82_FR_14294 82 FR 14243 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Amend the Exchange Opening Process

82 FR 14243 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Amend the Exchange Opening Process

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 51 (March 17, 2017)

Page Range14243-14248
FR Document2017-05340

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 51 (Friday, March 17, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 51 (Friday, March 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14243-14248]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05340]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80225; File No. SR-ISE-2017-02]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, 
LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 
1, To Amend the Exchange Opening Process

March 13, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On January 13, 2017, the International Securities Exchange, LLC 
(``ISE'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 
thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to amend the Exchange's opening 
process. The proposed rule change was published for comment in the 
Federal Register on January 27, 2017.\3\ On March 3, 2017, the Exchange 
filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\4\ The Commission 
received no comment letters on the proposed rule change. This order 
approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79887 (February 2, 
2017), 82 FR 9090 (``Notice'').
    \4\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange provided clarifying details 
to its proposal, including: (i) Expanding its proposed definition of 
``Quality Opening Market''; (ii) clarifying that only Public 
Customer interest is routable during the Opening Process; (iii) 
clarifying that when routing orders during the Opening Process the 
Exchange will do so based on price/time priority of routable 
interest; and (iv) clarifying that the proposed opening rule will 
not provide for after-hours trading rotations. The Exchange also 
made technical corrections and revisions to the proposed rule text 
for readability and consistency. Amendment No. 1 amends and replaces 
the original filing in its entirety. Because Amendment No. 1 does 
not materially alter the substance of the proposed rule change or 
raise unique or novel regulatory issues, it is not subject to notice 
and comment. The amendment is available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-ise-2017-02/ise201702.htm.
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II. Description of the Proposal, as Modified by Amendment No. 1

    The Exchange proposes to delete the entirety of current ISE Rule 
701 and replace the current Exchange opening process with an opening 
process reflected in proposed ISE Rules 701 and 715(t).\5\ The new 
opening process is

[[Page 14244]]

similar to the process used by Phlx,\6\ as well as the new opening 
process recently adopted by ISE Gemini, LLC (``ISE Gemini'').\7\ The 
Exchange's current and proposed opening processes are described 
below.\8\
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    \5\ The Exchange represents that this proposed rule change is 
being made in connection with a technology migration to a Nasdaq, 
Inc. (``Nasdaq'') supported architecture called INET which is 
utilized on The NASDAQ Options Market LLC, NASDAQ PHLX LLC 
(``Phlx'') and NASDAQ BX, Inc. See id.
    \6\ See Phlx Rule 1017. See also Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 79274 (November 9, 2016), 81 FR 80694 (November 16, 2016) (SR-
Phlx-2016-79).
    \7\ See ISE Gemini Rules 701 and 715(t). See also Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 10952 (February 10, 2017), 82 FR 10952 
(February 16, 2017) (SR-ISEGemini-2016-18).
    \8\ In connection with the new opening process, the Exchange 
proposes to adopt a new ``Definitions'' section in proposed Rule 
701(a), similar to Phlx Rule 1017(a), to define several terms that 
are used throughout the opening rule. Proposed Rule 701(a) will 
define: ABBO, ``market for the underlying security,'' Opening Price, 
Opening Process, Potential Opening Price, Pre-Market BBO, Quality 
Opening Market, Valid Width Quote, and Zero Bid Market. For 
definitions of these terms, see Notice supra note 3 at 9091.
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A. Current Exchange Opening Process

    Currently, a Primary Market Maker (``PMM'') on ISE initiates the 
``trading rotation'' in a specified options class.\9\ The Exchange may 
direct that one or more trading rotations be employed on any business 
day to aid in producing a fair and orderly market.\10\ For each 
rotation, except as the Exchange may direct, rotations are conducted in 
the order and manner the PMM determines to be appropriate under the 
circumstances.\11\ The PMM, with the approval of the Exchange, has the 
authority to determine the rotation order and manner or deviate from 
the rotation procedures.\12\ Such authority may be exercised before and 
during a trading rotation.\13\ Additionally, two or more trading 
rotations may be employed simultaneously, if the PMM, with the approval 
of the Exchange, so determines.\14\
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    \9\ See ISE Rule 701(a).
    \10\ See ISE Rule 701(a)(1).
    \11\ See ISE Rule 701(a)(2).
    \12\ See ISE Rule 701(a)(3).
    \13\ See ISE Rule 701(a)(3).
    \14\ See ISE Rule 701(a)(4).
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    Pursuant to ISE Rule 701(b), the opening rotation for each class of 
options is held promptly following the opening of the market for the 
underlying security.\15\ In the event the underlying security has not 
opened within a reasonable time after 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the PMM 
reports the delay to the Exchange and an inquiry is made to determine 
the cause of the delay.\16\ The opening rotation for the affected 
options series is then delayed until the market for the underlying 
security has opened, unless the Exchange determines that the interests 
of a fair and orderly market are best served by opening trading in the 
options contracts.\17\
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    \15\ See ISE Rule 701(b)(2). For purposes of ISE Rule 701(b)(2), 
the ``market for the underlying security'' is either the primary 
listing market, the primary volume market (defined as the market 
with the most liquidity in that underlying security for the previous 
two calendar months), or the first market to open the underlying 
security, as determined by the Exchange on an issue-by-issue basis 
and announced to the membership on the Exchange's Web site. See id.
    \16\ See ISE Rule 701(b)(3).
    \17\ See id. Additionally, the Exchange may delay the 
commencement of the opening rotation in any class of options in the 
interests of a fair and orderly market. See ISE Rule 701(b)(4).
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    Currently, in connection with a trading rotation, ISE Rule 701(c) 
specifies how transactions may be effected in a class of options after 
the end of normal trading hours. A trading rotation may be employed 
whenever the Exchange concludes that such action is appropriate in the 
interests of a fair and orderly market.\18\ The decisions to employ a 
trading rotation in non-expiring options are disseminated prior to the 
commencement of such rotation and, in general, the Exchange will 
commence no more than one trading rotation after the normal close of 
trading.\19\ If a trading rotation is in progress and the Exchange 
determines that a final trading rotation is needed to assure a fair and 
orderly market close, the rotation in progress will be halted and a 
final rotation will begin as promptly as possible.\20\ Finally, any 
trading rotation in non-expiring options conducted after the normal 
close of trading may not begin until five minutes after news of such 
rotation is disseminated by the Exchange.\21\
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    \18\ See ISE Rule 701(c)(1). The factors that may be considered 
include, but are not limited to, whether there has been a recent 
opening or reopening of trading in the underlying security, a 
declaration of a ``fast market'' pursuant to ISE Rule 704, or a need 
for a rotation in connection with expiring individual stock options 
or index options, an end of the year rotation, or the restart of a 
rotation which is already in progress. See id.
    \19\ See ISE Rule 701(c)(2).
    \20\ See ISE Rule 701(c)(3).
    \21\ See ISE Rule 701(c)(4).
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B. Proposed New Opening Process

1. Opening Sweep
    At the outset, the Exchange proposes to adopt a new order type, 
``Opening Sweep'', for the new opening process.\22\ Proposed Rule 
701(b)(1)(i) states that a Market Maker assigned to a particular option 
may only submit an Opening Sweep if, at the time of entry, that Market 
Maker has already submitted and maintains a Valid Width Quote.\23\ 
Opening Sweeps may be entered at any price with a minimum price 
variation applicable to the affected series, on either side of the 
market, at single or multiple price level(s), and may be cancelled and 
re-entered.\24\ A single Market Maker may enter multiple Opening 
Sweeps, with each Opening Sweep at a different price level.\25\ If a 
Market Maker submits multiple Opening Sweeps, the system will consider 
only the most recent Opening Sweep at each price level submitted by 
such Market Maker in determining the Opening Price (described 
below).\26\ Unexecuted Opening Sweeps will be cancelled once the 
affected series is open.\27\
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    \22\ The Exchange proposes to define an ``Opening Sweep'' as a 
Market Maker order submitted for execution against eligible interest 
in the system during the Opening Process pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(b)(1). See proposed Rule 715(t).
    \23\ All Opening Sweeps in the affected series entered by a 
Market Maker will be cancelled immediately if that Market Maker 
fails to maintain a continuous quote with a Valid Width Quote in the 
affected series. See proposed Rule 701(b)(1)(i).
    \24\ See proposed Rule 701(b)(1)(ii).
    \25\ See id.
    \26\ See id. The Exchange proposes to define ``Opening Price'' 
by cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(h) and (j). See proposed Rule 
701(a)(3).
    \27\ See id.
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2. Interest Included in the Opening Process
    The first part of the Opening Process determines what constitutes 
``eligible interest''. The Exchange proposes that eligible interest 
during the Opening Process \28\ will include Valid Width Quotes,\29\ 
Opening Sweeps, and orders.\30\ Quotes, other than Valid Width Quotes, 
will not be included in the Opening Process.\31\ All-or-None Orders 
that can be satisfied, and the displayed and non-displayed portions of 
Reserve Orders, are considered for execution and in determining the 
Opening Price throughout the Opening Process.\32\ The system will 
aggregate the size of all eligible interest for a particular 
participant category at a particular price level for trade allocation 
purposes pursuant to Rule 713.\33\ Only Public Customer interest is 
routable during the Opening Process.\34\
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    \28\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Opening Process'' by 
cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(c). See proposed Rule 701(a)(4).
    \29\ The Exchange proposes to define ``Valid Width Quote'' as a 
two-sided electronic quotation submitted by a Market Maker that 
consists of a bid/ask differential that is compliant with ISE Rule 
803(b)(4). See proposed Rule 701(a)(8).
    \30\ See proposed Rule 701(b).
    \31\ See id.
    \32\ See id.
    \33\ See proposed Rule 701(b)(2).
    \34\ See proposed Rule 701(b).
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    Market Maker Valid Width Quotes and Opening Sweeps received 
starting at 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time, or 7:25 a.m. Eastern Time for U.S. 
dollar-settled

