                                                            BATS Post Only Order to sell will be
                                                                                                        lock orders with a Super Aggressive Re-                treated as the liquidity remover, based
                                                displayed order that is handled                         Route instruction because BATS Post
                                                consistent with the Aggressive Re-Route                                                                        on the Exchange’s rules that execute
                                                                                                        Only Orders that cross resting orders                  BATS Post Only Orders on entry if such
                                                instruction, assume the Exchange                        will always remove liquidity because it
                                                receives a non-displayed order to buy                                                                          execution is in their economic interest.
                                                                                                        is in their economic best interest to do                  However, assuming the same facts as
                                                300 shares of a security at $10.10 per                  so.14 Similarly, Partial Post Only Limit
                                                share. Assume further that the NBBO is                                                                         above, if the incoming BATS Post Only
                                                                                                        Orders execute against crossing interest               Order to sell is priced at $10.10 and also
                                                $10.09 by $10.10 when the order is                      as set forth in Rule 11.9(c)(7)(A). The
                                                received, and the Exchange’s lowest                                                                            assuming that the incoming BATS Post
                                                                                                        Exchange also proposes to make clear                   Only Order does not remove liquidity
                                                priced offer is priced at $10.11. The                   that although it will execute an order
                                                Exchange will route the order away                                                                             pursuant to the economic best interest
                                                                                                        with a Super Aggressive Re-Route                       functionality,15 the posted order with a
                                                from the Exchange as a bid to buy 300                   instruction against a BATS Post Only
                                                shares at $10.10. Assume that the order                                                                        Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction
                                                                                                        Order that would lock it, if an order that             will execute against such order at
                                                obtains one 100 share execution through                 does not contain a Super Aggressive Re-
                                                the routing process and then returns to                                                                        $10.10. In this scenario, the posted
                                                the Exchange. The Exchange will post                      13 The Exchange notes that pursuant to Rule
                                                                                                                                                               order to buy will be treated as the
                                                the order as a non-displayed bid to buy                 11.9(c)(6), BATS Post Only Orders remove liquidity
                                                                                                                                                               liquidity remover and the incoming
                                                200 shares at $10.10. If displayed                      in certain circumstances based on an economic          BATS Post Only Order to sell will be
                                                                                                                                                               treated as the liquidity provider.
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                                                liquidity then appears at one or more                   analysis that takes into account applicable fees and
                                                                                                        rebates. The Exchange has proposed clarifications         Finally, assume that the NBBO is
                                                Trading Centers priced at $10.09 or                     to this economic analysis as described above.
                                                lower (i.e., crossing the posted bid to                 Similarly, Partial Post Only at Limit Orders are
                                                                                                                                                               $10.10 by $10.11 and that the Exchange
                                                buy at $10.10), the Exchange will take                  permitted to remove price improving liquidity as       has a displayed bid to buy 100 shares
                                                the non-displayed bid off of the BATS                   well as a User-selected percentage of the remaining
                                                                                                        order at the limit price if, following such removal,      15 As described above, an incoming BATS Post
                                                Book and again route such order to the                  the order can post at its limit price. See Rule        Only Order to sell would in fact remove on entry
                                                displayed liquidity at other Trading                    11.9(c)(7).                                            at $10.10 based on the Exchange’s current fee
                                                Centers.                                                  14 See id.                                           structure and economic best interest functionality.



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                                                8740                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                of a security at $10.10 and a displayed                 specificity regarding the functionality of            proposed rule changes are not designed
                                                offer to sell 100 shares of a security at               the System and thus would promote just                to address any competitive issue but
                                                $10.11. Assume that the displayed bid                   and equitable principles of trade and                 rather to add specificity and clarity to
                                                has not been designated with the Super                  remove impediments to a free and open                 Exchange rules, thus providing greater
                                                Aggressive Re-Route instruction.                        market. The Exchange also believes that               transparency regarding the operation of
                                                Assume next that the Exchange receives                  the proposed amendments will                          the System.
