82_FR_37787 82 FR 37633 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend MIAX Options Rules 504, Trading Halts, and 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including Obvious Errors

82 FR 37633 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend MIAX Options Rules 504, Trading Halts, and 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including Obvious Errors

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 154 (August 11, 2017)

Page Range37633-37639
FR Document2017-16924

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37633-37639]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16924]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-81321; File No. SR-MIAX-2017-38]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities 
Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a 
Proposed Rule Change To Amend MIAX Options Rules 504, Trading Halts, 
and 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including 
Obvious Errors

August 7, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(the ``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given 
that on August 1, 2017, Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC 
(``MIAX Options'' or ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule change as 
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by 
the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rules 504, Trading Halts, 
and 521, Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions including 
Obvious Errors.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-filings, at MIAX's 
principal office, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
Background
    The Exchange and other options exchanges recently adopted a new, 
harmonized rule related to the adjustment and nullification of 
erroneous options transactions, including a specific provision related 
to coordination in connection with large-scale events involving 
erroneous options transactions.\3\ The Exchange believes that the 
changes the options exchanges implemented with the new, harmonized rule 
have led to increased transparency and finality with respect to the 
adjustment and nullification of erroneous options transactions. 
However, as part of the initial initiative, the Exchange and other 
options exchanges deferred a few specific matters for further 
discussion. Specifically, as described in the Initial Filing, the 
Exchange and all other options exchanges have been working to further 
improve the review of potentially erroneous transactions as well as 
their subsequent adjustment by creating an objective and universal way 
to determine Theoretical Price in the event a reliable NBBO is not 
available. Because this initiative required additional exchange and 
industry discussion as well as additional time for development and 
implementation, the Exchange and the other options exchanges determined 
to proceed with the Initial Filing and to undergo a secondary 
initiative to complete any additional improvements to the applicable 
rule. In this filing, the Exchange proposes to adopt procedures that 
will lead to a more objective and uniform way to determine Theoretical 
Price in the event a reliable NBBO is not available. In addition to 
this change, the Exchange has proposed two additional minor changes to 
its rules. The Exchange's proposal mirrors that of Bats BZX, which the 
Commission approved on July 6, 2017,\4\ and those that the other 
options exchanges intend to or have filed. Finally, the Exchange notes 
that options exchanges that offer complex orders on their options 
platforms either already have in place rules for handling the 
adjustment and nullification of erroneous complex order transactions in 
place or have filed proposals related to such rules, which proposals 
have recently been approved by the Commission or filed on an 
immediately effective basis.\5\
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74918 (May 8, 2015), 
80 FR 27781 (May 14, 2015) (SR-MIAX-2015-35); see also Securities 
Exchange Act Release No. 73884 (December 18, 2014), 79 FR 77557 
(December 24, 2014) (the ``Initial Filing'').
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81084 (July 6, 
2017), 82 FR 32216 (July 12, 2017) (granting approval of Bats BZX 
proposal).
    \5\ See e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 80040 
(February 14, 2017), 82 FR 11248 (February 21, 2017) (SR-CBOE-2016-
088) (granting approval of CBOE proposal related to the 
nullification and adjustment of complex orders); 80298 (March 22, 
2017), 82 FR 15393 (March 28, 2017) (SR-C2-2017-011) (notice of 
filing and immediate effectiveness of C2 proposal related to the 
nullification and adjustment of complex orders); 80284 (March 21, 
2017), 82 FR 15251 (March 27, 2017) (SR-MIAX-2017-13) (notice of 
filing and immediate effectiveness of MIAX proposal related to the 
nullification and adjustment of complex orders).
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Calculation of Theoretical Price Using a Third Party Provider
    Under the harmonized rule, when reviewing a transaction as 
potentially erroneous, the Exchange needs to first determine the 
``Theoretical Price'' of the option, i.e., the Exchange's estimate of 
the correct market price for the option. Pursuant to Rule 521, if the 
applicable option series is traded on at least one other options 
exchange, then the Theoretical Price of an option series is the last 
national best bid (``NBB'') just prior to the trade in question with 
respect to an erroneous sell transaction or the last national best 
offer (``NBO'') just prior to the trade in question with respect to an 
erroneous buy transaction unless one of the exceptions described below 
exists. Thus, whenever the Exchange has a reliable NBB or NBO, as 
applicable, just prior to the transaction, then the Exchange uses this 
NBB or NBO as the Theoretical Price. The Rule also contains various 
provisions governing specific situations where the NBB or NBO is not 
available or may not be reliable. Specifically, the Rule specifies 
situations in which there are no quotes or no valid quotes for 
comparison purposes, when the national best bid or offer (``NBBO'') is 
determined to be too wide to be reliable,