[[Page 14245]]

foreign currency options, are included in the Opening Process.\35\ 
Orders entered at any time before an option series opens are included 
in the Opening Process.\36\
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    \35\ See proposed Rule 701(c).
    \36\ See id.
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3. Opening Process and Reopening After a Trading Halt
    The Exchange proposes that the Opening Process for an option series 
will be conducted pursuant to proposed Rules 701(f)-(j) on or after 
9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, or on or after 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time for U.S. 
dollar-settled foreign currency options, if: (1) The ABBO,\37\ if any, 
is not crossed; and (2) the system has received, within two minutes (or 
such shorter time as determined by the Exchange and disseminated to 
membership on the Exchange's Web site) of the opening trade or quote on 
the market for the underlying security \38\ in the case of equity 
options, or the receipt of the opening price in the underlying index in 
the case of index options, or market opening for the underlying 
security in the case of U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency options, 
any of the following: (i) A PMM's Valid Width Quote; (ii) the Valid 
Width Quotes of at least two Competitive Market Makers (``CMM''); or 
(iii) if no PMM's Valid Width Quote nor two CMMs' Valid Width Quotes 
within such timeframe, one CMM's Valid Width Quote.\39\
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    \37\ The Exchange proposes to define ``ABBO'' as the Away Best 
Bid or Offer. See proposed Rule 701(a)(1). The ABBO does not include 
ISE's market. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9091.
    \38\ The Exchange proposes to define ``market for the underlying 
security'' as either the primary listing market or the primary 
volume market (defined as the market with the most liquidity in that 
underlying security for the previous two calendar months), as 
determined by the Exchange by underlying and announced to the 
membership on the Exchange's Web site. See proposed Rule 701(a)(2).
    \39\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(1). The Exchange represents that 
it anticipates initially setting the timeframe during which a PMM's 
Valid Width quote or the presence of at least two CMMs' Valid Width 
Quotes will initiate the Opening Process at 30 seconds. See Notice, 
supra note 3, at 9092-93 n.18. The Exchange represents that it will 
provide notice of the initial setting to Members and provide notice 
if the Exchange determines to reduce the timeframe. See id.
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    For all options, the underlying security, including indexes, must 
be open on the primary market for a certain time period as determined 
by the Exchange for the Opening Process to commence.\40\ The Opening 
Process will stop and an option series will not open if the ABBO 
becomes crossed or a Valid Width Quote(s) pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(c)(1) is no longer present.\41\ Once each of these conditions no 
longer exists, the Opening Process in the affected option series will 
recommence.\42\ The Exchange would wait for the ABBO to become 
uncrossed before initiating the Opening Process to ensure that there is 
stability in the marketplace as the Exchange determines the Opening 
Price.\43\
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    \40\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(2). Proposed Rule 701(c)(2) 
stipulates that this time period will be no less than 100 
milliseconds and no more than 5 seconds. The Exchange represents 
that it will set the timer initially at 100 milliseconds and will 
issue a notice to provide the initial setting and will thereafter 
issue a notice if it were to change the timing. See Notice, supra 
note 3, at 9092. If the Exchange were to select a time not between 
100 milliseconds and 5 seconds, it will be required to file a rule 
proposal with the Commission. See id.
    \41\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(5).
    \42\ See id.
    \43\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9093.
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    Proposed Rule 701(c)(3) states that the PMM assigned to a 
particular equity option must enter a Valid Width Quote not later than 
one minute following the dissemination of a quote or trade by the 
market for the underlying security or, in the case of index options, 
following the receipt of the opening price in the underlying index. The 
PMM assigned to a particular U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency 
option must enter a Valid Width Quote not later than one minute after 
the announced market opening.\44\ Furthermore, a CMM that submits a 
quote pursuant to proposed Rule 701 in any option series when the PMM's 
quote has not been submitted will be required to submit continuous, 
two-sided quotes in such option series until such time the PMM submits 
a quote, after which the Market Maker that submitted such quote will be 
obligated to submit quotations pursuant to ISE Rule 804(e).\45\
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    \44\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(3).
    \45\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(4).
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    Proposed Rule 701(d) states that the procedure described in 
proposed Rule 701 will be used to reopen an options series after a 
trading halt.\46\ If there is a trading halt or pause in the underlying 
security, the Opening Process will recommence irrespective of the 
specific times listed in proposed Rule 701(c)(1).\47\ Unlike the 
current ISE opening rule, the proposed new opening process does not 
provide for after-hours trading rotations.\48\
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    \46\ See proposed Rule 701(d).
    \47\ See id.
    \48\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
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4. Opening With a BBO (No Trade)
    Under proposed Rule 701(e), the Exchange will first see if the 
option series will open for trading with a BBO. If there are no opening 
quotes or orders that lock or cross each other and no routable orders 
locking or crossing the ABBO, the system will open with an opening 
quote by disseminating the Exchange's best bid and offer among quotes 
and orders (``BBO''), unless all three of the following conditions 
exist: (i) A Zero Bid Market; \49\ (ii) no ABBO; and (iii) no Quality 
Opening Market.\50\
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    \49\ The Exchange proposes to define the term ``Zero Bid 
Market'' as where the best bid for an options series is zero. See 
proposed Rule 701(a)(9).
    \50\ See proposed Rule 701(e).
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    A ``Quality Opening Market'' is a bid/ask differential applicable 
to the best bid and offer from all Valid Width Quotes defined in a 
table to be determined by the Exchange and published on the Exchange's 
Web site.\51\ The calculation of Quality Opening Market is based on the 
best bid and offer of Valid Width Quotes. The differential between the 
best bid and offer are compared to reach this determination. The 
allowable differential, as determined by the Exchange, takes into 
account the type of security (for example, Penny Pilot versus non-Penny 
Pilot issue), volatility, option premium, and liquidity. The Quality 
Opening Market differential is intended to ensure the price at which 
the Exchange opens reflects current market conditions.
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    \51\ See proposed Rule 701(a)(7).
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    If all three of the conditions described above exist, the Exchange 
will calculate an Opening Quote Range (``OQR'') pursuant to proposed 
Rule 701(i) (described below) and conduct the Price Discovery Mechanism 
(``PDM'') pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j) (described below).\52\ The 
Exchange believes that when these conditions exist, further price 
discovery is warranted.\53\
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    \52\ See id.
    \53\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9093.
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5. Opening With a Trade
    If there are Valid Width Quotes or orders that lock or cross each 
other, the system will try to open with a trade. Proposed Rule 701(h) 
provides that the Exchange will open the option series with a trade of 
Exchange interest only at the Opening Price, if any of the following 
conditions occur: (1) The Potential Opening Price (described below) is 
at or within the best of the highest bid and the lowest offer among 
Valid Width Quotes (``Pre-Market BBO'') \54\ and the ABBO; (2) the 
Potential Opening Price is at or within the non-zero bid ABBO if the 
Pre-Market BBO is crossed; or (3) where there is no ABBO, the Potential 
Opening

[[Page 14246]]

Price is at or within the Pre-Market BBO which is also a Quality 
Opening Market.
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    \54\ See proposed Rule 701(a)(6). The Exchange states that the 
Pre-Market BBO would not include orders. See Amendment No. 1, supra 
note 4.
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    To undertake the above described process, the Exchange will 
calculate the Potential Opening Price by taking into consideration all 
Valid Width Quotes and orders (including Opening Sweeps and displayed 
and non-displayed portions of Reserve Orders), except All-or-None 
Orders that cannot be satisfied, and identify the price at which the 
maximum number of contracts can trade (``maximum quantity 
criterion'').\55\
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    \55\ See proposed Rule 701(g).
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    Under proposed Rule 701(g)(1), when two or more Potential Opening 
Prices would satisfy the maximum quantity criterion and leave no 
contracts unexecuted, the system would take the highest and lowest of 
those prices and takes the mid-point. If such mid-point cannot be 
expressed as a permitted minimum price variation, the mid-point will be 
rounded to the minimum price variation that is closest to the closing 
price for the affected series from the immediately prior trading 
session. If there is no closing price from the immediately prior 
trading session, the system will round up to the minimum price 
variation to determine the Opening Price.\56\ Further, if any value 
used for the mid-point calculation would cross either the Pre-Market 
BBO, or the ABBO, then, for the purposes of calculating the mid-point, 
the Exchange will use the better of the Pre-Market BBO or ABBO as a 
boundary price and will open the option series for trading with an 
execution at the resulting Potential Opening Price.\57\ The Exchange 
states that the purpose of these boundaries is to help ensure that the 
Potential Opening Price is reasonable and does not trade through other 
markets.\58\
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    \56\ See proposed Rule 701(g)(1).
    \57\ If the Exchange has not yet opened and the above conditions 
are not met, an Opening Quote Range (as described below) will be 
calculated pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i), and thereafter, the 
Price Discovery Mechanism described in proposed Rule 701(j) below 
will commence. See proposed Rule 701(h)(3)(i)(B)(II).
    \58\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.
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    If two or more Potential Opening Prices for the affected series 
would satisfy the maximum quantity criterion and leave contracts 
unexecuted, the Opening Price will be either the lowest executable bid 
or highest executable offer of the largest sized side.\59\ This is 
designed to base the Potential Opening Price on the maximum quantity of 
contracts that are executable.\60\ Furthermore, the Potential Opening 
Price calculation will be bounded by the better away market price that 
cannot be satisfied with the Exchange routable interest.\61\ According 
to the Exchange, this would ensure that the Exchange would not open 
with a trade that would trade through another market.\62\
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    \59\ See proposed Rule 701(g)(2).
    \60\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.
    \61\ See proposed Rule 701(g)(3).
    \62\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.
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6. Price Discovery Mechanism
    If the Exchange has not opened with a BBO or trade pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(e) or (h), the Exchange will conduct a PDM pursuant 
to proposed Rule 701(j) to determine the Opening Price. According to 
the Exchange, the purpose of the PDM is to satisfy the maximum number 
of contracts possible by applying wider price boundaries and seeking 
additional liquidity.\63\
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    \63\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9095.
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    Before conducting a PDM, however, the Exchange will calculate the 
OQR under proposed Rule 701(i). The OQR, which is used during PDM, is 
an additional boundary designed to limit the Opening Price to a 
reasonable price and reduce the potential for erroneous trades during 
the Opening Process.\64\
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    \64\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.
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    To determine the minimum value for the OQR, an amount, as defined 
in a table to be determined by the Exchange, will be subtracted from 
the highest quote bid among Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange and on 
the away market(s), if any, except as provided in proposed Rule 
701(i)(3) and (4).\65\ To determine the maximum value for the OQR, an 
amount, as defined in a table to be determined by the Exchange, will be 
added to the lowest quote offer among Valid Width Quotes on the 
Exchange and on the away market(s), if any, except as provided in 
proposed Rule 701(i)(3) and (4).\66\ If one or more away markets are 
collectively disseminating a BBO that is not crossed, however, and 
there are Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange that are executable 
against each other or that are executable against the ABBO, then the 
minimum value of the OQR will be the highest away bid and the maximum 
value will be the lowest away offer.\67\ Additionally, if there are 
Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange that are executable against each 
other, and there is no away market disseminating a BBO in the affected 
option series, the minimum value of the OQR will be the lowest quote 
bid among Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange and the maximum value will 
be the highest quote offer among Valid Width Quotes on the 
Exchange.\68\
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    \65\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(1).
    \66\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(2).
    \67\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(3). Proposed Rule 701(i)(3) 
further notes that the Opening Process will stop and an options 
series will not open if the ABBO becomes crossed pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(c)(5).
    \68\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(4).
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    The Exchange will use the OQR to help calculate the Opening Price. 
For example, if there is more than one Potential Opening Price possible 
where no contracts would be left unexecuted, any price used for the 
mid-point calculation, pursuant to proposed Rule 701(g)(1), that is 
outside of the OQR will be restricted to the OQR on that side of the 
market.\69\ Other instances that implicate the OQR are described below.
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    \69\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(5).
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    During PDM, the Exchange will take into consideration the away 
market prices in calculating the Potential Opening Price. For example, 
if there is more than one Potential Opening Price possible where no 
contracts would be left unexecuted and the price used for the mid-point 
calculation is an away market price, pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(g)(3), the system will use the away market price as the Potential 
Opening Price.\70\ Moreover, proposed Rule 701(i)(7) provides that if 
the Exchange determines that non-routable interest can execute the 
maximum number of contracts against Exchange interest, after routable 
interest has been determined by the system to satisfy the away market, 
then the Potential Opening Price will be the price at which such 
maximum number of contracts can execute--excluding the interests to be 
routed to an away market.\71\
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    \70\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(6).
    \71\ The system will route Public Customer interest in price/
time priority to satisfy the away market. See proposed Rule 
701(i)(7).
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    After the OQR is calculated, the system will broadcast an Imbalance 
Message for the affected series \72\ to attract additional liquidity 
and begin an ``Imbalance Timer,'' not to exceed three seconds.\73\ The 
Imbalance Timer will be for the same number of seconds for all options 
traded on the Exchange, and each Imbalance Message will be subject to 
an Imbalance Timer.\74\ The Exchange may have up to four Imbalance 
Messages which each run its own Imbalance Timer pursuant to the PDM 
process.\75\
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    \72\ Imbalance Message includes the symbol, side of the 
imbalance (unmatched contracts), size of matched contracts, size of 
the imbalance, and Potential Opening Price bounded by the Pre-Market 
BBO.
    \73\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(1). The Exchange represents that 
it will issue a notice to provide the initial setting of the 
Imbalance Timer and would thereafter issue a notice if it were to 
change the timing. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9095 n.32.
    \74\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(1).
    \75\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9100.

