81_FR_22006 81 FR 21935 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to PIXL

81 FR 21935 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to PIXL

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 71 (April 13, 2016)

Page Range21935-21943
FR Document2016-08429

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21935-21943]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08429]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-77557; File No. SR-Phlx-2016-40]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to PIXL

April 7, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on March 24, 2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') 
the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which 
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing 
this notice to solicit

[[Page 21936]]

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 Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Phlx Rule 1080, entitled ``Phlx XL 
and Phlx XL II'' to amend the length of time of a Price Improvement XL 
or PIXL\SM\ Auction and make other rule changes.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Phlx Rule 1080(n) to amend the 
length of time of a PIXL\SM\ Auction and make other clarifying rule 
changes. PIXL is a component of the Exchange's fully automated options 
trading system, PHLX XL, that allows a member to electronically submit 
for execution an order it represents as agent on behalf of a public 
customer, broker-dealer, or any other entity (``PIXL Order'') against 
principal interest or against any other order it represents as agent 
(an ``Initiating Order'') provided it submits the PIXL Order for 
electronic execution into the PIXL Auction (``Auction'). The Exchange 
adopted PIXL in October 2010 as a price-improvement mechanism on the 
Exchange.\3\ The Exchange proposes the below changes.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 63027 (October 1, 
2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-108) (Order 
Granting Approval to a Proposed Rule Change Relating to a Proposed 
Price Improvement System, Price Improvement XL); 65043 (August 5, 
2011), 76 FR 49824 (August 11, 2011) (SR-Phlx-2011-104) (Extending 
Pilot for Price Improvement System, Price Improvement XL); 67399 
(July 11, 2012), 77 FR 42048 (July 17, 2012) (SR-Phlx-2012-94) 
(Extending Pilot for Price Improvement System, Price Improvement 
XL); 69845 (June 25, 2013), 78 FR 39429 (July 1, 2013) (SR-Phlx-
2013-46) (Order Granting Approval To Proposed Rule Change, as 
Modified by Amendment No. 1, Regarding Complex Order PIXL); 69989 
(July 16, 2013), 78 FR 43950 (July 22, 2013) (SR-Phlx-2013-74) 
(Extending Pilot for Price Improvement System, Price Improvement 
XL); and 72619 (July 16, 2014), 79 FR 42613 (July 22, 2014) 
(Extending Pilot for Price Improvement System, Price Improvement 
XL).
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PIXL Timer
    Today, a PIXL Auction lasts for one second, unless it is concluded 
early.\4\ The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(4) to 
state, ``the Auction will last for a period of time, as determined by 
the Exchange and announced on the Nasdaq Trader Web site. The Auction 
period will be no less than one hundred milliseconds and no more than 
one second.'' This timer is similar to the current timer length in the 
newly adopted BX PRISM.\5\ The selected timer would be the same length 
of time for all auctions in all options pursuant to Phlx Rule 1080(n).
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    \4\ The PIXL Auction shall conclude at the earlier to occur of 
(1) The end of the Auction period; (2) For a PIXL Auction (except if 
it is a Complex Order), any time the PBBO crosses the PIXL Order 
stop price on the same side of the market as the PIXL Order; (3) For 
a Complex Order PIXL Auction, any time the cPBBO or the Complex 
Order book crosses the PIXL Order stop price on the same side of the 
market as the PIXL Order; or (4) Any time there is a trading halt on 
the Exchange in the affected series.
    \5\ See NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'') Rules at Chapter VI, Section 
9(ii)(A)(3).
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    The Exchange believes that a shorter duration of time for the 
Auction will reduce market risk for all members executing trades in 
PIXL. Initiating Participants are required to guarantee an execution at 
the NBBO \6\ or at a better price, and are subject to market risk while 
their PIXL Order is exposed to other Phlx members. While other 
Participants are also subject to market risk, those providing responses 
in PIXL may cancel or modify their orders. Phlx believes that the 
Initiating Participant acts in a critical role within the PIXL Auction. 
Their willingness to guarantee the orders entered into PIXL an 
execution at NBBO or a better price is the keystone to an order gaining 
the opportunity for price improvement. Phlx believes that allowing for 
an Auction period of no less than one hundred milliseconds and no more 
than one second will benefit members trading in PIXL. Phlx believes it 
is in these members' best interests to minimize the auction time while 
continuing to allow members adequate time to electronically respond. 
Both the order being exposed and the responding orders are subject to 
market risk during the Auction.
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    \6\ For Complex Orders, Initiating Members are required to 
guarantee an execution at the cPBBO or better.
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Immediate or Cancel
    The Exchange is amending the Phlx Rule 1080(n) to remove certain 
uses of the term ``rejected'' to instead refer to the term 
``immediately cancelled.'' Specifically, the Exchange is amending Phlx 
Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(8)-(10). These orders are not rejected, rather they 
are immediately cancelled because technically they are accepted into 
the trading system. The Exchange believes this non-substantive change 
adds more clarity to the rule text. This distinction is made throughout 
the newly adopted BX PRISM rule, where applicable.\7\
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    \7\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9.
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    The Exchange notes that its proposed rule text at Rule 
1080(n)(ii)(A)(9) states that a PAN or Complex Order PAN response which 
is inferior to the stop price of the PIXL order will be cancelled. In 
this particular instance, the order is not immediately cancelled to 
prevent information leakage as to possible stop price. The order is 
cancelled at the end of the Auction instead.
Allocations
    The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(1) to first make 
clear that under no circumstances will the Initiating Participant 
receive an allocation percentage, at the final price point, of more 
than 50% with one competing quote, order or PAN response or 40% with 
multiple competing quotes, orders or PAN responses, when competing 
quotes, orders or PAN responses have contracts available for execution. 
This change adds more clarity to the rule text as this limitation is 
present today. The Exchange recently included this clarifying rule text 
in the newly adopted BX PRISM rule \8\ and seeks to conform the PIXL 
rule text to that of BX PRISM.
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    \8\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(A)(1).
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    The Exchange is also amending Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(b) and 
1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(c)(ii) to provide more specificity concerning the 
allocation to which an Initiating Participant is entitled. The 
amendments make clear that the allocations can be either 40% or 50% 
depending on whether there are one or more competing quotes, orders or 
PAN responses. Also, the rule text notes that public customer interest 
must be satisfied first. This change adds more clarity to the rule text 
as this allocation method is present today. The Exchange recently 
included this clarifying rule text in the newly adopted BX PRISM

[[Page 21937]]

rule \9\ and seeks to conform the PIXL rule text to that of BX PRISM.
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    \9\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(E)(2)(b), 
(ii)(E)(2)(c)(ii), (ii)(F)(2)(b) and (ii)(F)(2)(c)(ii).
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Stop Price
    The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(C) to revise 
language where the entire PIXL Order will be executed at, including, in 
the case of the internal BBO (``Reference BBO'') crossing the PIXL 
Order stop price, the best response price(s) or, if the stop price is 
the best price in the Auction, at the stop price, unless the best 
response price is equal to or better than the price of a limit order 
resting on the PHLX book on the same side of the market as the PIXL 
Order, in which case the PIXL Order will be executed against that 
response, but at a price that is at least one minimum price improvement 
increment better than the price of such limit order at the time of the 
conclusion of the Auction. This new ``better than'' language is 
currently also utilized in the newly adopted BX PRISM rule.\10\ The 
Auction would look for the best price, which is this instance may be 
through a limit order on the same side as the PIXL Order.
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    \10\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(C).
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    For example, assume the Reference BBO and NBBO are both .97-1.03. A 
PIXL Order to buy 100 contracts is submitted with a contra-side 
Initiating Order to stop the PIXL Order at 1.01. Assume a PAN response 
is submitted to sell 10 contracts at .97 and another to sell 10 
contracts at 1.00. Then assume an unrelated buy order is received to 
pay .98 for 10 contracts. The order is placed on the PHLX book and the 
Reference BBO becomes .98-1.03. Then assume, a participant submits a 
quote of 1.02-1.05, crossing the 1.01 stop price on the same side of 
the PIXL Order and concluding the PIXL Auction prior to the expiration 
of one second. Therefore, 10 contracts from the PIXL Order will be 
executed at .99 against the best response price of .97 which is `better 
than' the price of the .98 limit order resting on the PHLX book on the 
same side of the market as the PIXL Order. Also, 10 contracts will be 
executed at 1.00 (the next best response price after the execution at 
.98) and the remaining 80 contracts will be executed at 1.01 (the stop 
price) against the Initiating Order. The Exchange believes that this 
language clarifies the current rule text by providing the ``better 
than'' language, which accounts for responses that are priced more 
aggressively than a later arriving resting limit order on the book.
Professional Order
    The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule 1080(n) in the first paragraph 
and also 1080(n)(ii)(E)(1) to make clear that a public customer order 
does not include a professional \11\ order. Professionals are not 
entitled to priority as described within the Phlx Rule 1080(n). This 
non-substantive change adds more clarity to the rule text. The Exchange 
recently included this clarifying rule text in the newly adopted BX 
PRISM rule \12\ and seeks to conform the PIXL rule text to that of BX 
PRISM.
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    \11\ Phlx Rule 1000(b)(14) currently states that the term 
``professional'' means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker 
or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more than 390 orders in 
listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its 
own beneficial account(s).
    \12\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9 in the first 
paragraph and also at Section 9(ii)(E)(1).
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Rounding
    The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) to add 
clarifying rule text concerning the manner in which the Exchange will 
round shares and allocate remaining contracts, commonly known in the 
industry as odd lots.\13\ Rule 1014 provides for the manner in which 
the Phlx XL electronic match engine (hereinafter ``System'') allocates 
simple interest. Within Rule 1014, the Exchange allocates shares in 
Price-Time priority \14\ first to public customers. Thereafter, the 
Exchange allocates interest to Specialists \15\ and Registered Options 
Traders \16\ (hereinafter collectively ``ROTs'') utilizing a pro-rata 
allocation model.\17\ Finally, the Exchange allocates remaining 
interest to off-floor broker dealers \18\ also utilizing a pro-rata 
allocation model.
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    \13\ The Exchange rounds shares and allocates remaining shares 
in the manner described herein. This rule change memorializes this 
practice within its rules.
    \14\ Price-Time allocations are filled among Customer Orders in 
time priority.
    \15\ A Specialist is an Exchange member who is registered as an 
options specialist. See Phlx Rule 1020(a).
    \16\ A Registered Options Trader (``ROT'') includes a Streaming 
Quote Trader or ``SQT,'' a Remote Streaming Quote Trader or ``RSQT'' 
and a Non-SQT, which by definition is neither a SQT nor a RSQT. A 
ROT is defined in Exchange Rule 1014(b) as a regular member of the 
Exchange located on the trading floor who has received permission 
from the Exchange to trade in options for his own account. See 
Exchange Rule 1014(b)(i) and (ii).
    \17\ Pro-rata allocations may result in remaining shares as 
orders are allocated based on the size of the orders as a percentage 
of the total size among all interest at that price level.
    \18\ The term ``off-floor broker-dealer order'' means an order 
delivered from off the floor of the Exchange by or on behalf of a 
broker-dealer for the proprietary account(s) of such broker-dealer, 
including an order for a market maker located on an exchange or 
trading floor other than the Exchange's trading floor delivered for 
the proprietary account(s) of such market maker.
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    The Exchange proposes to precisely describe that, with respect to 
pro-rata allocations, the Exchange will round shares down to the 
nearest integer when determining the amount of the allocation in Rule 
1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f). The Exchange believes that this detail will 
provide market participants with information to determine the method in 
which the Exchange shall allocate remaining shares.
    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) to add 
rule text to describe the manner in which remaining shares will be 
allocated for ROTs and also for off-floor broker dealers. If remaining 
shares result, from the allocation of simple interest among equally 
priced ROTs, remaining shares are allocated by daily random assignments 
of ROTs. Each ROT is assigned an order of allocation, each trading day. 
Trading interest, which includes orders, quotes and sweeps, are 
allocated in accordance with the trading day's order assignment, 
provided the ROT is at the best price at which the order, quote or 
sweep is being traded. The assignment continues throughout the trading 
for each allocation, picking up where it dropped off from the last 
allocation, provided the ROT is entitled to an allocation. If odd lots 
arise when allocating interest among equally priced off-floor broker-
dealers, such odd lots are allocated in time priority, provided the 
off-floor broker-dealers is at the best price at which the order is 
being traded. Finally, with respect to Complex Orders, the Exchange 
notes in Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) that residual odd lots will be 
allocated in time priority for Complex Orders.
    The Exchange believes that these amendments will provide market 
participants with more information on the allocation of these odd lots.
    Below are two examples, representing consecutive executions and 
allocations within the Order Book which demonstrates rounding and the 
allocation of remaining shares.
Example #1
    Presume an order of 200 contracts is being allocated in the 
Exchange's Order Book. Allocation will first occur with public customer 
orders at the best price filled in time priority, since public 
customers always have priority on the Exchange. Presume there are 63 
contracts remaining after public customer orders are filled. ROTS would 
be allocated next pursuant to Rule 1014 in pro-rata fashion. Presume 5 
ROTs are at the best price and the allocation of the remaining 63 
contracts, after public customer orders have been satisfied, is as 
follows:


[[Page 21938]]


ROT A 1.10(30) x 1.20(30)--25.2 rounded down to 25 contracts
ROT B 1.10(15) x 1.20(15)--12.6 rounded down to 12 contracts
ROT C 1.10(10) x 1.20(10)--8.4 rounded down to 8 contracts
ROT D 1.10 (10) x 1.20(10)--8.4 rounded down to 8 contracts
ROT E 1.10 (10) x 1.20 (10)--8.4 rounded down to 8 contracts

    After this pro-rata allocation, 2 contracts remain to be allocated. 
Presume for this trading day these ROTs are assigned the following 
order of assignment: First is ROT A, second is ROT B, third is ROT C, 
fourth is ROT D and fifth is ROT E. The 2 remaining contracts would be 
allocated as follows:

ROT A 1.10(30) x 1.20(30)--1 contract
ROT B 1.10(15) x 1.20(15)--1 contract
ROT C 1.10(10) x 1.20(10)--zero
ROT D 1.10 (10) x 1.20(10)--zero
ROT E 1.10 (10) x 1.20 (10)--zero

    The next order which results in contracts remaining after the pro-
rata allocation to ROTs will have such remaining contracts allocated 
one at a time beginning with ROT C since he was next in line based on 
that trading day's order of assignment, provided ROT C is at the best 
price with remaining interest.

