81_FR_44205 81 FR 44076 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Remove Interpretation and Policy .01 From Rule 11.13, Order Execution and Routing

81 FR 44076 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Remove Interpretation and Policy .01 From Rule 11.13, Order Execution and Routing

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 129 (July 6, 2016)

Page Range44076-44078
FR Document2016-15916

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44076-44078]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15916]



[[Page 44076]]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78193; File No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-28]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Remove 
Interpretation and Policy .01 From Rule 11.13, Order Execution and 
Routing

 June 29, 2016.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on June 23, 2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``BZX'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and 
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange 
has designated this proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule 
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder,\4\ which renders it effective upon filing with the 
Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange filed a proposal to remove Interpretation & Policy .01 
from Exchange Rule 11.13, as further described below.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at www.batstrading.com, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
Introduction
    In 2011, the Exchange identified an inefficiency in its handling of 
certain non-displayed orders resting on the Exchange at a price equal 
to the Exchange's best displayed orders on the opposite side of the 
market (``Locking Price'') (the non-displayed orders at the Locking 
Price, ``Non-Displayed Orders''). Similarly, the Exchange identified an 
inefficiency in its handling of certain displayed orders that were 
ranked at the Locking Price and displayed at a permissible price one 
minimum price variation away from the Locking Price (such orders 
``Resting Order Subject to NMS Price Sliding''). In order to avoid an 
apparent issue under its then-existing priority rule, the Exchange was 
rejecting incoming orders that were otherwise marketable against the 
Non-Displayed Orders or the Resting Orders Subject to NMS Price 
Sliding. In order to optimize available liquidity for incoming orders 
and to provide price improvement for market participants, the Exchange 
proposed in May of 2011 to execute a resting Non-Displayed Order or 
Resting Order Subject to NMS Price Sliding at one-half minimum price 
variation less than the Locking Price in the case of a bid and one-half 
minimum price variation more than the Locking Price in the case of an 
offer.\5\
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    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64754 (May 12, 
2011), 76 FR 28830 (May 18, 2011) (SR-BATS-2011-015) (``2011 
Proposal''). The reference to the most ``aggressive'' price, as used 
in that filing, means for bids the highest price the User is willing 
to pay, and for offers the lowest price at which the User is willing 
to sell.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To ease concerns that these new order-handling procedures could be 
abused solely for the purpose of obtaining executions at one-half 
minimum price variations--although there was no evidence to suggest 
this might occur--the Exchange included Interpretation and Policy .01 
to Rule 11.13 stating:

    The Exchange will consider it inconsistent with just and 
equitable principles of trade to engage in a pattern or practice of 
using Non-Displayed Orders or orders subject to price sliding solely 
for the purpose of executing such orders at one-half minimum price 
variation from the locking price. Evidence of such behavior may 
include, but is not limited to, a User's pattern of entering orders 
at a price that would lock or be ranked at the price of a displayed 
quotation and cancelling orders when they no longer lock the 
displayed quotation.

    The Exchange also stated in the 2011 Proposal that it would conduct 
surveillance to monitor for such potential abuse.\6\
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    \6\ See 2011 Proposal, supra note 5, at 28833.
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    The Commission approved the 2011 Proposal,\7\ and the Exchange has 
conducted nearly five years of surveillance as it promised in the 2011 
Proposal. After this lengthy period of surveillance, the Exchange has 
determined that there is no evidence that market participants attempt 
to use the Exchange's order handling procedures in Rule 11.13 solely to 
obtain executions at one-half minimum price variations. Further, the 
Exchange has found no way in which a market participant could abuse 
these order handling procedures. It is the Exchange's position, 
therefore, that Interpretation and Policy .01 and its corollary 
surveillance is now unnecessary. The Exchange proposes to remove the 
unnecessary Interpretation and Policy and to discontinue the corollary 
surveillance.
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    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64754 (June 27, 
2011), 76 FR 38712 (July 1, 2011) (SR-BATS-2011-015) (Order 
Approving a Proposed Rule Change To Amend BATS Rule 11.9, Entitled 
``Orders and Modifiers'' and BATS Rule 11.13, Entitled ``Order 
Execution'') (``2011 Approval'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background
    Prior to the implementation of the 2011 Proposal, consistent with 
the Exchange's rule regarding priority of orders, Rule 11.12, in order 
to avoid an apparent priority issue under the Exchange's rules Non-
Displayed Orders and Resting Orders Subject to NMS Price Sliding were 
not executed by the Exchange pursuant to Rule 11.13 when such orders 
would be executed at a Locking Price. Specifically, if incoming orders 
were allowed to execute against the resting Non-Displayed Order or the 
Resting Order Subject to NMS Price Sliding at the Locking Price, such 
orders would have received a perceived priority advantage over a 
resting, displayed contra-side order at the Locking Price; accordingly, 
such executions at the Locking Price were disallowed. As noted above, 
however, the Exchange proposed functionality to optimize available 
liquidity for incoming orders and to provide price improvement for 
market participants, which was subsequently approved and implemented by 
the Exchange.\8\ Below is an example that illustrates how the Exchange 
has handled such orders following the implementation of functionality 
described in the 2011 Proposal.
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    \8\ See id.

