81_FR_76086 81 FR 75875 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions, To Enhance the Reopening Auction Process Following a Trading Halt Declared Pursuant to the Plan To Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS

81 FR 75875 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions, To Enhance the Reopening Auction Process Following a Trading Halt Declared Pursuant to the Plan To Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 211 (November 1, 2016)

Page Range75875-75879
FR Document2016-26300

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75875-75879]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26300]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79162; File No. SR-BatsBZX-2016-61]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Exchange Rule 11.23, 
Auctions, To Enhance the Reopening Auction Process Following a Trading 
Halt Declared Pursuant to the Plan To Address Extraordinary Market 
Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS

October 26, 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 October 13, 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 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange filed a proposal to amend Exchange Rule 11.23, 
Auctions, to enhance the reopening auction process following a trading 
halt declared pursuant to the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market 
Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS under the Act (the 
``Limit Up-Limit Down Plan'' or ``Plan'').\3\ The Exchange also 
proposes to amend Rule 11.17, Clearly Erroneous Executions, to exclude 
executions that are a result of

[[Page 75876]]

a Halt Auction from being reviewed as clearly erroneous.
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 
2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (the ``Limit Up-Limit Down 
Release'').
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's 
Web site at www.batstrading.com, at the principal office of the 
Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions, to 
enhance the reopening auction process following a trading halt declared 
pursuant to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan. The Exchange also proposes to 
amend Rule 11.17, Clearly Erroneous Executions, to exclude executions 
that are a result of a Halt Auction from being reviewed as clearly 
erroneous.
Background
    The Operating Committee for the Plan, with input from the Advisory 
Committee to the Plan and staff of the Commission, has identified a 
number of enhancements to the reopening process following a Trading 
Pause that will be addressed in a combination of a proposed amendment 
to the Plan and amendments to the rules of the Primary Listing 
Exchanges.\4\ The Exchange is a Participant of the Plan and a member of 
the Operating Committee.
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    \4\ Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used herein 
have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or in Exchange rules.
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    The Participants submitted to the Commission a proposal to amend 
the Plan to provide that a Trading Pause will continue until the 
Primary Listing Exchange has reopened trading using its established 
reopening procedures and reports a Reopening Price.\5\ The Participants 
further proposed to eliminate the current allowance for a trading 
center to resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause if 
the Primary Listing Exchange has not reported a Reopening Price within 
ten minutes after the declaration of a Trading Pause and has not 
declared a Regulatory Halt. In addition, to close any gaps of potential 
scenarios when trading may resume without Price Bands, the Participants 
proposed to amend the Plan to provide that a trading center may not 
resume trading in an NMS Stock following a Trading Pause without Price 
Bands in such NMS Stock. To address potential scenarios of when there 
may not be a Reopening Price from the Primary Listing Exchange from 
which to calculate Price Bands, the Participants propose to make 
related amendments to the Plan to address when trading may resume if 
the Primary Listing Exchange is unable to reopen due to a systems or 
technology issue and how the Reference Price would be determined either 
under such circumstances or if the Primary Listing Exchange reopens 
trading on a zero bid or zero quote, or both.
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    \5\ See letter from Elizabeth K. King, General Counsel, NYSE, to 
Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Commission, dated September 16, 2016 
(``Amendment No. 12'').
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    In connection with the proposed Plan amendments, the Participants 
have agreed on a standardized approach for how the Primary Listing 
Exchanges should conduct certain aspects of an automated reopening 
following a Trading Pause. Specifically, because trading centers would 
not be permitted to resume trading in an NMS Stock until there is a 
Reopening Price, the Participants believe it is appropriate for the 
Primary Listing Exchanges to adopt uniform standards for determining 
whether and when to conduct such automated reopenings, including what 
price collar thresholds would be applicable to such automated 
reopenings and how to provide for extensions of when a reopening 
auction would be conducted. The goal of such changes would be to ensure 
that all market order interest could be satisfied in an automated 
reopening auction.
    More specifically, the Participants have agreed that if there is an 
imbalance of market orders, or if the Reopening Price would be outside 
of specified price collar thresholds, the Trading Pause would be 
extended an additional five minutes in order to provide additional time 
to attract offsetting liquidity. If at the end of such extension, 
market orders still cannot be satisfied within price collar thresholds 
or if the reopening auction would be priced outside of the applicable 
price collar thresholds, the Primary Listing Exchange would extend the 
Trading Pause an additional five minutes. With each such extension, the 
Participants have agreed that it would be appropriate to widen the 
price collar threshold on the side of the market on which there is 
buying or selling pressure.
    With respect to price collar thresholds, the Participants have 
agreed that the reference price for calculating price collar thresholds 
would be the price of the limit state that preceded the Trading Pause, 
i.e., either the Lower or Upper Price Band price. If there is selling 
pressure, for NMS Stocks priced more than $3.00, the lower collar for 
the auction would be the Lower Price Band minus five percent and the 
upper collar would be the Upper Price Band; if there is buying 
pressure, the upper collar for the auction would be the Upper Price 
Band plus five percent and the lower collar would be the Lower Price 
Band. For each extension, the collars would be widened an additional 
five percent, but only on the side of the Impermissible Price (as 
defined and discussed below).\6\ The Participants believe that widening 
collars only in the direction of the Impermissible Price would address 
issues relating to the concept of mean reversion.
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    \6\ For NMS Stocks that are priced $3.00 and under, the price 
collar threshold would be $0.15.
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    Finally, the Participants have agreed that the proposed new 
procedures for reopening trading following a Trading Pause reduces the 
potential that an order or orders entered by one or more Members caused 
such execution to be clearly erroneous. Specifically, the Participants 
believe that the proposed standardized procedures for reopening trading 
following a Trading Pause incorporates a methodology that allows for 
widened collars, which may result in a reopening price away from prior 
trading prices, but which reopening price would be a result of a 
measured and transparent process that eliminates the potential that 
such trade would be considered erroneous.
    As a Primary Listing Exchange, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 
11.23(d) to implement the proposed uniform trading practices with 
respect to reopening a security following a Trading Pause and amend 
Rule 11.17, Clearly Erroneous Executions, to preclude Members from 
requesting a review of a Trading Halt Auction as a clearly erroneous 
execution, as described below.
Description of Changes to the Halt Auction Process
    To effect the proposed enhancements that would be implemented by 
all Primary Listing Exchanges, the Exchange proposes to incorporate the