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[[Page 14247]]

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(2), states that any new interest received by 
the system will update the Potential Opening Price. If during or at the 
end of the Imbalance Timer, the Opening Price is at or within the OQR, 
the Imbalance Timer will end and the system will open with a trade at 
the Opening Price if the executions consist of Exchange interest only 
without trading through the ABBO and without trading through the limit 
price(s) of interest within the OQR, which is unable to be fully 
executed at the Opening Price. If no new interest comes in during the 
Imbalance Timer and the Potential Opening Price is at or within the OQR 
and does not trade through the ABBO, the Exchange will open with a 
trade at the end of the Imbalance Timer at the Potential Opening Price.
    If the option series has not opened pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(j)(2) described above, the system will concurrently: (i) Send a 
second Imbalance Message with a Potential Opening Price that is bounded 
by the OQR (and would not trade through the limit price(s) of interest 
within the OQR which is unable to be fully executed at the Opening 
Price) and includes away market volume in the size of the imbalance to 
participants; and (ii) initiate a Route Timer, not to exceed one 
second.\76\ As proposed, the Route Timer will operate as a pause before 
an order is routed to an away market. The Exchange states that the 
Route Timer is intended to give participants an opportunity to respond 
to an Imbalance Message before any opening interest is routed to away 
markets and thereby maximize trading on the Exchange.\77\ If during the 
Route Timer, interest is received by the system which would allow the 
Opening Price to be within the OQR without trading through away markets 
and without trading through the limit price(s) of interest within the 
OQR which is unable to be fully executed at the Opening Price, the 
system will open with trades at the Opening Price, and the Route Timer 
will simultaneously end. The system will monitor quotes received during 
the Route Timer and make ongoing changes to the OQR and Potential 
Opening Price to reflect them.
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    \76\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(3).
    \77\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9096-97.
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    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) provides that, if no trade occurs 
pursuant to proposed ISE Rule 701(j)(3)(ii), when the Route Timer 
expires, if the Potential Opening Price is within the OQR (and would 
not trade through the limit price(s) of interest within the OQR that is 
unable to be fully executed at the Opening Price), the system will 
determine if the total number of contracts displayed at better prices 
than the Exchange's Potential Opening Price on away markets (``better 
priced away contracts'') would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts available on the Exchange. The Exchange will then open the 
option series by routing and/or trading on the Exchange, pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) paragraphs (A) through (C).
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(A) provides that, if the total number 
of better priced away contracts would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts available on the Exchange on either the buy or sell side, the 
system will route all marketable contracts on the Exchange to such 
better priced away markets as an Intermarket Sweep Order (``ISO'') 
designated as Immediate-or-Cancel (``IOC'') order(s) and determine an 
opening BBO that reflects the interest remaining on the Exchange. The 
system will price any contracts routed to away markets at the 
Exchange's Opening Price. The Exchange states that routing away at the 
Exchange's Opening Price is intended to achieve the best possible price 
available at the time the order is received by the away market.\78\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9100-01.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(B) provides that, if the total number 
of better priced away contracts would not satisfy the number of 
marketable contracts on the Exchange, the system will determine how 
many contracts it has available at the Opening Price. If the total 
number of better priced away contracts plus the number of contracts 
available at the Exchange's Opening Price would satisfy the number of 
marketable contracts on the Exchange on either the buy or sell side, 
the system will contemporaneously route, based on price/time priority 
of routable interest, a number of contracts that will satisfy such away 
market interest, and trade available contracts on the Exchange at the 
Opening Price. The system will price any contracts routed to away 
markets at the better of the Opening Price or the order's limit price 
pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)(vi)(C)(3)(ii). The Exchange states 
that this proposed rule is designed to maximize execution of interest 
on the Exchange or away markets.\79\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(C) provides that, if the total number 
of better priced away contracts plus the number of contracts available 
at the Opening Price plus the contracts available at away markets at 
the Exchange's Opening Price would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts on the Exchange, either the buy or sell side, the system will 
contemporaneously route, based on price/time priority, a number of 
contracts that will satisfy such away market interest (pricing any 
contracts routed to away markets at the better of the Opening Price or 
the order's limit price), trade available contracts on the Exchange at 
the Opening Price, and route a number of contracts that will satisfy 
interest at other markets at prices equal to the Opening Price. The 
Exchange states that routing at the better of the Opening Price or the 
order's limit price is intended to achieve the best possible price 
available at the time the order is received by the away market and that 
routing at the order's limit price ensures that the order's limit price 
is not violated.\80\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9100-01.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(4) provides that the system may send up to two 
additional Imbalance Messages \81\ (which may occur while the Route 
Timer is operating) bounded by the OQR and reflecting away market 
interest in the volume. After the Route Timer has expired, the 
processes in proposed Rule 701(j)(3) will repeat (except no new Route 
Timer will be initiated).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \81\ The Exchange notes that the first two Imbalance Messages 
always occur if there is interest which will route to an away 
market. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9096 n.37.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Forced Opening
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(5) describes the process that occurs if the 
steps described above have not resulted in an opening of the options 
series. After all additional Imbalance Messages have been broadcasted 
pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)(4), the system will open the series by 
executing as many contracts as possible by: (i) Routing to away markets 
at prices better than the Opening Price for their disseminated size; 
(ii) trading available contracts on the Exchange at the Opening Price 
bounded by the OQR (without trading through the limit price(s) of 
interest within the OQR which is unable to be fully executed at the 
Opening Price); and (iii) routing contracts to away markets at prices 
equal to the Opening Price at their disseminated size. In forced 
opening, the system will price any contracts routed to away markets at 
the better of the Opening Price or the order's limit price. Any 
unexecuted contracts from the imbalance not traded or routed will be 
cancelled back to the entering participant if they remain unexecuted 
and priced through the Opening Price. Otherwise such orders will remain 
in the order book.

