81_FR_70401 81 FR 70205 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 22.3, Continuing Options Market Maker Registration

81 FR 70205 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 22.3, Continuing Options Market Maker Registration

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 196 (October 11, 2016)

Page Range70205-70207
FR Document2016-24424

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70205-70207]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24424]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79039; File No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-62]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rule 
22.3, Continuing Options Market Maker Registration

October 4, 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 September 28, 2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (``BZX'' or the 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, 
and III below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange filed a proposal to make a modification to Exchange 
Rule 22.3, Continuing Options Market Maker Registration, to remove the 
provision of the rule that requires termination of a Member's Options 
Market Maker registration in an option series if the Options Market 
Maker fails to enter quotations in the series within five business days 
after the Options Market Maker's registration in the series becomes 
effective.
    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
    The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 22.3 to remove 
subparagraph (c), which currently requires the Exchange to terminate a 
firm's Options Market Maker registration if it does not enter 
quotations in an option series in which it is registered within five 
business days after the Options Market Maker's registration in the 
series becomes effective. Currently, the Exchange surveils whether a 
newly registered Options Market Maker enters quotations in the series 
within five business days of registration. If an Options Market Maker 
does not, the Exchange is required by Exchange Rule 22.3(c) to 
automatically deregister the Options Market Maker in that series. The 
Exchange views Exchange Rule 22.3(c) as largely duplicative of other 
Exchange Rules and excessively rigid in view of other Exchange Rules 
that allow the Exchange discretion and flexibility in determining an 
appropriate remedy.
    Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) provides that Options Market Makers are 
expected to ``maintain active markets'' in all series in which they are 
registered. Both Rule 22.3(c) and Rule 22.5(a)(6) impose an obligation 
upon registered Options Market Maker to maintain active markets. The 
main difference is that Exchange Rule 22.3(c) applies only to the first 
five days that an Options Market Maker is registered, whereas Exchange 
Rule 22.5(a)(6) applies during the first five days and continues for as 
long as the Options Market Maker is

[[Page 70206]]