[[Page 75877]]

above items that were agreed to amongst the Participants under Exchange 
Rule 11.23(d), IPO and Halt Auctions. First, the Exchange proposes to 
adopt new paragraph (C) under Rule 11.23(d)(2) titled ``Incremental 
Quote Period Extensions for Halt Auctions Following a Trading Pause.'' 
\7\ Under Exchange Rule 11.23(d)(1)(A), the Quote-Only Period \8\ with 
respect to a Halt Auction commences five (5) minutes prior to such Halt 
Auction. Proposed Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C) would provide for the Quote-Only 
Period to be extended an additional five (5) minutes should a Halt 
Auction be unable to be performed due to Market Order \9\ imbalance 
under 11.23(d)(2)(B)(i) \10\ or the Indicative Price,\11\ before being 
adjusted for Halt Auction Collars, is outside the Halt Auction Collars 
set forth in proposed subparagraphs (i) and (ii) to Exchange Rule 
11.23(d)(2)(C) discussed below (either, an ``Impermissible Price'') 
(``Initial Extension Period'').\12\
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    \7\ The Exchange proposes to renumber current paragraphs (C) and 
(D) under Rule 11.23(d)(2) as (D) and (E), respectively.
    \8\ ``Quote-Only Period'' is defined as ``a designated period of 
time prior to a Halt Auction, a Volatility Closing Auction, or an 
IPO Auction during which Users may submit orders to the Exchange for 
participation in the auction.'' See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(17).
    \9\ See Exchange Rule 11.9(a)(2).
    \10\ Under 11.23(d)(2)(B)(i), the Quote-Only Period may be 
extended where there are unmatched Market Orders on the Auction Book 
associated with the auction.
    \11\ ``Indicative Price'' is defined as ``the price at which the 
most shares from the Auction Book and the Continuous Book would 
match.'' See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(10).
    \12\ The Quote-Only Period would not be extended and the Halt 
Auction may occur where there is a Limit Order imbalance, but no 
Market Order imbalance exists and the Indicative Price is inside the 
thresholds set forth in proposed subparagraphs (i) and (ii) to 
Exchange Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C).
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    After the Initial Extension Period, the Quote-Only Period shall be 
extended for additional five (5) minute periods should a Halt Auction 
be unable to be performed due to an Impermissible Price (``Additional 
Extension Period'') until a Halt Auction occurs. The Exchange shall 
attempt to conduct a Halt Auction during the course of each Additional 
Extension Period. The Halt Auction will be cancelled at 3:50 p.m. 
eastern time, at which time the auction for the security shall be 
conducted pursuant to the Volatility Closing Auction process under 
section (e) of Exchange Rule 11.23. Renumbered paragraph (D) of Rule 
11.23(d)(2) would also be amended to make clear that the Exchange will 
notify market participants of the circumstances and length of an 
extension of the Quote-Only Period as proposed herein.
    Under proposed subparagraph (i) to Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C), the Halt 
Auction Reference Price shall equal the price of the Upper or Lower 
Price Band that triggered the halt. If the Halt Auction Reference Price 
is the Lower (Upper) Price Band, the initial lower (upper) Halt Auction 
Collar shall be five (5) percent less (greater) than the Halt Auction 
Reference Price, rounded to the nearest minimum price variation and the 
upper (lower) Halt Auction Collar shall be the Upper (Lower) Price 
Band. For securities with a Halt Auction Reference Price of $3.00 or 
less, the initial lower (upper) Halt Auction Collar shall be $0.15 less 
(greater) than the Halt Auction Reference Price, rounded to the nearest 
minimum price variation and the upper (lower) Halt Auction Collar shall 
be the Upper (Lower) Price Band.
    Proposed subparagraph (ii) to Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C) would state that 
at the beginning of the Initial Extension Period, the upper (lower) 
Halt Auction Collar shall be increased (decreased) by five (5) percent 
in the direction of the Impermissible Price rounded to the nearest 
minimum price variation. For securities with a Halt Auction Reference 
Price of $3.00 or less, the Halt Auction Collar shall be increased 
(decreased) in $0.15 increments in the direction of Impermissible 
Price. At the beginning of each Additional Extension Period, the Halt 
Auction Collar shall be widened by the same amount as the Initial 
Extension Period.
    In addition, the Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (d)(2)(A) of 
Rule 11.23 regarding the publication of BZX Auction information. Under 
Rule 11.23(d)(2)(A), coinciding with the beginning of the Quote-Only 
Period for a security and updated every five seconds thereafter, the 
Reference Price,\13\ Indicative Price, Auction Only Price,\14\ and the 
lesser of Reference Buy Shares \15\ and Reference Sell Shares \16\ 
associated with the Halt Auction are disseminated via electronic means. 
The Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (d)(2)(A) of Rule 11.23 to 
include the Halt Auction Reference Price and Halt Auction Collars as 
part of the information to be publicly disseminated as part of the Halt 
Auction process.
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    \13\ See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(19).
    \14\ See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(2).
    \15\ See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(18).
    \16\ See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(21).
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    Renumbered paragraph (E) of Rule 11.23(d)(2) describes how the 
Exchange determines the price of an IPO and Halt Auction and states 
that orders will be executed at the price that maximizes the number of 
shares executed in the auction. The Exchange proposes to amend 
renumbered paragraph (E) of Rule 11.23(d)(2) to separately describe how 
the price of an IPO and Halt Auction are calculated. As amended, for 
IPO Auctions for ETPs, orders will continue to be executed at the price 
level within the Collar Price Range that maximizes the number of shares 
executed in the auction. For Halt Auctions for ETPs, orders will be 
executed at the price level within the Halt Auction Collars that 
maximizes the number of shares executed in the auction.
    The Exchange also proposes to add new paragraph (F) under Exchange 
Rule 11.23(d)(2). Proposed paragraph (F) to Rule 11.23(d)(2) would 
state if a Trading Pause is triggered by the Exchange or if the 
Exchange is unable to reopen trading at the end of the Trading Pause 
due to a systems or technology issue, the Exchange will immediately 
notify the single plan processor responsible for consolidation of 
information for the security pursuant to Rule 603 of Regulation NMS 
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
    Lastly, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 11.17, Clearly 
Erroneous Executions, to provide that Members may not request a review 
of a Trading Halt Auction under Rule 11.17(b), which specifies the 
procedures for a Member to request a review of an execution as clearly 
erroneous. The Exchange believes that this proposed rule text would 
implement the proposed standardized trading practice that reopening 
auctions would not be eligible for review by Members as a clearly 
erroneous execution.\17\
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    \17\ The Participants will be engaging in a more comprehensive 
review of Rule 11.17 in connection with amendments to the Plan 
relating to tiering of securities and applicable percentage 
parameters. The Exchange proposes to make this limited amendment to 
Rule 11.17 as an initial step to eliminating its clearly erroneous 
executions rules in their current form.
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Implementation Date
    The Exchange proposes to implement the proposed rule change 
following the Commission's approval of Amendment No. 12 to the Plan. 
The Exchange will announce the implementation date via a trading notice 
to be issued after the Commission's approval of this proposed rule 
change.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act \18\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \19\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of