Example #2
    Presume an order of 200 contracts is being allocated in the 
Exchange's Order Book. Presume all public customer orders and ROT 
interest that was at the best price have been filled and there remains 
9 contracts to be executed.
    Off-floor broker-dealers would be allocated next pursuant to Rule 
1014 in a pro-rata fashion. Presume 3 off-floor broker-dealers are at 
the best price and their interest had arrived in the following order. 
The allocation of the remaining 9 contracts is as follows:

Off-floor broker-dealer C 1.10 (5) x 1.20 (5)--4.09 contracts rounded 
down to 4
Off-floor broker-dealer B 1.10 (3) x 1.20(3)--2.45 contracts rounded 
down to 2
Off-floor broker-dealer A 1.10 (3) x 1.20(3)--2.45 contracts rounded 
down to 2

After this pro-rata allocation, there remains one contract to be 
allocated. This residual contract will be allocated in time priority as 
follows:

Off-floor broker-dealer C 1.10 (5) x 1.20 (5)--1 contract
Off-floor broker-dealer B 1.10 (3) x 1.20(3)--zero
Off-floor broker-dealer A 1.10 (3) x 1.20(3)--zero
Public Customers
    The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule 1080(n)(vi) to add more 
specificity concerning public customer orders. An Initiating 
Participant may enter a PIXL Order for the account of a public customer 
paired with an order for the account of another Public Customer and 
such paired orders will be automatically executed without a PIXL 
Auction, provided there is not currently an Auction in progress in the 
same series or the same strategy, in which case the orders will be 
rejected. This rule text makes clear that with respect to Customer-to-
Customer \19\ PIXL Orders, those orders will be rejected when an 
Auction is in progress. This non-substantive change adds more clarity 
to the rule text. The Exchange recently included this clarifying rule 
text in the newly adopted BX PRISM rule \20\ and seeks to conform the 
PIXL rule text to that of BX PRISM. Conforming changes are also made in 
Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii).
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    \19\ These orders are customer retail orders.
    \20\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(vi).
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    The words ``or strategy'' in this context are not included in the 
BX PRISM rule because this language specifically relates to Complex 
Orders,\21\ which are not transacted on BX, but may be transacted on 
Phlx within PIXL.\22\ A Complex Order Strategy means a particular 
combination of components of a Complex Order and their ratios to one 
another. The Exchange will calculate both a bid price and an offer 
price for each Complex Order Strategy based on the current PBBO (as 
defined below) for each component of the Complex Order. Each Complex 
Order Strategy is assigned a strategy identifier by the System. With 
respect to Complex Order Strategies, the Exchange will permit an 
Initiating Participant to enter a PIXL Order for the account of a 
public customer paired with an order for the account of another public 
customer and such paired orders will be automatically executed without 
a PIXL Auction as long as there is not currently an Auction in progress 
in the same strategy. If there is an Auction in progress in the same 
strategy, the Customer-to Customer cross will be rejected.
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    \21\ A Complex Order is any order involving the simultaneous 
purchase and/or sale of two or more different options series in the 
same underlying security, priced at a net debit or credit based on 
the relative prices of the individual components, for the same 
account, for the purpose of executing a particular investment 
strategy. Furthermore, a Complex Order can also be a stock-option 
order, which is an order to buy or sell a stated number of units of 
an underlying stock or ETF coupled with the purchase or sale of 
options contract(s). See Exchange Rule 1080, Commentary .08(a)(i).
    \22\ See Phlx Rule 1080(n).
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    To further explain same strategy, where a PIXL Order creates a 
second Auction where there was already an a Complex Order Strategy 
Auction in progress with the same combination of components and the 
same ratios, that PIXL Order would be rejected. If the combination of 
components and ratios were not the same, the PIXL Order would not be 
rejected. Also, a simple and Complex Order Strategy Auction may occur 
at the same time. The Exchange believes that this approach is 
consistent with the general caveat in the PIXL Auction Rule 1080(n)(ii) 
that only one Auction may be conducted at a time in any given series or 
strategy.\23\
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    \23\ Rule 1080(n)(2) is being amended to conform to newly added 
rule text. While this section is being amended, the Exchange notes 
that the amendment is not material and the general caveat continues 
to apply.
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Non-Displayed Prices
    In certain instances, a resting order or quote may be internally 
priced at a non-displayed price and would differ from the PBBO. The 
Internal BBO or ``Reference BBO'' would differ from the PBBO in a 
situation where the System prevents trade-throughs and locked and 
crossed markets. Interest will not be executed at a price that trades 
through another market or is displayed at a price that would lock or 
cross another market. If, at the time of entry, an order or quote would 
cause a locked or crossed market violation or would cause a trade-
through violation, it will be re-priced to the current national best 
offer (for bids) or the current national best bid (for offers) and 
displayed at one minimum price variance above (for offers) or below 
(for bids) the national best price.
    The Exchange is proposing more precise rule text to account for 
these situations where there is an automatic repricing in order to 
prevent trade-throughs and locked and crossed markets. The Exchange 
proposes to change the rule text in relevant instances to acknowledge 
that repricing would result in the better of the NBBO (or PBBO) or the 
Reference BBO.
Conforming Change
    The Exchange proposes a change to Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G). The Exchange 
proposes to amend the sentence which states, ``[i]f the PIXL Auction 
price (except if it is a Complex Order) is the same as that of an order 
on the limit order book represented in the PBBO on the same side of the 
market as the PIXL Order, the PIXL Order may only be executed at a 
price that is at least one minimum price improvement increment better 
than the resting order's limit price or, if such resting order's limit 
price is equal to or crosses the stop price, then the entire PIXL Order 
will trade at the stop price with all better priced interest

[[Page 21939]]

being considered for execution at the stop price,'' to include the 
``represented in the PBBO text. The Exchange believes that this 
clarifying rule text conforms the sentence to the remainder of the rule 
text by referencing the relation to the PBBO. This is not a substantive 
rule change.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \24\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \25\ in particular, in that it is 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, and, in general to protect investors and the public 
interest, by allowing for an Auction period of no less than one hundred 
(100) milliseconds and no more than one (1) second and providing a 
meaningful opportunity for Phlx members to respond to the PIXL Auction 
while at the same time facilitating the prompt execution of orders.
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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PIXL Timer
    Phlx believes the proposed rule change could provide orders within 
PIXL an opportunity for price improvement. Also, the shorter duration 
of time for the Auction reduce the market risk for all members 
executing trades in PIXL. Initiating Participants are required to 
guarantee an execution at the NBBO or at a better price, and are 
subject to market risk while their PIXL Order is exposed to other Phlx 
members. While other participants are also subject to market risk, 
those providing responses in PIXL may cancel or modify their orders. 
Phlx believes that the Initiating Participant acts in a critical role 
within the PIXL Auction. Their willingness to guarantee the orders 
entered into PIXL an execution at NBBO or a better price is the 
keystone to an order gaining the opportunity for price improvement. 
Phlx believes that allowing for an auction period of no less than one 
hundred milliseconds and no more than one second will benefit members 
trading in PIXL. Phlx believes it is in these members' best interests 
to minimize the Auction time while continuing to allow members adequate 
time to electronically respond. Both the order being exposed and the 
responding orders are subject to market risk during the Auction.
    While some members may wait to respond until later in the Auction, 
presumably to minimize their market risk, the Exchange believes that a 
majority of the orders would respond earlier in the Auction. Based on 
the Exchange's experience with the PIXL mechanism,\26\ Phlx believes 
that an Auction of no less than one hundred milliseconds and no more 
than one second will continue to provide all market participants with 
sufficient time to respond, compete, and provide price improvement for 
orders and will provide investors and other market participants with 
more timely executions, thereby reducing their market risk. The 
proposed rule allows people to respond quickly at the most favorable 
price while reducing the risk that the market will move against the 
response.
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    \26\ Phlx staff distributed a survey to all Phlx market maker 
firms inquiring as to the timeframe within which these market 
participants respond to an auction with a duration time ranging from 
less than fifty (50) milliseconds to more than one (1) second. An 
overwhelming number of the market maker firms that responded to the 
survey indicated that they were capable of responding to auctions 
with a duration time of at least 50 milliseconds. Of the thirty five 
(35) Phlx market maker firms that were surveyed, twenty (20) of 
these market makers responded to the survey and of those respondents 
100% indicated that that their firm could respond to auctions with a 
duration time of at least 50 milliseconds. This survey was conducted 
in May 2014.
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    Phlx believes that its members operate electronic systems that 
enable them to react and respond to orders in a meaningful way in 
fractions of a second. Phlx believes that its members will be able to 
compete within no less than one hundred milliseconds and no more than 
one second and this is a sufficient amount of time to respond to, 
compete for, and provide price improvement for orders, and will provide 
investors and other market participants with more timely executions, 
and reduce their market risk.
    Finally, with respect to system capacity, Phlx has analyzed its 
capacity and represents that it and the Options Price Reporting 
Authority (``OPRA'') have the necessary systems capacity to handle the 
potential additional traffic associated with auction transactions 
resulting specifically from the implementation of the Auction period of 
no less than one hundred milliseconds and no more than one second.
Immediate or Cancel
    The Exchange's amendment to remove certain uses of the term 
``rejected'' to instead refer to the term ``immediately cancelled'' 
complies with the Exchange Act because the replacement words provide 
more specificity to the rule text. Today, PAN Responses that do not 
comply with PIXL requirements are not eligible to participant in an 
Auction and will be immediately cancelled, after being reviewed by the 
trading system. The Exchange believes that system enforced criteria 
will promote just and equitable principles of trade and protect 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes this change 
adds more clarity to the rule text to differentiate rejections and 
cancellations.
Allocations
    The Exchange's amendment to make clear that under no circumstances 
will the Initiating Participant receive an allocation percentage, at 
the final price point, of more than 50% with one competing quote, order 
or PAN response or 40% with multiple competing quotes, orders or PAN 
responses, when competing quotes, orders or PAN responses have 
contracts available for execution is a rule change that makes clear 
that limitation to allocation in PIXL. This rule change adds more 
clarity to the rule text. This amendment is consistent with the Act in 
that it identifies the limitation in the PIXL allocation more 
specifically and memorializes that limitation.
    The Exchange's amendment to provide more specificity concerning the 
allocation to which an Initiating Participant is entitled, either 40% 
or 50% depending on whether there are one or more competing quotes, 
orders or PAN responses, is a change which adds more clarity to the 
rule text. This amendment is consistent with the Act in that it 
identifies with specificity the manner in which PIXL will allocate to 
an Initiating Participant.
    The Exchange believes that the new language of ``or 50%'' is 
consistent with the Act because the value added from Initiating 
Participants guaranteeing execution of Agency Orders at a price equal 
to or better than the NBBO warrants (to the extent that the Initiating 
Participants is on the final Auction price), an Auction allocation 
priority of at least the same percentage of the order as any competing 
Auction response, quote, or order when there is only one such response, 
quote, or order. The Exchange also believes that the proposed rule 
change, like other price improvement allocation programs currently 
offered by competitor exchanges, will benefit investors by attracting 
more order flow as well as increasing the frequency that Participants 
initiate Auctions, which may result in greater opportunities for 
customer order price improvement. These percentages remain competitive 
with the percentage of allocations