[[Page 37634]]

and at the open of trading on each trading day. In each of these 
circumstances, in turn, because the NBB or NBO is not available or is 
deemed to be unreliable, the Exchange determines Theoretical Price. 
Under the current Rule, when determining Theoretical Price, Exchange 
personnel generally consult and refer to data such as the prices of 
related series, especially the closest strikes in the option in 
question. Exchange personnel may also take into account the price of 
the underlying security and the volatility characteristics of the 
option as well as historical pricing of the option and/or similar 
options. Although the Rule is administered by experienced personnel and 
the Exchange believes the process is currently appropriate, the 
Exchange recognizes that it is also subjective and could lead to 
disparate results for a transaction that spans multiple options 
exchanges.
    The Exchange proposes to adopt Interpretation and Policy .04 to 
specify how the Exchange will determine Theoretical Price when required 
by sub-paragraphs (b)(1)-(3) of the Rule (i.e., at the open, when there 
are no valid quotes or when there is a wide quote). In particular, the 
Exchange has been working with other options exchanges to identify and 
select a reliable third party vendor (``TP Provider'') that would 
provide Theoretical Price to the Exchange whenever one or more 
transactions is under review pursuant to Rule 521 and the NBBO is 
unavailable or deemed unreliable pursuant to Rule 521(b). The Exchange 
and other options exchanges have selected CBOE Livevol, LLC 
(``Livevol'') as the TP Provider, as described below. As further 
described below, proposed Interpretation and Policy .04 would codify 
the use of the TP Provider as well as limited exceptions where the 
Exchange would be able to deviate from the Theoretical Price given by 
the TP Provider.
    Pursuant to proposed Interpretation and Policy .04, when the 
Exchange must determine Theoretical Price pursuant to the sub-
paragraphs (b)(1)-(3) of the Rule, the Exchange will request 
Theoretical Price from the third party vendor to which the Exchange and 
all other options exchanges have subscribed. Thus, as set forth in this 
proposed language, Theoretical Price would be provided to the Exchange 
by the TP Provider on request and not through a streaming data feed.\6\ 
This language also makes clear that the Exchange and all other options 
exchanges will use the same TP Provider.
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    \6\ Though the Exchange and other options exchanges considered a 
streaming feed, it was determined that it would be more feasible to 
develop and implement an on demand service and that such a service 
would satisfy the goals of the initiative.
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    As noted above, the proposed TP Provider selected by the Exchange 
and other options exchanges is Livevol. The Exchange proposes to codify 
this selection in proposed paragraph (d) to Interpretation and Policy 
.04. As such, the Exchange would file a rule proposal and would provide 
notice to the options industry of any proposed change to the TP 
Provider. The Exchange and other options exchanges have selected 
Livevol as the proposed TP Provider after diligence into various 
alternatives. Livevol has, since 2009, been the options industry leader 
in providing equity and index options market data and analytics 
services.\7\ The Exchange believes that Livevol has established itself 
within the options industry as a trusted provider of such services and 
notes that it and all other options exchanges already subscribe to 
various Livevol services. In connection with this proposal, Livevol 
will develop a new tool based on its existing technology and services 
that will supply Theoretical Price to the Exchange and other options 
exchanges upon request. The Theoretical Price tool will leverage 
current market data and surrounding strikes to assist in a relative 
value pricing approach to generating a Theoretical Price. When relative 
value methods are incapable of generating a valid Theoretical Price, 
the Theoretical Price tool will utilize historical trade and quote data 
to calculate Theoretical Price. Because the purpose of the proposal is 
to move away from a subjective determination by Exchange personnel when 
the NBBO is unavailable or unreliable, the Exchange intends to use the 
Theoretical Price provided by the TP Provider in all such 
circumstances. However, the Exchange believes it is necessary to retain 
the ability to contact the TP Provider if it believes that the 
Theoretical Price provided is fundamentally incorrect and to determine 
the Theoretical Price in the limited circumstance of a systems issue 
experienced by the TP Provider, as described below.
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    \7\ The Exchange notes that in 2015, Livevol was acquired by 
CBOE Holdings, Inc., the ultimate parent company of the Chicago 
Board Options Exchange (``CBOE'') and C2 Options Exchange (``C2'').
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    As proposed, to the extent an Official \8\ of the Exchange believes 
that the Theoretical Price provided by the TP Provider is fundamentally 
incorrect and cannot be used consistent with the maintenance of a fair 
and orderly market, the Official shall contact the TP Provider to 
notify the TP Provider of the reason the Official believes such 
Theoretical Price is inaccurate and to request a review and correction 
of the calculated Theoretical Price. For example, if an Official 
received from the TP Provider a Theoretical Price of $80 in a series 
that the Official might expect to be instead in the range of $8 to $10 
because of a recent corporate action in the underlying, the Official 
would request that the TP Provider review and confirm its calculation 
and determine whether it had appropriately accounted for the corporate 
action. In order to ensure that other options exchanges that may 
potentially be relying on the same Theoretical Price that, in turn, the 
Official believes to be fundamentally incorrect, the Exchange also 
proposes to promptly provide notice to other options exchanges that the 
TP Provider has been contacted to review and correct the calculated 
Theoretical Price at issue and to include a brief explanation of the 
reason for the request.\9\ Although not directly addressed by the 
proposed Rule, the Exchange expects that all other options exchanges 
once in receipt of this notification would await the determination of 
the TP Provider and would use the corrected price as soon as it is 
available. The Exchange further notes that it expects the TP Provider 
to cooperate with, but to be independent of, the Exchange and other 
options exchanges.\10\
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    \8\ For purposes of the Rule, an Official is an Officer of the 
Exchange or such other employee designee of the Exchange that is 
trained in the application of Rule 521.
    \9\ See proposed paragraph (b) to Interpretation and Policy .04.
    \10\ The Exchange expects any TP Provider selected by the 
Exchange and other options exchanges to act independently in its 
determination and calculation of Theoretical Price. With respect to 
Livevol specifically, the Exchange again notes that Livevol is a 
subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, Inc., which is also the ultimate parent 
company of multiple options exchanges. The Exchange expects Livevol 
to calculate Theoretical Price independent of its affiliated 
exchanges in the same way it will calculate Theoretical Price 
independent of non-affiliated exchanges.
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed provision to allow an 
Official to contact the TP Provider if he or she believes the provided 
Theoretical Price is fundamentally incorrect is necessary, particularly 
because the Exchange and other options exchanges will be using the new 
process for the first time. Although the exchanges have conducted 
thorough diligence with respect to Livevol as the selected TP Provider 
and would do so with any potential replacement TP Provider, the 
Exchange is concerned that certain scenarios