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[[Page 44077]]

    Assume the Exchange has a posted and displayed bid to buy 100 
shares of a security priced at $10.10 per share, a resting Non-
Displayed Order bid to buy 100 shares of a security priced at $10.11 
per share, and a posted and displayed offer to sell 100 shares also at 
$10.11 per share. Assume the NBBO is also $10.10 by $10.11. The 
Exchange's order book (``BZX Book'') in this situation can be depicted 
as follows, with ``ND'' identifying the Non-Displayed Order:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Bid                  Offer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bats:                              $10.11 (ND)         X   $10.11
                                  $10.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If an incoming offer to sell 100 shares at $10.10 is entered into 
the BZX Book, the resting Non-Displayed Order at the locking price will 
be executed at $10.105 per share, thus providing the resting Non-
Displayed bid a half-penny of price improvement from its limit price of 
$10.11 and the incoming offer a half-penny of price improvement from 
its limit price of $10.10. The result would be the same for an incoming 
market order to sell or any other incoming limit order offer priced at 
$10.10 or below, which would execute against the Non-Displayed bid at a 
price of $10.105 per share. An offer at the full price of the resting 
and displayed $10.11 offer would not execute against the resting Non-
Displayed bid, but would instead either cancel or post to the BZX Book 
behind the original $10.11 offer in priority. As described above, the 
Exchange has adopted similar functionality with respect to Resting 
Orders Subject to NMS Price Sliding.
Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 11.13
    In proposing the 2011 Proposal, there was concern from Commission 
staff that market participants may attempt to abuse the rule solely to 
obtain executions at one-half minimum price variations. To assuage the 
concern, the Exchange included Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 
11.13 to state explicitly that the Exchange will consider it 
inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade to engage in a 
pattern or practice of using Non-Displayed Orders or Resting Orders 
Subject to NMS Price Sliding solely for the purpose of executing such 
orders at one-half minimum price variations from the locking price. The 
Exchange further explained that evidence of such behavior may include, 
but is not limited to, a User's pattern of entering orders at a price 
that would lock or be ranked at the price of a displayed quotation and 
cancelling orders when they no longer lock the displayed quotation. The 
Exchange stated in the 2011 Proposal it would ``conduct surveillance to 
ensure that Users are not intentionally seeking to create an internally 
locked Book for the purpose of obtaining an execution at one-half 
minimum price variation.'' \9\ The Exchange notes that when proposed 
the Exchange believed the functionality was a solution to a specific 
situation that was a natural consequence of the Exchange's order 
handling procedures, particularly due to offering Users the ability to 
enter orders that instruct the Exchange not to remove liquidity (i.e., 
``Post Only Orders'') and to enter orders with non-displayed 
prices.\10\ The Exchange still believes this to be the case and thus, 
as further described below, seeks to eliminate surveillance focused on 
orders and System functionality that are simply behaving as the 
Exchange intends them to behave.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See 2011 Proposal, supra note 5, at 28833.
    \10\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In approving the rule change, the Staff noted the proposed 
Interpretation and Policy .01:

    The Exchange also proposes adding Interpretation and Policy .01 
to BATS Rule 11.13 to state that the Exchange will consider it 
inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade to engage 
in a pattern or practice of using Non-Displayed Orders or orders 
subject to price sliding solely for the purpose of executing such 
orders at one-half minimum price variation from the locking price. 
Evidence of such behavior may include, but is not limited to, a 
User's pattern of entering orders at a price that would lock or be 
ranked at the price of a displayed quotation and cancelling orders 
when they no longer lock the displayed quotation. The Exchange has 
also stated that it will conduct surveillance to ensure that users 
are not intentionally seeking to create an internally locked book 
for the purpose of obtaining an execution at a one-half minimum 
price variation.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See 2011 Approval, supra note 7 at 38713.