[[Page 75878]]

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 Exchange believes that the proposed rule change, together with the 
proposed amendments to the Plan, are necessary or appropriate in the 
public interest, for the protection of investors and the maintenance of 
fair and orderly markets, to remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanisms of, a national market system, or otherwise in furtherance of 
the purposes of the Act.
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    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes the proposed changes would 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, because they are designed, together with the proposed 
amendments to the Plan, to address the issues experienced on August 24, 
2015 by reducing the number of repeat Trading Pauses in a single NMS 
Stock. The proposed Plan amendments are an essential component to 
Participants' goal of more standardized processes across Primary 
Listing Exchanges in reopening trading following a Trading Pause, and 
facilitates the production of an equilibrium Reopening Price by 
centralizing the reopening process through the Primary Listing 
Exchange, which would also improve the accuracy of the reopening Price 
Bands. The proposed Plan amendments support this initiative by 
requiring trading centers to wait to resume trading following Trading 
Pause until there is a Reopening Price.
    This proposed rule change further supports this initiative by 
proposing uniform trading practices for reopening trading following a 
Trading Pause. The Exchange believes that the proposed standardized 
approach for how the Primary Listing Exchanges would conduct certain 
aspects of an automated reopening following a Trading Pause would 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system because it would provide certainty 
for market participants regarding how a security would reopen following 
a Trading Pause, regardless of the listing exchange. The Exchange 
further believes that the proposed changes would remove impediments to 
and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system and protect investors and the public interest because the 
goal of the proposed changes is to ensure that all Market Order 
interest could be satisfied in an automated reopening auction while at 
the same time reducing the potential for multiple Trading Pauses in a 
single security due to a large order imbalance.
    The Exchange further believes that the standardized proposal to 
extend a Trading Pause an additional five minutes would remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system because it would provide additional time to 
attract offsetting liquidity. If at the end of such extension, Market 
Orders still cannot be satisfied within the applicable price collar 
thresholds or if the reopening auction would be priced outside of the 
applicable price collar thresholds, the Primary Listing Exchange would 
extend the Trading Pause an additional five minutes, which the Exchange 
believes would further protect investors and the public interest by 
reducing the potential for significant price disparity in post-auction 
trading, which could otherwise trigger another Trading Pause. With each 
such extension, the Exchange believes that widening the price collar 
threshold on the side of the market on which there is buying or selling 
pressure would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a 
free and open market and a national market system because it would 
provide additional time to attract offsetting interest while at the 
same time addressing that an imbalance may not be resolved within the 
prior auction collars.
    With respect to price collar thresholds, the Exchange believes that 
using the price of the limit state that preceded the Trading Pause, 
i.e., either the Lower or Upper Price Band price, would better reflect 
the most recent price of the security and therefore should be used as 
the reference price for determining the auction collars for such Halt 
Auction. The Exchange believes that widening auction collars only in 
the direction of the imbalance would address issues relating to the 
concept of mean reversion, which would protect investors and the public 
interest by reducing the potential for wide price swings following a 
Halt Auction.
    Finally, the Exchange believes that precluding Members from 
requesting review of a Halt Auction as a clearly erroneous execution 
would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and 
open market and a national market system because the proposed new 
procedures for reopening trading following a Trading Pause would reduce 
the possibility that an order(s) from a Member caused a Trading Halt 
Auction be clearly erroneous. Specifically, the Exchange believes that 
the proposed standardized procedures for reopening trading following a 
Trading Pause incorporates a methodology that allows for widened 
collars, which may result in a reopening price away from prior trading 
prices, but which reopening price would be a result of a measured and 
transparent process that eliminates the potential that such trade would 
be considered erroneous.

(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 Exchange believes that 
the proposed rule change is not designed to address any competitive 
issues, but rather, to achieve the Participants' goal of more 
standardized processes across Primary Listing Exchanges in reopening 
trading following a Trading Pause, and facilitates the production of an 
equilibrium reopening price by centralizing the reopening process 
through the Primary Listing Exchange, which would also improve the 
accuracy of the reopening Price Bands. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule change reduces the burden on competition for market 
participants because it promotes a transparent and consistent process 
for reopening trading following a Trading Pause regardless of where a 
security may be listed. The Exchange further believes that the proposed 
rule change would not impose any burden on competition because they are 
designed to increase transparency regarding the Exchange's Trading Halt 
Auction process while at the same time increase the ability for 
offsetting interest to participate in an auction, which would assist in 
achieving pricing equilibrium for such an auction.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which

[[Page 75879]]

the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change 
should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-61 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 Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-61. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-BatsBZX-2016-61 and should 
be submitted on or before November 22, 2016.
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    \20\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\20\
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-26300 Filed 10-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices                                                      75875