[[Page 14248]]

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(6) provides that, to the extent possible, the 
system will execute orders at the Opening Price that have contingencies 
(such as without limitation, All-or-None, and Reserve Orders) and non-
routable orders such as ``Do-Not-Route'' or ``DNR'' Orders.\82\ The 
system will only route non-contingency Public Customer orders, except 
that the full volume of Public Customer Reserve Orders may route.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ See ISE Rule 715(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(6)(i) provides that the system will cancel: 
(i) Any portion of a Do-Not-Route Order that would otherwise have to be 
routed to the exchange(s) disseminating the ABBO for an opening to 
occur, (ii) an All-or-None Order that is not executed during the 
opening and is priced through the Opening Price; and (iii) any order 
that is priced through the Opening Price. All other interest will 
remain in the system and be eligible for trading after opening. The 
Exchange states that it cancels these orders since it lacks enough 
liquidity to satisfy these orders on the opening.\83\ In addition, the 
Exchange believes that participants would prefer to have these orders 
returned to them for further assessment rather than have them entered 
into the order book at a price which is more aggressive than the price 
at which the Exchange opened.\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9101.
    \84\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Other Provisions
    Proposed Rule 701(k) provides that during the opening of the option 
series, where there is a possible execution, the system will give 
priority first to Market Orders \85\ then to resting Limit Orders \86\ 
and quotes. Additionally, the allocation provisions of ISE Rule 713 and 
the Supplementary Material to that rule apply with respect to other 
orders and quotes with the same price. Finally, proposed Rule 701(l) 
provides that upon the opening of the option series, regardless of an 
execution, the system will disseminate the price and size of the 
Exchange's best bid and offer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ See ISE Rule 715(a).
    \86\ See ISE Rule 715(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Implementation
    The Exchange states that it intends to begin implementation of the 
proposed rule change in the second quarter of 2017.\87\ The Exchange 
represents that migration of the Exchange system to Nasdaq INET 
technology will be on a symbol by symbol basis and that the Exchange 
will issue an alert to Members to provide notification of the symbols 
that will migrate and the relevant dates.\88\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 9090.
    \88\ See id. For a more detailed description of the proposed 
rule change, see Notice, supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder 
applicable to a national securities exchange.\89\ In particular, the 
Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\90\ which requires, among other things, 
that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect 
investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \89\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \90\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to delete in its entirety the current opening 
process and replace it with an opening rotation similar to the process 
in place on its affiliated exchanges, Phlx and ISE Gemini. In making 
this change, the Exchange delineates, unlike in the current, more 
opaque rule, detailed steps of the opening process. By providing more 
clearly each sequence of the opening process, the Commission notes that 
the proposed rule helps market participants understand how the new 
opening rotation will operate. To that extent, the new opening process 
may promote transparency, reduce the potential for investor confusion, 
and assist market participants in deciding whether to participate in 
ISE's opening rotation. Further, if they do participate in the new 
opening process, the proposed rule may help provide market participants 
with the confidence and certainty as to how their orders or quotes will 
be processed.
    Further, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change is 
designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade by seeking 
to ensure that option series open in a fair and orderly manner. For 
example, the Commission notes that the proposed rule change is designed 
to mitigate the effects of the underlying security's volatility as the 
overlying option series undergoes the opening rotation. Specifically, 
the proposed rule provides for a range of no less than 100 milliseconds 
and no more than 5 seconds in order to ensure that the Exchange has the 
ability to adjust the period for which the underlying must be open on 
the primary market before the opening process commences. Moreover, the 
Commission notes that the proposed rule provides an orderly process for 
handling eligible interests during the opening rotation, while seeking 
to avoid opening executions at suboptimal prices. For instance, the new 
process ensures that the Exchange will not open with the Exchange's BBO 
if there is a Zero Bid Market, no ABBO, and no Quality Opening Market. 
Likewise, the Exchange will not open an option series with a trade 
unless one of the following conditions is met: (1) The Potential 
Opening Price is at or within the Pre-Market BBO and the ABBO; (2) the 
Potential Opening Price is at or within the non-zero bid ABBO if the 
Pre-Market BBO is crossed; or (3) where there is no ABBO, the Potential 
Opening Price is at or within the Pre-Market BBO which is also a 
Quality Opening Market. Finally, while the new opening process attempts 
to maximize the number of contracts executed on the Exchange during 
such rotation, including by seeking additional liquidity, if necessary, 
the Commission notes that the new opening process, unlike the current 
process, takes into consideration away market interests and ensures 
that better away prices are not traded through. For these reasons, the 
Commission believes that the proposed rule change, as modified by 
Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the Act.

IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Exchange Act,\91\ that the proposed rule change (SR-ISE-2017-02), as 
modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and it hereby is, approved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \91\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\92\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \92\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-05340 Filed 3-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices                                                    14243

                                                    the proposed primary peg order type,                    in locked or crossed markets is                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                                                    and that it is hardcoded conditionality                 unnecessarily complicated, without any                COMMISSION
                                                    based on pre-determined, objective                      material benefit, and that the proposed
                                                    factors.32 In addition, as the                                                                                [Release No. 34–80225; File No. SR–ISE–
                                                                                                            amendments to the approach would                      2017–02]
                                                    Commission observed in the IEX Form                     remove the variability of a primary peg
                                                    1 Approval, other exchanges offer both                  order’s booked price in locked or                     Self-Regulatory Organizations;
                                                    discretion and pegging functionalities,                 crossed market situations, and make the               International Securities Exchange,
                                                    including the combination of both of                    Exchange’s rules more clear and                       LLC; Order Approving Proposed Rule
                                                    those functionalities in a single order                 transparent.37 The Commission believes                Change, as Modified by Amendment
                                                    type, and thus an order type that offers                these changes should help lessen the                  No. 1, To Amend the Exchange
                                                    both discretion and pegging features is                 complexity in the Exchange’s price                    Opening Process
                                                    not novel.33                                            sliding rules, which may reduce the
                                                      Importantly, the Commission notes                                                                           March 13, 2017.
                                                    that the Exchange’s amended primary                     potential for investor confusion as to
                                                                                                            how primary peg and discretionary peg                 I. Introduction
                                                    peg order type would remain a non-
                                                    displayed order type, like all of the                   orders would price slide in locked or                    On January 13, 2017, the International
                                                    Exchange’s pegged order types,                          crossed markets, and thereby help                     Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’ or
                                                    including the discretionary peg order                   protect investors and the public interest             ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
                                                    type.34 Thus, the proposed amended                      consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                and Exchange Commission
                                                    primary peg order type, with its added                  Act. In addition, the proposed                        (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
                                                    discretionary and crumbling quote                       amendments appear to be consistent                    19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
                                                    determination functionalities, should                   with the requirements of Rule 610(d) of               of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4
                                                    not impact the Exchange’s                               Regulation NMS which, among other                     thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
                                                    dissemination of a protected quotation,                 things, requires that the rules of a                  amend the Exchange’s opening process.
                                                    which must be displayed,35 or market                    national securities exchange be                       The proposed rule change was
                                                    participants’ ability to execute against                reasonably designed to assure the                     published for comment in the Federal
                                                    the Exchange’s protection quotation,                    reconciliation of locked or crossed                   Register on January 27, 2017.3 On
                                                    and does not appear otherwise designed                  quotations in an NMS stock.38                         March 3, 2017, the Exchange filed
                                                    to impede the mechanism of a free and                                                                         Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
                                                                                                               Lastly, the Commission believes that               change.4 The Commission received no
                                                    open market. Accordingly, the
                                                                                                            the Exchange’s proposed technical                     comment letters on the proposed rule
                                                    Commission believes that the proposed
                                                                                                            change to conform certain terminology                 change. This order approves the
                                                    amendments to the Exchange’s primary
                                                    peg order type are consistent with the                  in its proposed rules is intended to                  proposed rule change, as modified by
                                                    Act and, in particular, the Section                     enhance the clarity of its rules, which               Amendment No. 1.
                                                    6(b)(5) requirement that a national                     should reduce the potential for investor
                                                                                                            confusion, and thereby help protect                   II. Description of the Proposal, as
                                                    securities exchange’s rules be designed                                                                       Modified by Amendment No. 1
                                                    to promote just and equitable principles                investors and the public interest
                                                    of trade, remove impediments to and                     consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                  The Exchange proposes to delete the
                                                    perfect the mechanism of a free and                     Act.                                                  entirety of current ISE Rule 701 and
                                                    open market and a national market                                                                             replace the current Exchange opening
                                                                                                            IV. Conclusion                                        process with an opening process
                                                    system, and protect investors and the
                                                    public interest.36                                        It is therefore ordered, pursuant to                reflected in proposed ISE Rules 701 and
                                                      The Commission also believes that the                 Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,39 that the               715(t).5 The new opening process is
                                                    proposed amendments to the                              proposed rule change (SR–IEX–2016–                      1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                    Exchange’s price sliding process for                    18) be and hereby is approved.                          2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
                                                    primary peg orders and discretionary                                                                            3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79887
                                                    peg orders in locked or crossed markets                   For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                            Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            (February 2, 2017), 82 FR 9090 (‘‘Notice’’).
                                                    are consistent with the Act. The                                                                                4 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange provided

                                                    Exchange has stated that its existing                   authority.40
                                                                                                                                                                  clarifying details to its proposal, including: (i)
                                                    approach to price sliding for such orders                                                                     Expanding its proposed definition of ‘‘Quality
                                                                                                            Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    Opening Market’’; (ii) clarifying that only Public
                                                                                                                                                                  Customer interest is routable during the Opening
                                                      32 See proposed Rule 11.190(b)(8) and Rule            Assistant Secretary.                                  Process; (iii) clarifying that when routing orders
                                                    11.190(g); see also IEX Form 1 Approval, supra note     [FR Doc. 2017–05338 Filed 3–16–17; 8:45 am]           during the Opening Process the Exchange will do
                                                    28, at 41153.                                                                                                 so based on price/time priority of routable interest;
                                                      33 See IEX Form 1 Approval, supra note 28, at         BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                  and (iv) clarifying that the proposed opening rule
                                                    41153; see also, e.g., Nasdaq Rule 4703(g); NYSE                                                              will not provide for after-hours trading rotations.
                                                    Arca Equities Rule 7.31P(h)(3). In addition, as the                                                           The Exchange also made technical corrections and
                                                    Exchange has noted, primary pegged orders on                                                                  revisions to the proposed rule text for readability
                                                    other exchanges may be pegged to prices less                                                                  and consistency. Amendment No. 1 amends and
                                                    aggressive than the near-side primary quote. See                                                              replaces the original filing in its entirety. Because
                                                    Notice, supra note 3, at 90036–37; see also, e.g.,                                                            Amendment No. 1 does not materially alter the
                                                    BZX Rule 11.9(c)(8)(A).                                                                                       substance of the proposed rule change or raise
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                      34 See Rules 11.190(a)(3) and (b)(8)(H). The
                                                                                                                                                                  unique or novel regulatory issues, it is not subject
                                                    Commission also notes that primary pegged orders                                                              to notice and comment. The amendment is
                                                    on other exchanges may be non-displayed. See, e.g.,                                                           available at: https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-ise-
                                                    BZX Rule 11.9(c)(8)(A).                                                                                       2017-02/ise201702.htm.
                                                      35 See 17 CFR 242.600(b)(57) and (58).                                                                        5 The Exchange represents that this proposed rule
                                                      36 The Commission notes that the Exchange                                                                   change is being made in connection with a
                                                                                                              37 See Notice, 81 FR at 90037.
                                                    would be required to submit a proposed rule change        38 See
                                                                                                                                                                  technology migration to a Nasdaq, Inc. (‘‘Nasdaq’’)
                                                                                                                     17 CFR 242.610(d).
                                                    pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Act prior to                                                                 supported architecture called INET which is
                                                                                                              39 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                    implementing any changes to the proposed primary                                                              utilized on The NASDAQ Options Market LLC,
                                                    peg order type.                                           40 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                                                                      Continued