registered in a series. The Exchange believes that there is no benefit 
to imposing stricter quoting obligations on a newly registered Options 
Market Maker than those imposed on existing registered Options Market 
Makers. Instead, in the Exchange's view, the requirement to maintain 
active markets should be the same from when an Options Market Maker 
first registers as any time after registration.
    The Exchange notes that it will continue to be permitted to 
deregister a registered Options Market Maker under Exchange Rule 
22.2(b) if it is found that the Options Market Maker has failed in its 
obligation to maintain active markets under Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) or 
fails its obligation to provide continuous two-sided quotes under Rule 
22.6(d).\3\ Removing Exchange Rule 22.3(c) would simply remove the non-
discretionary requirement that the Exchange must deregister an Options 
Market Maker's registration in a series if it does not enter quotations 
in the series within five business days of registration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Exchange Rule 22.2(b) (``The registration of any Member 
as a Market Maker may be suspended or terminated by the Exchange 
upon a determination that such Member has failed to properly perform 
as a Market Maker.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange currently conducts surveillance to monitor and enforce 
compliance with the ``active markets'' provision of Exchange Rule 
22.5(a)(6) for all Options Market Makers. A registered Options Market 
Maker is subject to the Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) surveillance for the 
entire time the Options Market Maker is registered, including the first 
five days covered by Exchange Rule 22.3(c). If a registered Options 
Market Maker is found by surveillance not to be maintaining active 
markets in the option series in which it is registered, the Exchange 
will determine the appropriate course of action against such Options 
Market Maker. The Exchange may take actions of escalating severity 
against the offending Options Market Maker from an informal warning up 
to deregistering the Options Market Maker in the options in which it 
fails to maintain active markets or bringing formal action.\4\ The 
Exchange has found that this discretion has allowed for effective 
enforcement of Options Market Maker obligations while allowing the 
Exchange to consider the facts and circumstances of each case in 
determining the appropriate remedy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Exchange Rules 22.2(b) and 22.5(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On the other hand, current Exchange Rule 22.3(c) is non-
discretionary and its enforcement can lead to potentially arbitrary 
results, as it does not permit the Exchange to consider the facts and 
circumstances of each case in enforcing the rule. While as a general 
matter an Options Market Maker should enter quotations in a series in 
which it is registered as soon as practicable, experience has shown 
that many factors can affect when a newly registered Options Market 
Maker will be in a position to begin entering quotations. Further, as 
discussed above [sic], Exchange Rule 22.6(d) contemplates certain 
acceptable periods of inactivity. Just as the Exchange is provided 
discretion to enforce all Options Market Maker obligations under 
Exchange Rule 22.2(b), the Exchange believes that it should be afforded 
the same discretion to evaluate the facts and circumstances of each 
case in which an Options Market Maker is not active in a series within 
the first five days of registration and determine the appropriate 
remedy.
    Finally, other national options exchanges do not require automatic 
deregistration of a registered Options Market Maker from an options 
series when the Options Market Maker fails to submit a quote within the 
first five days of registration. Other exchanges allow considerably 
more discretion in determining the appropriate remedy for a registered 
Options Market Maker that fails its quoting obligations. For example, 
neither the Chicago Board Options Exchange (``CBOE''), nor the Miami 
International Securities Exchange (``MIAX''), nor NYSE Arca, Inc. 
Options (``NYSE Arca''), has a requirement to automatically deregister 
an options market maker if it fails in its quoting or other obligations 
within five days of registration. Instead, each of the above exchanges 
appears to rely on a rule substantively identical to Exchange Rule 
22.2(b) that gives the respective exchange discretion as to the 
appropriate remedy for Options Market Makers that do not meet their 
obligations.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See CBOE Rule 8.2(b) (``The registration of a Market-Maker 
may be suspended or terminated by the Exchange upon a determination 
that the Market-Maker has failed to properly perform as a Market-
Maker.''); MIAX Rule 600(c) (``The registration of any Member as a 
Lead Market Maker, Primary Lead Market Maker, or as a Registered 
Market Maker may be suspended or terminated by the Exchange upon a 
determination that such Member has failed to properly perform as a 
Market Maker''); NYSE Arca Options Rule 6.33 (``The registration of 
any person as a Market Maker may be suspended or terminated by the 
Exchange upon a determination of any substantial or continued 
failure by such Market Maker to engage in dealings in accordance 
with [Market Maker Obligations].'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange, therefore, proposes to amend Exchange Rule 22.3 to 
remove subparagraph (c) and to enforce its Options Market Maker 
``active market'' obligations with the remedies permitted in Exchange 
Rule 22.2(b) and Exchange Rule 22.5(c).
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that 
are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, 
with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\6\
    In particular, the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(1) \7\ 
in that it enables the Exchange to be so organized as to have the 
capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Exchange Act and 
to comply, and to enforce compliance by its exchange members and 
persons associated with its exchange members, with the provisions of 
the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules 
of the Exchange. The proposal allows the Exchange the discretion so 
that it may appropriately and equitably enforce compliance by its 
members with the rules of the Exchange--in particular, the Exchange's 
Options Market Maker obligations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of 
the Act \8\ 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, to remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market 
and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and 
the public interest. The proposed amendment to remove Exchange Rule 
22.3(c) will permit the Exchange to consider all facts and 
circumstances in instances where it appears that a registered Options 
Market Maker does not meet its obligations and to exercise discretion 
in applying the appropriate remedy for such failure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 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 change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change 
does not introduce any burden on competition, but rather, removes the 
automatic deregistration requirement of Exchange Rule 22.3(c) to allow 
the Exchange to apply the obligation to maintain active

[[Page 70207]]

markets to all registered Options Market Makers equally.

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

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, 
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received 
any written comments from members or other interested parties.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (A) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (B) impose any significant burden on competition; and (C) by 
its terms, 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 \9\ and 
paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\10\ the Exchange has 
designated this rule filing as non-controversial. The Exchange has 
given the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed 
rule change, along with a brief description and 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: (1) 
Necessary or appropriate in the public interest; (2) for the protection 
of investors; or (3) otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the 
Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall 
institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be 
approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-62 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-BatsBZX-2016-62. 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 such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-62, and should 
be submitted on or before November 1, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-24424 Filed 10-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Notices                                           70205