                                                    the loans’ duration will be no more than                participating Funds and each Fund                        proposed is consistent with the
                                                    7 days.2                                                would have an equal opportunity to                       provisions, policies and purposes of the
                                                       2. Applicants anticipate that the                    borrow and lend on equal terms based                     Act and the extent to which such
                                                    proposed facility would provide a                       on an interest rate formula that is                      participation is on a basis different from
                                                    borrowing Fund with a source of                         objective and verifiable. With respect to                or less advantageous than that of the
                                                    liquidity at a rate lower than the bank                 the relief from section 17(a)(2) of the                  other participants.
                                                    borrowing rate at times when the cash                   Act, applicants note that any collateral                   For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                    position of the Fund is insufficient to                 pledged to secure an interfund loan                      Investment Management, under delegated
                                                    meet temporary cash requirements. In                    would be subject to the same conditions                  authority.
                                                    addition, Funds making short-term cash                  imposed by any other lender to a Fund                    Brent J. Fields,
                                                    loans directly to other Funds would                     that imposes conditions on the quality                   Secretary.
                                                    earn interest at a rate higher than they                of or access to collateral for a borrowing               [FR Doc. 2016–26305 Filed 10–31–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    otherwise could obtain from investing                   (if the lender is another Fund) or the
                                                                                                                                                                     BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    their cash in repurchase agreements or                  same or better conditions (in any other
                                                    certain other short term money market                   circumstance).5
                                                    instruments. Thus, applicants assert that                  5. Applicants also believe that the                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    the facility would benefit both                         limited relief from section 18(f)(1) of the              COMMISSION
                                                    borrowing and lending Funds.                            Act that is necessary to implement the
                                                       3. Applicants agree that any order                   facility (because the lending Funds are
                                                    granting the requested relief will be                                                                            [Release No. 34–79162; File No. SR–
                                                                                                            not banks) is appropriate in light of the                BatsBZX–2016–61]
                                                    subject to the terms and conditions                     conditions and safeguards described in
                                                    stated in the application. Among others,                the application and because the Funds                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Bats
                                                    the Adviser, through a designated                       would remain subject to the                              BZX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of
                                                    committee, would administer the                         requirement of section 18(f)(1) that all                 a Proposed Rule Change To Amend
                                                    facility as a disinterested fiduciary as                borrowings of a Fund, including                          Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions, To
                                                    part of its duties under the investment                 combined interfund loans and bank                        Enhance the Reopening Auction
                                                    management agreements with the Funds                    borrowings, have at least 300% asset                     Process Following a Trading Halt
                                                    and would receive no additional fee as                  coverage.                                                Declared Pursuant to the Plan To
                                                    compensation for its services in                           6. Section 6(c) of the Act permits the                Address Extraordinary Market
                                                    connection with the administration of                   Commission to exempt any persons or                      Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of
                                                    the facility. The facility would be                     transactions from any provision of the                   Regulation NMS
                                                    subject to oversight and certain                        Act if such exemption is necessary or
                                                    approvals by the Funds’ Board,                          appropriate in the public interest and                   October 26, 2016.
                                                    including, among others, approval of the                consistent with the protection of                           Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    interest rate formula and of the method                 investors and the purposes fairly                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                    for allocating loans across Funds, as                   intended by the policy and provisions of                 ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
                                                    well as review of the process in place to               the Act. Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the Act                  notice is hereby given that on October
                                                    evaluate the liquidity implications for                 provides that the Commission may                         13, 2016, Bats BZX Exchange, Inc. (the
                                                    the Funds. A Fund’s aggregate                           exempt any person, security, or                          ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘BZX’’) filed with the
                                                    outstanding interfund loans will not                    transaction, or any class or classes of                  Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                    exceed 15% of its net assets, and the                   persons, securities, or transactions, from               (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                    Fund’s loans to any one Fund will not                   any provision of section 12(d)(1) if the                 change as described in Items I and II
                                                    exceed 5% of the lending Fund’s net                     exemption is consistent with the public                  below, which Items have been prepared
                                                    assets.3                                                interest and the protection of investors.                by the Exchange. The Commission is
                                                       4. Applicants assert that the facility               Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes the                  publishing this notice to solicit
                                                    does not raise the concerns underlying                  Commission to grant an order                             comments on the proposed rule change
                                                    section 12(d)(1) of the Act given that the              permitting a transaction otherwise                       from interested persons.
                                                    Funds are part of the same group of                     prohibited by section 17(a) if it finds
                                                    investment companies and there will be                                                                           I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            that (a) the terms of the proposed
                                                    no duplicative costs or fees to the                                                                              Statement of the Terms of Substance of
                                                                                                            transaction are fair and reasonable and
                                                    Funds.4 Applicants also assert that the                                                                          the Proposed Rule Change
                                                                                                            do not involve overreaching on the part
                                                    proposed transactions do not raise the                  of any person concerned; (b) the                           The Exchange filed a proposal to
                                                    concerns underlying sections 17(a)(1),                  proposed transaction is consistent with                  amend Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions,
                                                    17(a)(3), 17(d) and 21(b) of the Act as                 the policies of each registered                          to enhance the reopening auction
                                                    the Funds would not engage in lending                   investment company involved; and (c)                     process following a trading halt
                                                    transactions that unfairly benefit                      the proposed transaction is consistent                   declared pursuant to the Plan to
                                                    insiders or are detrimental to the Funds.               with the general purposes of the Act.                    Address Extraordinary Market Volatility
                                                    Applicants state that the facility will                 Rule 17d–1(b) under the Act provides                     Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS
                                                    offer both reduced borrowing costs and                  that in passing upon an application filed                under the Act (the ‘‘Limit Up-Limit
                                                    enhanced returns on loaned funds to all                 under the rule, the Commission will                      Down Plan’’ or ‘‘Plan’’).3 The Exchange
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                                                                                                            consider whether the participation of                    also proposes to amend Rule 11.17,
                                                      2 Any Fund, however, will be able to call a loan
                                                                                                            the registered investment company in a                   Clearly Erroneous Executions, to
                                                    on one business day’s notice.                                                                                    exclude executions that are a result of
                                                      3 Under certain circumstances, a borrowing Fund
                                                                                                            joint enterprise, joint arrangement or
                                                    will be required to pledge collateral to secure the     profit sharing plan on the basis
                                                                                                                                                                       1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    loan.
                                                      4 Applicants state that the obligation to repay an      5 Applicants                                             2 17  CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                                                                                            state that any pledge of securities to
                                                    interfund loan could be deemed to constitute a          secure an interfund loan could constitute a                 3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091

                                                    security for the purposes of sections 17(a)(1) and      purchase of securities for purposes of section           (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (the
                                                    12(d)(1) of the Act.                                    17(a)(2) of the Act.                                     ‘‘Limit Up-Limit Down Release’’).