                                                a second displayable bid to buy 100                     contribute to the protection of investors
                                                shares of the same security at $10.10                   and the public interest by making the                 C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                that has been designated as routable and                Exchange’s rules easier to understand.                Statement on Comments on the
                                                subject to the Super Aggressive Re-                        With respect to the additional                     Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                Route instruction. Because there is no                  specificity proposed in connection with               Members, Participants, or Others
                                                liquidity to which the Exchange can                     BATS Post Only Orders, the Exchange                     The Exchange has neither solicited
                                                route the order, the second order will                  believes that the proposed rule change                nor received written comments on the
                                                post to the BATS Book as a bid to buy                   is consistent with the Act in that the                proposed rule changes.
                                                at $10.10 behind the original displayed                 change will help to clarify the
                                                                                                        methodology used by the Exchange to                   III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                bid to buy at $10.10. If the Exchange
                                                                                                        determine whether BATS Post Only                      Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                then received a BATS Post Only Order
                                                                                                        Orders will remove liquidity from the                 Commission Action
                                                to sell 100 shares at $10.10 then no
                                                execution would occur assuming again                    BATS Book. The Exchange again notes                      Within 45 days of the date of
                                                that the incoming BATS Post Only                        that any methodology other than using                 publication of this notice in the Federal
                                                Order cannot remove liquidity at $10.10                 the highest possible rebate and highest               Register or within such longer period (i)
                                                based on the economic best interest                     possible fee could result in the                      as the Commission may designate up to
                                                analysis,16 the first order with priority               Exchange determining that an execution                90 days of such date if it finds such
                                                to buy at $10.10 was not designated                     was in an entering User’s economic best               longer period to be appropriate and
                                                with the Super Aggressive Re-Route                      interest when, in fact, it was not. For the           publishes its reasons for so finding or
                                                instruction and the second booked order                 reasons articulated above, the Exchange               (ii) as to which the Exchange consents,
                                                to buy at $10.10 is not permitted to                    believes that the proposal is consistent              the Commission will: (a) By order
                                                bypass the first order as this would                    with and supports just and equitable                  approve or disapprove such proposed
                                                result in a violation of the Exchange’s                 principles of trade, removes                          rule change, or (b) institute proceedings
                                                priority rule, Rule 11.12.                              impediments to, and helps to perfect the              to determine whether the proposed rule
                                                                                                        mechanism of, a free and open market                  change should be disapproved.
                                                2. Statutory Basis                                      and a national market system, and, in
                                                   The Exchange believes that the                       general, protects investors and the                   IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                proposed rule changes are consistent                    public interest.                                        Interested persons are invited to
                                                with Section 6(b) of the Securities                        The Exchange also believes it is                   submit written data, views, and
                                                Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 17 and               consistent with the Act to execute                    arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                further the objectives of Section 6(b)(5)               Discretionary orders and orders with a                including whether the proposed rule
                                                of the Act 18 because they are designed                 Super Aggressive Re-Route instruction                 change is consistent with the Act.
                                                to promote just and equitable principles                against marketable liquidity (i.e., BATS              Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                of trade, to remove impediments to and                  Post Only Orders and Partial Post Only                the following methods:
                                                perfect the mechanism of a free and                     Orders) when an execution would not
                                                                                                        otherwise occur is consistent with both:              Electronic Comments
                                                open market and a national market
                                                system, to foster cooperation and                       (i) The Act, by facilitating executions,                • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                coordination with persons engaged in                    removing impediments and perfecting                   comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                facilitating transactions in securities,                the mechanism of a free and open                      rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                and, in general, to protect investors and               market and national market system; and                  • Send an email to rule-comments@
                                                the public interest. The proposed rule                  (ii) a User’s instructions, which have                sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
                                                changes are also designed to support the                evidenced a willingness by the User to                BYX–2015–07 on the subject line.