                                                    reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which              (http://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-                         The text of the proposed rule change
                                                    the self-regulatory organization                        filings.aspx). All comments received                  is available at the Exchange’s Web site
                                                    consents, the Commission will:                          will be posted without change; the                    at www.batstrading.com, at the
                                                      (A) By order approve or disapprove                    Commission does not edit personal                     principal office of the Exchange, and at
                                                    such proposed rule change, or                           identifying information from                          the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                      (B) institute proceedings to determine                submissions. You should submit only                   Room.
                                                    whether the proposed rule change                        information that you wish to make
                                                    should be disapproved.                                                                                        II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            available publicly. All submissions
                                                      The proposal shall not take effect                                                                          Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                            should refer to File Number SR–DTC–
                                                    until all regulatory actions required                                                                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                            2016–008 and should be submitted on
                                                    with respect to the proposal are                                                                              Change
                                                                                                            or before November 1, 2016.
                                                    completed.24                                              For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                                                                                    In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                                                                            Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            Exchange included statements
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments
                                                                                                            authority.25                                          concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                                                                           the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                                                                            Brent J. Fields,
                                                    submit written data, views and                                                                                any comments it received on the
                                                                                                            Secretary.
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                           proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                     [FR Doc. 2016–24499 Filed 10–7–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                  statements may be examined at the
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                      BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                  places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                    the following methods:                                                                                        forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                                                                            SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    Electronic Comments                                                                                           the most significant parts of such
                                                                                                            COMMISSION
                                                                                                                                                                  statements.
                                                       • Use the Commission’s Internet                      [Release No. 34–79039; File No. SR–
                                                    comment form                                                                                                  A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            BatsBZX–2016–62]
                                                       (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml);                                                                      Statement of the Purpose of, and the
                                                    or                                                      Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats                   Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                       • Send an email to rule-comments@                    BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing                  Change
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 and Immediate Effectiveness of a                      1. Purpose
                                                    DTC–2016–008 on the subject line.                       Proposed Rule Change to Rule 22.3,
                                                                                                                                                                     The Exchange proposes to amend
                                                    Paper Comments                                          Continuing Options Market Maker
                                                                                                                                                                  Exchange Rule 22.3 to remove
                                                                                                            Registration
                                                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                        subparagraph (c), which currently
                                                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   October 4, 2016.                                      requires the Exchange to terminate a
                                                    Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                              Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                firm’s Options Market Maker
                                                    Washington, DC 20549.                                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934                       registration if it does not enter
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                    (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2               quotations in an option series in which
                                                    Number SR–DTC–2016–008. This file                       notice is hereby given that on                        it is registered within five business days
                                                    number should be included on the                        September 28, 2016, Bats BZX                          after the Options Market Maker’s
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the              Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BZX’’ or the                        registration in the series becomes
                                                    Commission process and review your                      ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities               effective. Currently, the Exchange
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use                   and Exchange Commission                               surveils whether a newly registered
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                    (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                    Options Market Maker enters quotations
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                   change as described in Items I, II, and               in the series within five business days
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                  III below, which Items have been                      of registration. If an Options Market
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         prepared by the Exchange. The                         Maker does not, the Exchange is
                                                    submission, all subsequent                              Commission is publishing this notice to               required by Exchange Rule 22.3(c) to
                                                    amendments, all written statements                      solicit comments on the proposed rule                 automatically deregister the Options
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule                       change from interested persons.                       Market Maker in that series. The
                                                    change that are filed with the                                                                                Exchange views Exchange Rule 22.3(c)
                                                                                                            I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     as largely duplicative of other Exchange
                                                    Commission, and all written                             Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    communications relating to the                                                                                Rules and excessively rigid in view of
                                                                                                            the Proposed Rule Change                              other Exchange Rules that allow the
                                                    proposed rule change between the
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                     The Exchange filed a proposal to                    Exchange discretion and flexibility in
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                     make a modification to Exchange Rule                  determining an appropriate remedy.
                                                    public in accordance with the                           22.3, Continuing Options Market Maker                    Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) provides
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     Registration, to remove the provision of              that Options Market Makers are
                                                    available for Web site viewing and                      the rule that requires termination of a               expected to ‘‘maintain active markets’’
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                     Member’s Options Market Maker                         in all series in which they are registered.
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                       registration in an option series if the               Both Rule 22.3(c) and Rule 22.5(a)(6)
                                                                                                                                                                  impose an obligation upon registered
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Washington, DC 20549 on official                        Options Market Maker fails to enter
                                                    business days between the hours of                      quotations in the series within five                  Options Market Maker to maintain
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  business days after the Options Market                active markets. The main difference is
                                                    filing also will be available for                       Maker’s registration in the series                    that Exchange Rule 22.3(c) applies only
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                 becomes effective.                                    to the first five days that an Options
                                                    office of DTC and on DTCC’s Web site                                                                          Market Maker is registered, whereas
                                                                                                              25 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) applies during
                                                      24 See
                                                           supra note 3 (regarding filing of related          1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              the first five days and continues for as
                                                    advance notice).                                          2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 long as the Options Market Maker is