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                                                    75876                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    a Halt Auction from being reviewed as                   Participants further proposed to                      each such extension, the Participants
                                                    clearly erroneous.                                      eliminate the current allowance for a                 have agreed that it would be appropriate
                                                       The text of the proposed rule change                 trading center to resume trading in an                to widen the price collar threshold on
                                                    is available at the Exchange’s Web site                 NMS Stock following a Trading Pause if                the side of the market on which there is
                                                    at www.batstrading.com, at the                          the Primary Listing Exchange has not                  buying or selling pressure.
                                                    principal office of the Exchange, and at                reported a Reopening Price within ten                    With respect to price collar
                                                    the Commission’s Public Reference                       minutes after the declaration of a                    thresholds, the Participants have agreed
                                                    Room.                                                   Trading Pause and has not declared a                  that the reference price for calculating
                                                                                                            Regulatory Halt. In addition, to close                price collar thresholds would be the
                                                    II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                                                                            any gaps of potential scenarios when                  price of the limit state that preceded the
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                                                                            trading may resume without Price                      Trading Pause, i.e., either the Lower or
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                            Bands, the Participants proposed to                   Upper Price Band price. If there is
                                                    Change
                                                                                                            amend the Plan to provide that a trading              selling pressure, for NMS Stocks priced
                                                       In its filing with the Commission, the               center may not resume trading in an                   more than $3.00, the lower collar for the
                                                    Exchange included statements                            NMS Stock following a Trading Pause                   auction would be the Lower Price Band
                                                    concerning the purpose of and basis for                 without Price Bands in such NMS                       minus five percent and the upper collar
                                                    the proposed rule change and discussed                  Stock. To address potential scenarios of              would be the Upper Price Band; if there
                                                    any comments it received on the                         when there may not be a Reopening                     is buying pressure, the upper collar for
                                                    proposed rule change. The text of these                 Price from the Primary Listing Exchange               the auction would be the Upper Price
                                                    statements may be examined at the                       from which to calculate Price Bands, the              Band plus five percent and the lower
                                                    places specified in Item IV below. The                  Participants propose to make related                  collar would be the Lower Price Band.
                                                    Exchange has prepared summaries, set                    amendments to the Plan to address                     For each extension, the collars would be
                                                    forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of                 when trading may resume if the Primary                widened an additional five percent, but
                                                    the most significant parts of such                      Listing Exchange is unable to reopen                  only on the side of the Impermissible
                                                    statements.                                             due to a systems or technology issue                  Price (as defined and discussed below).6
                                                    (A) Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      and how the Reference Price would be                  The Participants believe that widening
                                                    Statement of the Purpose of, and                        determined either under such                          collars only in the direction of the
                                                    Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  circumstances or if the Primary Listing               Impermissible Price would address
                                                    Change                                                  Exchange reopens trading on a zero bid                issues relating to the concept of mean
                                                                                                            or zero quote, or both.                               reversion.
                                                    1. Purpose                                                 In connection with the proposed Plan                  Finally, the Participants have agreed
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend                       amendments, the Participants have                     that the proposed new procedures for
                                                    Exchange Rule 11.23, Auctions, to                       agreed on a standardized approach for                 reopening trading following a Trading
                                                    enhance the reopening auction process                   how the Primary Listing Exchanges                     Pause reduces the potential that an
                                                    following a trading halt declared                       should conduct certain aspects of an                  order or orders entered by one or more
                                                    pursuant to the Limit Up-Limit Down                     automated reopening following a                       Members caused such execution to be
                                                    Plan. The Exchange also proposes to                     Trading Pause. Specifically, because                  clearly erroneous. Specifically, the
                                                    amend Rule 11.17, Clearly Erroneous                     trading centers would not be permitted                Participants believe that the proposed
                                                    Executions, to exclude executions that                  to resume trading in an NMS Stock until               standardized procedures for reopening
                                                    are a result of a Halt Auction from being               there is a Reopening Price, the                       trading following a Trading Pause
                                                    reviewed as clearly erroneous.                          Participants believe it is appropriate for            incorporates a methodology that allows
                                                                                                            the Primary Listing Exchanges to adopt                for widened collars, which may result in
                                                    Background                                              uniform standards for determining                     a reopening price away from prior
                                                      The Operating Committee for the                       whether and when to conduct such                      trading prices, but which reopening
                                                    Plan, with input from the Advisory                      automated reopenings, including what                  price would be a result of a measured
                                                    Committee to the Plan and staff of the                  price collar thresholds would be                      and transparent process that eliminates
                                                    Commission, has identified a number of                  applicable to such automated                          the potential that such trade would be
                                                    enhancements to the reopening process                   reopenings and how to provide for                     considered erroneous.
                                                    following a Trading Pause that will be                  extensions of when a reopening auction                   As a Primary Listing Exchange, the
                                                    addressed in a combination of a                         would be conducted. The goal of such                  Exchange proposes to amend Rule
                                                    proposed amendment to the Plan and                      changes would be to ensure that all                   11.23(d) to implement the proposed
                                                    amendments to the rules of the Primary                  market order interest could be satisfied              uniform trading practices with respect
                                                    Listing Exchanges.4 The Exchange is a                   in an automated reopening auction.                    to reopening a security following a
                                                    Participant of the Plan and a member of                    More specifically, the Participants                Trading Pause and amend Rule 11.17,
                                                    the Operating Committee.                                have agreed that if there is an imbalance             Clearly Erroneous Executions, to
                                                      The Participants submitted to the                     of market orders, or if the Reopening                 preclude Members from requesting a
                                                    Commission a proposal to amend the                      Price would be outside of specified                   review of a Trading Halt Auction as a
                                                    Plan to provide that a Trading Pause                    price collar thresholds, the Trading                  clearly erroneous execution, as
                                                    will continue until the Primary Listing                 Pause would be extended an additional                 described below.
                                                    Exchange has reopened trading using its                 five minutes in order to provide
                                                                                                            additional time to attract offsetting                 Description of Changes to the Halt
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    established reopening procedures and
                                                    reports a Reopening Price.5 The                         liquidity. If at the end of such extension,           Auction Process
                                                                                                            market orders still cannot be satisfied                 To effect the proposed enhancements
                                                       4 Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms      within price collar thresholds or if the              that would be implemented by all
                                                    used herein have the same meaning as set forth in       reopening auction would be priced                     Primary Listing Exchanges, the
                                                    the Plan or in Exchange rules.                          outside of the applicable price collar
                                                       5 See letter from Elizabeth K. King, General                                                               Exchange proposes to incorporate the
                                                    Counsel, NYSE, to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
                                                                                                            thresholds, the Primary Listing
                                                    Commission, dated September 16, 2016                    Exchange would extend the Trading                       6 For NMS Stocks that are priced $3.00 and

                                                    (‘‘Amendment No. 12’’).                                 Pause an additional five minutes. With                under, the price collar threshold would be $0.15.



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices                                                    75877