                                                principles of Section 11A(a)(1) 19 of the               pay applicable execution fees and/or
                                                                                                                                                              Paper Comments
                                                Act in that they seek to assure fair                    execute at more aggressive prices than
                                                competition among brokers and dealers                   they are currently ranked in favor of an                • Send paper comments in triplicate
                                                and among exchange markets.                             execution. The Exchange also believes                 to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
                                                   The modifications related to routable                that the proposed rule change provides                and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                orders with a TIF of IOC, Pegged Orders,                additional specificity regarding the                  NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                Mid-Point Peg Orders, Discretionary                     functionality of the System with regard                 All submissions should refer to File
                                                Orders, and the Exchange’s priority,                    to routable non-displayed orders that                 Number SR–BYX–2015–07. This file
                                                execution and routing rules are each                    have been crossed by another accessible               number should be included on the
                                                designed to add clarity and                             Trading Center, thereby promoting just                subject line if email is used. To help the
                                                transparency regarding Exchange                         and equitable principles of trade and                 Commission process and review your
                                                System functionality without                            removing impediments to a free and                    comments more efficiently, please use
                                                substantively modifying such                            open market.                                          only one method. The Commission will
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                                                functionality. Specifically, the Exchange                                                                     post all comments on the Commission’s
                                                                                                        B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                believes that the proposed rule changes                 Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                will provide additional clarity and                                                                           rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                                                                          The Exchange does not believe that                  submission, all subsequent
                                                  16 Id.                                                the proposed rule changes will result in              amendments, all written statements
                                                  17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                  any burden on competition that is not                 with respect to the proposed rule
                                                  18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               necessary or appropriate in furtherance               change that are filed with the
                                                  19 15 U.S. C. 78k–1(a)(1).                            of the purposes of the Act. The                       Commission, and all written


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices                                                        8741

                                                communications relating to the                          I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       quoting participants. During the course
                                                proposed rule change between the                        Statement of the Terms of the Substance                 of the pilot, FINRA collected and
                                                Commission and any person, other than                   of the Proposed Rule Change                             provided to the SEC specified data with
                                                those that may be withheld from the                        FINRA is proposing to amend FINRA                    which to assess the impact of the Pilot
                                                public in accordance with the                           Rule 6433 (Minimum Quotation Size                       tiers on market quality and limit order
                                                provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     Requirements for OTC Equity                             display.6 On September 13, 2013,
                                                available for Web site viewing and                      Securities) to extend the Tier Size Pilot,              FINRA provided to the Commission an
                                                printing in the Commission’s Public                     which currently is scheduled to expire                  assessment on the operation of the Tier
                                                Reference Room at 100 F Street NE.,                     on February 13, 2015, for an additional                 Size Pilot utilizing data covering the
                                                Washington, DC 20549–1090 on official                   three months, until May 15, 2015.                       period from November 12, 2012 through
                                                business days between the hours of                         The text of the proposed rule change                 June 30, 2013.7 As noted in the 2013
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such                 is available on FINRA’s Web site at                     Assessment, FINRA believed that the
                                                filing also will be available for                       http://www.finra.org, at the principal                  analysis of the data generally showed
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                 office of FINRA and at the                              that the Tier Size Pilot had a neutral to
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments                    Commission’s Public Reference Room.                     positive impact on OTC market quality
                                                received will be posted without change;                                                                         for the majority of OTC Equity
                                                                                                        II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      Securities and tiers; and that there was
                                                the Commission does not edit personal                   Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                identifying information from                                                                                    an overall increase of 13% in the
                                                                                                        Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  number of customer limit orders that
                                                submissions. You should submit only                     Change
                                                information that you wish to make                                                                               met the minimum quotation sizes to be
                                                available publicly. All submissions                        In its filing with the Commission,                   eligible for display under the Pilot tiers.
                                                should refer to File Number SR–BYX–                     FINRA included statements concerning                    In the 2013 Assessment, FINRA
                                                2015–07, and should be submitted on or                  the purpose of and basis for the                        recommended adopting the tiers as
                                                before March 11, 2015.                                  proposed rule change and discussed any                  permanent, but extended the pilot
                                                                                                        comments it received on the proposed                    period to allow more time to gather and
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                rule change. The text of these statements               analyze data after the November 12,
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              may be examined at the places specified                 2012 through June 30, 2013 assessment
                                                authority.20                                            in Item IV below. FINRA has prepared                    period.8 Most recently, on October 9,
                                                Brent J. Fields,                                        summaries, set forth in sections A, B,                  2014, FINRA further extended the Pilot
                                                Secretary.                                              and C below, of the most significant                    period to permit FINRA and the
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–03223 Filed 2–17–15; 8:45 am]             aspects of such statements.                             Commission to consider the
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       implications of the data collected since
                                                                                                        Statement of the Purpose of, and                        June 30, 2013. FINRA has reviewed this
                                                                                                        Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  post-June 30, 2013 data, and believes
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 Change                                                  that the impact described in the 2013
                                                COMMISSION                                                                                                      Assessment has continued to hold (and