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                                                    14244                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                    similar to the process used by Phlx,6 as                Time, the PMM reports the delay to the                    and maintains a Valid Width Quote.23
                                                    well as the new opening process                         Exchange and an inquiry is made to                        Opening Sweeps may be entered at any
                                                    recently adopted by ISE Gemini, LLC                     determine the cause of the delay.16 The                   price with a minimum price variation
                                                    (‘‘ISE Gemini’’).7 The Exchange’s                       opening rotation for the affected options                 applicable to the affected series, on
                                                    current and proposed opening processes                  series is then delayed until the market                   either side of the market, at single or
                                                    are described below.8                                   for the underlying security has opened,                   multiple price level(s), and may be
                                                    A. Current Exchange Opening Process                     unless the Exchange determines that the                   cancelled and re-entered.24 A single
                                                                                                            interests of a fair and orderly market are                Market Maker may enter multiple
                                                       Currently, a Primary Market Maker                    best served by opening trading in the                     Opening Sweeps, with each Opening
                                                    (‘‘PMM’’) on ISE initiates the ‘‘trading                options contracts.17                                      Sweep at a different price level.25 If a
                                                    rotation’’ in a specified options class.9                  Currently, in connection with a                        Market Maker submits multiple
                                                    The Exchange may direct that one or                     trading rotation, ISE Rule 701(c)                         Opening Sweeps, the system will
                                                    more trading rotations be employed on                   specifies how transactions may be                         consider only the most recent Opening
                                                    any business day to aid in producing a                  effected in a class of options after the                  Sweep at each price level submitted by
                                                    fair and orderly market.10 For each                                                                               such Market Maker in determining the
                                                                                                            end of normal trading hours. A trading
                                                    rotation, except as the Exchange may                                                                              Opening Price (described below).26
                                                                                                            rotation may be employed whenever the
                                                    direct, rotations are conducted in the                                                                            Unexecuted Opening Sweeps will be
                                                                                                            Exchange concludes that such action is
                                                    order and manner the PMM determines                                                                               cancelled once the affected series is
                                                                                                            appropriate in the interests of a fair and
                                                    to be appropriate under the                                                                                       open.27
                                                                                                            orderly market.18 The decisions to
                                                    circumstances.11 The PMM, with the
                                                                                                            employ a trading rotation in non-                         2. Interest Included in the Opening
                                                    approval of the Exchange, has the
                                                                                                            expiring options are disseminated prior                   Process
                                                    authority to determine the rotation order
                                                                                                            to the commencement of such rotation
                                                    and manner or deviate from the rotation                                                                              The first part of the Opening Process
                                                                                                            and, in general, the Exchange will
                                                    procedures.12 Such authority may be                                                                               determines what constitutes ‘‘eligible
                                                    exercised before and during a trading                   commence no more than one trading
                                                                                                            rotation after the normal close of                        interest’’. The Exchange proposes that
                                                    rotation.13 Additionally, two or more                                                                             eligible interest during the Opening
                                                    trading rotations may be employed                       trading.19 If a trading rotation is in
                                                                                                            progress and the Exchange determines                      Process 28 will include Valid Width
                                                    simultaneously, if the PMM, with the                                                                              Quotes,29 Opening Sweeps, and
                                                    approval of the Exchange, so                            that a final trading rotation is needed to
                                                                                                            assure a fair and orderly market close,                   orders.30 Quotes, other than Valid
                                                    determines.14                                                                                                     Width Quotes, will not be included in
                                                       Pursuant to ISE Rule 701(b), the                     the rotation in progress will be halted
                                                                                                            and a final rotation will begin as                        the Opening Process.31 All-or-None
                                                    opening rotation for each class of                                                                                Orders that can be satisfied, and the
                                                    options is held promptly following the                  promptly as possible.20 Finally, any
                                                                                                            trading rotation in non-expiring options                  displayed and non-displayed portions of
                                                    opening of the market for the underlying                                                                          Reserve Orders, are considered for
                                                    security.15 In the event the underlying                 conducted after the normal close of
                                                                                                            trading may not begin until five minutes                  execution and in determining the
                                                    security has not opened within a                                                                                  Opening Price throughout the Opening
                                                    reasonable time after 9:30 a.m. Eastern                 after news of such rotation is
                                                                                                            disseminated by the Exchange.21                           Process.32 The system will aggregate the
                                                                                                                                                                      size of all eligible interest for a
                                                    NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’) and NASDAQ BX,               B. Proposed New Opening Process
                                                    Inc. See id.
                                                                                                                                                                      particular participant category at a
                                                      6 See Phlx Rule 1017. See also Securities
                                                                                                            1. Opening Sweep                                          particular price level for trade allocation
                                                    Exchange Act Release No. 79274 (November 9,                                                                       purposes pursuant to Rule 713.33 Only
                                                    2016), 81 FR 80694 (November 16, 2016) (SR–Phlx–          At the outset, the Exchange proposes                    Public Customer interest is routable
                                                    2016–79).                                               to adopt a new order type, ‘‘Opening                      during the Opening Process.34
                                                      7 See ISE Gemini Rules 701 and 715(t). See also
                                                                                                            Sweep’’, for the new opening process.22                      Market Maker Valid Width Quotes
                                                    Securities Exchange Act Release No. 10952
                                                    (February 10, 2017), 82 FR 10952 (February 16,          Proposed Rule 701(b)(1)(i) states that a                  and Opening Sweeps received starting
                                                    2017) (SR–ISEGemini–2016–18).                           Market Maker assigned to a particular                     at 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time, or 7:25 a.m.
                                                      8 In connection with the new opening process, the     option may only submit an Opening                         Eastern Time for U.S. dollar-settled
                                                    Exchange proposes to adopt a new ‘‘Definitions’’        Sweep if, at the time of entry, that
                                                    section in proposed Rule 701(a), similar to Phlx
                                                    Rule 1017(a), to define several terms that are used
                                                                                                            Market Maker has already submitted                           23 All Opening Sweeps in the affected series

                                                                                                                                                                      entered by a Market Maker will be cancelled
                                                    throughout the opening rule. Proposed Rule 701(a)
                                                                                                                                                                      immediately if that Market Maker fails to maintain
                                                    will define: ABBO, ‘‘market for the underlying            16 See  ISE Rule 701(b)(3).                             a continuous quote with a Valid Width Quote in the
                                                    security,’’ Opening Price, Opening Process,               17 See  id. Additionally, the Exchange may delay        affected series. See proposed Rule 701(b)(1)(i).
                                                    Potential Opening Price, Pre-Market BBO, Quality        the commencement of the opening rotation in any              24 See proposed Rule 701(b)(1)(ii).
                                                    Opening Market, Valid Width Quote, and Zero Bid         class of options in the interests of a fair and orderly      25 See id.
                                                    Market. For definitions of these terms, see Notice      market. See ISE Rule 701(b)(4).                              26 See id. The Exchange proposes to define
                                                    supra note 3 at 9091.                                      18 See ISE Rule 701(c)(1). The factors that may be
                                                      9 See ISE Rule 701(a).                                                                                          ‘‘Opening Price’’ by cross-referencing proposed
                                                                                                            considered include, but are not limited to, whether
                                                      10 See ISE Rule 701(a)(1).                                                                                      Rule 701(h) and (j). See proposed Rule 701(a)(3).
                                                                                                            there has been a recent opening or reopening of              27 See id.
                                                      11 See ISE Rule 701(a)(2).                            trading in the underlying security, a declaration of
                                                                                                                                                                         28 The Exchange proposes to define ‘‘Opening
                                                      12 See ISE Rule 701(a)(3).                            a ‘‘fast market’’ pursuant to ISE Rule 704, or a need
                                                      13 See ISE Rule 701(a)(3).                            for a rotation in connection with expiring                Process’’ by cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(c).
                                                      14 See ISE Rule 701(a)(4).                            individual stock options or index options, an end         See proposed Rule 701(a)(4).
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                                                                                                                                                                         29 The Exchange proposes to define ‘‘Valid Width
                                                      15 See ISE Rule 701(b)(2). For purposes of ISE        of the year rotation, or the restart of a rotation
                                                                                                            which is already in progress. See id.                     Quote’’ as a two-sided electronic quotation
                                                    Rule 701(b)(2), the ‘‘market for the underlying            19 See ISE Rule 701(c)(2).                             submitted by a Market Maker that consists of a bid/
                                                    security’’ is either the primary listing market, the                                                              ask differential that is compliant with ISE Rule
                                                                                                               20 See ISE Rule 701(c)(3).
                                                    primary volume market (defined as the market with                                                                 803(b)(4). See proposed Rule 701(a)(8).
                                                                                                               21 See ISE Rule 701(c)(4).
                                                    the most liquidity in that underlying security for                                                                   30 See proposed Rule 701(b).
                                                    the previous two calendar months), or the first            22 The Exchange proposes to define an ‘‘Opening
                                                                                                                                                                         31 See id.
                                                    market to open the underlying security, as              Sweep’’ as a Market Maker order submitted for
                                                                                                                                                                         32 See id.
                                                    determined by the Exchange on an issue-by-issue         execution against eligible interest in the system
                                                                                                                                                                         33 See proposed Rule 701(b)(2).
                                                    basis and announced to the membership on the            during the Opening Process pursuant to proposed
                                                    Exchange’s Web site. See id.                            Rule 701(b)(1). See proposed Rule 715(t).                    34 See proposed Rule 701(b).