[[Page 21940]]

currently available on other options markets.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stop Price
    The Exchange's amendment to revise language where the entire PIXL 
Order will be executed at, including, in the case of the PBBO crossing 
the PIXL Order stop price, the best response price(s) or, if the stop 
price is the best price in the Auction, at the stop price, unless the 
best response price is equal to or better than the price of a limit 
order resting on the PHLX book on the same side of the market as the 
PIXL Order, in which case the PIXL Order will be executed against that 
response . . .'' adds more specificity to the current rule text and 
accounts for responses at the best price, not just equal to other 
prices. The Exchange believes that the ability to price improve is 
consistent with the Act because it removes impediments to and perfects 
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system.
Professional Order
    The Exchange's amendment to make clear that a public customer order 
does not include a professional order is a non-substantive change which 
adds more clarity to the rule text. This amendment is consistent with 
the Act and other rule changes which make clear the distinction between 
professional and public customer orders.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61426 (January 26, 
2010), 75 FR 5360 (February 2, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-05) (Notice of 
Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Professional Orders).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rounding
    With respect to rounding, all rounding is down to the nearest 
integer. If rounding of the Initiating Participant's allocation results 
in an allocation of less than one contract, then one contract will be 
allocated to the Initiating Participant, only if the Initiating 
Participant did not otherwise receive an allocation. The Exchange is 
permitting the Initiating Participant to receive the benefit of the 
rounding in an allocation of less than one contract, only if the 
Initiating Participant did not otherwise receive an allocation, because 
the Initiating Participant is not eligible to receive residual 
contracts. The Exchange believes that rounding differently for the 
Initiating Participant as compared to all other market participants is 
not unfairly discriminatory since the Initiating Participant is not 
eligible to receive residual contracts as are other market 
participants, unless no other interest is available to trade. The 
Exchange currently provides that rounding shall occur in a fair and 
equitable manner. The Exchange proposes to amend this rule to provide 
that rounding shall be down to the nearest integer. The Exchange 
believes that rounding down uniformly is consistent with the Exchange 
Act because it provides for the equitable allocation of shares among 
the Exchange's market participants. Also, this rule change will provide 
market participants with transparency as to the number of shares that 
they are entitled to receive as the result of rounding.
    The Exchange's amendment to indicate the manner in which odd lots 
are allocated among market participants for simple interest specifies 
that for ROTS, odd lots allocated among equally priced ROTs are by 
random assignment of ROTs each trading day in accordance with the 
trading day's order assignment, provided the ROT is at the best price 
at which the order is being traded. For off-floor broker-dealers, odd 
lots are allocated in time priority, provided the off-floor broker-
dealers are at the best price at which the order is being traded. The 
Exchange believes that the allocation of odd lots uniformly for all 
ROTs, and separately for all off-floor broker-dealers, is consistent 
with the Exchange Act because it provides for the equitable allocation 
of shares among the Exchange's market participants. With respect to 
off-floor broker-dealers, the method is consistent with the Act because 
it relies simply on time priority, an accepted method of allocation 
utilized by many options exchange to prioritize orders.
    Specifically, with respect to the allocation method for odd lots 
for ROTs, this random assignment is basically a round robin approach to 
the allocation. The Exchange believes that this method results in a 
fair and equitable allocation of shares of these market participants 
because each trading day the Exchange creates a new order of assignment 
to allocate ROTs and that order provided an independent method to 
assign evenly among ROTs. Also, each trading day that assignment 
changes so that no one ROT would have the ability to receive a greater 
allocation than another ROT. The Exchange believes that its assignment 
method is not subject to gaming since it is random and therefore 
complies with the Act because it is aimed at the protection of 
investors. Also, this rule change will provide market participants will 
transparency as to the number of shares that they are entitled to 
receive as the result of allocation odd lots.
    With respect to the allocation of odd lots for Complex Orders, the 
Exchange will allocate in time priority. The Exchange believes that 
allocating Complex Orders in time priority uniformly is consistent with 
the Exchange Act because it provides for the equitable allocation of 
shares among the Exchange's market participants. Also, this rule change 
will provide market participants will transparency as to the number of 
shares that they are entitled to receive as the result of allocating 
odd lots.
Public Customers
    The Exchange's amendment to add more specificity concerning public 
customer orders to indicate that a public customer paired with an order 
for the account of another public customer will be automatically 
executed without a PIXL Auction, provided there is not currently an 
Auction in progress in the same series or same strategy, in which case 
the orders will be rejected. This amendment makes clear that only one 
Auction may be conducted at a time in any given series is consistent 
with the Act and the PIXL approval order.\29\ This rule text makes 
clear that with respect to Customer-to-Customer PIXL Orders, those 
orders will be rejected when an Auction is in progress in the same 
series. This non-substantive change adds more clarity to the rule text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See Securities Exchange Act 63027 (October 1, 2010), 75 FR 
62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-108).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With respect to the words ``or strategy,'' the BX PRISM rule does 
not contain similar language because this language specifically relates 
to Complex Orders, which are not transacted on BX, but may be 
transacted on Phlx within PIXL. Similar to the manner in which the 
Exchange would treat two Auctions in the same series, the Exchange will 
permit an Initiating Participant to enter a PIXL Order for the account 
of a public customer paired with an order for the account of another 
public customer and such paired orders will be automatically executed 
without a PIXL Auction as long as there is not currently an Auction in 
progress in the same strategy. With respect to Complex Order 
Strategies, the Exchange will permit an Initiating Participant to enter 
a PIXL Order for the account of a public customer paired with an order 
for the account of another public customer and such paired orders will 
be automatically executed without a PIXL Auction as long as there is 
not currently an Auction in progress in the same strategy. If there is 
an Auction in progress in the same strategy, the Customer-to-Customer 
cross will be rejected. To further explain same strategy, where a PIXL 
Order would create a second Auction where there

[[Page 21941]]

was already an a Complex Order Strategy Auction in progress with the 
same combination of components and the same ratios, that PIXL Order 
would be rejected. If the combination of components and ratios were not 
the same, the PIXL Order would not be rejected. Also, a simple and 
Complex Order Strategy Auction may occur at the same time. The Exchange 
believes that this approach is consistent with the general caveat in 
the PIXL Auction that only one Auction may be conducted at a time in 
any given series or strategy.\30\ The Exchange does not permit more 
than one Auction to be conducted at a time in any given series and in 
this case also in a given strategy because the Exchange does not desire 
to have competing Auctions for the same series or strategy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ See Securities Exchange Act 63027 (October 1, 2010), 75 FR 
62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-108). See also Phlx Rule 
1080(n)(ii) which states, in part, ``Auction Process. Only one 
Auction may be conducted at a time in any given series or 
strategy.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Displayed Prices
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Rule 1080(n) for the addition of 
language to include the ``Reference BBO'' to clarify where the price is 
equal to or better than the NBBO or PBBO and the Reference BBO 
(internal market BBO), due to repricing for trade-throughs or locked 
and crossed markets, adds clarity and precision to the current rule 
text. The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act and does 
not otherwise create an impediment to a free and open market because 
today investors are subject to this repricing and have the opportunity 
to trade at a better price, which could result in better executions for 
investors. Also, by reflecting the proper rule text to account for 
these order types the Exchange is providing Participants with 
additional information with which to anticipate the manner in which the 
Exchange's trading system reprices interest to prevent a trade-through 
or locked and crossed market.
Conforming Change
    The Exchange's proposal to clarify Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G) to include a 
reference to the PBBO will conform the Exchange's PIXL rule text. This 
is not a substantive amendment. The Exchange believes that this 
amendment will provide further clarity to the PIXL rules.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change will 
conform the PIXL rule with the PRISM rule. The Exchange does not 
believe that the proposed changes produce an undue burden on inter-
market competition because these changes will afford Phlx the 
opportunity to compete for order flow by offering an auction mechanism 
similar to that of other exchanges, specifically BX.
PIXL Timer
    Phlx's amendment to the timer to a shorter duration of time for the 
Auction does not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition 
because Phlx believes that allowing for an auction period of no less 
than one hundred milliseconds and no more than one second will benefit 
members trading in PIXL. Phlx believes it is in these members' best 
interests to minimize the Auction time while continuing to allow 
members adequate time to electronically respond. The proposed rule 
allows people to respond quickly at the most favorable price while 
reducing the risk that the market will move against the response. Phlx 
believes that its members will be able to compete in no less than one 
hundred milliseconds and no more than one second and this is a 
sufficient amount of time to respond to, compete for, and provide price 
improvement for orders, and will provide investors and other market 
participants with more timely executions, and reduce their market risk.
Immediate or Cancel
    The Exchange's amendment to remove certain uses of the term 
``rejected'' to instead refer to the term ``immediately cancelled'' 
does not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because PAN 
Responses that do not comply with PIXL requirements are not eligible to 
participate in an Auction and will be immediately cancelled after being 
reviewed by the trading system. The system enforced criteria will be 
applied uniformly to all Phlx members. The Exchange believes this non-
substantive change adds more clarity to the rule text.
Allocations
    The Exchange's amendment to make clear that under no circumstances 
will the Initiating Participant receive an allocation percentage, at 
the final price point, of more than 50% with one competing quote, order 
or PAN response or 40% with multiple competing quotes, orders or PAN 
responses, when competing quotes, orders or PAN responses have 
contracts available for execution does not impose an undue burden on 
intra-market competition. This rule change adds more clarity to the 
rule text. This amendment is consistent with the Act in that it 
identifies an existing limitation in the PIXL allocation more 
specifically and memorializes that limitation. The Exchange believes 
that the new language of ``or 50%'' does not create an undue burden on 
competition because this language is similar to language in BX PRISM 
and applies to all market participants utilizing Phlx.\31\ The 
Exchange's amendment to provide more specificity concerning the 
allocation to which an Initiating Participant is entitled, either 40% 
or 50% depending on whether there are one or more competing quotes, 
orders or PAN responses does not impose an undue burden on intra-market 
competition. This is a rule change adds more clarity to the rule text. 
This amendment does not impose an undue burden on intra-market 
competition, rather, it identifies with specificity the manner in which 
PIXL will allocate to an Initiating Participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'') Rules at Chapter VI, Section 
9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stop Price
    The Exchange's amendment to revise language where the entire PIXL 
Order will be executed at, including, in the case of the PBBO crossing 
the PIXL Order stop price, the best response price(s) or, if the stop 
price is the best price in the Auction, at the stop price, unless the 
best response price is equal to or better than the price of a limit 
order resting on the PHLX book on the same side of the market as the 
PIXL Order, in which case the PIXL Order will be executed against that 
response . . .'' does not impose an undue burden on intra-market 
competition. Rather, this language adds more specificity to the current 
rule text and accounts for better priced orders.
Professional Order
    The Exchange's amendment to make clear that a public customer order 
does not include a professional order does not impose an undue burden 
on intra-market competition this rule change is consistent with the 
distinction between professional and public customer orders.
Rounding
    With respect to rounding, all rounding is down to the nearest 
integer. If rounding of the Initiating Participant's allocation results 
in an allocation of less

[[Page 21942]]

than one contract, then one contract will be allocated to the 
Initiating Participant, only if the Initiating Participant did not 
otherwise receive an allocation. The Exchange is permitting the 
Initiating Participant to receive the benefit of the rounding in an 
allocation of less than one contract, only if the Initiating 
Participant did not otherwise receive an allocation, because the 
Initiating Participant is not eligible to receive residual contracts. 
The Exchange does not believe that the proposal to round all remaining 
shares down to the nearest integer imposes an undue burden on 
competition because the Exchange will uniformly round in this matter.
    If there are contracts remaining, such contracts shall be allocated 
for simple interest after rounding by randomly assigning all ROTs an 
order of allocation each trading day, and allocating orders, quotes and 
sweeps in accordance with the trading day's order assignment, provided 
the ROT is at the best price at which the order, quote or sweep is 
being traded, except with respect to Complex Orders, which allocation 
is described in Rule 1080, Commentary .07. In the event that there are 
remaining contracts to be allocated for interest after rounding, such 
remaining contacts will be allocated in time priority, provided the 
off-floor broker-dealers are at the best price at which the order is 
being traded. Residual remaining shares will be allocated in time 
priority for Complex Orders.
    With respect to allocating remaining contracts, the Exchange does 
not believe that the proposal to allocate remaining contracts for ROTs 
by random assignment creates an undue burden on competition because the 
method, which is basically round robin, results in a fair and equitable 
allocation of shares of these market participants. The Exchange does 
not believe that allocating remaining contracts to off-floor broker-
dealers in time priority creates an undue burden on competition because 
the method will be applied uniformly among these participants. Finally, 
the Exchange does not believe that allocating remaining contracts to 
Complex Orders in time priority creates an undue burden on competition 
because the method will be applied uniformly to all transactions 
involving Complex Orders.
Public Customers
    The Exchange's amendment to add more specificity concerning public 
customer orders to indicate that a public customer paired with an order 
for the account of another public customer will be automatically 
executed without a PIXL Auction, provided there is not currently an 
Auction in progress in the same series or same strategy, in which case 
the orders will be rejected, does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition. This non-substantive change adds more clarity to 
the rule text. Also, the Exchange's amendment to add more specificity 
concerning public customer orders to indicate that a public customer 
paired with an order for the account of another public customer will be 
automatically executed without a PIXL Auction, provided there is not 
currently an Auction in progress in the same strategy, does not impose 
an undue burden on intra-market competition because this is consistent 
with the general caveat in the PIXL Auction that only one Auction may 
be conducted at a time in any given series or strategy.
Non-Displayed Prices
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Rule 1080(n) for the addition of 
language to include the ``Reference BBO'' to clarify where the price is 
equal to or better than the NBBO or PBBO and the Reference BBO 
(internal market BBO), due to repricing for trade-throughs or locked 
and crossed markets, does not impose an udue burden on intra-market 
competition, rather the more precise language adds clarity and 
precision to the current rule text. This additional information will 
provide all market participants with information to anticipate the 
manner in which the Exchange's trading system operates in PIXL 
Auctions.
Conforming Change
    The Exchange's proposal to clarify Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G) to include a 
reference to the PBBO to conform the Exchange's PIXL rule text does not 
impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because the 
amendment is non-substantive.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or 
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become 
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \32\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(iii).
    \33\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing. Rule 
19b-4(f)(6)(iii), however, permits the Commission to designate a 
shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests that the 
Commission waive the 30-day pre-operative waiting period contained in 
Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) so that Phlx make conform its current rule text 
to that of BX PRISM to compete effectively against this market. The 
Commission has determined to waive the 30-day operative delay in order 
to permit Phlx to implement without delay its proposed rule changes to 
incorporate recently-approved provisions in the substantially similar 
rules of BX. The Commission believes that such waiver is consistent 
with the protection of investors and the public interest as the 
proposed changes do not raise any material new issues that have not 
been previously considered by the Commission.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or