    The Commission stated in its approval order that it ``believes that 
any potential abuses are mitigated by the Exchange's addition of 
Interpretation and Policy .01 to BATS Rule 11.13 and its commitment to 
monitor relevant trading on its market.'' \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposal To Remove Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule 11.13
    The Exchange designed and implemented a surveillance program to 
monitor for abuse of the order handling procedures implemented by the 
2011 Proposal and has conducted the surveillance for nearly five years. 
The Exchange has found over this period no evidence to suggest that 
market participants intentionally seek to create an internally locked 
book solely for the purpose of obtaining an execution at one-half 
minimum price variation. The evidence has shown that half-penny 
executions appear to be the natural result of order interactions on the 
Exchange. Further, since the change, market participants have received 
price improvement on both sides of a trade when that trade would have 
otherwise been prevented from occurring under the Exchange's prior 
functionality. The Exchange, therefore, no longer believes 
Interpretation and Policy .01 is necessary or appropriate.
    The purpose of Interpretation and Policy .01 and the associated 
surveillance was to ensure that market participants would not find a 
way to abuse the new order handling procedures by engaging in a pattern 
or practice of entering non-displayed locking orders solely for the 
purpose of obtaining an execution at one-half minimum price variation. 
Since the Exchange has determined there is no evidence that such abuse 
has occurred the Exchange believes that Interpretation and Policy and 
corollary surveillance have served their purpose and are no longer 
necessary. The Exchange believes that its regulatory program would be 
better served by the removal of Interpretation and Policy .01 so that 
the Exchange staff may retire the surveillance and focus its regulatory 
efforts on activity that it has identified as having an impact on the 
safety and quality of its market.
    Finally, Bats EDGX Exchange Inc. (``EDGX'') and Bats EDGA Exchange 
Inc. (``EDGA'') have substantively identical order handling 
functionality, but neither have the Interpretation and Policy this 
proposal seeks to remove. The Exchange, therefore, believes that the 
Interpretation and Policy is unnecessary and the Exchange proposes to 
remove it from Rule 11.13. Although the Exchange is proposing to remove 
Interpretation and Policy .01 from Rule 11.13, the Exchange notes that 
all trading activity on the Exchange, including orders entered and 
handled and executions resulting from the order handling procedures 
implemented by the 2011 Proposal, is subject to the Exchange's overall 
surveillance program, which monitors for potential violations of the 
federal securities laws and the regulations thereunder as well as 
Exchange Rules.
2. Statutory Basis
    The rule change proposed in this submission is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that 
are

[[Page 44078]]

applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, with 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\13\ Specifically, the 
proposed change is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\14\ 
because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating 
transactions in securities, and to remove impediments to, and perfect 
the mechanism of, a free and open market and a national market system. 
The proposed change to remove Interpretation and Policy .01 from Rule 
11.13 will permit the Exchange to focus its regulatory efforts on 
conduct that more likely violates principles of just and equitable 
trade rather than dedicating regulatory staff and efforts on a topic 
which the Exchange has found no evidence of its existence. Since 2011, 
the Exchange has dedicated resources to operate regulatory surveillance 
and investigate potential abuse of the Exchange's functionality and has 
found that there is no evidence of abuse of the relevant order handling 
procedures solely for the purpose of obtaining one-half minimum price 
variations. The Exchange believes the proposal will promote just and 
equitable principles of trade and will help prevent fraudulent and 
manipulative acts by focusing regulatory efforts on activity that the 
Exchange has identified as having an impact on the safety and quality 
of its market rather than the hypothetical concern that Interpretation 
and Policy .01 was implemented to monitor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule changes will 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed 
rule change simply removes an interpretation and policy that the 
Exchange does not believe is necessary, as described above, and should 
have no effect on competition.