[[Page 37635]]

could arise where the Theoretical Price generated by the TP Provider 
does not take into account relevant factors and would result in an 
unfair result for market participants involved in a transaction. The 
Exchange notes that if such situations do indeed arise, to the extent 
practicable the Exchange will also work with the TP Provider and other 
options exchanges to improve the TP Provider's calculation of 
Theoretical Price in future situations. For instance, if the Exchange 
determines that a particular type of corporate action is not being 
appropriately captured by the TP Provider when such provider is 
generating Theoretical Price, while the Exchange believes that it needs 
the ability to request a review and correction of the Theoretical Price 
in connection with a specific review in order to provide a timely 
decision to market participants, the Exchange would share information 
regarding the specific situation with the TP Provider and other options 
exchanges in an effort to improve the Theoretical Price service for 
future use. The Exchange notes that it does not anticipate needing to 
rely on this provision frequently, if at all, but believes the 
provision is necessary nonetheless to best prepare for all potential 
circumstances. Further, the Theoretical Price used by the Exchange in 
connection with its rulings will always be that received from the TP 
Provider and the Exchange has not proposed the ability to deviate from 
such price.\11\
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    \11\ To the extent the TP Provider has been contacted by an 
Official of the Exchange, reviews the Theoretical Price provided but 
disagrees that there has been any error, then the Exchange would be 
bound to use the Theoretical Price provided by the TP Provider.
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    Pursuant to proposed paragraph (c) to Interpretation and Policy 
.04, an Official of the Exchange may determine the Theoretical Price if 
the TP Provider has experienced a systems issue that has rendered its 
services unavailable to accurately calculate Theoretical Price and such 
issue cannot be corrected in a timely manner. The Exchange notes that 
it does not anticipate needing to rely on this provision frequently, if 
at all, but believes the provision is necessary nonetheless to best 
prepare for all potential circumstances. Further, consistent with 
existing text in Rule 521(e)(4), the Exchange has not proposed a 
specific time by which the service must be available in order to be 
considered timely.\12\ The Exchange expects that it would await the TP 
Provider's services becoming available again so long as the Exchange 
was able to obtain information regarding the issue and the TP Provider 
had a reasonable expectation of being able to resume normal operations 
within the next several hours based on communications with the TP 
Provider. More specifically with respect to Livevol, Livevol has 
business continuity and disaster recovery procedures that will help to 
ensure that the Theoretical Price tool remains available or, in the 
event of an outage, that service is restored in a timely manner.
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    \12\ In the context of a Significant Market Event, the Exchange 
may determine, ``in consultation with other options exchanges . . . 
that timely adjustment is not feasible due to the extraordinary 
nature of the situation.'' See Rule 521(e)(4).
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    The Exchange also notes that if a wide-scale event occurred, even 
if such event did not qualify as a ``Significant Market Event'' 
pursuant to Rule 521(e), and the TP Provider was unavailable or 
otherwise experiencing difficulty, the Exchange believes that it and 
other options exchanges would seek to coordinate to the extent 
possible. In particular, the Exchange and other options exchanges now 
have a process, administered by the Options Clearing Corporation, to 
invoke a discussion amongst all options exchanges in the event of any 
widespread or significant market events. The Exchange believes that 
this process could be used in the event necessary if there were an 
issue with the TP Provider.
    The Exchange also proposes to adopt language in paragraph (d) of 
Interpretation and Policy .04 to Rule 521 to disclaim the liability of 
the Exchange and the TP Provider in connection with the proposed Rule, 
the TP Provider's calculation of Theoretical Price, and the Exchange's 
use of such Theoretical Price. Specifically, the proposed rule would 
state that neither the Exchange, the TP Provider, nor any affiliate of 
the TP Provider (the TP Provider and its affiliates are referred to 
collectively as the ``TP Provider''), makes any warranty, express or 
implied, as to the results to be obtained by any person or entity from 
the use of the TP Provider pursuant to Interpretation .04. The proposed 
rule would further state that the TP Provider does not guarantee the 
accuracy or completeness of the calculated Theoretical Price and that 
the TP Provider disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness 
for a particular purpose or use with respect to such Theoretical Price. 
Finally, the proposed Rule would state that neither the Exchange nor 
the TP Provider shall have any liability for any damages, claims, 
losses (including any indirect or consequential losses), expenses, or 
delays, whether direct or indirect, foreseen or unforeseen, suffered by 
any person arising out of any circumstance or occurrence relating to 
the use of such Theoretical Price or arising out of any errors or 
delays in calculating such Theoretical Price. This proposed language is 
modeled after existing language in Exchange Rules regarding ``reporting 
authorities'' that calculate indices.\13\
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    \13\ See, e.g., MIAX Rule 526, which relates to index options 
potentially listed and traded on the Exchange and disclaims 
liability for a reporting authority and their affiliates.
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    In connection with the proposed change described above, the 
Exchange proposes to modify Rule 521 to state that the Exchange will 
rely on paragraph (b) and Interpretation and Policy .04 when 
determining Theoretical Price.
No Valid Quotes--Market Participant Quoting on Multiple Exchanges
    As described above, one of the times where the NBB or NBO is deemed 
to be unreliable for purposes of Theoretical Price is when there are no 
quotes or no valid quotes for the affected series. In addition to when 
there are no quotes, the Exchange does not consider the following to be 
valid quotes: (i) All quotes in the applicable option series published 
at a time where the last NBB is higher than the last NBO in such series 
(a ``crossed market''); (ii) quotes published by the Exchange that were 
submitted by either party to the transaction in question; and (iii) 
quotes published by another options exchange against which the Exchange 
has declared self-help. In recognition of today's market structure 
where certain participants actively provide liquidity on multiple 
exchanges simultaneously, the Exchange proposes to add an additional 
category of invalid quotes. Specifically, in order to avoid a situation 
where a market participant has established the market at an erroneous 
price on multiple exchanges, the Exchange proposes to consider as 
invalid the quotes in a series published by another options exchange if 
either party to the transaction in question submitted the quotes in the 
series representing such options exchange's best bid or offer. Thus, 
similar to being able to ignore for purposes of the Rule the quotes 
published by the Exchange if submitted by either party to the 
transaction in question, the Exchange would be able to ignore for 
purposes of the rule quotations on other options exchanges by that same 
market participant.
    In order to continue to apply the Rule in a timely and organized 
fashion, however, the Exchange proposes to initially limit the scope of 
this proposed provision in two ways. First, because the process will 
take considerable