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                                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices                                                   14245

                                                    foreign currency options, are included                   stop and an option series will not open              routable orders locking or crossing the
                                                    in the Opening Process.35 Orders                         if the ABBO becomes crossed or a Valid               ABBO, the system will open with an
                                                    entered at any time before an option                     Width Quote(s) pursuant to proposed                  opening quote by disseminating the
                                                    series opens are included in the                         Rule 701(c)(1) is no longer present.41               Exchange’s best bid and offer among
                                                    Opening Process.36                                       Once each of these conditions no longer              quotes and orders (‘‘BBO’’), unless all
                                                                                                             exists, the Opening Process in the                   three of the following conditions exist:
                                                    3. Opening Process and Reopening After
                                                                                                             affected option series will                          (i) A Zero Bid Market; 49 (ii) no ABBO;
                                                    a Trading Halt
                                                                                                             recommence.42 The Exchange would                     and (iii) no Quality Opening Market.50
                                                       The Exchange proposes that the                        wait for the ABBO to become uncrossed                   A ‘‘Quality Opening Market’’ is a bid/
                                                    Opening Process for an option series                     before initiating the Opening Process to             ask differential applicable to the best
                                                    will be conducted pursuant to proposed                   ensure that there is stability in the                bid and offer from all Valid Width
                                                    Rules 701(f)–(j) on or after 9:30 a.m.                   marketplace as the Exchange determines               Quotes defined in a table to be
                                                    Eastern Time, or on or after 7:30 a.m.                   the Opening Price.43                                 determined by the Exchange and
                                                    Eastern Time for U.S. dollar-settled                        Proposed Rule 701(c)(3) states that the           published on the Exchange’s Web site.51
                                                    foreign currency options, if: (1) The                    PMM assigned to a particular equity                  The calculation of Quality Opening
                                                    ABBO,37 if any, is not crossed; and (2)                  option must enter a Valid Width Quote                Market is based on the best bid and offer
                                                    the system has received, within two                      not later than one minute following the              of Valid Width Quotes. The differential
                                                    minutes (or such shorter time as                         dissemination of a quote or trade by the             between the best bid and offer are
                                                    determined by the Exchange and                           market for the underlying security or, in            compared to reach this determination.
                                                    disseminated to membership on the                        the case of index options, following the             The allowable differential, as
                                                    Exchange’s Web site) of the opening                      receipt of the opening price in the                  determined by the Exchange, takes into
                                                    trade or quote on the market for the                     underlying index. The PMM assigned to                account the type of security (for
                                                    underlying security 38 in the case of                    a particular U.S. dollar-settled foreign             example, Penny Pilot versus non-Penny
                                                    equity options, or the receipt of the                    currency option must enter a Valid                   Pilot issue), volatility, option premium,
                                                    opening price in the underlying index                    Width Quote not later than one minute                and liquidity. The Quality Opening
                                                    in the case of index options, or market                  after the announced market opening.44                Market differential is intended to ensure
                                                    opening for the underlying security in                   Furthermore, a CMM that submits a                    the price at which the Exchange opens
                                                    the case of U.S. dollar-settled foreign                  quote pursuant to proposed Rule 701 in               reflects current market conditions.
                                                    currency options, any of the following:                  any option series when the PMM’s                        If all three of the conditions described
                                                    (i) A PMM’s Valid Width Quote; (ii) the                  quote has not been submitted will be                 above exist, the Exchange will calculate
                                                    Valid Width Quotes of at least two                       required to submit continuous, two-                  an Opening Quote Range (‘‘OQR’’)
                                                    Competitive Market Makers (‘‘CMM’’);                     sided quotes in such option series until             pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i)
                                                    or (iii) if no PMM’s Valid Width Quote                   such time the PMM submits a quote,                   (described below) and conduct the Price
                                                    nor two CMMs’ Valid Width Quotes                         after which the Market Maker that                    Discovery Mechanism (‘‘PDM’’)
                                                    within such timeframe, one CMM’s                         submitted such quote will be obligated               pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)
                                                    Valid Width Quote.39                                     to submit quotations pursuant to ISE                 (described below).52 The Exchange
                                                       For all options, the underlying                       Rule 804(e).45                                       believes that when these conditions
                                                    security, including indexes, must be                        Proposed Rule 701(d) states that the              exist, further price discovery is
                                                    open on the primary market for a certain                 procedure described in proposed Rule                 warranted.53
                                                    time period as determined by the                         701 will be used to reopen an options
                                                    Exchange for the Opening Process to                      series after a trading halt.46 If there is a         5. Opening With a Trade
                                                    commence.40 The Opening Process will                     trading halt or pause in the underlying                 If there are Valid Width Quotes or
                                                                                                             security, the Opening Process will                   orders that lock or cross each other, the
                                                      35 See  proposed Rule 701(c).
                                                       36 See id.
                                                                                                             recommence irrespective of the specific              system will try to open with a trade.
                                                       37 The Exchange proposes to define ‘‘ABBO’’ as
                                                                                                             times listed in proposed Rule                        Proposed Rule 701(h) provides that the
                                                    the Away Best Bid or Offer. See proposed Rule            701(c)(1).47 Unlike the current ISE                  Exchange will open the option series
                                                    701(a)(1). The ABBO does not include ISE’s market.       opening rule, the proposed new opening               with a trade of Exchange interest only
                                                    See Notice, supra note 3, at 9091.                       process does not provide for after-hours             at the Opening Price, if any of the
                                                       38 The Exchange proposes to define ‘‘market for
                                                                                                             trading rotations.48                                 following conditions occur: (1) The
                                                    the underlying security’’ as either the primary
                                                    listing market or the primary volume market              4. Opening With a BBO (No Trade)                     Potential Opening Price (described
                                                    (defined as the market with the most liquidity in                                                             below) is at or within the best of the
                                                    that underlying security for the previous two               Under proposed Rule 701(e), the
                                                                                                                                                                  highest bid and the lowest offer among
                                                    calendar months), as determined by the Exchange          Exchange will first see if the option
                                                    by underlying and announced to the membership                                                                 Valid Width Quotes (‘‘Pre-Market
                                                                                                             series will open for trading with a BBO.
                                                    on the Exchange’s Web site. See proposed Rule                                                                 BBO’’) 54 and the ABBO; (2) the
                                                    701(a)(2).                                               If there are no opening quotes or orders
                                                                                                                                                                  Potential Opening Price is at or within
                                                       39 See proposed Rule 701(c)(1). The Exchange          that lock or cross each other and no
                                                                                                                                                                  the non-zero bid ABBO if the Pre-
                                                    represents that it anticipates initially setting the
                                                    timeframe during which a PMM’s Valid Width               thereafter issue a notice if it were to change the
                                                                                                                                                                  Market BBO is crossed; or (3) where
                                                    quote or the presence of at least two CMMs’ Valid        timing. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9092. If the    there is no ABBO, the Potential Opening
                                                    Width Quotes will initiate the Opening Process at        Exchange were to select a time not between 100
                                                    30 seconds. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9092–93
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                                                                                                             milliseconds and 5 seconds, it will be required to      49 The Exchange proposes to define the term
                                                    n.18. The Exchange represents that it will provide       file a rule proposal with the Commission. See id.    ‘‘Zero Bid Market’’ as where the best bid for an
                                                    notice of the initial setting to Members and provide        41 See proposed Rule 701(c)(5).
                                                                                                                                                                  options series is zero. See proposed Rule 701(a)(9).
                                                    notice if the Exchange determines to reduce the             42 See id.                                           50 See proposed Rule 701(e).
                                                    timeframe. See id.                                          43 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9093.                51 See proposed Rule 701(a)(7).
                                                       40 See proposed Rule 701(c)(2). Proposed Rule
                                                                                                                44 See proposed Rule 701(c)(3).                      52 See id.
                                                    701(c)(2) stipulates that this time period will be no       45 See proposed Rule 701(c)(4).                      53 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9093.
                                                    less than 100 milliseconds and no more than 5
                                                                                                                46 See proposed Rule 701(d).
                                                    seconds. The Exchange represents that it will set                                                                54 See proposed Rule 701(a)(6). The Exchange
                                                                                                                47 See id.
                                                    the timer initially at 100 milliseconds and will                                                              states that the Pre-Market BBO would not include
                                                    issue a notice to provide the initial setting and will      48 See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.             orders. See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.