[[Page 21943]]

     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-Phlx-2016-40 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-Phlx-2016-40. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2016-40 and should be 
submitted on or before May 4, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-08429 Filed 4-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices                                                 21935

                                                      The Exchange believes the proposed                      III. Date of Effectiveness of the                     only one method. The Commission will
                                                    rule revision is consistent with the                      Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                   post all comments on the Commissions
                                                    Exchange Act because it complies with                     Commission Action                                     Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    Regulation SCI’s requirements. ISE                           Because the foregoing proposed rule                rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                    Mercury’s proposed rule designates only                   change does not significantly affect the              submission, all subsequent
                                                    those PMMs it determines are necessary                    protection of investors or the public                 amendments, all written statements
                                                    for the maintenance of a fair and orderly                 interest, does not impose any significant             with respect to the proposed rule
                                                    market if the Exchange’s DR Plans are                     burden on competition, and, by its                    change that are filed with the
                                                    activated. Additionally, the proposal                     terms, does not become operative for 30               Commission, and all written
                                                    will ensure that the PMMs necessary to                    days from the date on which it was                    communications relating to the
                                                    ensure the maintenance of a fair and                      filed, or such shorter time as the                    proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                              Commission may designate, it has                      Commission and any person, other than
                                                    orderly market are properly designated
                                                                                                              become effective pursuant to section                  those that may be withheld from the
                                                    consistent with Rule 1004 of Regulation
                                                                                                              19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 15 and Rule 19b–               public in accordance with the
                                                    SCI. Specifically, as proposed, the
                                                                                                              4(f)(6) thereunder.16 The Exchange                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                    Exchange will adopt clear and objective                                                                         available for viewing and printing in the
                                                    criteria with respect to the designation                  provided the Commission with written
                                                                                                              notice of its intent to file the proposed             Commission’s Public Reference Room,
                                                    of PMMs that are required to participate                                                                        100 F Street NE., Washington DC 20549,
                                                    in the testing of the Exchange’s DR                       rule change, along with a brief
                                                                                                              description and text of the proposed                  on official business days between the
                                                    Plans, as well as appropriate                                                                                   hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
                                                    notification regarding such designation.                  rule change, at least five business days
                                                                                                              prior to the date of filing the proposed              Copies of such filing also will be
                                                    As set forth in the SCI Adopting                                                                                available for inspection and copying at
                                                                                                              rule change, or such shorter time as
                                                    Release, ‘‘SROs have the authority, and                                                                         the principal office of the Exchange. All
                                                                                                              designated by the Commission, as
                                                    legal responsibility, under section 6 of                  required by Rule 19b–4(f)(6).                         comments received will be posted
                                                    the Exchange Act, to adopt and enforce                       At any time within 60 days of the                  without change; the Commission does
                                                    rules (including rules to comply with                     filing of such proposed rule change, the              not edit personal identifying
                                                    Regulation SCI’s requirements relating                    Commission summarily may                              information from submissions. You
                                                    to [business continuity and disaster                      temporarily suspend such rule change if               should submit only information that
                                                    recovery] testing) applicable to their                    it appears to the Commission that such                you wish to make available publicly. All
                                                    members or participants that are                          action is necessary or appropriate in the             submissions should refer to File
                                                    designed to, among other things, foster                   public interest, for the protection of                Number SR–ISE Mercury–2016–08 and
                                                    cooperation and coordination with                         investors, or otherwise in furtherance of             should be submitted by May 4, 2016.
                                                    persons engaged in regulating, clearing,                  the purposes of the Act. If the                         For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    settling, processing information with                     Commission takes such action, the                     Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    respect to, and facilitating transactions                 Commission shall institute proceedings                authority.17
                                                    in securities, to remove impediments to                   to determine whether the proposed rule                Robert W. Errett,
                                                    and perfect the mechanism of a free and                   should be approved or disapproved.                    Deputy Secretary.
                                                    open market and a national market                         IV. Solicitation of Comments                          [FR Doc. 2016–08428 Filed 4–12–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    system, and, in general, to protect                                                                             BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    investors and the public interest.’’ 14                     Interested persons are invited to
                                                                                                              submit written data, views, and
                                                    The Exchange believes that this
                                                                                                              arguments concerning the foregoing,                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    proposal is consistent with such
                                                                                                              including whether the proposed rule                   COMMISSION
                                                    authority and legal responsibility.
                                                                                                              change is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                              Comments may be submitted by any of                   [Release No. 34–77557; File No. SR–Phlx–
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                               2016–40]
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                        the following methods:
                                                                                                              Electronic Comments                                   Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                                       This proposed rule change does not                                                                           NASDAQ PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing
                                                    impose any burden on competition that                       • Use the Commission’s Internet                     and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                    is not necessary or appropriate in                        comment form http://www.sec.gov/                      Proposed Rule Change Relating to
                                                    furtherance of the purposes of the                        rules/sro.shtml); or                                  PIXL
                                                    Exchange Act because ISE Mercury is                         • Send an Email to rule-comments@
                                                    implementing the requirements of                          sec.gov. Please include File No. SR–ISE               April 7, 2016.
                                                    Regulation SCI.                                           Mercury–2016–08 on the subject line.                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                              Paper Comments                                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                                                                               (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                                 • Send paper comments in triplicate                notice is hereby given that on March 24,
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From                        to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities             2016, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or
                                                    Members, Participants or Others                           and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                 ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                                                                              NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                       and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
                                                       The Exchange has neither solicited
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                              All submissions should refer to File                  ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                    nor received written comments on this                     Number SR–ISE Mercury–2016–08. This                   change as described in Items I and II
                                                    proposed rule change. The Exchange                        file number should be included on the                 below, which Items have been prepared
                                                    has not received any written comments                     subject line if email is used. To help the            by the Exchange. The Commission is
                                                    from members or other interested                          Commission process and review your                    publishing this notice to solicit
                                                    parties.                                                  comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                                                                                      17 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
                                                      14 See                                                    15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                            1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                               SCI Adopting Release, supra note 4 at
                                                    72350.                                                      16 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).                            2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.




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                                                    21936                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices

                                                    comments on the proposed rule change                    PIXL Timer                                            order being exposed and the responding
                                                    from interested persons.                                   Today, a PIXL Auction lasts for one                orders are subject to market risk during
                                                                                                            second, unless it is concluded early.4                the Auction.
                                                    I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  The Exchange proposes to amend Rule                   Immediate or Cancel
                                                    the Proposed Rule Change                                1080(n)(ii)(A)(4) to state, ‘‘the Auction
                                                                                                                                                                     The Exchange is amending the Phlx
                                                                                                            will last for a period of time, as
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend                                                                             Rule 1080(n) to remove certain uses of
                                                                                                            determined by the Exchange and
                                                    Phlx Rule 1080, entitled ‘‘Phlx XL and                                                                        the term ‘‘rejected’’ to instead refer to
                                                                                                            announced on the Nasdaq Trader Web
                                                    Phlx XL II’’ to amend the length of time                                                                      the term ‘‘immediately cancelled.’’
                                                                                                            site. The Auction period will be no less
                                                    of a Price Improvement XL or PIXLSM                                                                           Specifically, the Exchange is amending
                                                                                                            than one hundred milliseconds and no
                                                    Auction and make other rule changes.                                                                          Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(8)–(10). These
                                                       The text of the proposed rule change                 more than one second.’’ This timer is
                                                                                                                                                                  orders are not rejected, rather they are
                                                    is available on the Exchange’s Web site                 similar to the current timer length in the
                                                                                                                                                                  immediately cancelled because
                                                    at http://                                              newly adopted BX PRISM.5 The
                                                                                                                                                                  technically they are accepted into the
                                                    nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/, at                    selected timer would be the same length
                                                                                                                                                                  trading system. The Exchange believes
                                                    the principal office of the Exchange, and               of time for all auctions in all options
                                                                                                                                                                  this non-substantive change adds more
                                                    at the Commission’s Public Reference                    pursuant to Phlx Rule 1080(n).
                                                                                                               The Exchange believes that a shorter               clarity to the rule text. This distinction
                                                    Room.                                                                                                         is made throughout the newly adopted
                                                                                                            duration of time for the Auction will
                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      reduce market risk for all members                    BX PRISM rule, where applicable.7
                                                                                                            executing trades in PIXL. Initiating                     The Exchange notes that its proposed
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                            Participants are required to guarantee an             rule text at Rule 1080(n)(ii)(A)(9) states
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                            execution at the NBBO 6 or at a better                that a PAN or Complex Order PAN
                                                    Change
                                                                                                            price, and are subject to market risk                 response which is inferior to the stop
                                                       In its filing with the Commission, the                                                                     price of the PIXL order will be
                                                    Exchange included statements                            while their PIXL Order is exposed to
                                                                                                            other Phlx members. While other                       cancelled. In this particular instance,
                                                    concerning the purpose of and basis for                                                                       the order is not immediately cancelled
                                                    the proposed rule change and discussed                  Participants are also subject to market
                                                                                                            risk, those providing responses in PIXL               to prevent information leakage as to
                                                    any comments it received on the                                                                               possible stop price. The order is
                                                    proposed rule change. The text of these                 may cancel or modify their orders. Phlx
                                                                                                            believes that the Initiating Participant              cancelled at the end of the Auction
                                                    statements may be examined at the                                                                             instead.
                                                    places specified in Item IV below. The                  acts in a critical role within the PIXL
                                                                                                            Auction. Their willingness to guarantee               Allocations
                                                    Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                            the orders entered into PIXL an
                                                    forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                                                                          The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule
                                                                                                            execution at NBBO or a better price is
                                                    the most significant aspects of such                                                                          1080(n)(ii)(A)(1) to first make clear that
                                                                                                            the keystone to an order gaining the
                                                    statements.                                                                                                   under no circumstances will the
                                                                                                            opportunity for price improvement.
                                                                                                                                                                  Initiating Participant receive an
                                                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Phlx believes that allowing for an
                                                                                                                                                                  allocation percentage, at the final price
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                        Auction period of no less than one
                                                                                                                                                                  point, of more than 50% with one
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  hundred milliseconds and no more than
                                                                                                                                                                  competing quote, order or PAN response
                                                    Change                                                  one second will benefit members
                                                                                                            trading in PIXL. Phlx believes it is in               or 40% with multiple competing quotes,
                                                    1. Purpose                                                                                                    orders or PAN responses, when
                                                                                                            these members’ best interests to
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend                       minimize the auction time while                       competing quotes, orders or PAN
                                                    Phlx Rule 1080(n) to amend the length                   continuing to allow members adequate                  responses have contracts available for
                                                    of time of a PIXLSM Auction and make                    time to electronically respond. Both the              execution. This change adds more
                                                    other clarifying rule changes. PIXL is a                                                                      clarity to the rule text as this limitation
                                                    component of the Exchange’s fully                       67399 (July 11, 2012), 77 FR 42048 (July 17, 2012)    is present today. The Exchange recently
                                                    automated options trading system,                       (SR–Phlx–2012–94) (Extending Pilot for Price          included this clarifying rule text in the
                                                    PHLX XL, that allows a member to                        Improvement System, Price Improvement XL);            newly adopted BX PRISM rule 8 and
                                                                                                            69845 (June 25, 2013), 78 FR 39429 (July 1, 2013)     seeks to conform the PIXL rule text to
                                                    electronically submit for execution an                  (SR–Phlx–2013–46) (Order Granting Approval To
                                                    order it represents as agent on behalf of               Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment        that of BX PRISM.
                                                    a public customer, broker-dealer, or any                No. 1, Regarding Complex Order PIXL); 69989 (July        The Exchange is also amending Phlx
                                                    other entity (‘‘PIXL Order’’) against                   16, 2013), 78 FR 43950 (July 22, 2013) (SR–Phlx–      Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(b) and
                                                                                                            2013–74) (Extending Pilot for Price Improvement       1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(c)(ii) to provide more
                                                    principal interest or against any other                 System, Price Improvement XL); and 72619 (July
                                                    order it represents as agent (an                        16, 2014), 79 FR 42613 (July 22, 2014) (Extending     specificity concerning the allocation to
                                                    ‘‘Initiating Order’’) provided it submits               Pilot for Price Improvement System, Price             which an Initiating Participant is
                                                    the PIXL Order for electronic execution                 Improvement XL).                                      entitled. The amendments make clear
                                                                                                               4 The PIXL Auction shall conclude at the earlier
                                                    into the PIXL Auction (‘‘Auction’). The                                                                       that the allocations can be either 40% or
                                                                                                            to occur of (1) The end of the Auction period; (2)
                                                    Exchange adopted PIXL in October 2010                   For a PIXL Auction (except if it is a Complex
                                                                                                                                                                  50% depending on whether there are
                                                    as a price-improvement mechanism on                     Order), any time the PBBO crosses the PIXL Order      one or more competing quotes, orders or
                                                    the Exchange.3 The Exchange proposes                    stop price on the same side of the market as the      PAN responses. Also, the rule text notes
                                                                                                            PIXL Order; (3) For a Complex Order PIXL Auction,
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                                                    the below changes.                                                                                            that public customer interest must be
                                                                                                            any time the cPBBO or the Complex Order book
                                                                                                            crosses the PIXL Order stop price on the same side    satisfied first. This change adds more
                                                      3 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 63027      of the market as the PIXL Order; or (4) Any time      clarity to the rule text as this allocation
                                                    (October 1, 2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010)        there is a trading halt on the Exchange in the        method is present today. The Exchange
                                                    (SR–Phlx–2010–108) (Order Granting Approval to a        affected series.                                      recently included this clarifying rule
                                                                                                               5 See NASDAQ BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’) Rules at Chapter
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Relating to a Proposed Price
                                                    Improvement System, Price Improvement XL);              VI, Section 9(ii)(A)(3).
                                                                                                                                                                  text in the newly adopted BX PRISM
                                                    65043 (August 5, 2011), 76 FR 49824 (August 11,            6 For Complex Orders, Initiating Members are
                                                                                                                                                                    7 See   BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9.
                                                    2011) (SR–Phlx–2011–104) (Extending Pilot for           required to guarantee an execution at the cPBBO or
                                                    Price Improvement System, Price Improvement XL);        better.                                                 8 See   BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(A)(1).