[[Page 37636]]

coordination with other options exchanges to confirm that the 
quotations in question on an away options exchange were indeed 
submitted by a party to a transaction on the Exchange, the Exchange 
proposes to limit this provision to apply to up to twenty-five (25) 
total options series (i.e., whether such series all relate to the same 
underlying security or multiple underlying securities). Second, the 
Exchange proposes to require the party that believes it established the 
best bid or offer on one or more other options exchanges to identify to 
the Exchange the quotes which were submitted by such party and 
published by other options exchanges. In other words, as proposed, the 
burden will be on the party seeking that the Exchange disregard their 
quotations on other options exchanges to identify such quotations. In 
turn, the Exchange will verify with such other options exchanges that 
such quotations were indeed submitted by such party.
    Below are examples of both the current rule and the rule as 
proposed to be amended.
Example 1--Current Rule, Member Erroneously Quotes on One Exchange
Assumptions
    For purposes of this example, assume the following:
     A Member acting as a Market Maker on the Exchange 
(``Market Maker A'') is quoting in twenty series of options underlying 
security ABCD on the Exchange (and only the Exchange).
     Market Maker A makes an error in calculating the market 
for options on ABCD, and publishes quotes in all twenty series to buy 
options at $1.00 and to sell options at $1.05.
     In fact, options on ABCD in these series are nearly 
worthless and no other market participant is quoting in such series.
     Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty series at issue is $1.00 
x $1.05 (with the Exchange representing the NBBO based on Market Maker 
A's quotes).
     Assume Member A immediately enters sell orders and 
executes against Market Maker A's quotes at $1.00.
     Assume Market Maker A submits to the Exchange a timely 
request for review of the trades with Member A as potentially erroneous 
transactions to buy.
Result
     Based on the Exchange's current rules, the Exchange would 
identify Market Maker A as a participant to the trades at issue and 
would consider Market Maker A's quotations invalid pursuant to Rule 
521(b)(2).
     As there were no other valid quotes to use as a reference 
price, the Exchange would then determine Theoretical Price.
     Assume the Exchange determines a Theoretical Price of 
$0.05.
    [cir] The execution price of $1.00 exceeds the $0.25 minimum amount 
set forth in the Exchange's table to determine whether an obvious error 
has occurred (i.e., $0.05 + $0.25 = $0.30) so any execution at or above 
this price is an obvious error.
    [cir] Accordingly, the executions in all series would be adjusted 
by the Exchange to executions at $0.20 per contract (Theoretical Price 
of $0.05 plus $0.15) to the extent the incoming orders submitted by 
Member A were non-Customer orders.
    [cir] The executions in all series would be nullified to the extent 
the incoming orders submitted by Member A were Customer orders.
Example 2--Current Rule, Member Erroneously Quotes on Multiple 
Exchanges
Assumptions
    For purposes of this example, assume the following:
     A Member acting as a Market Maker on the Exchange 
(``Market Maker A'') is quoting in twenty series of options underlying 
security ABCD on the Exchange and on a second exchange (``Away 
Exchange'').
     Market Maker A makes an error in calculating the market 
for options on ABCD, and publishes quotes on both the Exchange and the 
Away Exchange in all twenty series to buy options at $1.00 and to sell 
options at $1.05.
     In fact, options on ABCD in these series are nearly 
worthless and no other market participant is quoting in such series.
     Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty series at issue is $1.00 
x $1.05 (with the Exchange and the Away Exchange representing the NBBO 
based on Market Maker A's quotes).
     Assume Member A immediately enters sell orders and 
executes against Market Maker A's quotes at $1.00.
     Assume Market Maker A submits to the Exchange and to the 
Away Exchange timely requests for review of the trades with Member A as 
potentially erroneous transactions to buy.
Result
     Based on the Exchange's current rules, the Exchange would 
identify Market Maker A as a participant to the trades at issue and 
would consider Market Maker A's quotations on the Exchange invalid 
pursuant to Rule 521(b)(2). The Exchange, however, would view the Away 
Exchange's quotations as valid, and would thus determine Theoretical 
Price to be $1.05 (i.e., the NBO in the case of a potentially erroneous 
buy transaction).
     The execution price of $1.00 does not exceed the $0.25 
minimum amount set forth in the Exchange's table to determine whether 
an obvious error has occurred (i.e., $1.05 + $0.25 = $1.30) so any 
execution at or above this price is an obvious error.
     The transactions on the Exchange would not be nullified or 
adjusted.
     As the Exchange and all other options exchanges have 
identical rules with respect to the process described above, the 
transactions on the Away Exchange would not be nullified or adjusted.
Example 3--Proposed Rule, Member Erroneously Quotes on Multiple 
Exchanges \14\
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    \14\ The Exchange notes that its proposed rule will not impact 
the proposed handling of a request for review where a market 
participant is quoting only on the Exchange, thus, the Exchange has 
not included a separate example for such a fact-pattern.
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Assumptions
    For purposes of this example, assume the following:
     A Member acting as a Market Maker on the Exchange 
(``Market Maker A'') is quoting in twenty series of options underlying 
security ABCD on the Exchange and on a second exchange (``Away 
Exchange'').\15\
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    \15\ The Exchange notes that the proposed rule would operate the 
same if Market Maker A was quoting on more than two exchanges. The 
Exchange has limited the example to two exchanges for simplicity.
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     Market Maker A makes an error in calculating the market 
for options on ABCD, and publishes quotes on both the Exchange and the 
Away Exchange in all twenty series to buy options at $1.00 and to sell 
options at $1.05.
     In fact, options on ABCD in these series are nearly 
worthless and no other market participant is quoting in such series.
     Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty series at issue is $1.00 
x $1.05 (with the Exchange and the Away Exchange representing the NBBO 
based on Market Maker A's quotes).
     Assume Member A immediately enters sell orders and 
executes against Market Maker A's quotes at $1.00.
     Assume Market Maker A submits to the Exchange and to the 
Away Exchange timely requests for review of the trades with Member A as 
potentially erroneous transactions to buy. At the time of submitting 
the requests for review to the Exchange and the Away Exchange, Market 
Maker A identifies to the