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                                                    14246                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Price is at or within the Pre-Market BBO                 better away market price that cannot be                 Quotes on the Exchange and the
                                                    which is also a Quality Opening Market.                  satisfied with the Exchange routable                    maximum value will be the highest
                                                       To undertake the above described                      interest.61 According to the Exchange,                  quote offer among Valid Width Quotes
                                                    process, the Exchange will calculate the                 this would ensure that the Exchange                     on the Exchange.68
                                                    Potential Opening Price by taking into                   would not open with a trade that would                     The Exchange will use the OQR to
                                                    consideration all Valid Width Quotes                     trade through another market.62                         help calculate the Opening Price. For
                                                    and orders (including Opening Sweeps                                                                             example, if there is more than one
                                                                                                             6. Price Discovery Mechanism
                                                    and displayed and non-displayed                                                                                  Potential Opening Price possible where
                                                    portions of Reserve Orders), except All-                    If the Exchange has not opened with                  no contracts would be left unexecuted,
                                                    or-None Orders that cannot be satisfied,                 a BBO or trade pursuant to proposed                     any price used for the mid-point
                                                    and identify the price at which the                      Rule 701(e) or (h), the Exchange will                   calculation, pursuant to proposed Rule
                                                    maximum number of contracts can trade                    conduct a PDM pursuant to proposed                      701(g)(1), that is outside of the OQR will
                                                    (‘‘maximum quantity criterion’’).55                      Rule 701(j) to determine the Opening                    be restricted to the OQR on that side of
                                                       Under proposed Rule 701(g)(1), when                   Price. According to the Exchange, the                   the market.69 Other instances that
                                                    two or more Potential Opening Prices                     purpose of the PDM is to satisfy the                    implicate the OQR are described below.
                                                    would satisfy the maximum quantity                       maximum number of contracts possible                       During PDM, the Exchange will take
                                                    criterion and leave no contracts                         by applying wider price boundaries and                  into consideration the away market
                                                    unexecuted, the system would take the                    seeking additional liquidity.63                         prices in calculating the Potential
                                                    highest and lowest of those prices and                      Before conducting a PDM, however,                    Opening Price. For example, if there is
                                                    takes the mid-point. If such mid-point                   the Exchange will calculate the OQR                     more than one Potential Opening Price
                                                    cannot be expressed as a permitted                       under proposed Rule 701(i). The OQR,                    possible where no contracts would be
                                                    minimum price variation, the mid-point                   which is used during PDM, is an                         left unexecuted and the price used for
                                                    will be rounded to the minimum price                     additional boundary designed to limit                   the mid-point calculation is an away
                                                    variation that is closest to the closing                 the Opening Price to a reasonable price                 market price, pursuant to proposed Rule
                                                    price for the affected series from the                   and reduce the potential for erroneous                  701(g)(3), the system will use the away
                                                    immediately prior trading session. If                    trades during the Opening Process.64                    market price as the Potential Opening
                                                    there is no closing price from the                          To determine the minimum value for                   Price.70 Moreover, proposed Rule
                                                    immediately prior trading session, the                   the OQR, an amount, as defined in a                     701(i)(7) provides that if the Exchange
                                                    system will round up to the minimum                      table to be determined by the Exchange,                 determines that non-routable interest
                                                    price variation to determine the                         will be subtracted from the highest                     can execute the maximum number of
                                                    Opening Price.56 Further, if any value                   quote bid among Valid Width Quotes on                   contracts against Exchange interest, after
                                                    used for the mid-point calculation                       the Exchange and on the away                            routable interest has been determined
                                                    would cross either the Pre-Market BBO,                   market(s), if any, except as provided in                by the system to satisfy the away
                                                    or the ABBO, then, for the purposes of                   proposed Rule 701(i)(3) and (4).65 To                   market, then the Potential Opening
                                                    calculating the mid-point, the Exchange                  determine the maximum value for the                     Price will be the price at which such
                                                    will use the better of the Pre-Market                    OQR, an amount, as defined in a table                   maximum number of contracts can
                                                    BBO or ABBO as a boundary price and                      to be determined by the Exchange, will                  execute—excluding the interests to be
                                                    will open the option series for trading                  be added to the lowest quote offer                      routed to an away market.71
                                                    with an execution at the resulting                       among Valid Width Quotes on the                            After the OQR is calculated, the
                                                    Potential Opening Price.57 The                           Exchange and on the away market(s), if                  system will broadcast an Imbalance
                                                    Exchange states that the purpose of                      any, except as provided in proposed                     Message for the affected series 72 to
                                                    these boundaries is to help ensure that                  Rule 701(i)(3) and (4).66 If one or more                attract additional liquidity and begin an
                                                    the Potential Opening Price is                           away markets are collectively                           ‘‘Imbalance Timer,’’ not to exceed three
                                                    reasonable and does not trade through                    disseminating a BBO that is not crossed,                seconds.73 The Imbalance Timer will be
                                                    other markets.58                                         however, and there are Valid Width                      for the same number of seconds for all
                                                       If two or more Potential Opening                      Quotes on the Exchange that are                         options traded on the Exchange, and
                                                    Prices for the affected series would                     executable against each other or that are               each Imbalance Message will be subject
                                                    satisfy the maximum quantity criterion                   executable against the ABBO, then the                   to an Imbalance Timer.74 The Exchange
                                                    and leave contracts unexecuted, the                      minimum value of the OQR will be the                    may have up to four Imbalance
                                                    Opening Price will be either the lowest                  highest away bid and the maximum                        Messages which each run its own
                                                    executable bid or highest executable                     value will be the lowest away offer.67                  Imbalance Timer pursuant to the PDM
                                                    offer of the largest sized side.59 This is               Additionally, if there are Valid Width                  process.75
                                                    designed to base the Potential Opening                   Quotes on the Exchange that are
                                                    Price on the maximum quantity of                         executable against each other, and there                  68 See  proposed Rule 701(i)(4).
                                                    contracts that are executable.60                         is no away market disseminating a BBO                     69 See  proposed Rule 701(i)(5).
                                                    Furthermore, the Potential Opening                       in the affected option series, the                        70 See proposed Rule 701(i)(6).


                                                    Price calculation will be bounded by the                 minimum value of the OQR will be the                      71 The system will route Public Customer interest

                                                                                                             lowest quote bid among Valid Width                      in price/time priority to satisfy the away market.
                                                                                                                                                                     See proposed Rule 701(i)(7).
                                                      55 See  proposed Rule 701(g).                                                                                    72 Imbalance Message includes the symbol, side of
                                                      56 See                                                   61 See proposed Rule 701(g)(3).
                                                              proposed Rule 701(g)(1).                                                                               the imbalance (unmatched contracts), size of
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                                                      57 If the Exchange has not yet opened and the            62 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.                 matched contracts, size of the imbalance, and
                                                                                                               63 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9095.
                                                    above conditions are not met, an Opening Quote                                                                   Potential Opening Price bounded by the Pre-Market
                                                    Range (as described below) will be calculated              64 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.                 BBO.
                                                    pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i), and thereafter,          65 See proposed Rule 701(i)(1).                         73 See proposed Rule 701(j)(1). The Exchange
                                                    the Price Discovery Mechanism described in                 66 See proposed Rule 701(i)(2).                       represents that it will issue a notice to provide the
                                                    proposed Rule 701(j) below will commence. See              67 See proposed Rule 701(i)(3). Proposed Rule         initial setting of the Imbalance Timer and would
                                                    proposed Rule 701(h)(3)(i)(B)(II).                       701(i)(3) further notes that the Opening Process will   thereafter issue a notice if it were to change the
                                                      58 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.                                                                          timing. See Notice, supra note 3, at 9095 n.32.
                                                                                                             stop and an options series will not open if the
                                                      59 See proposed Rule 701(g)(2).                                                                                  74 See proposed Rule 701(j)(1).
                                                                                                             ABBO becomes crossed pursuant to proposed Rule
                                                      60 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9094.                  701(c)(5).                                                75 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9100.




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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices                                                    14247

                                                       Proposed Rule 701(j)(2), states that                   determine if the total number of                       the Exchange, either the buy or sell side,
                                                    any new interest received by the system                   contracts displayed at better prices than              the system will contemporaneously
                                                    will update the Potential Opening Price.                  the Exchange’s Potential Opening Price                 route, based on price/time priority, a
                                                    If during or at the end of the Imbalance                  on away markets (‘‘better priced away                  number of contracts that will satisfy
                                                    Timer, the Opening Price is at or within                  contracts’’) would satisfy the number of               such away market interest (pricing any
                                                    the OQR, the Imbalance Timer will end                     marketable contracts available on the                  contracts routed to away markets at the
                                                    and the system will open with a trade                     Exchange. The Exchange will then open                  better of the Opening Price or the
                                                    at the Opening Price if the executions                    the option series by routing and/or                    order’s limit price), trade available
                                                    consist of Exchange interest only                         trading on the Exchange, pursuant to                   contracts on the Exchange at the
                                                    without trading through the ABBO and                      proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) paragraphs                Opening Price, and route a number of
                                                    without trading through the limit                         (A) through (C).                                       contracts that will satisfy interest at
                                                    price(s) of interest within the OQR,                         Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(A)                     other markets at prices equal to the
                                                    which is unable to be fully executed at                   provides that, if the total number of                  Opening Price. The Exchange states that
                                                    the Opening Price. If no new interest                     better priced away contracts would                     routing at the better of the Opening
                                                    comes in during the Imbalance Timer                       satisfy the number of marketable                       Price or the order’s limit price is
                                                    and the Potential Opening Price is at or                  contracts available on the Exchange on                 intended to achieve the best possible
                                                    within the OQR and does not trade                         either the buy or sell side, the system                price available at the time the order is
                                                    through the ABBO, the Exchange will                       will route all marketable contracts on                 received by the away market and that
                                                    open with a trade at the end of the                       the Exchange to such better priced away                routing at the order’s limit price ensures
                                                    Imbalance Timer at the Potential                          markets as an Intermarket Sweep Order                  that the order’s limit price is not
                                                    Opening Price.                                            (‘‘ISO’’) designated as Immediate-or-                  violated.80
                                                       If the option series has not opened                    Cancel (‘‘IOC’’) order(s) and determine                  Proposed Rule 701(j)(4) provides that
                                                    pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)(2)                       an opening BBO that reflects the interest              the system may send up to two
                                                    described above, the system will                          remaining on the Exchange. The system                  additional Imbalance Messages 81
                                                    concurrently: (i) Send a second                           will price any contracts routed to away                (which may occur while the Route
                                                    Imbalance Message with a Potential                        markets at the Exchange’s Opening                      Timer is operating) bounded by the
                                                    Opening Price that is bounded by the                      Price. The Exchange states that routing                OQR and reflecting away market interest
                                                    OQR (and would not trade through the                      away at the Exchange’s Opening Price is                in the volume. After the Route Timer
                                                    limit price(s) of interest within the OQR                 intended to achieve the best possible                  has expired, the processes in proposed
                                                    which is unable to be fully executed at                   price available at the time the order is               Rule 701(j)(3) will repeat (except no
                                                    the Opening Price) and includes away                      received by the away market.78                         new Route Timer will be initiated).
                                                    market volume in the size of the                             Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(B)
                                                    imbalance to participants; and (ii)                       provides that, if the total number of                  7. Forced Opening
                                                    initiate a Route Timer, not to exceed one                 better priced away contracts would not                    Proposed Rule 701(j)(5) describes the
                                                    second.76 As proposed, the Route Timer                    satisfy the number of marketable                       process that occurs if the steps
                                                    will operate as a pause before an order                   contracts on the Exchange, the system                  described above have not resulted in an
                                                    is routed to an away market. The                          will determine how many contracts it                   opening of the options series. After all
                                                    Exchange states that the Route Timer is                   has available at the Opening Price. If the             additional Imbalance Messages have
                                                    intended to give participants an                          total number of better priced away                     been broadcasted pursuant to proposed
                                                    opportunity to respond to an Imbalance                    contracts plus the number of contracts                 Rule 701(j)(4), the system will open the
                                                    Message before any opening interest is                    available at the Exchange’s Opening                    series by executing as many contracts as
                                                    routed to away markets and thereby                        Price would satisfy the number of                      possible by: (i) Routing to away markets
                                                    maximize trading on the Exchange.77 If                    marketable contracts on the Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                     at prices better than the Opening Price
                                                    during the Route Timer, interest is                       on either the buy or sell side, the system
                                                                                                                                                                     for their disseminated size; (ii) trading
                                                    received by the system which would                        will contemporaneously route, based on
                                                                                                                                                                     available contracts on the Exchange at
                                                    allow the Opening Price to be within the                  price/time priority of routable interest, a
                                                                                                                                                                     the Opening Price bounded by the OQR
                                                    OQR without trading through away                          number of contracts that will satisfy
                                                                                                                                                                     (without trading through the limit
                                                    markets and without trading through the                   such away market interest, and trade
                                                                                                                                                                     price(s) of interest within the OQR
                                                    limit price(s) of interest within the OQR                 available contracts on the Exchange at
                                                                                                                                                                     which is unable to be fully executed at
                                                    which is unable to be fully executed at                   the Opening Price. The system will
                                                                                                                                                                     the Opening Price); and (iii) routing
                                                    the Opening Price, the system will open                   price any contracts routed to away
                                                                                                                                                                     contracts to away markets at prices
                                                    with trades at the Opening Price, and                     markets at the better of the Opening
                                                                                                                                                                     equal to the Opening Price at their
                                                    the Route Timer will simultaneously                       Price or the order’s limit price pursuant
                                                                                                                                                                     disseminated size. In forced opening,
                                                    end. The system will monitor quotes                       to proposed Rule 701(j)(vi)(C)(3)(ii). The
                                                                                                                                                                     the system will price any contracts
                                                    received during the Route Timer and                       Exchange states that this proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                                     routed to away markets at the better of
                                                    make ongoing changes to the OQR and                       is designed to maximize execution of
                                                                                                                                                                     the Opening Price or the order’s limit
                                                    Potential Opening Price to reflect them.                  interest on the Exchange or away
                                                                                                                                                                     price. Any unexecuted contracts from
                                                       Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) provides                  markets.79
                                                                                                                                                                     the imbalance not traded or routed will
                                                    that, if no trade occurs pursuant to                         Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(C)
                                                                                                                                                                     be cancelled back to the entering
                                                    proposed ISE Rule 701(j)(3)(ii), when                     provides that, if the total number of
                                                                                                                                                                     participant if they remain unexecuted
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                                                    the Route Timer expires, if the Potential                 better priced away contracts plus the
                                                                                                                                                                     and priced through the Opening Price.
                                                    Opening Price is within the OQR (and                      number of contracts available at the
                                                                                                                                                                     Otherwise such orders will remain in
                                                    would not trade through the limit                         Opening Price plus the contracts
                                                                                                                                                                     the order book.
                                                    price(s) of interest within the OQR that                  available at away markets at the
                                                    is unable to be fully executed at the                     Exchange’s Opening Price would satisfy                   80 SeeNotice, supra note 3, at 9100–01.
                                                    Opening Price), the system will                           the number of marketable contracts on                    81 TheExchange notes that the first two
                                                                                                                                                                     Imbalance Messages always occur if there is interest
                                                      76 See   proposed Rule 701(j)(3).                         78 See   Notice, supra note 3, at 9100–01.           which will route to an away market. See Notice,
                                                      77 See   Notice, supra note 3, at 9096–97.                79 See   id.                                         supra note 3, at 9096 n.37.