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                                                    70206                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Notices

                                                    registered in a series. The Exchange                    circumstances of each case in enforcing               in Exchange Rule 22.2(b) and Exchange
                                                    believes that there is no benefit to                    the rule. While as a general matter an                Rule 22.5(c).
                                                    imposing stricter quoting obligations on                Options Market Maker should enter
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Statutory Basis
                                                    a newly registered Options Market                       quotations in a series in which it is
                                                    Maker than those imposed on existing                    registered as soon as practicable,                       The Exchange believes that its
                                                    registered Options Market Makers.                       experience has shown that many factors                proposal is consistent with the
                                                    Instead, in the Exchange’s view, the                    can affect when a newly registered                    requirements of the Act and the rules
                                                    requirement to maintain active markets                  Options Market Maker will be in a                     and regulations thereunder that are
                                                    should be the same from when an                         position to begin entering quotations.                applicable to a national securities
                                                    Options Market Maker first registers as                 Further, as discussed above [sic],                    exchange, and, in particular, with the
                                                    any time after registration.                            Exchange Rule 22.6(d) contemplates                    requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.6
                                                       The Exchange notes that it will                      certain acceptable periods of inactivity.                In particular, the proposal is
                                                    continue to be permitted to deregister a                Just as the Exchange is provided                      consistent with Section 6(b)(1) 7 in that
                                                    registered Options Market Maker under                   discretion to enforce all Options Market              it enables the Exchange to be so
                                                    Exchange Rule 22.2(b) if it is found that               Maker obligations under Exchange Rule                 organized as to have the capacity to be
                                                    the Options Market Maker has failed in                  22.2(b), the Exchange believes that it                able to carry out the purposes of the
                                                    its obligation to maintain active markets               should be afforded the same discretion                Exchange Act and to comply, and to
                                                    under Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6) or fails                 to evaluate the facts and circumstances               enforce compliance by its exchange
                                                    its obligation to provide continuous                    of each case in which an Options                      members and persons associated with
                                                    two-sided quotes under Rule 22.6(d).3                   Market Maker is not active in a series                its exchange members, with the
                                                    Removing Exchange Rule 22.3(c) would                    within the first five days of registration            provisions of the Exchange Act, the
                                                    simply remove the non-discretionary                     and determine the appropriate remedy.                 rules and regulations thereunder, and
                                                    requirement that the Exchange must                         Finally, other national options                    the rules of the Exchange. The proposal
                                                    deregister an Options Market Maker’s                    exchanges do not require automatic                    allows the Exchange the discretion so
                                                    registration in a series if it does not                 deregistration of a registered Options                that it may appropriately and equitably
                                                    enter quotations in the series within five              Market Maker from an options series                   enforce compliance by its members with
                                                    business days of registration.                          when the Options Market Maker fails to
                                                       The Exchange currently conducts                                                                            the rules of the Exchange—in particular,
                                                                                                            submit a quote within the first five days             the Exchange’s Options Market Maker
                                                    surveillance to monitor and enforce
                                                                                                            of registration. Other exchanges allow                obligations.
                                                    compliance with the ‘‘active markets’’
                                                                                                            considerably more discretion in                          Additionally, the proposal is
                                                    provision of Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6)
                                                                                                            determining the appropriate remedy for                consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                                    for all Options Market Makers. A
                                                                                                            a registered Options Market Maker that                Act 8 because it is designed to prevent
                                                    registered Options Market Maker is
                                                                                                            fails its quoting obligations. For                    fraudulent and manipulative acts and
                                                    subject to the Exchange Rule 22.5(a)(6)
                                                                                                            example, neither the Chicago Board                    practices, to promote just and equitable
                                                    surveillance for the entire time the