                                                    above items that were agreed to amongst                      Under proposed subparagraph (i) to                amend renumbered paragraph (E) of
                                                    the Participants under Exchange Rule                      Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C), the Halt Auction                Rule 11.23(d)(2) to separately describe
                                                    11.23(d), IPO and Halt Auctions. First,                   Reference Price shall equal the price of             how the price of an IPO and Halt
                                                    the Exchange proposes to adopt new                        the Upper or Lower Price Band that                   Auction are calculated. As amended, for
                                                    paragraph (C) under Rule 11.23(d)(2)                      triggered the halt. If the Halt Auction              IPO Auctions for ETPs, orders will
                                                    titled ‘‘Incremental Quote Period                         Reference Price is the Lower (Upper)                 continue to be executed at the price
                                                    Extensions for Halt Auctions Following                    Price Band, the initial lower (upper)                level within the Collar Price Range that
                                                    a Trading Pause.’’ 7 Under Exchange                       Halt Auction Collar shall be five (5)                maximizes the number of shares
                                                    Rule 11.23(d)(1)(A), the Quote-Only                       percent less (greater) than the Halt                 executed in the auction. For Halt
                                                    Period 8 with respect to a Halt Auction                   Auction Reference Price, rounded to the              Auctions for ETPs, orders will be
                                                    commences five (5) minutes prior to                       nearest minimum price variation and                  executed at the price level within the
                                                    such Halt Auction. Proposed Rule                          the upper (lower) Halt Auction Collar                Halt Auction Collars that maximizes the
                                                    11.23(d)(2)(C) would provide for the                      shall be the Upper (Lower) Price Band.               number of shares executed in the
                                                    Quote-Only Period to be extended an                       For securities with a Halt Auction                   auction.
                                                    additional five (5) minutes should a Halt                 Reference Price of $3.00 or less, the                   The Exchange also proposes to add
                                                    Auction be unable to be performed due                     initial lower (upper) Halt Auction Collar            new paragraph (F) under Exchange Rule
                                                    to Market Order 9 imbalance under                         shall be $0.15 less (greater) than the Halt          11.23(d)(2). Proposed paragraph (F) to
                                                    11.23(d)(2)(B)(i) 10 or the Indicative                    Auction Reference Price, rounded to the              Rule 11.23(d)(2) would state if a Trading
                                                    Price,11 before being adjusted for Halt                   nearest minimum price variation and                  Pause is triggered by the Exchange or if
                                                    Auction Collars, is outside the Halt                      the upper (lower) Halt Auction Collar                the Exchange is unable to reopen
                                                    Auction Collars set forth in proposed                     shall be the Upper (Lower) Price Band.               trading at the end of the Trading Pause
                                                    subparagraphs (i) and (ii) to Exchange                       Proposed subparagraph (ii) to Rule                due to a systems or technology issue,
                                                    Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C) discussed below                       11.23(d)(2)(C) would state that at the               the Exchange will immediately notify
                                                    (either, an ‘‘Impermissible Price’’)                      beginning of the Initial Extension                   the single plan processor responsible for
                                                    (‘‘Initial Extension Period’’).12                         Period, the upper (lower) Halt Auction               consolidation of information for the
                                                                                                              Collar shall be increased (decreased) by             security pursuant to Rule 603 of
                                                       After the Initial Extension Period, the
                                                                                                              five (5) percent in the direction of the             Regulation NMS under the Securities
                                                    Quote-Only Period shall be extended for
                                                                                                              Impermissible Price rounded to the                   Exchange Act of 1934.
                                                    additional five (5) minute periods                                                                                Lastly, the Exchange proposes to
                                                                                                              nearest minimum price variation. For
                                                    should a Halt Auction be unable to be                                                                          amend Rule 11.17, Clearly Erroneous
                                                                                                              securities with a Halt Auction Reference
                                                    performed due to an Impermissible                                                                              Executions, to provide that Members
                                                                                                              Price of $3.00 or less, the Halt Auction
                                                    Price (‘‘Additional Extension Period’’)                                                                        may not request a review of a Trading
                                                                                                              Collar shall be increased (decreased) in
                                                    until a Halt Auction occurs. The                                                                               Halt Auction under Rule 11.17(b),
                                                                                                              $0.15 increments in the direction of
                                                    Exchange shall attempt to conduct a                                                                            which specifies the procedures for a
                                                                                                              Impermissible Price. At the beginning of
                                                    Halt Auction during the course of each                                                                         Member to request a review of an
                                                                                                              each Additional Extension Period, the
                                                    Additional Extension Period. The Halt                                                                          execution as clearly erroneous. The
                                                                                                              Halt Auction Collar shall be widened by
                                                    Auction will be cancelled at 3:50 p.m.                                                                         Exchange believes that this proposed
                                                                                                              the same amount as the Initial Extension
                                                    eastern time, at which time the auction                                                                        rule text would implement the proposed
                                                                                                              Period.
                                                    for the security shall be conducted                          In addition, the Exchange proposes to             standardized trading practice that
                                                    pursuant to the Volatility Closing                        amend paragraph (d)(2)(A) of Rule 11.23              reopening auctions would not be
                                                    Auction process under section (e) of                      regarding the publication of BZX                     eligible for review by Members as a
                                                    Exchange Rule 11.23. Renumbered                           Auction information. Under Rule                      clearly erroneous execution.17
                                                    paragraph (D) of Rule 11.23(d)(2) would                   11.23(d)(2)(A), coinciding with the
                                                    also be amended to make clear that the                                                                         Implementation Date
                                                                                                              beginning of the Quote-Only Period for
                                                    Exchange will notify market                               a security and updated every five                       The Exchange proposes to implement
                                                    participants of the circumstances and                     seconds thereafter, the Reference                    the proposed rule change following the
                                                    length of an extension of the Quote-                      Price,13 Indicative Price, Auction Only              Commission’s approval of Amendment
                                                    Only Period as proposed herein.                           Price,14 and the lesser of Reference Buy             No. 12 to the Plan. The Exchange will
                                                                                                              Shares 15 and Reference Sell Shares 16               announce the implementation date via a
                                                       7 The Exchange proposes to renumber current
                                                                                                              associated with the Halt Auction are                 trading notice to be issued after the
                                                    paragraphs (C) and (D) under Rule 11.23(d)(2) as (D)
                                                                                                              disseminated via electronic means. The               Commission’s approval of this proposed
                                                    and (E), respectively.                                                                                         rule change.
                                                       8 ‘‘Quote-Only Period’’ is defined as ‘‘a designated   Exchange proposes to amend paragraph
                                                    period of time prior to a Halt Auction, a Volatility      (d)(2)(A) of Rule 11.23 to include the               2. Statutory Basis
                                                    Closing Auction, or an IPO Auction during which           Halt Auction Reference Price and Halt
                                                    Users may submit orders to the Exchange for                                                                       The Exchange believes that its
                                                    participation in the auction.’’ See Exchange Rule
                                                                                                              Auction Collars as part of the                       proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
                                                    11.23(a)(17).                                             information to be publicly disseminated              of the Act 18 in general, and furthers the
                                                       9 See Exchange Rule 11.9(a)(2).                        as part of the Halt Auction process.                 objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act 19
                                                       10 Under 11.23(d)(2)(B)(i), the Quote-Only Period         Renumbered paragraph (E) of Rule                  in particular, in that it is designed to
                                                    may be extended where there are unmatched                 11.23(d)(2) describes how the Exchange
                                                    Market Orders on the Auction Book associated with                                                              promote just and equitable principles of
                                                    the auction.
                                                                                                              determines the price of an IPO and Halt
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                                                       11 ‘‘Indicative Price’’ is defined as ‘‘the price at   Auction and states that orders will be                  17 The Participants will be engaging in a more