[[Page 37637]]

Exchange the quotes on the Away Exchange as quotes also represented by 
Market Maker A (and to the Away Exchange, the quotes on the Exchange as 
quotes also represented by Market Maker A).
Result
     Based on the proposed rules, the Exchange would identify 
Market Maker A as a participant to the trades at issue and would 
consider Market Maker A's quotations on the Exchange invalid pursuant 
to Rule 521(b)(2).
     The Exchange and the Away Exchange would also coordinate 
to confirm that the quotations identified by Market Maker A on the 
other exchange were indeed Market Maker A's quotations. Once confirmed, 
each of the Exchange and the Away Exchange would also consider invalid 
the quotations published on the other exchange.
     As there were no other valid quotes to use as a reference 
price, the Exchange would then determine Theoretical Price.
     Assume the Exchange determines a Theoretical Price of 
$0.05.
    [cir] The execution price of $1.00 exceeds the $0.25 minimum amount 
set forth in the Exchange's table to determine whether an obvious error 
has occurred (i.e., $0.05 + $0.25 = $0.30) so any execution at or above 
this price is an obvious error.
    [cir] Accordingly, the executions in all series would be adjusted 
by the Exchange to executions at $0.20 per contract (Theoretical Price 
of $0.05 plus $0.15) to the extent the incoming orders submitted by 
Member A were non-Customer orders.
    [cir] The executions in all series would be nullified to the extent 
the incoming orders submitted by Member A were Customer orders.
     As the Exchange and all other options exchanges would have 
identical rules with respect to the process described above, as other 
options exchanges intend to adopt the same rule if the proposed rule is 
approved, the transactions on the Away Exchange would also be nullified 
or adjusted as set forth above.
     If this example was instead modified such that Market 
Maker A was quoting in 200 series rather than 20, the Exchange notes 
that Market Maker A could only request that the Exchange consider as 
invalid their quotations in 25 of those series on other exchanges. As 
noted above, the Exchange has proposed to limit the proposed rule to 25 
series in order to continue to process requests for review in a timely 
and organized fashion in order to provide certainty to market 
participants. This is due to the amount of coordination that will be 
necessary in such a scenario to confirm that the quotations in question 
on an away options exchange were indeed submitted by a party to a 
transaction on the Exchange.
Trading Halts--Clarifying Change to Rules 504 and 521(f)
    Exchange Rules 504 and 521(f) describe the Exchange's authority to 
declare trading halts in one or more options traded on the Exchange. 
Currently, Rule 521(f) and Interpretation and Policy .04 to Rule 504 
both state that the Exchange shall nullify any transaction that occurs 
during a trading halt in the affected option on the Exchange or, with 
respect to equity options, during a trading halt on the primary listing 
market for the underlying security. The Exchange proposes to make clear 
with respect to equity options that it shall nullify any transaction 
that occurs during a regulatory halt as declared by the primary listing 
market for the underlying security. The Exchange believes this change 
is necessary to distinguish a declared regulatory halt, where the 
underlying security should not be actively trading on any venue, from 
an operational issue on the primary listing exchange where the security 
continues to safely trade on other trading venues.
Implementation Date
    The Exchange proposes to delay the operative date of this proposal 
to a date within ninety (90) days after the Commission approved the 
Bats BZX proposal on July 6, 2017.\16\ The Exchange will announce the 
operative date in a Regulatory Alert made available to its Members.
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    \16\ See supra, note 4.
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2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that 
are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular, 
with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\17\ Specifically, the 
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \18\ because it 
would promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove 
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market 
and a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and 
the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described above, the Exchange and other options exchanges are 
seeking to further modify their harmonized rules related to the 
adjustment and nullification of erroneous options transactions. The 
Exchange believes that the proposal to utilize a TP Provider in the 
event the NBBO is unavailable or unreliable will provide greater 
transparency and clarity with respect to the adjustment and 
nullification of erroneous options transactions. Particularly, the 
proposed changes seek to achieve consistent results for participants 
across U.S. options exchanges while maintaining a fair and orderly 
market, protecting investors and protecting the public interest. Thus, 
the Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act \19\ in that the proposed Rule will foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating and 
facilitating transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange again reiterates that it has retained the standard of 
the current rule for most reviews of options transactions pursuant to 
Rule 521, which is to rely on the NBBO to determine Theoretical Price 
if such NBBO can reasonably be relied upon. The proposal to use a TP 
Provider when the NBBO is unavailable or unreliable is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \20\ in that the proposed Rule will foster 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating and 
facilitating transactions by further reducing the possibility of 
disparate results between options exchanges and increasing the 
objectivity of the application of Rule 521. Further, the Exchange 
believes that the proposed Rule is transparent with respect to the 
limited circumstances under which the Exchange will request a review 
and correction of Theoretical Price from the TP Provider, and has 
sought to limit such circumstances as much as possible. The Exchange 
notes that under the current Rule, Exchange personnel are required to 
determine Theoretical Price in certain circumstances and yet rarely do 
so because such circumstances have already been significantly limited 
under the harmonized rule (for example, because the wide quote 
provision of the harmonized rule only applies if the quote was narrower 
and then gapped but does not apply if the quote had been persistently 