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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices                                                 21937

                                                    rule 9 and seeks to conform the PIXL                        Professional Order                                          The Exchange proposes to precisely
                                                    rule text to that of BX PRISM.                                The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule                     describe that, with respect to pro-rata
                                                                                                                1080(n) in the first paragraph and also                  allocations, the Exchange will round
                                                    Stop Price                                                                                                           shares down to the nearest integer when
                                                                                                                1080(n)(ii)(E)(1) to make clear that a
                                                       The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule                       public customer order does not include                   determining the amount of the
                                                    1080(n)(ii)(C) to revise language where                     a professional 11 order. Professionals are               allocation in Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f).
                                                    the entire PIXL Order will be executed                      not entitled to priority as described                    The Exchange believes that this detail
                                                    at, including, in the case of the internal                  within the Phlx Rule 1080(n). This non-                  will provide market participants with
                                                    BBO (‘‘Reference BBO’’) crossing the                        substantive change adds more clarity to                  information to determine the method in
                                                    PIXL Order stop price, the best response                    the rule text. The Exchange recently                     which the Exchange shall allocate
                                                    price(s) or, if the stop price is the best                  included this clarifying rule text in the                remaining shares.
                                                                                                                newly adopted BX PRISM rule 12 and                          The Exchange proposes to amend
                                                    price in the Auction, at the stop price,
                                                                                                                seeks to conform the PIXL rule text to                   Rule 1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) to add rule text
                                                    unless the best response price is equal
                                                                                                                that of BX PRISM.                                        to describe the manner in which
                                                    to or better than the price of a limit
                                                                                                                                                                         remaining shares will be allocated for
                                                    order resting on the PHLX book on the                       Rounding                                                 ROTs and also for off-floor broker
                                                    same side of the market as the PIXL
                                                                                                                   The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule                    dealers. If remaining shares result, from
                                                    Order, in which case the PIXL Order
                                                                                                                1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) to add clarifying rule              the allocation of simple interest among
                                                    will be executed against that response,
                                                                                                                text concerning the manner in which                      equally priced ROTs, remaining shares
                                                    but at a price that is at least one
                                                                                                                the Exchange will round shares and                       are allocated by daily random
                                                    minimum price improvement increment
                                                                                                                allocate remaining contracts, commonly                   assignments of ROTs. Each ROT is
                                                    better than the price of such limit order                                                                            assigned an order of allocation, each
                                                    at the time of the conclusion of the                        known in the industry as odd lots.13
                                                                                                                Rule 1014 provides for the manner in                     trading day. Trading interest, which
                                                    Auction. This new ‘‘better than’’                                                                                    includes orders, quotes and sweeps, are
                                                    language is currently also utilized in the                  which the Phlx XL electronic match
                                                                                                                engine (hereinafter ‘‘System’’) allocates                allocated in accordance with the trading
                                                    newly adopted BX PRISM rule.10 The                                                                                   day’s order assignment, provided the
                                                    Auction would look for the best price,                      simple interest. Within Rule 1014, the
                                                                                                                Exchange allocates shares in Price-Time                  ROT is at the best price at which the
                                                    which is this instance may be through                                                                                order, quote or sweep is being traded.
                                                    a limit order on the same side as the                       priority 14 first to public customers.
                                                                                                                Thereafter, the Exchange allocates                       The assignment continues throughout
                                                    PIXL Order.                                                                                                          the trading for each allocation, picking
                                                                                                                interest to Specialists 15 and Registered
                                                       For example, assume the Reference                        Options Traders 16 (hereinafter                          up where it dropped off from the last
                                                    BBO and NBBO are both .97–1.03. A                           collectively ‘‘ROTs’’) utilizing a pro-rata              allocation, provided the ROT is entitled
                                                    PIXL Order to buy 100 contracts is                          allocation model.17 Finally, the                         to an allocation. If odd lots arise when
                                                    submitted with a contra-side Initiating                     Exchange allocates remaining interest to                 allocating interest among equally priced
                                                    Order to stop the PIXL Order at 1.01.                       off-floor broker dealers 18 also utilizing a             off-floor broker-dealers, such odd lots
                                                    Assume a PAN response is submitted to                       pro-rata allocation model.                               are allocated in time priority, provided
                                                    sell 10 contracts at .97 and another to                                                                              the off-floor broker-dealers is at the best
                                                    sell 10 contracts at 1.00. Then assume                         11 Phlx Rule 1000(b)(14) currently states that the    price at which the order is being traded.
                                                    an unrelated buy order is received to                       term ‘‘professional’’ means any person or entity that    Finally, with respect to Complex
                                                    pay .98 for 10 contracts. The order is                      (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii)    Orders, the Exchange notes in Rule
                                                    placed on the PHLX book and the                             places more than 390 orders in listed options per        1080(n)(ii)(E)(2)(f) that residual odd lots
                                                                                                                day on average during a calendar month for its own
                                                    Reference BBO becomes .98–1.03. Then                        beneficial account(s).                                   will be allocated in time priority for
                                                    assume, a participant submits a quote of                       12 See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9 in the       Complex Orders.
                                                    1.02–1.05, crossing the 1.01 stop price                     first paragraph and also at Section 9(ii)(E)(1).            The Exchange believes that these
                                                    on the same side of the PIXL Order and                         13 The Exchange rounds shares and allocates           amendments will provide market
                                                    concluding the PIXL Auction prior to                        remaining shares in the manner described herein.         participants with more information on
                                                                                                                This rule change memorializes this practice within
                                                    the expiration of one second. Therefore,                    its rules.
                                                                                                                                                                         the allocation of these odd lots.
                                                    10 contracts from the PIXL Order will be                       14 Price-Time allocations are filled among               Below are two examples, representing
                                                    executed at .99 against the best response                   Customer Orders in time priority.                        consecutive executions and allocations
                                                    price of .97 which is ‘better than’ the                        15 A Specialist is an Exchange member who is          within the Order Book which
                                                    price of the .98 limit order resting on the                 registered as an options specialist. See Phlx Rule       demonstrates rounding and the
                                                                                                                1020(a).                                                 allocation of remaining shares.
                                                    PHLX book on the same side of the                              16 A Registered Options Trader (‘‘ROT’’) includes
                                                    market as the PIXL Order. Also, 10                          a Streaming Quote Trader or ‘‘SQT,’’ a Remote            Example #1
                                                    contracts will be executed at 1.00 (the                     Streaming Quote Trader or ‘‘RSQT’’ and a Non-
                                                    next best response price after the                          SQT, which by definition is neither a SQT nor a             Presume an order of 200 contracts is
                                                    execution at .98) and the remaining 80                      RSQT. A ROT is defined in Exchange Rule 1014(b)          being allocated in the Exchange’s Order
                                                                                                                as a regular member of the Exchange located on the       Book. Allocation will first occur with
                                                    contracts will be executed at 1.01 (the                     trading floor who has received permission from the
                                                    stop price) against the Initiating Order.                   Exchange to trade in options for his own account.
                                                                                                                                                                         public customer orders at the best price
                                                    The Exchange believes that this                             See Exchange Rule 1014(b)(i) and (ii).                   filled in time priority, since public
                                                    language clarifies the current rule text
                                                                                                                   17 Pro-rata allocations may result in remaining       customers always have priority on the
                                                                                                                shares as orders are allocated based on the size of      Exchange. Presume there are 63
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                                                    by providing the ‘‘better than’’ language,                  the orders as a percentage of the total size among
                                                    which accounts for responses that are                                                                                contracts remaining after public
                                                                                                                all interest at that price level.
                                                    priced more aggressively than a later                          18 The term ‘‘off-floor broker-dealer order’’ means   customer orders are filled. ROTS would
                                                    arriving resting limit order on the book.                   an order delivered from off the floor of the             be allocated next pursuant to Rule 1014
                                                                                                                Exchange by or on behalf of a broker-dealer for the      in pro-rata fashion. Presume 5 ROTs are
                                                                                                                proprietary account(s) of such broker-dealer,            at the best price and the allocation of
                                                       9 See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section
                                                                                                                including an order for a market maker located on
                                                    9(ii)(E)(2)(b), (ii)(E)(2)(c)(ii), (ii)(F)(2)(b) and        an exchange or trading floor other than the
                                                                                                                                                                         the remaining 63 contracts, after public
                                                    (ii)(F)(2)(c)(ii).                                          Exchange’s trading floor delivered for the               customer orders have been satisfied, is
                                                       10 See BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(C).         proprietary account(s) of such market maker.             as follows:


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                                                    21938                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices

                                                    ROT A 1.10(30) × 1.20(30)—25.2                          concerning public customer orders. An                    Complex Order Strategy Auction in
                                                       rounded down to 25 contracts                         Initiating Participant may enter a PIXL                  progress with the same combination of
                                                    ROT B 1.10(15) × 1.20(15)—12.6                          Order for the account of a public                        components and the same ratios, that
                                                       rounded down to 12 contracts                         customer paired with an order for the                    PIXL Order would be rejected. If the
                                                    ROT C 1.10(10) × 1.20(10)—8.4 rounded                   account of another Public Customer and                   combination of components and ratios
                                                       down to 8 contracts                                  such paired orders will be automatically                 were not the same, the PIXL Order
                                                    ROT D 1.10 (10) × 1.20(10)—8.4                          executed without a PIXL Auction,                         would not be rejected. Also, a simple
                                                       rounded down to 8 contracts                          provided there is not currently an                       and Complex Order Strategy Auction
                                                    ROT E 1.10 (10) × 1.20 (10)—8.4                         Auction in progress in the same series                   may occur at the same time. The
                                                       rounded down to 8 contracts                          or the same strategy, in which case the                  Exchange believes that this approach is
                                                       After this pro-rata allocation, 2                    orders will be rejected. This rule text                  consistent with the general caveat in the
                                                    contracts remain to be allocated.                       makes clear that with respect to                         PIXL Auction Rule 1080(n)(ii) that only
                                                    Presume for this trading day these ROTs                 Customer-to-Customer 19 PIXL Orders,                     one Auction may be conducted at a time
                                                    are assigned the following order of                     those orders will be rejected when an                    in any given series or strategy.23
                                                    assignment: First is ROT A, second is                   Auction is in progress. This non-
                                                    ROT B, third is ROT C, fourth is ROT                                                                             Non-Displayed Prices
                                                                                                            substantive change adds more clarity to
                                                    D and fifth is ROT E. The 2 remaining                   the rule text. The Exchange recently                        In certain instances, a resting order or
                                                    contracts would be allocated as follows:                included this clarifying rule text in the                quote may be internally priced at a non-
                                                    ROT A 1.10(30) × 1.20(30)—1 contract                    newly adopted BX PRISM rule 20 and                       displayed price and would differ from
                                                    ROT B 1.10(15) × 1.20(15)—1 contract                    seeks to conform the PIXL rule text to                   the PBBO. The Internal BBO or
                                                    ROT C 1.10(10) × 1.20(10)—zero                          that of BX PRISM. Conforming changes                     ‘‘Reference BBO’’ would differ from the
                                                    ROT D 1.10 (10) × 1.20(10)—zero                         are also made in Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii).                  PBBO in a situation where the System
                                                    ROT E 1.10 (10) × 1.20 (10)—zero                           The words ‘‘or strategy’’ in this                     prevents trade-throughs and locked and
                                                       The next order which results in                      context are not included in the BX                       crossed markets. Interest will not be
                                                    contracts remaining after the pro-rata                  PRISM rule because this language                         executed at a price that trades through
                                                    allocation to ROTs will have such                       specifically relates to Complex Orders,21                another market or is displayed at a price
                                                    remaining contracts allocated one at a                  which are not transacted on BX, but                      that would lock or cross another market.
                                                    time beginning with ROT C since he                      may be transacted on Phlx within                         If, at the time of entry, an order or quote
                                                    was next in line based on that trading                  PIXL.22 A Complex Order Strategy                         would cause a locked or crossed market
                                                    day’s order of assignment, provided                     means a particular combination of                        violation or would cause a trade-
                                                    ROT C is at the best price with                         components of a Complex Order and                        through violation, it will be re-priced to
                                                    remaining interest.                                     their ratios to one another. The                         the current national best offer (for bids)
                                                    Example #2                                              Exchange will calculate both a bid price                 or the current national best bid (for
                                                       Presume an order of 200 contracts is                 and an offer price for each Complex                      offers) and displayed at one minimum
                                                    being allocated in the Exchange’s Order                 Order Strategy based on the current                      price variance above (for offers) or
                                                    Book. Presume all public customer                       PBBO (as defined below) for each                         below (for bids) the national best price.
                                                    orders and ROT interest that was at the                 component of the Complex Order. Each                        The Exchange is proposing more
                                                    best price have been filled and there                   Complex Order Strategy is assigned a                     precise rule text to account for these
                                                    remains 9 contracts to be executed.                     strategy identifier by the System. With                  situations where there is an automatic
                                                       Off-floor broker-dealers would be                                                                             repricing in order to prevent trade-
                                                                                                            respect to Complex Order Strategies, the
                                                    allocated next pursuant to Rule 1014 in                                                                          throughs and locked and crossed
                                                                                                            Exchange will permit an Initiating
                                                    a pro-rata fashion. Presume 3 off-floor                                                                          markets. The Exchange proposes to
                                                                                                            Participant to enter a PIXL Order for the
                                                    broker-dealers are at the best price and                                                                         change the rule text in relevant
                                                                                                            account of a public customer paired
                                                    their interest had arrived in the                                                                                instances to acknowledge that repricing
                                                                                                            with an order for the account of another
                                                    following order. The allocation of the                                                                           would result in the better of the NBBO
                                                                                                            public customer and such paired orders
                                                    remaining 9 contracts is as follows:                                                                             (or PBBO) or the Reference BBO.
                                                                                                            will be automatically executed without
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer C 1.10 (5) × 1.20               a PIXL Auction as long as there is not                   Conforming Change
                                                      (5)—4.09 contracts rounded down to                    currently an Auction in progress in the
                                                      4                                                                                                                The Exchange proposes a change to
                                                                                                            same strategy. If there is an Auction in                 Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G). The Exchange
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer B 1.10 (3) ×                    progress in the same strategy, the
                                                      1.20(3)—2.45 contracts rounded down                                                                            proposes to amend the sentence which
                                                                                                            Customer-to Customer cross will be                       states, ‘‘[i]f the PIXL Auction price
                                                      to 2                                                  rejected.
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer A 1.10 (3) ×                                                                             (except if it is a Complex Order) is the
                                                                                                               To further explain same strategy,                     same as that of an order on the limit
                                                      1.20(3)—2.45 contracts rounded down                   where a PIXL Order creates a second
                                                      to 2                                                                                                           order book represented in the PBBO on
                                                                                                            Auction where there was already an a                     the same side of the market as the PIXL
                                                    After this pro-rata allocation, there
                                                      remains one contract to be allocated.                                                                          Order, the PIXL Order may only be
                                                                                                              19 These  orders are customer retail orders.
                                                      This residual contract will be                          20 See
                                                                                                                                                                     executed at a price that is at least one
                                                                                                                     BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9(vi).
                                                      allocated in time priority as follows:                  21 A Complex Order is any order involving the
                                                                                                                                                                     minimum price improvement increment
                                                                                                                                                                     better than the resting order’s limit price
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer C 1.10 (5) × 1.20               simultaneous purchase and/or sale of two or more
                                                                                                            different options series in the same underlying          or, if such resting order’s limit price is
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      (5)—1 contract                                        security, priced at a net debit or credit based on the
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer B 1.10 (3) ×                                                                             equal to or crosses the stop price, then
                                                                                                            relative prices of the individual components, for the
                                                      1.20(3)—zero                                          same account, for the purpose of executing a
                                                                                                                                                                     the entire PIXL Order will trade at the
                                                    Off-floor broker-dealer A 1.10 (3) ×                    particular investment strategy. Furthermore, a           stop price with all better priced interest
                                                      1.20(3)—zero                                          Complex Order can also be a stock-option order,
                                                                                                            which is an order to buy or sell a stated number            23 Rule 1080(n)(2) is being amended to conform

                                                    Public Customers                                        of units of an underlying stock or ETF coupled with      to newly added rule text. While this section is being
                                                                                                            the purchase or sale of options contract(s). See         amended, the Exchange notes that the amendment
                                                      The Exchange is amending Phlx Rule                    Exchange Rule 1080, Commentary .08(a)(i).                is not material and the general caveat continues to
                                                    1080(n)(vi) to add more specificity                       22 See Phlx Rule 1080(n).                              apply.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices                                             21939

                                                    being considered for execution at the                      presumably to minimize their market                    PIXL requirements are not eligible to
                                                    stop price,’’ to include the ‘‘represented                 risk, the Exchange believes that a                     participant in an Auction and will be
                                                    in the PBBO text. The Exchange believes                    majority of the orders would respond                   immediately cancelled, after being
                                                    that this clarifying rule text conforms                    earlier in the Auction. Based on the                   reviewed by the trading system. The
                                                    the sentence to the remainder of the rule                  Exchange’s experience with the PIXL                    Exchange believes that system enforced
                                                    text by referencing the relation to the                    mechanism,26 Phlx believes that an                     criteria will promote just and equitable
                                                    PBBO. This is not a substantive rule                       Auction of no less than one hundred                    principles of trade and protect investors
                                                    change.                                                    milliseconds and no more than one                      and the public interest. The Exchange
                                                                                                               second will continue to provide all                    believes this change adds more clarity to
                                                    2. Statutory Basis
                                                                                                               market participants with sufficient time               the rule text to differentiate rejections
                                                       The Exchange believes that its                          to respond, compete, and provide price                 and cancellations.
                                                    proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)                   improvement for orders and will
                                                    of the Act 24 in general, and furthers the                 provide investors and other market                     Allocations
                                                    objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 25                participants with more timely                             The Exchange’s amendment to make
                                                    in particular, in that it is designed to                   executions, thereby reducing their                     clear that under no circumstances will
                                                    promote just and equitable principles of                   market risk. The proposed rule allows                  the Initiating Participant receive an
                                                    trade, to remove impediments to and                        people to respond quickly at the most                  allocation percentage, at the final price
                                                    perfect the mechanism of a free and                        favorable price while reducing the risk                point, of more than 50% with one
                                                    open market and a national market                          that the market will move against the                  competing quote, order or PAN response
                                                    system, and, in general to protect                         response.                                              or 40% with multiple competing quotes,
                                                    investors and the public interest, by                         Phlx believes that its members operate              orders or PAN responses, when
                                                    allowing for an Auction period of no                       electronic systems that enable them to                 competing quotes, orders or PAN
                                                    less than one hundred (100)                                react and respond to orders in a                       responses have contracts available for
                                                    milliseconds and no more than one (1)                      meaningful way in fractions of a second.               execution is a rule change that makes
                                                    second and providing a meaningful                          Phlx believes that its members will be                 clear that limitation to allocation in
                                                    opportunity for Phlx members to                            able to compete within no less than one                PIXL. This rule change adds more
                                                    respond to the PIXL Auction while at                       hundred milliseconds and no more than                  clarity to the rule text. This amendment
                                                    the same time facilitating the prompt                      one second and this is a sufficient                    is consistent with the Act in that it
                                                    execution of orders.                                       amount of time to respond to, compete                  identifies the limitation in the PIXL
                                                                                                               for, and provide price improvement for                 allocation more specifically and
                                                    PIXL Timer
                                                                                                               orders, and will provide investors and                 memorializes that limitation.
                                                       Phlx believes the proposed rule                         other market participants with more
                                                    change could provide orders within                                                                                   The Exchange’s amendment to
                                                                                                               timely executions, and reduce their
                                                    PIXL an opportunity for price                                                                                     provide more specificity concerning the
                                                                                                               market risk.
                                                    improvement. Also, the shorter duration                       Finally, with respect to system                     allocation to which an Initiating
                                                    of time for the Auction reduce the                         capacity, Phlx has analyzed its capacity               Participant is entitled, either 40% or
                                                    market risk for all members executing                      and represents that it and the Options                 50% depending on whether there are
                                                    trades in PIXL. Initiating Participants                    Price Reporting Authority (‘‘OPRA’’)                   one or more competing quotes, orders or
                                                    are required to guarantee an execution                     have the necessary systems capacity to                 PAN responses, is a change which adds
                                                    at the NBBO or at a better price, and are                  handle the potential additional traffic                more clarity to the rule text. This
                                                    subject to market risk while their PIXL                    associated with auction transactions                   amendment is consistent with the Act in
                                                    Order is exposed to other Phlx                             resulting specifically from the                        that it identifies with specificity the
                                                    members. While other participants are                      implementation of the Auction period of                manner in which PIXL will allocate to
                                                    also subject to market risk, those                         no less than one hundred milliseconds                  an Initiating Participant.
                                                    providing responses in PIXL may cancel                     and no more than one second.                              The Exchange believes that the new
                                                    or modify their orders. Phlx believes                                                                             language of ‘‘or 50%’’ is consistent with
                                                                                                               Immediate or Cancel                                    the Act because the value added from
                                                    that the Initiating Participant acts in a
                                                    critical role within the PIXL Auction.                        The Exchange’s amendment to                         Initiating Participants guaranteeing
                                                    Their willingness to guarantee the                         remove certain uses of the term                        execution of Agency Orders at a price
                                                    orders entered into PIXL an execution at                   ‘‘rejected’’ to instead refer to the term              equal to or better than the NBBO
                                                    NBBO or a better price is the keystone                     ‘‘immediately cancelled’’ complies with                warrants (to the extent that the Initiating
                                                    to an order gaining the opportunity for                    the Exchange Act because the                           Participants is on the final Auction
                                                    price improvement. Phlx believes that                      replacement words provide more                         price), an Auction allocation priority of
                                                    allowing for an auction period of no less                  specificity to the rule text. Today, PAN               at least the same percentage of the order
                                                    than one hundred milliseconds and no                       Responses that do not comply with                      as any competing Auction response,
                                                    more than one second will benefit                                                                                 quote, or order when there is only one
                                                    members trading in PIXL. Phlx believes                       26 Phlx staff distributed a survey to all Phlx       such response, quote, or order. The
                                                                                                               market maker firms inquiring as to the timeframe       Exchange also believes that the
                                                    it is in these members’ best interests to                  within which these market participants respond to
                                                    minimize the Auction time while                            an auction with a duration time ranging from less
                                                                                                                                                                      proposed rule change, like other price
                                                    continuing to allow members adequate                       than fifty (50) milliseconds to more than one (1)      improvement allocation programs
                                                                                                                                                                      currently offered by competitor
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    time to electronically respond. Both the                   second. An overwhelming number of the market
                                                                                                               maker firms that responded to the survey indicated     exchanges, will benefit investors by
                                                    order being exposed and the responding                     that they were capable of responding to auctions
                                                    orders are subject to market risk during                   with a duration time of at least 50 milliseconds. Of
                                                                                                                                                                      attracting more order flow as well as
                                                    the Auction.                                               the thirty five (35) Phlx market maker firms that      increasing the frequency that
                                                       While some members may wait to                          were surveyed, twenty (20) of these market makers      Participants initiate Auctions, which
                                                                                                               responded to the survey and of those respondents       may result in greater opportunities for
                                                    respond until later in the Auction,                        100% indicated that that their firm could respond
                                                                                                               to auctions with a duration time of at least 50
                                                                                                                                                                      customer order price improvement.
                                                      24 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                   milliseconds. This survey was conducted in May         These percentages remain competitive
                                                      25 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                2014.                                                  with the percentage of allocations