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

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

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

    Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative 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) of the Act \15\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written 
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a 
brief description and the text of 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission 
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or 
disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-28 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-28. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet 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 No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-28, and should be 
submitted on or before July 27, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-15916 Filed 7-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                             44076                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 6, 2016 / Notices

                                             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                             The Exchange also stated in the 2011
                                             COMMISSION                                               Statement of the Purpose of, and the                        Proposal that it would conduct
                                                                                                      Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                      surveillance to monitor for such
                                             [Release No. 34–78193; File No. SR–
                                             BatsBZX–2016–28]
                                                                                                      Change                                                      potential abuse.6
                                                                                                      1. Purpose                                                    The Commission approved the 2011
                                             Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats                                                                                  Proposal,7 and the Exchange has
                                             BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing                     Introduction                                                conducted nearly five years of
                                             and Immediate Effectiveness of a                           In 2011, the Exchange identified an                       surveillance as it promised in the 2011
                                             Proposed Rule Change To Remove                           inefficiency in its handling of certain                     Proposal. After this lengthy period of
                                             Interpretation and Policy .01 From Rule                  non-displayed orders resting on the                         surveillance, the Exchange has
                                             11.13, Order Execution and Routing                       Exchange at a price equal to the                            determined that there is no evidence
                                                                                                      Exchange’s best displayed orders on the                     that market participants attempt to use
                                             June 29, 2016.                                                                                                       the Exchange’s order handling
                                                                                                      opposite side of the market (‘‘Locking
                                                Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                   Price’’) (the non-displayed orders at the                   procedures in Rule 11.13 solely to
                                             Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                     Locking Price, ‘‘Non-Displayed                              obtain executions at one-half minimum
                                             ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                   Orders’’). Similarly, the Exchange                          price variations. Further, the Exchange
                                             notice is hereby given that on June 23,                  identified an inefficiency in its handling                  has found no way in which a market
                                             2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (the                       of certain displayed orders that were                       participant could abuse these order
                                             ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the                  ranked at the Locking Price and                             handling procedures. It is the
                                             Securities and Exchange Commission                       displayed at a permissible price one                        Exchange’s position, therefore, that
                                             (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                       minimum price variation away from the                       Interpretation and Policy .01 and its
                                             change as described in Items I and II                    Locking Price (such orders ‘‘Resting                        corollary surveillance is now
                                             below, which Items have been prepared                    Order Subject to NMS Price Sliding’’).                      unnecessary. The Exchange proposes to
                                             by the Exchange. The Exchange has                        In order to avoid an apparent issue                         remove the unnecessary Interpretation
                                             designated this proposal as a ‘‘non-                     under its then-existing priority rule, the                  and Policy and to discontinue the
                                             controversial’’ proposed rule change                     Exchange was rejecting incoming orders                      corollary surveillance.
                                             pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the                   that were otherwise marketable against
                                             Act 3 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) thereunder,4                                                                              Background
                                                                                                      the Non-Displayed Orders or the Resting
                                             which renders it effective upon filing                   Orders Subject to NMS Price Sliding. In                        Prior to the implementation of the
                                             with the Commission. The Commission                      order to optimize available liquidity for                   2011 Proposal, consistent with the
                                             is publishing this notice to solicit                     incoming orders and to provide price                        Exchange’s rule regarding priority of
                                             comments on the proposed rule change                     improvement for market participants,                        orders, Rule 11.12, in order to avoid an
                                             from interested persons.                                 the Exchange proposed in May of 2011                        apparent priority issue under the