                                                    which the most shares from the Auction Book and           executed at the price that maximizes the             comprehensive review of Rule 11.17 in connection
                                                    the Continuous Book would match.’’ See Exchange           number of shares executed in the                     with amendments to the Plan relating to tiering of
                                                    Rule 11.23(a)(10).                                        auction. The Exchange proposes to                    securities and applicable percentage parameters.
                                                       12 The Quote-Only Period would not be extended                                                              The Exchange proposes to make this limited
                                                    and the Halt Auction may occur where there is a                                                                amendment to Rule 11.17 as an initial step to
                                                                                                               13 See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(19).
                                                    Limit Order imbalance, but no Market Order                                                                     eliminating its clearly erroneous executions rules in
                                                                                                               14 See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(2).                   their current form.
                                                    imbalance exists and the Indicative Price is inside
                                                                                                               15 See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(18).                     18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
                                                    the thresholds set forth in proposed subparagraphs
                                                    (i) and (ii) to Exchange Rule 11.23(d)(2)(C).              16 See Exchange Rule 11.23(a)(21).                     19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).




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                                                    75878                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    trade, to foster cooperation and                        proposed changes is to ensure that all                an order(s) from a Member caused a
                                                    coordination with persons engaged in                    Market Order interest could be satisfied              Trading Halt Auction be clearly
                                                    facilitating transactions in securities, to             in an automated reopening auction                     erroneous. Specifically, the Exchange
                                                    remove impediments to and perfect the                   while at the same time reducing the                   believes that the proposed standardized
                                                    mechanism of a free and open market                     potential for multiple Trading Pauses in              procedures for reopening trading
                                                    and a national market system and, in                    a single security due to a large order                following a Trading Pause incorporates
                                                    general, to protect investors and the                   imbalance.                                            a methodology that allows for widened
                                                    public interest. The Exchange believes                     The Exchange further believes that the             collars, which may result in a reopening
                                                    that the proposed rule change, together                 standardized proposal to extend a                     price away from prior trading prices, but
                                                    with the proposed amendments to the                     Trading Pause an additional five                      which reopening price would be a result
                                                    Plan, are necessary or appropriate in the               minutes would remove impediments to                   of a measured and transparent process
                                                    public interest, for the protection of                  and perfect the mechanism of a free and               that eliminates the potential that such
                                                    investors and the maintenance of fair                   open market and a national market                     trade would be considered erroneous.
                                                    and orderly markets, to remove                          system because it would provide
                                                                                                            additional time to attract offsetting                 (B) Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    impediments to and perfect the
                                                                                                            liquidity. If at the end of such extension,           Statement on Burden on Competition
                                                    mechanisms of, a national market
                                                    system, or otherwise in furtherance of                  Market Orders still cannot be satisfied                 The Exchange does not believe that
                                                    the purposes of the Act.                                within the applicable price collar                    the proposed rule change will impose
                                                       The Exchange believes the proposed                   thresholds or if the reopening auction                any burden on competition that is not
                                                    changes would remove impediments to                     would be priced outside of the                        necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                    and perfect the mechanism of a free and                 applicable price collar thresholds, the               of the purposes of the Act. The
                                                    open market and a national market                       Primary Listing Exchange would extend                 Exchange believes that the proposed
                                                    system, and in general, to protect                      the Trading Pause an additional five                  rule change is not designed to address
                                                    investors and the public interest,                      minutes, which the Exchange believes                  any competitive issues, but rather, to
                                                    because they are designed, together with                would further protect investors and the               achieve the Participants’ goal of more
                                                    the proposed amendments to the Plan,                    public interest by reducing the potential             standardized processes across Primary
                                                    to address the issues experienced on                    for significant price disparity in post-              Listing Exchanges in reopening trading
                                                    August 24, 2015 by reducing the                         auction trading, which could otherwise                following a Trading Pause, and
                                                    number of repeat Trading Pauses in a                    trigger another Trading Pause. With                   facilitates the production of an
                                                    single NMS Stock. The proposed Plan                     each such extension, the Exchange                     equilibrium reopening price by
                                                    amendments are an essential component                   believes that widening the price collar               centralizing the reopening process
                                                    to Participants’ goal of more                           threshold on the side of the market on                through the Primary Listing Exchange,
                                                    standardized processes across Primary                   which there is buying or selling                      which would also improve the accuracy
                                                    Listing Exchanges in reopening trading                  pressure would remove impediments to                  of the reopening Price Bands. The
                                                    following a Trading Pause, and                          and perfect the mechanism of a free and               Exchange believes that the proposed
                                                    facilitates the production of an                        open market and a national market                     rule change reduces the burden on
                                                    equilibrium Reopening Price by                          system because it would provide                       competition for market participants
                                                    centralizing the reopening process                      additional time to attract offsetting                 because it promotes a transparent and
                                                    through the Primary Listing Exchange,                   interest while at the same time                       consistent process for reopening trading
                                                    which would also improve the accuracy                   addressing that an imbalance may not                  following a Trading Pause regardless of
                                                    of the reopening Price Bands. The                       be resolved within the prior auction                  where a security may be listed. The
                                                    proposed Plan amendments support this                   collars.                                              Exchange further believes that the
                                                    initiative by requiring trading centers to                 With respect to price collar                       proposed rule change would not impose
                                                    wait to resume trading following                        thresholds, the Exchange believes that                any burden on competition because they
                                                    Trading Pause until there is a Reopening                using the price of the limit state that               are designed to increase transparency
                                                    Price.                                                  preceded the Trading Pause, i.e., either              regarding the Exchange’s Trading Halt
                                                       This proposed rule change further                    the Lower or Upper Price Band price,                  Auction process while at the same time
                                                    supports this initiative by proposing                   would better reflect the most recent                  increase the ability for offsetting interest
                                                    uniform trading practices for reopening                 price of the security and therefore                   to participate in an auction, which
                                                    trading following a Trading Pause. The                  should be used as the reference price for             would assist in achieving pricing
                                                    Exchange believes that the proposed                     determining the auction collars for such              equilibrium for such an auction.
                                                    standardized approach for how the                       Halt Auction. The Exchange believes
                                                    Primary Listing Exchanges would                         that widening auction collars only in                 (C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    conduct certain aspects of an automated                 the direction of the imbalance would                  Statement on Comments on the
                                                    reopening following a Trading Pause                     address issues relating to the concept of             Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                    would remove impediments to and                         mean reversion, which would protect                   Members, Participants or Others
                                                    perfect the mechanism of a free and                     investors and the public interest by                    Written comments were neither
                                                    open market and a national market                       reducing the potential for wide price                 solicited nor received.
                                                    system because it would provide                         swings following a Halt Auction.
                                                    certainty for market participants                          Finally, the Exchange believes that                III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                    regarding how a security would reopen                   precluding Members from requesting                    Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
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                                                    following a Trading Pause, regardless of                review of a Halt Auction as a clearly                 Commission Action
                                                    the listing exchange. The Exchange                      erroneous execution would remove                         Within 45 days of the date of
                                                    further believes that the proposed                      impediments to and perfect the                        publication of this notice in the Federal
                                                    changes would remove impediments to                     mechanism of a free and open market                   Register or within such longer period
                                                    and perfect the mechanism of a free and                 and a national market system because                  up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
                                                    open market and a national market                       the proposed new procedures for                       designate if it finds such longer period
                                                    system and protect investors and the                    reopening trading following a Trading                 to be appropriate and publishes its
                                                    public interest because the goal of the                 Pause would reduce the possibility that               reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 211 / Tuesday, November 1, 2016 / Notices                                                   75879