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                                                    21940                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices

                                                    currently available on other options                    currently provides that rounding shall                Exchange believes that allocating
                                                    markets.27                                              occur in a fair and equitable manner.                 Complex Orders in time priority
                                                                                                            The Exchange proposes to amend this                   uniformly is consistent with the
                                                    Stop Price
                                                                                                            rule to provide that rounding shall be                Exchange Act because it provides for the
                                                       The Exchange’s amendment to revise                   down to the nearest integer. The                      equitable allocation of shares among the
                                                    language where the entire PIXL Order                    Exchange believes that rounding down                  Exchange’s market participants. Also,
                                                    will be executed at, including, in the                  uniformly is consistent with the                      this rule change will provide market
                                                    case of the PBBO crossing the PIXL                      Exchange Act because it provides for the              participants will transparency as to the
                                                    Order stop price, the best response                     equitable allocation of shares among the              number of shares that they are entitled
                                                    price(s) or, if the stop price is the best              Exchange’s market participants. Also,                 to receive as the result of allocating odd
                                                    price in the Auction, at the stop price,                this rule change will provide market                  lots.
                                                    unless the best response price is equal                 participants with transparency as to the
                                                    to or better than the price of a limit                                                                        Public Customers
                                                                                                            number of shares that they are entitled
                                                    order resting on the PHLX book on the                   to receive as the result of rounding.                    The Exchange’s amendment to add
                                                    same side of the market as the PIXL                        The Exchange’s amendment to                        more specificity concerning public
                                                    Order, in which case the PIXL Order                     indicate the manner in which odd lots                 customer orders to indicate that a public
                                                    will be executed against that response                  are allocated among market participants               customer paired with an order for the
                                                    . . .’’ adds more specificity to the                    for simple interest specifies that for                account of another public customer will
                                                    current rule text and accounts for                      ROTS, odd lots allocated among equally                be automatically executed without a
                                                    responses at the best price, not just                   priced ROTs are by random assignment                  PIXL Auction, provided there is not
                                                    equal to other prices. The Exchange                     of ROTs each trading day in accordance                currently an Auction in progress in the
                                                    believes that the ability to price improve              with the trading day’s order assignment,              same series or same strategy, in which
                                                    is consistent with the Act because it                   provided the ROT is at the best price at              case the orders will be rejected. This
                                                    removes impediments to and perfects                     which the order is being traded. For off-             amendment makes clear that only one
                                                    the mechanism of a free and open                        floor broker-dealers, odd lots are                    Auction may be conducted at a time in
                                                    market and a national market system.                    allocated in time priority, provided the              any given series is consistent with the
                                                    Professional Order                                      off-floor broker-dealers are at the best              Act and the PIXL approval order.29 This
                                                                                                            price at which the order is being traded.             rule text makes clear that with respect
                                                      The Exchange’s amendment to make                      The Exchange believes that the                        to Customer-to-Customer PIXL Orders,
                                                    clear that a public customer order does                 allocation of odd lots uniformly for all              those orders will be rejected when an
                                                    not include a professional order is a                   ROTs, and separately for all off-floor                Auction is in progress in the same
                                                    non-substantive change which adds                       broker-dealers, is consistent with the                series. This non-substantive change
                                                    more clarity to the rule text. This                     Exchange Act because it provides for the              adds more clarity to the rule text.
                                                    amendment is consistent with the Act                    equitable allocation of shares among the                 With respect to the words ‘‘or
                                                    and other rule changes which make                       Exchange’s market participants. With                  strategy,’’ the BX PRISM rule does not
                                                    clear the distinction between                           respect to off-floor broker-dealers, the              contain similar language because this
                                                    professional and public customer                        method is consistent with the Act                     language specifically relates to Complex
                                                    orders.28                                               because it relies simply on time priority,            Orders, which are not transacted on BX,
                                                    Rounding                                                an accepted method of allocation                      but may be transacted on Phlx within
                                                                                                            utilized by many options exchange to                  PIXL. Similar to the manner in which
                                                       With respect to rounding, all                        prioritize orders.
                                                    rounding is down to the nearest integer.                                                                      the Exchange would treat two Auctions
                                                                                                               Specifically, with respect to the                  in the same series, the Exchange will
                                                    If rounding of the Initiating Participant’s             allocation method for odd lots for ROTs,
                                                    allocation results in an allocation of less                                                                   permit an Initiating Participant to enter
                                                                                                            this random assignment is basically a                 a PIXL Order for the account of a public
                                                    than one contract, then one contract will               round robin approach to the allocation.
                                                    be allocated to the Initiating Participant,                                                                   customer paired with an order for the
                                                                                                            The Exchange believes that this method                account of another public customer and
                                                    only if the Initiating Participant did not              results in a fair and equitable allocation
                                                    otherwise receive an allocation. The                                                                          such paired orders will be automatically
                                                                                                            of shares of these market participants                executed without a PIXL Auction as
                                                    Exchange is permitting the Initiating                   because each trading day the Exchange
                                                    Participant to receive the benefit of the                                                                     long as there is not currently an Auction
                                                                                                            creates a new order of assignment to                  in progress in the same strategy. With
                                                    rounding in an allocation of less than                  allocate ROTs and that order provided
                                                    one contract, only if the Initiating                                                                          respect to Complex Order Strategies, the
                                                                                                            an independent method to assign evenly                Exchange will permit an Initiating
                                                    Participant did not otherwise receive an                among ROTs. Also, each trading day
                                                    allocation, because the Initiating                                                                            Participant to enter a PIXL Order for the
                                                                                                            that assignment changes so that no one                account of a public customer paired
                                                    Participant is not eligible to receive                  ROT would have the ability to receive
                                                    residual contracts. The Exchange                                                                              with an order for the account of another
                                                                                                            a greater allocation than another ROT.                public customer and such paired orders
                                                    believes that rounding differently for the              The Exchange believes that its
                                                    Initiating Participant as compared to all                                                                     will be automatically executed without
                                                                                                            assignment method is not subject to                   a PIXL Auction as long as there is not
                                                    other market participants is not unfairly               gaming since it is random and therefore
                                                    discriminatory since the Initiating                                                                           currently an Auction in progress in the
                                                                                                            complies with the Act because it is                   same strategy. If there is an Auction in
                                                    Participant is not eligible to receive                  aimed at the protection of investors.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    residual contracts as are other market                                                                        progress in the same strategy, the
                                                                                                            Also, this rule change will provide                   Customer-to-Customer cross will be
                                                    participants, unless no other interest is               market participants will transparency as
                                                    available to trade. The Exchange                                                                              rejected. To further explain same
                                                                                                            to the number of shares that they are                 strategy, where a PIXL Order would
                                                      27 See
                                                                                                            entitled to receive as the result of                  create a second Auction where there
                                                            BX Rules at Chapter VI, Section 9.
                                                      28 See
                                                                                                            allocation odd lots.
                                                            Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61426
                                                    (January 26, 2010), 75 FR 5360 (February 2, 2010)
                                                                                                               With respect to the allocation of odd                29 See Securities Exchange Act 63027 (October 1,

                                                    (SR–Phlx–2010–05) (Notice of Filing of Proposed         lots for Complex Orders, the Exchange                 2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR–Phlx–
                                                    Rule Change Relating to Professional Orders).           will allocate in time priority. The                   2010–108).



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices                                                  21941

                                                    was already an a Complex Order                          necessary or appropriate in furtherance               responses have contracts available for
                                                    Strategy Auction in progress with the                   of the purposes of the Act. The                       execution does not impose an undue
                                                    same combination of components and                      proposed rule change will conform the                 burden on intra-market competition.
                                                    the same ratios, that PIXL Order would                  PIXL rule with the PRISM rule. The                    This rule change adds more clarity to
                                                    be rejected. If the combination of                      Exchange does not believe that the                    the rule text. This amendment is
                                                    components and ratios were not the                      proposed changes produce an undue                     consistent with the Act in that it
                                                    same, the PIXL Order would not be                       burden on inter-market competition                    identifies an existing limitation in the
                                                    rejected. Also, a simple and Complex                    because these changes will afford Phlx                PIXL allocation more specifically and
                                                    Order Strategy Auction may occur at the                 the opportunity to compete for order                  memorializes that limitation. The
                                                    same time. The Exchange believes that                   flow by offering an auction mechanism                 Exchange believes that the new
                                                    this approach is consistent with the                    similar to that of other exchanges,                   language of ‘‘or 50%’’ does not create an
                                                    general caveat in the PIXL Auction that                 specifically BX.                                      undue burden on competition because
                                                    only one Auction may be conducted at                                                                          this language is similar to language in
                                                                                                            PIXL Timer
                                                    a time in any given series or strategy.30                                                                     BX PRISM and applies to all market
                                                    The Exchange does not permit more                         Phlx’s amendment to the timer to a                  participants utilizing Phlx.31 The
                                                    than one Auction to be conducted at a                   shorter duration of time for the Auction              Exchange’s amendment to provide more
                                                    time in any given series and in this case               does not impose an undue burden on                    specificity concerning the allocation to
                                                    also in a given strategy because the                    intra-market competition because Phlx                 which an Initiating Participant is
                                                    Exchange does not desire to have                        believes that allowing for an auction                 entitled, either 40% or 50% depending
                                                    competing Auctions for the same series                  period of no less than one hundred                    on whether there are one or more
                                                    or strategy.                                            milliseconds and no more than one                     competing quotes, orders or PAN
                                                                                                            second will benefit members trading in                responses does not impose an undue
                                                    Non-Displayed Prices                                    PIXL. Phlx believes it is in these                    burden on intra-market competition.
                                                       The Exchange’s proposal to amend                     members’ best interests to minimize the               This is a rule change adds more clarity
                                                    Rule 1080(n) for the addition of                        Auction time while continuing to allow                to the rule text. This amendment does
                                                    language to include the ‘‘Reference                     members adequate time to electronically               not impose an undue burden on intra-
                                                    BBO’’ to clarify where the price is equal               respond. The proposed rule allows                     market competition, rather, it identifies
                                                    to or better than the NBBO or PBBO and                  people to respond quickly at the most                 with specificity the manner in which
                                                    the Reference BBO (internal market                      favorable price while reducing the risk               PIXL will allocate to an Initiating
                                                    BBO), due to repricing for trade-                       that the market will move against the                 Participant.
                                                    throughs or locked and crossed markets,                 response. Phlx believes that its members
                                                    adds clarity and precision to the current               will be able to compete in no less than               Stop Price
                                                    rule text. The Exchange believes that it                one hundred milliseconds and no more                     The Exchange’s amendment to revise
                                                    is consistent with the Act and does not                 than one second and this is a sufficient              language where the entire PIXL Order
                                                    otherwise create an impediment to a                     amount of time to respond to, compete                 will be executed at, including, in the
                                                    free and open market because today                      for, and provide price improvement for                case of the PBBO crossing the PIXL
                                                    investors are subject to this repricing                 orders, and will provide investors and                Order stop price, the best response
                                                    and have the opportunity to trade at a                  other market participants with more                   price(s) or, if the stop price is the best
                                                    better price, which could result in better              timely executions, and reduce their                   price in the Auction, at the stop price,
                                                    executions for investors. Also, by                      market risk.                                          unless the best response price is equal
                                                    reflecting the proper rule text to account              Immediate or Cancel                                   to or better than the price of a limit
                                                    for these order types the Exchange is                                                                         order resting on the PHLX book on the
                                                    providing Participants with additional                     The Exchange’s amendment to                        same side of the market as the PIXL
                                                    information with which to anticipate                    remove certain uses of the term                       Order, in which case the PIXL Order
                                                    the manner in which the Exchange’s                      ‘‘rejected’’ to instead refer to the term             will be executed against that response
                                                    trading system reprices interest to                     ‘‘immediately cancelled’’ does not                    . . .’’ does not impose an undue burden
                                                    prevent a trade-through or locked and                   impose an undue burden on intra-                      on intra-market competition. Rather,
                                                    crossed market.                                         market competition because PAN                        this language adds more specificity to
                                                                                                            Responses that do not comply with                     the current rule text and accounts for
                                                    Conforming Change                                       PIXL requirements are not eligible to                 better priced orders.
                                                      The Exchange’s proposal to clarify                    participate in an Auction and will be
                                                    Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G) to include a                        immediately cancelled after being                     Professional Order
                                                    reference to the PBBO will conform the                  reviewed by the trading system. The                     The Exchange’s amendment to make
                                                    Exchange’s PIXL rule text. This is not a                system enforced criteria will be applied              clear that a public customer order does
                                                    substantive amendment. The Exchange                     uniformly to all Phlx members. The                    not include a professional order does
                                                    believes that this amendment will                       Exchange believes this non-substantive                not impose an undue burden on intra-
                                                    provide further clarity to the PIXL rules.              change adds more clarity to the rule                  market competition this rule change is
                                                                                                            text.                                                 consistent with the distinction between
                                                    B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Statement on Burden on Competition                      Allocations                                           professional and public customer
                                                                                                                                                                  orders.
                                                      The Exchange does not believe that                       The Exchange’s amendment to make
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    the proposed rule change will impose                    clear that under no circumstances will                Rounding
                                                    any burden on competition not                           the Initiating Participant receive an                    With respect to rounding, all
                                                                                                            allocation percentage, at the final price             rounding is down to the nearest integer.
                                                       30 See Securities Exchange Act 63027 (October 1,     point, of more than 50% with one                      If rounding of the Initiating Participant’s
                                                    2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR–Phlx–          competing quote, order or PAN response
                                                    2010–108). See also Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii) which                                                               allocation results in an allocation of less
                                                    states, in part, ‘‘Auction Process. Only one Auction
                                                                                                            or 40% with multiple competing quotes,
                                                    may be conducted at a time in any given series or       orders or PAN responses, when                           31 See NASDAQ BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’) Rules at Chapter

                                                    strategy.’’                                             competing quotes, orders or PAN                       VI, Section 9.