                                             I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        to execute a resting Non-Displayed                          Exchange’s rules Non-Displayed Orders
                                             Statement of the Terms of Substance of                   Order or Resting Order Subject to NMS                       and Resting Orders Subject to NMS
                                             the Proposed Rule Change                                 Price Sliding at one-half minimum price                     Price Sliding were not executed by the
                                                The Exchange filed a proposal to                      variation less than the Locking Price in                    Exchange pursuant to Rule 11.13 when
                                             remove Interpretation & Policy .01 from                  the case of a bid and one-half minimum                      such orders would be executed at a
                                             Exchange Rule 11.13, as further                          price variation more than the Locking                       Locking Price. Specifically, if incoming
                                             described below.                                         Price in the case of an offer.5                             orders were allowed to execute against
                                                The text of the proposed rule change                    To ease concerns that these new                           the resting Non-Displayed Order or the
                                             is available at the Exchange’s Web site                  order-handling procedures could be                          Resting Order Subject to NMS Price
                                             at www.batstrading.com, at the                           abused solely for the purpose of                            Sliding at the Locking Price, such orders
                                             principal office of the Exchange, and at                 obtaining executions at one-half                            would have received a perceived
                                             the Commission’s Public Reference                        minimum price variations—although                           priority advantage over a resting,
                                             Room.                                                    there was no evidence to suggest this                       displayed contra-side order at the
                                                                                                      might occur—the Exchange included                           Locking Price; accordingly, such
                                             II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule                       executions at the Locking Price were
                                             Statement of the Purpose of, and                         11.13 stating:                                              disallowed. As noted above, however,
                                             Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                      The Exchange will consider it inconsistent               the Exchange proposed functionality to
                                             Change                                                   with just and equitable principles of trade to              optimize available liquidity for
                                               In its filing with the Commission, the                 engage in a pattern or practice of using Non-               incoming orders and to provide price
                                             Exchange included statements                             Displayed Orders or orders subject to price                 improvement for market participants,
                                             concerning the purpose of and basis for                  sliding solely for the purpose of executing                 which was subsequently approved and
                                                                                                      such orders at one-half minimum price                       implemented by the Exchange.8 Below
                                             the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                                                                      variation from the locking price. Evidence of               is an example that illustrates how the
                                             any comments it received on the                          such behavior may include, but is not limited
                                             proposed rule change. The text of these                                                                              Exchange has handled such orders
                                                                                                      to, a User’s pattern of entering orders at a
                                             statements may be examined at the                        price that would lock or be ranked at the
                                                                                                                                                                  following the implementation of
                                             places specified in Item IV below. The                   price of a displayed quotation and cancelling               functionality described in the 2011
                                             Exchange has prepared summaries, set                     orders when they no longer lock the                         Proposal.
                                             forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of                  displayed quotation.
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                             the most significant parts of such                                                                                     6  See 2011 Proposal, supra note 5, at 28833.
                                             statements.                                                  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64754
                                                                                                           5                                                        7  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64754
                                                                                                      (May 12, 2011), 76 FR 28830 (May 18, 2011) (SR–             (June 27, 2011), 76 FR 38712 (July 1, 2011) (SR–
                                                                                                      BATS–2011–015) (‘‘2011 Proposal’’). The reference           BATS–2011–015) (Order Approving a Proposed
                                               1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                 to the most ‘‘aggressive’’ price, as used in that filing,   Rule Change To Amend BATS Rule 11.9, Entitled
                                               2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                    means for bids the highest price the User is willing        ‘‘Orders and Modifiers’’ and BATS Rule 11.13,
                                               3 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                                                                                          Entitled ‘‘Order Execution’’) (‘‘2011 Approval’’).
                                                                                                      to pay, and for offers the lowest price at which the
                                               4 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).                              User is willing to sell.                                       8 See id.