                                                                                                            Options Exchange (‘‘CBOE’’), nor the                  principles of trade, to foster cooperation
                                                    Options Market Maker is registered,
                                                                                                            Miami International Securities                        and coordination with persons engaged
                                                    including the first five days covered by
                                                    Exchange Rule 22.3(c). If a registered                  Exchange (‘‘MIAX’’), nor NYSE Arca,                   in facilitating transactions in securities,
                                                    Options Market Maker is found by                        Inc. Options (‘‘NYSE Arca’’), has a                   to remove impediments to, and perfect
                                                    surveillance not to be maintaining                      requirement to automatically deregister               the mechanism of, a free and open
                                                    active markets in the option series in                  an options market maker if it fails in its            market and a national market system
                                                    which it is registered, the Exchange will               quoting or other obligations within five              and, in general, to protect investors and
                                                    determine the appropriate course of                     days of registration. Instead, each of the            the public interest. The proposed
                                                    action against such Options Market                      above exchanges appears to rely on a                  amendment to remove Exchange Rule
                                                    Maker. The Exchange may take actions                    rule substantively identical to Exchange              22.3(c) will permit the Exchange to
                                                    of escalating severity against the                      Rule 22.2(b) that gives the respective                consider all facts and circumstances in
                                                    offending Options Market Maker from                     exchange discretion as to the                         instances where it appears that a
                                                    an informal warning up to deregistering                 appropriate remedy for Options Market                 registered Options Market Maker does
                                                    the Options Market Maker in the                         Makers that do not meet their                         not meet its obligations and to exercise
                                                    options in which it fails to maintain                   obligations.5                                         discretion in applying the appropriate
                                                    active markets or bringing formal                          The Exchange, therefore, proposes to               remedy for such failure.
                                                    action.4 The Exchange has found that                    amend Exchange Rule 22.3 to remove
                                                                                                            subparagraph (c) and to enforce its                   B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    this discretion has allowed for effective                                                                     Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                    enforcement of Options Market Maker                     Options Market Maker ‘‘active market’’
                                                    obligations while allowing the Exchange                 obligations with the remedies permitted                 The Exchange does not believe that
                                                    to consider the facts and circumstances                                                                       the proposed rule change will impose
                                                    of each case in determining the                           5 See CBOE Rule 8.2(b) (‘‘The registration of a
                                                                                                                                                                  any burden on competition that is not
                                                    appropriate remedy.                                     Market-Maker may be suspended or terminated by        necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                                                                            the Exchange upon a determination that the Market-
                                                       On the other hand, current Exchange                  Maker has failed to properly perform as a Market-     of the purposes of the Act. The
                                                    Rule 22.3(c) is non-discretionary and its               Maker.’’); MIAX Rule 600(c) (‘‘The registration of    proposed rule change does not
                                                    enforcement can lead to potentially
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            any Member as a Lead Market Maker, Primary Lead       introduce any burden on competition,
                                                    arbitrary results, as it does not permit                Market Maker, or as a Registered Market Maker may     but rather, removes the automatic
                                                                                                            be suspended or terminated by the Exchange upon
                                                    the Exchange to consider the facts and                  a determination that such Member has failed to        deregistration requirement of Exchange
                                                                                                            properly perform as a Market Maker’’); NYSE Arca      Rule 22.3(c) to allow the Exchange to
                                                      3 See Exchange Rule 22.2(b) (‘‘The registration of
                                                                                                            Options Rule 6.33 (‘‘The registration of any person   apply the obligation to maintain active
                                                    any Member as a Market Maker may be suspended           as a Market Maker may be suspended or terminated
                                                    or terminated by the Exchange upon a                    by the Exchange upon a determination of any
                                                                                                                                                                    6 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                    determination that such Member has failed to            substantial or continued failure by such Market
                                                    properly perform as a Market Maker.’’).                 Maker to engage in dealings in accordance with          7 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(1).
                                                      4 See Exchange Rules 22.2(b) and 22.5(c).             [Market Maker Obligations].’’).                         8 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).