wide). Thus, the Exchange believes it will need to request Theoretical 
Price from the TP Provider only in very rare circumstances and in turn, 
the Exchange anticipates that the need to contact the TP Provider for

[[Page 37638]]

additional review of the Theoretical Price provided by the TP Provider 
will be even rarer. Similarly, the Exchange believes it is unlikely 
that an Exchange Official will ever be required to determine 
Theoretical Price, as such circumstance would only be in the event of a 
systems issue that has rendered the TP Provider's services unavailable 
and such issue cannot be corrected in a timely manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange also believes its proposal to adopt language in 
paragraph (d) of Interpretation and Policy .04 to Rule 521 to disclaim 
the liability of the Exchange and the TP Provider in connection with 
the proposed Rule, the TP Provider's calculation of Theoretical Price, 
and the Exchange's use of such Theoretical Price is consistent with the 
Act. As noted above, this proposed language is modeled after existing 
language in Exchange Rules regarding ``reporting authorities'' that 
calculate indices,\21\ and is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act \22\ in that the proposed Rule will foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in regulating and facilitating 
transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See supra, note 13.
    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As described above, the Exchange proposes a modification to the 
valid quotes provision to also exclude quotes in a series published by 
another options exchange if either party to the transaction in question 
submitted the orders or quotes in the series representing such options 
exchange's best bid or offer. The Exchange believes this proposal is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act \23\ because the application 
of the rule will foster cooperation and coordination with persons 
engaged in regulating and facilitating transactions by allowing the 
Exchange to coordinate with other options exchanges to determine 
whether a market participant that is party to a potentially erroneous 
transaction on the Exchange established the market in an option on 
other options exchanges; to the extent this can be established, the 
Exchange believes such participant's quotes should be excluded in the 
same way such quotes are excluded on the Exchange. The Exchange also 
believes it is reasonable to limit the scope of this provision to 
twenty-five (25) series and to require the party that believes it 
established the best bid or offer on one or more other options 
exchanges to identify to the Exchange the quotes which were submitted 
by that party and published by other options exchanges. The Exchange 
believes these limitations are consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act \24\ because they will ensure that the Exchange is able to continue 
to apply the Rule in a timely and organized fashion, thus fostering 
cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating and 
facilitating transactions and also removing impediments to and 
perfecting the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, with respect to the proposed modification to the 
Exchange's trading halt rules, Rule 504 and Rule 521(f), the Exchange 
believes that this proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the 
Act \25\ because such proposal clarifies the provision by 
distinguishing between a trading halt in an underlying security where 
the security has halted trading across the industry (i.e., a regulatory 
halt) from a situation where the primary exchange has experienced a 
technical issue but the underlying security continues to trade on other 
equities platforms. The Exchange notes that this distinction is already 
clear in the rules of certain other options exchanges, and thus, has 
been found to be consistent with the Act.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ Id.
    \26\ See, e.g., Interpretation and Policy .07 to CBOE Rule 6.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the 
entire proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act \27\ in 
that it does not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary 
or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act as explained 
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Importantly, the Exchange does not believe that the proposal will 
impose a burden on intermarket competition but rather that it will 
alleviate any burden on competition because it is the result of a 
collaborative effort by all options exchanges to further harmonize and 
improve the process related to the adjustment and nullification of 
erroneous options transactions. The Exchange does not believe that the 
rules applicable to such process in [sic] an area where options 
exchanges should compete, but rather, that all options exchanges should 
have consistent rules to the extent possible. Particularly where a 
market participant trades on several different exchanges and an 
erroneous trade may occur on multiple markets nearly simultaneously, 
the Exchange believes that a participant should have a consistent 
experience with respect to the nullification or adjustment of 
transactions. To that end, the selection and implementation of a TP 
Provider utilized by all options exchanges will further reduce the 
possibility that participants with potentially erroneous transactions 
that span multiple options exchanges are handled differently on such 
exchanges. Similarly, the proposed ability to consider quotations 
invalid on another options exchange if ultimately originating from a 
party to a potentially erroneous transaction on the Exchange represents 
a proposal intended to further foster cooperation by the options 
exchanges with respect to market events. The Exchange understands that 
all other options exchanges either have or they intend to file 
proposals that are substantially similar to this proposal.
    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change imposes 
a burden on intramarket competition because the proposed provisions 
apply to all market participants equally.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) 
become operative for 30 days after the date of the filing, or such 
shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective 
pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \28\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \29\ 
thereunder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \29\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along 
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule 
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or 
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the