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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 6, 2016 / Notices                                            44077

                                                Assume the Exchange has a posted                      lock the displayed quotation. The                       participants intentionally seek to create
                                             and displayed bid to buy 100 shares of                   Exchange stated in the 2011 Proposal it                 an internally locked book solely for the
                                             a security priced at $10.10 per share, a                 would ‘‘conduct surveillance to ensure                  purpose of obtaining an execution at
                                             resting Non-Displayed Order bid to buy                   that Users are not intentionally seeking                one-half minimum price variation. The
                                             100 shares of a security priced at $10.11                to create an internally locked Book for                 evidence has shown that half-penny
                                             per share, and a posted and displayed                    the purpose of obtaining an execution at                executions appear to be the natural
                                             offer to sell 100 shares also at $10.11 per              one-half minimum price variation.’’ 9                   result of order interactions on the
                                             share. Assume the NBBO is also $10.10                    The Exchange notes that when proposed                   Exchange. Further, since the change,
                                             by $10.11. The Exchange’s order book                     the Exchange believed the functionality                 market participants have received price
                                             (‘‘BZX Book’’) in this situation can be                  was a solution to a specific situation                  improvement on both sides of a trade
                                             depicted as follows, with ‘‘ND’’                         that was a natural consequence of the                   when that trade would have otherwise
                                             identifying the Non-Displayed Order:                     Exchange’s order handling procedures,                   been prevented from occurring under
                                                                                                      particularly due to offering Users the                  the Exchange’s prior functionality. The
                                                                       Bid                 Offer      ability to enter orders that instruct the               Exchange, therefore, no longer believes
                                                                                                      Exchange not to remove liquidity (i.e.,                 Interpretation and Policy .01 is
                                             Bats:               $10.11 (ND)        X    $10.11                                                               necessary or appropriate.
                                                                                                      ‘‘Post Only Orders’’) and to enter orders
                                                                 $10.10                                                                                          The purpose of Interpretation and
                                                                                                      with non-displayed prices.10 The
                                                                                                      Exchange still believes this to be the                  Policy .01 and the associated
                                                If an incoming offer to sell 100 shares                                                                       surveillance was to ensure that market
                                             at $10.10 is entered into the BZX Book,                  case and thus, as further described
                                                                                                      below, seeks to eliminate surveillance                  participants would not find a way to
                                             the resting Non-Displayed Order at the                                                                           abuse the new order handling
                                             locking price will be executed at                        focused on orders and System
                                                                                                      functionality that are simply behaving                  procedures by engaging in a pattern or
                                             $10.105 per share, thus providing the                                                                            practice of entering non-displayed
                                             resting Non-Displayed bid a half-penny                   as the Exchange intends them to behave.
                                                                                                         In approving the rule change, the Staff              locking orders solely for the purpose of
                                             of price improvement from its limit                                                                              obtaining an execution at one-half
                                             price of $10.11 and the incoming offer                   noted the proposed Interpretation and
                                                                                                      Policy .01:                                             minimum price variation. Since the
                                             a half-penny of price improvement from                                                                           Exchange has determined there is no
                                             its limit price of $10.10. The result                       The Exchange also proposes adding                    evidence that such abuse has occurred
                                             would be the same for an incoming                        Interpretation and Policy .01 to BATS Rule
                                                                                                      11.13 to state that the Exchange will consider
                                                                                                                                                              the Exchange believes that
                                             market order to sell or any other                                                                                Interpretation and Policy and corollary
                                             incoming limit order offer priced at                     it inconsistent with just and equitable
                                                                                                      principles of trade to engage in a pattern or           surveillance have served their purpose
                                             $10.10 or below, which would execute                     practice of using Non-Displayed Orders or               and are no longer necessary. The
                                             against the Non-Displayed bid at a price                 orders subject to price sliding solely for the          Exchange believes that its regulatory
                                             of $10.105 per share. An offer at the full               purpose of executing such orders at one-half            program would be better served by the