                                                                                                        1. Purpose                                              has improved in certain areas).
                                                [Release No. 34–74251; File No. SR–FINRA–                  FINRA proposes to amend FINRA                           The purpose of this filing is to extend
                                                2015–002]                                               Rule 6433 (Minimum Quotation Size                       the operation of the Tier Size Pilot for
                                                                                                        Requirements for OTC Equity                             an additional three month period, until
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations;                          Securities) (the ‘‘Rule’’) to extend, until             May 15, 2015, to provide FINRA with
                                                Financial Industry Regulatory                           May 15, 2015, the amendments set forth                  additional time to finalize its
                                                Authority, Inc.; Notice of Filing and                   in File No. SR–FINRA–2011–058 (‘‘Tier                   recommendation with regard to the Tier
                                                Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed                   Size Pilot’’ or ‘‘Pilot’’), which currently             Size Pilot.
                                                Rule Change To Extend the Tier Size                     are scheduled to expire on February 13,                    FINRA has filed the proposed rule
                                                Pilot of FINRA Rule 6433 (Minimum                       2015.3                                                  change for immediate effectiveness. The
                                                Quotation Size Requirements for OTC                        The Tier Size Pilot was filed with the               effective date of the proposed rule
                                                Equity Securities)                                      SEC on October 6, 2011,4 to amend the                   change will be the date of filing.
                                                                                                        minimum quotation sizes (or ‘‘tier                      2. Statutory Basis
                                                February 11, 2015.                                      sizes’’) for OTC Equity Securities.5 The
                                                                                                        goals of the Pilot were to simplify the                    FINRA believes that the proposed rule
                                                   Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                                                                          change is consistent with the provisions
                                                Securities Exchange Act of 1934                         tier structure, facilitate the display of
                                                                                                        customer limit orders, and expand the                   of Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act,9 which
                                                (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                                                                        scope of the Rule to apply to additional                requires, among other things, that
                                                notice is hereby given that on January                                                                          FINRA rules must be designed to
                                                29, 2015, the Financial Industry
                                                                                                          3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 73299
                                                Regulatory Authority, Inc. (‘‘FINRA’’)                                                                            6 FINRA believes that adequate data with which
                                                                                                        (October 3, 2014), 79 FR 61120 (October 9, 2014)
                                                filed with the Securities and Exchange                  (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of        to assess the impact of the Pilot has been collection
                                                Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)                  File No. SR–FINRA–2014–041); see also Securities        and analyzed, and, therefore, will cease the
                                                the proposed rule change as described                   Exchange Act Release No. 67208 (June 15, 2012), 77      collection of Pilot data for submission to the
                                                                                                        FR 37458 (June 21, 2012) (Order Approving File No.      Commission as of February 13, 2015.
                                                in Items I and II below, which Items
                                                                                                        SR–FINRA–2011–058, as amended).                           7 The assessment is part of the SEC’s comment file
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                                                have been prepared by FINRA. The                          4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65568       for SR–FINRA–2011–058 and also is available on
                                                Commission is publishing this notice to                 (October 14, 2011), 76 FR 65307 (October 20, 2011)      FINRA’s Web site at: http://www.finra.org/Industry/
                                                solicit comments on the proposed rule                   (Notice of Filing of File No. SR–FINRA–2011–058).       Regulation/RuleFilings/2011/P124615 (‘‘Pilot
                                                change from interested persons.                           5 ‘‘OTC Equity Security’’ means any equity            Assessment’’).
                                                                                                                                                                  8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 70839
                                                                                                        security that is not an ‘‘NMS stock’’ as that term is
                                                                                                        defined in Rule 600(b)(47) of SEC Regulation NMS;       (November 8, 2013), 78 FR 68893 (November 15,
                                                  20 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            provided, however, that the term OTC Equity             2013) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness
                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                                                                        of File No. SR–FINRA–2013–049).
                                                                                                        Security shall not include any Restricted Equity
                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   Security. See FINRA Rule 6420.                            9 15 U.S.C. 78o–3(b)(6).




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Document Created: 2018-02-16 11:10:25
Document Modified: 2018-02-16 11:10:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation80 FR 8734 

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