[[Page 37639]]

Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute 
proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved 
or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-MIAX-2017-38 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2017-38. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-MIAX-2017-38, and should be 
submitted on or before September 1, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16924 Filed 8-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices                                                   37633

                                                    submissions. You should submit only                     II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                    that will lead to a more objective and
                                                    information that you wish to make                       Statement of the Purpose of, and                      uniform way to determine Theoretical
                                                    available publicly. All submissions                     Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                Price in the event a reliable NBBO is not
                                                    should refer to File Number SR–ISE–                     Change                                                available. In addition to this change, the
                                                    2017–76, and should be submitted on or                     In its filing with the Commission, the             Exchange has proposed two additional
                                                    before September 1, 2017.                               Exchange included statements                          minor changes to its rules. The
                                                                                                            concerning the purpose of and basis for               Exchange’s proposal mirrors that of Bats
                                                      For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                            the proposed rule change and discussed                BZX, which the Commission approved
                                                    Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
                                                                                                            any comments it received on the                       on July 6, 2017,4 and those that the
                                                    authority.26
                                                                                                            proposed rule change. The text of these               other options exchanges intend to or
                                                    Eduardo A. Aleman,                                                                                            have filed. Finally, the Exchange notes
                                                                                                            statements may be examined at the
                                                    Assistant Secretary.                                                                                          that options exchanges that offer
                                                                                                            places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–16925 Filed 8–10–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            Exchange has prepared summaries, set                  complex orders on their options
                                                    BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  forth in sections A, B, and C below, of               platforms either already have in place
                                                                                                                                                                  rules for handling the adjustment and
                                                                                                            the most significant aspects of such
                                                                                                                                                                  nullification of erroneous complex order
                                                                                                            statements.
                                                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                                                                       transactions in place or have filed
                                                    COMMISSION                                              A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     proposals related to such rules, which
                                                                                                            Statement of the Purpose of, and                      proposals have recently been approved
                                                    [Release No. 34–81321; File No. SR–MIAX–
                                                                                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                by the Commission or filed on an
                                                    2017–38]
                                                                                                            Change                                                immediately effective basis.5
                                                                                                            1. Purpose                                            Calculation of Theoretical Price Using a
                                                    Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami                                                                          Third Party Provider
                                                    International Securities Exchange,                      Background
                                                                                                                                                                    Under the harmonized rule, when
                                                    LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate                        The Exchange and other options
                                                                                                                                                                  reviewing a transaction as potentially
                                                    Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule                        exchanges recently adopted a new,
                                                                                                                                                                  erroneous, the Exchange needs to first
                                                    Change To Amend MIAX Options Rules                      harmonized rule related to the
                                                                                                                                                                  determine the ‘‘Theoretical Price’’ of the
                                                    504, Trading Halts, and 521,                            adjustment and nullification of
                                                                                                                                                                  option, i.e., the Exchange’s estimate of
                                                    Nullification and Adjustment of                         erroneous options transactions,
                                                                                                                                                                  the correct market price for the option.
                                                    Options Transactions Including                          including a specific provision related to
                                                                                                                                                                  Pursuant to Rule 521, if the applicable
                                                    Obvious Errors                                          coordination in connection with large-
                                                                                                                                                                  option series is traded on at least one
                                                                                                            scale events involving erroneous
                                                    August 7, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                                  other options exchange, then the
                                                                                                            options transactions.3 The Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                  Theoretical Price of an option series is
                                                       Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  believes that the changes the options                 the last national best bid (‘‘NBB’’) just
                                                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    exchanges implemented with the new,                   prior to the trade in question with
                                                    ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  harmonized rule have led to increased                 respect to an erroneous sell transaction
                                                    notice is hereby given that on August 1,                transparency and finality with respect to             or the last national best offer (‘‘NBO’’)