                                             price of the resting and displayed                       minimum price variation from the locking                removal of Interpretation and Policy .01
                                             $10.11 offer would not execute against                   price. Evidence of such behavior may                    so that the Exchange staff may retire the
                                             the resting Non-Displayed bid, but                       include, but is not limited to, a User’s pattern        surveillance and focus its regulatory
                                             would instead either cancel or post to                   of entering orders at a price that would lock           efforts on activity that it has identified
                                             the BZX Book behind the original                         or be ranked at the price of a displayed
                                                                                                      quotation and cancelling orders when they
                                                                                                                                                              as having an impact on the safety and
                                             $10.11 offer in priority. As described                                                                           quality of its market.
                                                                                                      no longer lock the displayed quotation. The
                                             above, the Exchange has adopted similar                  Exchange has also stated that it will conduct              Finally, Bats EDGX Exchange Inc.
                                             functionality with respect to Resting                    surveillance to ensure that users are not               (‘‘EDGX’’) and Bats EDGA Exchange Inc.
                                             Orders Subject to NMS Price Sliding.                     intentionally seeking to create an internally           (‘‘EDGA’’) have substantively identical
                                             Interpretation and Policy .01 to Rule                    locked book for the purpose of obtaining an             order handling functionality, but neither
                                             11.13                                                    execution at a one-half minimum price                   have the Interpretation and Policy this
                                                                                                      variation.11                                            proposal seeks to remove. The
                                               In proposing the 2011 Proposal, there                                                                          Exchange, therefore, believes that the
                                                                                                         The Commission stated in its
                                             was concern from Commission staff that                                                                           Interpretation and Policy is unnecessary
                                                                                                      approval order that it ‘‘believes that any
                                             market participants may attempt to                                                                               and the Exchange proposes to remove it
                                                                                                      potential abuses are mitigated by the
                                             abuse the rule solely to obtain                                                                                  from Rule 11.13. Although the Exchange
                                                                                                      Exchange’s addition of Interpretation
                                             executions at one-half minimum price                                                                             is proposing to remove Interpretation
                                                                                                      and Policy .01 to BATS Rule 11.13 and
                                             variations. To assuage the concern, the                                                                          and Policy .01 from Rule 11.13, the
                                                                                                      its commitment to monitor relevant
                                             Exchange included Interpretation and                                                                             Exchange notes that all trading activity
                                                                                                      trading on its market.’’ 12
                                             Policy .01 to Rule 11.13 to state                                                                                on the Exchange, including orders
                                             explicitly that the Exchange will                        Proposal To Remove Interpretation and                   entered and handled and executions
                                             consider it inconsistent with just and                   Policy .01 to Rule 11.13                                resulting from the order handling
                                             equitable principles of trade to engage                    The Exchange designed and                             procedures implemented by the 2011
                                             in a pattern or practice of using Non-                   implemented a surveillance program to                   Proposal, is subject to the Exchange’s
                                             Displayed Orders or Resting Orders                       monitor for abuse of the order handling                 overall surveillance program, which
                                             Subject to NMS Price Sliding solely for                  procedures implemented by the 2011                      monitors for potential violations of the
                                             the purpose of executing such orders at                  Proposal and has conducted the                          federal securities laws and the
                                             one-half minimum price variations from                   surveillance for nearly five years. The                 regulations thereunder as well as
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                                             the locking price. The Exchange further                  Exchange has found over this period no                  Exchange Rules.
                                             explained that evidence of such                          evidence to suggest that market
                                             behavior may include, but is not limited                                                                         2. Statutory Basis
                                             to, a User’s pattern of entering orders at                    9 See  2011 Proposal, supra note 5, at 28833.         The rule change proposed in this
                                             a price that would lock or be ranked at                       10 See  id.                                        submission is consistent with the
                                             the price of a displayed quotation and                        11 See 2011 Approval, supra note 7 at 38713.       requirements of the Act and the rules
                                             cancelling orders when they no longer                         12 Id.                                             and regulations thereunder that are