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                                                    14248                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 51 / Friday, March 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                       Proposed Rule 701(j)(6) provides that,               that will migrate and the relevant                    option series undergoes the opening
                                                    to the extent possible, the system will                 dates.88                                              rotation. Specifically, the proposed rule
                                                    execute orders at the Opening Price that                                                                      provides for a range of no less than 100
                                                                                                            III. Discussion and Commission
                                                    have contingencies (such as without                                                                           milliseconds and no more than 5
                                                                                                            Findings
                                                    limitation, All-or-None, and Reserve                                                                          seconds in order to ensure that the
                                                    Orders) and non-routable orders such as                    After careful review, the Commission               Exchange has the ability to adjust the
                                                    ‘‘Do-Not-Route’’ or ‘‘DNR’’ Orders.82                   finds that the proposed rule change, as
                                                                                                                                                                  period for which the underlying must be
                                                    The system will only route non-                         modified by Amendment No. 1, is
                                                                                                                                                                  open on the primary market before the
                                                    contingency Public Customer orders,                     consistent with the requirements of the
                                                                                                            Act and the rules and regulations                     opening process commences. Moreover,
                                                    except that the full volume of Public                                                                         the Commission notes that the proposed
                                                    Customer Reserve Orders may route.                      thereunder applicable to a national
                                                                                                            securities exchange.89 In particular, the             rule provides an orderly process for
                                                       Proposed Rule 701(j)(6)(i) provides                                                                        handling eligible interests during the
                                                    that the system will cancel: (i) Any                    Commission finds that the proposed
                                                                                                            rule change is consistent with Section                opening rotation, while seeking to avoid
                                                    portion of a Do-Not-Route Order that
                                                                                                            6(b)(5) of the Act,90 which requires,                 opening executions at suboptimal
                                                    would otherwise have to be routed to
                                                    the exchange(s) disseminating the                       among other things, that the rules of a               prices. For instance, the new process
                                                    ABBO for an opening to occur, (ii) an                   national securities exchange be                       ensures that the Exchange will not open
                                                    All-or-None Order that is not executed                  designed to prevent fraudulent and                    with the Exchange’s BBO if there is a
                                                    during the opening and is priced                        manipulative acts and practices, to                   Zero Bid Market, no ABBO, and no
                                                    through the Opening Price; and (iii) any                promote just and equitable principles of              Quality Opening Market. Likewise, the
                                                    order that is priced through the Opening                trade, to foster cooperation and                      Exchange will not open an option series
                                                    Price. All other interest will remain in                coordination with persons engaged in                  with a trade unless one of the following
                                                    the system and be eligible for trading                  facilitating transactions in securities, to           conditions is met: (1) The Potential
                                                    after opening. The Exchange states that                 remove impediments to and perfect the                 Opening Price is at or within the Pre-
                                                    it cancels these orders since it lacks                  mechanism of a free and open market                   Market BBO and the ABBO; (2) the
                                                    enough liquidity to satisfy these orders                and a national market system, and, in                 Potential Opening Price is at or within
                                                    on the opening.83 In addition, the                      general, to protect investors and the                 the non-zero bid ABBO if the Pre-
                                                    Exchange believes that participants                     public interest.
                                                                                                               The Exchange proposes to delete in its             Market BBO is crossed; or (3) where
                                                    would prefer to have these orders                                                                             there is no ABBO, the Potential Opening
                                                                                                            entirety the current opening process and
                                                    returned to them for further assessment                                                                       Price is at or within the Pre-Market BBO
                                                                                                            replace it with an opening rotation
                                                    rather than have them entered into the                                                                        which is also a Quality Opening Market.
                                                                                                            similar to the process in place on its
                                                    order book at a price which is more                     affiliated exchanges, Phlx and ISE                    Finally, while the new opening process
                                                    aggressive than the price at which the                  Gemini. In making this change, the                    attempts to maximize the number of
                                                    Exchange opened.84                                      Exchange delineates, unlike in the                    contracts executed on the Exchange
                                                    8. Other Provisions                                     current, more opaque rule, detailed                   during such rotation, including by
                                                                                                            steps of the opening process. By                      seeking additional liquidity, if
                                                      Proposed Rule 701(k) provides that
                                                                                                            providing more clearly each sequence of               necessary, the Commission notes that
                                                    during the opening of the option series,
                                                                                                            the opening process, the Commission                   the new opening process, unlike the
                                                    where there is a possible execution, the
                                                                                                            notes that the proposed rule helps                    current process, takes into consideration
                                                    system will give priority first to Market
                                                                                                            market participants understand how the                away market interests and ensures that
                                                    Orders 85 then to resting Limit Orders 86               new opening rotation will operate. To
                                                    and quotes. Additionally, the allocation                                                                      better away prices are not traded
                                                                                                            that extent, the new opening process                  through. For these reasons, the
                                                    provisions of ISE Rule 713 and the                      may promote transparency, reduce the
                                                    Supplementary Material to that rule                                                                           Commission believes that the proposed
                                                                                                            potential for investor confusion, and                 rule change, as modified by Amendment
                                                    apply with respect to other orders and                  assist market participants in deciding
                                                    quotes with the same price. Finally,                                                                          No. 1, is consistent with the Act.
                                                                                                            whether to participate in ISE’s opening
                                                    proposed Rule 701(l) provides that upon                 rotation. Further, if they do participate             IV. Conclusion
                                                    the opening of the option series,                       in the new opening process, the
                                                    regardless of an execution, the system                  proposed rule may help provide market                   It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
                                                    will disseminate the price and size of                  participants with the confidence and                  Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act,91
                                                    the Exchange’s best bid and offer.                      certainty as to how their orders or                   that the proposed rule change (SR–ISE–
                                                    9. Implementation                                       quotes will be processed.                             2017–02), as modified by Amendment
                                                                                                               Further, the Commission believes that              No. 1, be, and it hereby is, approved.
                                                      The Exchange states that it intends to                the proposed rule change is designed to
                                                    begin implementation of the proposed                                                                            For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                            promote just and equitable principles of              Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                    rule change in the second quarter of                    trade by seeking to ensure that option
                                                    2017.87 The Exchange represents that                                                                          authority.92
                                                                                                            series open in a fair and orderly manner.
                                                    migration of the Exchange system to                                                                           Eduardo A. Aleman,
                                                                                                            For example, the Commission notes that
                                                    Nasdaq INET technology will be on a                     the proposed rule change is designed to               Assistant Secretary.
                                                    symbol by symbol basis and that the                     mitigate the effects of the underlying                [FR Doc. 2017–05340 Filed 3–16–17; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Exchange will issue an alert to Members                 security’s volatility as the overlying                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                    to provide notification of the symbols
                                                                                                              88 See id. For a more detailed description of the
                                                      82 See ISE Rule 715(m).                               proposed rule change, see Notice, supra note 3.
                                                      83 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9101.
                                                                                                              89 In approving this proposed rule change, the
                                                      84 See id.
                                                                                                            Commission has considered the proposed rule’s
                                                      85 See ISE Rule 715(a).
                                                                                                            impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
                                                      86 See ISE Rule 715(b).                                                                                       91 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
                                                                                                            formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
                                                      87 See Notice, supra note 3, at 9090.                   90 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               92 17   CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).



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Document Created: 2017-03-17 02:49:13
Document Modified: 2017-03-17 02:49:13
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 Citation82 FR 14243 

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