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                                                    21942                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices

                                                    than one contract, then one contract will               currently an Auction in progress in the               19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 32 and
                                                    be allocated to the Initiating Participant,             same series or same strategy, in which                subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4
                                                    only if the Initiating Participant did not              case the orders will be rejected, does not            thereunder.33
                                                    otherwise receive an allocation. The                    impose an undue burden on intra-                         A proposed rule change filed under
                                                    Exchange is permitting the Initiating                   market competition. This non-                         Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does not
                                                    Participant to receive the benefit of the               substantive change adds more clarity to               become operative prior to 30 days after
                                                    rounding in an allocation of less than                  the rule text. Also, the Exchange’s                   the date of filing. Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),
                                                    one contract, only if the Initiating                    amendment to add more specificity                     however, permits the Commission to
                                                    Participant did not otherwise receive an                concerning public customer orders to                  designate a shorter time if such action
                                                    allocation, because the Initiating                      indicate that a public customer paired                is consistent with the protection of
                                                    Participant is not eligible to receive                  with an order for the account of another              investors and the public interest. The
                                                    residual contracts. The Exchange does                   public customer will be automatically                 Exchange requests that the Commission
                                                    not believe that the proposal to round                  executed without a PIXL Auction,                      waive the 30-day pre-operative waiting
                                                    all remaining shares down to the nearest                provided there is not currently an                    period contained in Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)
                                                    integer imposes an undue burden on                      Auction in progress in the same                       so that Phlx make conform its current
                                                    competition because the Exchange will                   strategy, does not impose an undue                    rule text to that of BX PRISM to compete
                                                    uniformly round in this matter.                         burden on intra-market competition                    effectively against this market. The
                                                       If there are contracts remaining, such               because this is consistent with the                   Commission has determined to waive
                                                    contracts shall be allocated for simple                 general caveat in the PIXL Auction that               the 30-day operative delay in order to
                                                    interest after rounding by randomly                     only one Auction may be conducted at                  permit Phlx to implement without delay
                                                    assigning all ROTs an order of allocation               a time in any given series or strategy.               its proposed rule changes to incorporate
                                                    each trading day, and allocating orders,                                                                      recently-approved provisions in the
                                                    quotes and sweeps in accordance with                    Non-Displayed Prices                                  substantially similar rules of BX. The
                                                    the trading day’s order assignment,                       The Exchange’s proposal to amend                    Commission believes that such waiver is
                                                    provided the ROT is at the best price at                Rule 1080(n) for the addition of                      consistent with the protection of
                                                    which the order, quote or sweep is being                language to include the ‘‘Reference                   investors and the public interest as the
                                                    traded, except with respect to Complex                  BBO’’ to clarify where the price is equal             proposed changes do not raise any
                                                    Orders, which allocation is described in                to or better than the NBBO or PBBO and                material new issues that have not been
                                                    Rule 1080, Commentary .07. In the                       the Reference BBO (internal market                    previously considered by the
                                                    event that there are remaining contracts                BBO), due to repricing for trade-                     Commission.34
                                                    to be allocated for interest after                      throughs or locked and crossed markets,                  At any time within 60 days of the
                                                    rounding, such remaining contacts will                  does not impose an udue burden on                     filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                    be allocated in time priority, provided                 intra-market competition, rather the                  Commission summarily may
                                                    the off-floor broker-dealers are at the                 more precise language adds clarity and                temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                    best price at which the order is being                  precision to the current rule text. This              it appears to the Commission that such
                                                    traded. Residual remaining shares will                  additional information will provide all               action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in
                                                    be allocated in time priority for                       market participants with information to               the public interest; (ii) for the protection
                                                    Complex Orders.                                         anticipate the manner in which the                    of investors; or (iii) otherwise in
                                                       With respect to allocating remaining                 Exchange’s trading system operates in                 furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
                                                    contracts, the Exchange does not believe                PIXL Auctions.                                        If the Commission takes such action, the
                                                    that the proposal to allocate remaining                                                                       Commission shall institute proceedings
                                                    contracts for ROTs by random                            Conforming Change
                                                                                                                                                                  to determine whether the proposed rule
                                                    assignment creates an undue burden on                     The Exchange’s proposal to clarify                  should be approved or disapproved.
                                                    competition because the method, which                   Rule 1080(n)(ii)(G) to include a
                                                    is basically round robin, results in a fair             reference to the PBBO to conform the                  IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                    and equitable allocation of shares of                   Exchange’s PIXL rule text does not                      Interested persons are invited to
                                                    these market participants. The Exchange                 impose an undue burden on intra-                      submit written data, views, and
                                                    does not believe that allocating                        market competition because the                        arguments concerning the foregoing,
                                                    remaining contracts to off-floor broker-                amendment is non-substantive.                         including whether the proposed rule
                                                    dealers in time priority creates an undue                                                                     change is consistent with the Act.
                                                    burden on competition because the                       C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            Statement on Comments on the                          Comments may be submitted by any of
                                                    method will be applied uniformly                                                                              the following methods:
                                                    among these participants. Finally, the                  Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                    Exchange does not believe that                          Members, Participants, or Others                      Electronic Comments
                                                    allocating remaining contracts to                         No written comments were either                       • Use the Commission’s Internet
                                                    Complex Orders in time priority creates                 solicited or received.                                comment form (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                    an undue burden on competition                                                                                rules/sro.shtml); or
                                                                                                            III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                    because the method will be applied
                                                                                                            Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                    uniformly to all transactions involving                                                                         32 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(iii).
                                                                                                            Commission Action
                                                    Complex Orders.                                                                                                 33 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
                                                                                                               Because the foregoing proposed rule                4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Public Customers                                        change does not: (i) Significantly affect             the Commission written notice of its intent to file
                                                                                                                                                                  the proposed rule change at least five business days
                                                      The Exchange’s amendment to add                       the protection of investors or the public             prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
                                                    more specificity concerning public                      interest; (ii) impose any significant                 change, or such shorter time as designated by the
                                                    customer orders to indicate that a public               burden on competition; and (iii) become               Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this
                                                    customer paired with an order for the                   operative for 30 days from the date on                requirement.
                                                                                                                                                                    34 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
                                                    account of another public customer will                 which it was filed, or such shorter time              operative delay, the Commission has considered the
                                                    be automatically executed without a                     as the Commission may designate, it has               proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
                                                    PIXL Auction, provided there is not                     become effective pursuant to Section                  and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).



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                                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 71 / Wednesday, April 13, 2016 / Notices                                               21943

                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                       SUMMARY:   This is an amendment of the                  EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date:
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                   Presidential declaration of a major                   12/19/2016.
                                                    Phlx–2016–40 on the subject line.                         disaster for the State of Mississippi                 ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan
                                                                                                              (FEMA–4268–DR), dated 03/25/2016.                     applications to: U.S. Small Business
                                                    Paper Comments
                                                                                                                Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding.               Administration, Processing and
                                                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                      Incident Period: 03/09/2016 and                     Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport
                                                    to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                 continuing.                                           Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
                                                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                       Effective Date: 04/05/2016.                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A.
                                                    NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                             Physical Loan Application Deadline                  Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance,
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                      Date: 05/24/2016.                                     U.S. Small Business Administration,
                                                    Number SR–Phlx–2016–40. This file                           EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date:                409 3rd Street SW., Suite 6050,
                                                    number should be included on the                          12/27/2016.                                           Washington, DC 20416.
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the                ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice
                                                    Commission process and review your                        applications to: U.S. Small Business
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use                                                                           of the Presidential disaster declaration
                                                                                                              Administration, Processing and                        for the State of TEXAS, dated 03/19/
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                      Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                                                                           2016 is hereby amended to include the
                                                                                                              Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.                           following areas as adversely affected by
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A.                   the disaster:
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                                                                                              Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance,               Primary Counties: (Physical Damage
                                                    submission, all subsequent
                                                                                                              U.S. Small Business Administration,                        and Economic Injury Loans):
                                                    amendments, all written statements
                                                                                                              409 3rd Street SW., Suite 6050,                            Henderson, Limestone, Shelby,
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule
                                                                                                              Washington, DC 20416.                                      Tyler.
                                                    change that are filed with the
                                                    Commission, and all written                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice                 Contiguous Counties: (Economic Injury
                                                    communications relating to the                            of the Presidential disaster declaration                   Loans Only):
                                                                                                              for the State of MISSISSIPPI, dated 03/                 Texas: Anderson, Cherokee, Ellis,
                                                    proposed rule change between the
                                                                                                              25/2016 is hereby amended to include                       Falls, Freestone, Hill, Kaufman,
                                                    Commission and any person, other than
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                       the following areas as adversely affected                  Leon, Mclennan, Nacogdoches,
                                                    public in accordance with the                             by the disaster:                                           Navarro, Polk, Robertson, Van
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                       Primary Counties: (Physical Damage and                     Zandt.
                                                                                                                   Economic Injury Loans):                            Louisiana: De Soto.
                                                    available for Web site viewing and
                                                                                                                                                                      All other information in the original
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                         George, Pearl River.
                                                                                                                                                                    declaration remains unchanged.
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                         Contiguous Counties: (Economic Injury
                                                    Washington, DC 20549, on official                              Loans Only):                                     (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
                                                    business days between the hours of                          Mississippi: Hancock, Harrison,                     Numbers 59008)
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                         Jackson.
                                                    filing also will be available for                           Louisiana: Saint Tammany.                           Lisa Lopez-Suarez,
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                                                                         Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster
                                                                                                                All other information in the original
                                                    office of the Exchange. All comments                                                                            Assistance.
                                                                                                              declaration remains unchanged.
                                                    received will be posted without change;                                                                         [FR Doc. 2016–08407 Filed 4–12–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                              (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
                                                    the Commission does not edit personal                     Numbers 59008)                                        BILLING CODE 8025–01–P
                                                    identifying information from
                                                    submissions. You should submit only                       Lisa Lopez-Suarez,
                                                    information that you wish to make                         Acting Associate Administrator for Disaster           SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                    available publicly. All submissions                       Assistance.
                                                                                                                                                                    [Disaster Declaration #14667 and #14668]
                                                    should refer to File Number SR–Phlx–                      [FR Doc. 2016–08406 Filed 4–12–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    2016–40 and should be submitted on or                     BILLING CODE 8025–01–P                                Louisiana Disaster Number LA–00062
                                                    before May 4, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                                    AGENCY: U.S. Small Business
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of                                                                        Administration.
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated                SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
                                                    authority.35                                                                                                    ACTION: Amendment 4.
                                                                                                              [Disaster Declaration #14675 and #14676]
                                                    Robert W. Errett,                                                                                               SUMMARY:   This is an amendment of the
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                         Texas Disaster Number TX–00465                        Presidential declaration of a major
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–08429 Filed 4–12–16; 8:45 am]               AGENCY: U.S. Small Business                           disaster for the State of LOUISIANA
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                    Administration.                                       (FEMA–4263–DR), dated 03/13/2016.
                                                                                                                                                                      Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding.
                                                                                                              ACTION: Amendment 3.
                                                                                                                                                                      Incident Period: 03/08/2016 and
                                                    SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION                             SUMMARY:   This is an amendment of the                continuing.
                                                    [Disaster Declaration #14685 and #14686]                  Presidential declaration of a major                   DATES: Effective Date: 04/04/2016.
                                                                                                              disaster for the State of TEXAS (FEMA–                  Physical Loan Application Deadline
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                                                    Mississippi Disaster Number MS–                           4266–DR), dated 03/19/2016.                           Date: 05/12/2016.
                                                    00084                                                       Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes,                   EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date:
                                                                                                              and Flooding.                                         12/13/2016.
                                                    AGENCY: U.S. Small Business                                 Incident Period: 03/07/2016 through                 ADDRESSES: Submit completed loan
                                                    Administration.                                           03/29/2016.                                           applications to: U.S. Small Business
                                                    ACTION: Amendment 2.
                                                                                                              DATES: Effective Date: 04/04/2016.                    Administration, Processing and
                                                                                                                Physical Loan Application Deadline                  Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport
                                                      35 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            Date: 05/18/2016.                                     Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014     17:41 Apr 12, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00108   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM   13APN1



Document Created: 2016-04-13 03:11:39
Document Modified: 2016-04-13 03:11:39
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 Citation81 FR 21935 

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