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                                             44078                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 129 / Wednesday, July 6, 2016 / Notices

                                             applicable to a national securities                         III. Date of Effectiveness of the                       rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
                                             exchange, and, in particular, with the                      Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                     submission, all subsequent
                                             requirements of Section 6(b) of the                         Commission Action                                       amendments, all written statements
                                             Act.13 Specifically, the proposed change                       Because the proposed rule change                     with respect to the proposed rule
                                             is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                   does not (i) significantly affect the                   change that are filed with the
                                             Act,14 because it is designed to prevent                    protection of investors or the public                   Commission, and all written
                                             fraudulent and manipulative acts and                        interest; (ii) impose any significant                   communications relating to the
                                             practices, to promote just and equitable                    burden on competition; and (iii) become                 proposed rule change between the
                                             principles of trade, to foster cooperation                  operative for 30 days from the date on                  Commission and any person, other than
                                             and coordination with persons engaged                       which it was filed, or such shorter time                those that may be withheld from the
                                             in facilitating transactions in securities,                 as the Commission may designate, it has                 public in accordance with the
                                             and to remove impediments to, and                           become effective pursuant to Section                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
                                                                                                         19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 15 and Rule 19b–                 available for Web site viewing and
                                             perfect the mechanism of, a free and
                                                                                                         4(f)(6) thereunder.16                                   printing in the Commission’s Public
                                             open market and a national market
                                                                                                            At any time within 60 days of the                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
                                             system. The proposed change to remove                                                                               Washington, DC 20549, on official
                                             Interpretation and Policy .01 from Rule                     filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                         Commission summarily may                                business days between the hours of
                                             11.13 will permit the Exchange to focus                                                                             10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
                                             its regulatory efforts on conduct that                      temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                                                                         it appears to the Commission that such                  filing also will be available for
                                             more likely violates principles of just                                                                             inspection and copying at the principal
                                                                                                         action is necessary or appropriate in the
                                             and equitable trade rather than                                                                                     office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                                                                         public interest, for the protection of
                                             dedicating regulatory staff and efforts on                                                                          received will be posted without change;
                                                                                                         investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
                                             a topic which the Exchange has found                                                                                the Commission does not edit personal
                                                                                                         the purposes of the Act. If the
                                             no evidence of its existence. Since 2011,                   Commission takes such action, the                       identifying information from
                                             the Exchange has dedicated resources to                     Commission shall institute proceedings                  submissions. You should submit only
                                             operate regulatory surveillance and                         to determine whether the proposed rule                  information that you wish to make
                                             investigate potential abuse of the                          change should be approved or                            available publicly. All submissions
                                             Exchange’s functionality and has found                      disapproved.                                            should refer to File No. SR–BatsBZX–
                                             that there is no evidence of abuse of the                                                                           2016–28, and should be submitted on or
                                             relevant order handling procedures                          IV. Solicitation of Comments                            before July 27, 2016.
                                             solely for the purpose of obtaining one-                      Interested persons are invited to                       For the Commission, by the Division of
                                             half minimum price variations. The                          submit written data, views, and                         Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                             Exchange believes the proposal will                         arguments concerning the foregoing,                     authority.17
                                             promote just and equitable principles of                    including whether the proposed rule                     Robert W. Errett,
                                             trade and will help prevent fraudulent                      change is consistent with the Act.                      Deputy Secretary.
                                             and manipulative acts by focusing                           Comments may be submitted by any of                     [FR Doc. 2016–15916 Filed 7–5–16; 8:45 am]
                                             regulatory efforts on activity that the                     the following methods:                                  BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                             Exchange has identified as having an                        Electronic Comments
                                             impact on the safety and quality of its
                                                                                                           • Use the Commission’s Internet                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                             market rather than the hypothetical
                                                                                                         comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       COMMISSION
                                             concern that Interpretation and Policy
                                                                                                         rules/sro.shtml); or
                                             .01 was implemented to monitor.                               • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Sunshine Act Meeting
                                             B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                           sec.gov. Please include File No. SR–
                                                                                                                                                                   Notice is hereby given, pursuant to
                                             Statement on Burden on Competition                          BatsBZX–2016–28 on the subject line.
                                                                                                                                                                 the provisions of the Government in the
                                                                                                         Paper Comments                                          Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
                                                The Exchange does not believe that
                                                                                                            • Send paper comments in triplicate                  the Securities and Exchange
                                             the proposed rule changes will result in
                                                                                                         to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   Commission will hold a Closed Meeting
                                             any burden on competition that is not
                                                                                                         Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                           on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
                                             necessary or appropriate in furtherance                                                                               Commissioners, Counsel to the
                                             of the purposes of the Act. The                             Washington, DC 20549–1090.
                                                                                                         All submissions should refer to File No.                Commissioners, the Secretary to the
                                             proposed rule change simply removes                                                                                 Commission, and recording secretaries
                                             an interpretation and policy that the                       SR–BatsBZX–2016–28. This file number
                                                                                                         should be included on the subject line                  will attend the Closed Meeting. Certain
                                             Exchange does not believe is necessary,                                                                             staff members who have an interest in
                                                                                                         if email is used. To help the
                                             as described above, and should have no                                                                              the matters also may be present.
                                                                                                         Commission process and review your
                                             effect on competition.                                                                                                The General Counsel of the
                                                                                                         comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                         only one method. The Commission will                    Commission, or her designee, has
                                             C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                         post all comments on the Commission’s                   certified that, in her opinion, one or
                                             Statement on Comments on the                                                                                        more of the exemptions set forth in 5
                                             Proposed Rule Change Received From                          Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
                                                                                                                                                                 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), 9(B) and (10)
                                             Members, Participants, or Others                                                                                    and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (5), (7), 9(ii)
                                                                                                              15 15
                                                                                                                  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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                                               The Exchange has neither solicited                             16 17
                                                                                                                  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). As required under Rule    and (10), permit consideration of the
                                             nor received written comments on the                        19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the             scheduled matter at the Closed Meeting.
                                                                                                         Commission with written notice of its intent to file      Chair White, as duty officer, voted to
                                             proposed rule change.                                       the proposed rule change, along with a brief            consider the items listed for the Closed
                                                                                                         description and the text of the proposed rule
                                                                                                         change, at least five business days prior to the date   Meeting in closed session.
                                               13 15   U.S.C. 78f(b).                                    of filing of the proposed rule change, or such
                                               14 15   U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                 shorter time as designated by the Commission.             17 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2016-07-06 07:55:56
Document Modified: 2016-07-06 07:55:56
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 44076 

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