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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2016 / Notices                                              70207

                                                    markets to all registered Options Market                     • Send an email to rule-comments@                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    Makers equally.                                            sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–               COMMISSION
                                                    C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                          BatsBZX–2016–62 on the subject line.
                                                                                                                                                                     [Release No. 34–79035; File No. SR–
                                                    Statement on Comments on the                               Paper Comments                                        NASDAQ–2016–124]
                                                    Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                    Members, Participants, or Others                             • Send paper comments in triplicate                 Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
                                                                                                               to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities             NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
                                                      The Exchange has not solicited, and                                                                            Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
                                                    does not intend to solicit, comments on                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
                                                                                                               NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                       Proposed Rule Change To Amend
                                                    this proposed rule change. The                                                                                   Nasdaq Rule 7046
                                                    Exchange has not received any written                      All submissions should refer to File
                                                    comments from members or other                             Number SR–BatsBZX–2016–62. This file                  October 4, 2016.
                                                    interested parties.                                        number should be included on the                         Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                               subject line if email is used. To help the            Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                                    III. Date of Effectiveness of the                                                                                (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for                        Commission process and review your
                                                                                                                                                                     notice is hereby given that, on
                                                    Commission Action                                          comments more efficiently, please use
                                                                                                                                                                     September 23, 2016, The NASDAQ
                                                       Because the foregoing proposed rule                     only one method. The Commission will                  Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or
                                                    change does not: (A) Significantly affect                  post all comments on the Commission’s                 ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                    the protection of investors or the public                  Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
                                                    interest; (B) impose any significant                       rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                       ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                    burden on competition; and (C) by its                      submission, all subsequent                            change as described in Items I, II, and
                                                    terms, become operative for 30 days                        amendments, all written statements                    III below, which Items have been
                                                    from the date on which it was filed or                     with respect to the proposed rule                     prepared by the Exchange. The
                                                    such shorter time as the Commission                        change that are filed with the                        Commission is publishing this notice to
                                                    may designate it has become effective                      Commission, and all written                           solicit comments on the proposed rule
                                                    pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the                     communications relating to the                        change from interested persons.
                                                    Act 9 and paragraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–                    proposed rule change between the                      I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    4 thereunder,10 the Exchange has                           Commission and any person, other than                 Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                    designated this rule filing as non-                        those that may be withheld from the                   the Proposed Rule Change
                                                    controversial. The Exchange has given                      public in accordance with the
                                                    the Commission written notice of its                       provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                      Nasdaq is proposing to amend
                                                    intent to file the proposed rule change,                                                                         proposed [sic] Nasdaq Rule 7046
                                                                                                               available for Web site viewing and
                                                    along with a brief description and text                                                                          (Nasdaq Trading Insights) by adding the
                                                                                                               printing in the Commission’s Public
                                                    of the proposed rule change at least five                                                                        corresponding fee for the optional
                                                                                                               Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                     Nasdaq Trading Insights product.
                                                    business days prior to the date of filing                  Washington, DC 20549 on official
                                                    of the proposed rule change, or such                                                                                The text of the proposed rule change
                                                                                                               business days between the hours of                    is available at
                                                    shorter time as designated by the                          10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                    Commission.                                                                                                      nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at Nasdaq’s
                                                                                                               filing also will be available for                     principal office, and at the
                                                       At any time within 60 days of the
                                                                                                               inspection and copying at the principal               Commission’s Public Reference Room.
                                                    filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                               office of the Exchange. All comments
                                                    Commission summarily may                                                                                         II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    temporarily suspend such rule change if                    received will be posted without change;
                                                                                                                                                                     Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    it appears to the Commission that such                     the Commission does not edit personal
                                                                                                                                                                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    action is: (1) Necessary or appropriate in                 identifying information from                          Change
                                                    the public interest; (2) for the protection                submissions. You should submit only
                                                                                                               information that you wish to make                        In its filing with the Commission,
                                                    of investors; or (3) otherwise in                                                                                Nasdaq included statements concerning
                                                    furtherance of the purposes of the Act.                    available publicly. All submissions
                                                                                                               should refer to File Number SR–                       the purpose of, and basis for, the
                                                    If the Commission takes such action, the                                                                         proposed rule change and discussed any
                                                    Commission shall institute proceedings                     BatsBZX–2016–62, and should be
                                                                                                                                                                     comments it received on the proposed
                                                    to determine whether the proposed rule                     submitted on or before November 1,
                                                                                                                                                                     rule change. The text of those
                                                    should be approved or disapproved.                         2016.
                                                                                                                                                                     statements may be examined at the
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                                 For the Commission, by the Division of              places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                                                                               Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                        authority.11
                                                    submit written data, views, and                                                                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                        Robert W. Errett,                                     the most significant parts of such
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                        Deputy Secretary.                                     statements.
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                         [FR Doc. 2016–24424 Filed 10–7–16; 8:45 am]           A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                Statement of the Purpose of, and
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    the following methods:                                                                                           Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                                                                                     Change
                                                    Electronic Comments
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                                                                                1. Purpose
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                                   The Exchange proposes to amend
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                                                                             Nasdaq Rule 7046 (Nasdaq Trading
                                                      9 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).                                                                                      1 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                      10 17   CFR 240.19b–4.                                     11 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                          2 17   CFR 240.19b–4.



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Document Created: 2018-02-13 16:34:18
Document Modified: 2018-02-13 16:34:18
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 70205 

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