                                                    the self-regulatory organization                        submitted on or before November 22,                   cannot request a review of an execution
                                                    consents, the Commission will:                          2016.                                                 arising from a Halt Auction as a clearly
                                                    (A) By order approve or disapprove the                    For the Commission, by the Division of              erroneous execution.
                                                      proposed rule change, or                              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated               The text of the proposed rule change
                                                    (B) institute proceedings to determine                  authority.20                                          is available on the Exchange’s Web site
                                                      whether the proposed rule change                      Brent J. Fields,                                      at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at
                                                      should be disapproved.                                Secretary.                                            the principal office of the Exchange, and
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                            [FR Doc. 2016–26300 Filed 10–31–16; 8:45 am]          at the Commission’s Public Reference
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                Room.
                                                      Interested persons are invited to
                                                    submit written data, views and                                                                                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                     COMMISSION                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                                                                            Change
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                     [Release No. 34–79158; File No. SR–
                                                    the following methods:                                  NASDAQ–2016–131]                                        In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                                                                                                                                  Exchange included statements
                                                    Electronic Comments                                     Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                    concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of                    the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       Filing of Proposed Rule Change To                     any comments it received on the
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                    Enhance the Reopening Auction                         proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Process Following a Trading Halt                      statements may be examined at the
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 Declared Pursuant to the Plan To                      places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    BatsBZX–2016–61 on the subject line.                    Address Extraordinary Market                          Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                            Volatility                                            forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                    Paper Comments                                                                                                the most significant aspects of such
                                                                                                            October 26, 2016.
                                                       • Send paper comments in triplicate                     Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                                                                                                                                  statements.
                                                    to Secretary, Securities and Exchange                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934                       A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Commission, 100 F Street NE.,                           (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2               Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    Washington, DC 20549–1090.                              notice is hereby given that on October                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                    13, 2016, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC                 Change
                                                    Number SR–BatsBZX–2016–61. This file                    (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
                                                    number should be included on the                        Securities and Exchange Commission                    1. Purpose
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the              (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule                    Background
                                                    Commission process and review your                      change as described in Items I and II
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use                   below, which Items have been prepared                    The Exchange, together with the Bats
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                    by the Exchange. The Commission is                    BZX Exchange, Inc., Bats BYX
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                   publishing this notice to solicit                     Exchange, Inc., Bats EDGA Exchange,
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                  comments on the proposed rule change                  Inc., Bats EDGX Exchange, Inc., Chicago
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         from interested persons.                              Stock Exchange, Inc., the Financial
                                                    submission, all subsequent                                                                                    Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
                                                    amendments, all written statements                      I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     (‘‘FINRA’’), Investors Exchange LLC,
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule                       Statement of the Terms of Substance of                National Stock Exchange, Inc.,
                                                    change that are filed with the                          the Proposed Rule Change                              NASDAQ BX, Inc., NASDAQ PHLX
                                                    Commission, and all written                                The Exchange proposes to amend                     LLC, New York Stock Exchange LLC
                                                    communications relating to the                          Rule 4120 to enhance the reopening                    (‘‘NYSE’’), NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘NYSE
                                                    proposed rule change between the                        auction process following a trading halt              Arca’’), and NYSE MKT LLC (‘‘NYSE
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                   declared pursuant to the Plan to                      MKT’’) (collectively with the Exchange,
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                     Address Extraordinary Market Volatility               the ‘‘Participants’’) are parties to the
                                                    public in accordance with the                           Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS                Plan to Address Extraordinary Market
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     under the Act (the ‘‘Limit Up-Limit                   Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of
                                                    available for Web site viewing and                      Down Plan’’ or ‘‘Plan’’).3 The Exchange               Regulation NMS under the Securities
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                     also proposes to amend Rule 4753                      Exchange Act of 1934. The Participants
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                       (‘‘Nasdaq Halt Cross’’) to include the                initially filed the Plan with the
                                                    Washington, DC 20549, on official                       proposed new terms Auction Reference                  Commission on April 5, 2011, which
                                                    business days between the hours of                      Prices and Auction Collars in the                     was published for notice and comment.4
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  definition of Order Imbalance Indicator               On May 24, 2012, the Participants filed
                                                    filing also will be available for                       for purposes of the reopening process                 an amendment to the Plan and the Plan,
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                 after Trading Pauses initiated under                  as amended, was approved by the
                                                    office of the Exchange. All comments                    Rule 4120(a)(12), and to amend Rule                   Commission on May 31, 2012.5 The
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    received will be posted without change;                 11890 (‘‘Clearly Erroneous                            Participants filed a second amendment
                                                    the Commission does not edit personal                   Transactions’’) to provide that a member              to the Plan, which was immediately
                                                    identifying information from
                                                    submissions. You should submit only                       20 17  CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                           4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64547
                                                                                                              1 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    information that you wish to make                                                                             (May 25, 2011), 76 FR 31647 (June 1, 2011) (File
                                                                                                               2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                No. 4–631).
                                                    available publicly. All submissions                        3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091      5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091
                                                    should refer to File Number SR–                         (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (the       (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File
                                                    BatsBZX–2016–61 and should be                           ‘‘Limit Up-Limit Down Release’’).                     No. 4–631) (‘‘Approval Order’’).



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Document Created: 2016-11-01 02:36:39
Document Modified: 2016-11-01 02:36:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation81 FR 75875 

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