                                                    2017, Miami International Securities                    the adjustment and nullification of                   just prior to the trade in question with
                                                    Exchange, LLC (‘‘MIAX Options’’ or                      erroneous options transactions.                       respect to an erroneous buy transaction
                                                    ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities                 However, as part of the initial initiative,           unless one of the exceptions described
                                                    and Exchange Commission                                 the Exchange and other options                        below exists. Thus, whenever the
                                                                                                            exchanges deferred a few specific                     Exchange has a reliable NBB or NBO, as
                                                    (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                                                                            matters for further discussion.                       applicable, just prior to the transaction,
                                                    change as described in Items I and II
                                                                                                            Specifically, as described in the Initial             then the Exchange uses this NBB or
                                                    below, which Items have been prepared
                                                                                                            Filing, the Exchange and all other                    NBO as the Theoretical Price. The Rule
                                                    by the Exchange. The Commission is
                                                                                                            options exchanges have been working to                also contains various provisions
                                                    publishing this notice to solicit
                                                                                                            further improve the review of                         governing specific situations where the
                                                    comments on the proposed rule change
                                                                                                            potentially erroneous transactions as                 NBB or NBO is not available or may not
                                                    from interested persons.
                                                                                                            well as their subsequent adjustment by                be reliable. Specifically, the Rule
                                                    I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       creating an objective and universal way               specifies situations in which there are
                                                    Statement of the Terms of Substance of                  to determine Theoretical Price in the                 no quotes or no valid quotes for
                                                    the Proposed Rule Change                                event a reliable NBBO is not available.               comparison purposes, when the
                                                                                                            Because this initiative required                      national best bid or offer (‘‘NBBO’’) is
                                                       The Exchange proposes to amend                       additional exchange and industry                      determined to be too wide to be reliable,
                                                    Exchange Rules 504, Trading Halts, and                  discussion as well as additional time for
                                                    521, Nullification and Adjustment of                    development and implementation, the                      4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 81084
                                                    Options Transactions including Obvious                  Exchange and the other options                        (July 6, 2017), 82 FR 32216 (July 12, 2017) (granting
                                                    Errors.                                                 exchanges determined to proceed with                  approval of Bats BZX proposal).
                                                                                                                                                                     5 See e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
                                                       The text of the proposed rule change                 the Initial Filing and to undergo a                   80040 (February 14, 2017), 82 FR 11248 (February
                                                                                                            secondary initiative to complete any
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    is available on the Exchange’s Web site                                                                       21, 2017) (SR–CBOE–2016–088) (granting approval
                                                    at http://www.miaxoptions.com/rule-                     additional improvements to the                        of CBOE proposal related to the nullification and
                                                                                                            applicable rule. In this filing, the                  adjustment of complex orders); 80298 (March 22,
                                                    filings, at MIAX’s principal office, and                                                                      2017), 82 FR 15393 (March 28, 2017) (SR–C2–2017–
                                                    at the Commission’s Public Reference                    Exchange proposes to adopt procedures                 011) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness of
                                                    Room.                                                                                                         C2 proposal related to the nullification and
                                                                                                              3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74918     adjustment of complex orders); 80284 (March 21,
                                                                                                            (May 8, 2015), 80 FR 27781 (May 14, 2015) (SR–        2017), 82 FR 15251 (March 27, 2017) (SR–MIAX–
                                                      26 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            MIAX–2015–35); see also Securities Exchange Act       2017–13) (notice of filing and immediate
                                                      1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                Release No. 73884 (December 18, 2014), 79 FR          effectiveness of MIAX proposal related to the
                                                      2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   77557 (December 24, 2014) (the ‘‘Initial Filing’’).   nullification and adjustment of complex orders).



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                                                    37634                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                    and at the open of trading on each                      language also makes clear that the                    Provider is fundamentally incorrect and
                                                    trading day. In each of these                           Exchange and all other options                        cannot be used consistent with the
                                                    circumstances, in turn, because the NBB                 exchanges will use the same TP                        maintenance of a fair and orderly
                                                    or NBO is not available or is deemed to                 Provider.                                             market, the Official shall contact the TP
                                                    be unreliable, the Exchange determines                     As noted above, the proposed TP                    Provider to notify the TP Provider of the
                                                    Theoretical Price. Under the current                    Provider selected by the Exchange and                 reason the Official believes such
                                                    Rule, when determining Theoretical                      other options exchanges is Livevol. The               Theoretical Price is inaccurate and to
                                                    Price, Exchange personnel generally                     Exchange proposes to codify this                      request a review and correction of the
                                                    consult and refer to data such as the                   selection in proposed paragraph (d) to                calculated Theoretical Price. For
                                                    prices of related series, especially the                Interpretation and Policy .04. As such,               example, if an Official received from the
                                                    closest strikes in the option in question.              the Exchange would file a rule proposal               TP Provider a Theoretical Price of $80
                                                    Exchange personnel may also take into                   and would provide notice to the options               in a series that the Official might expect
                                                    account the price of the underlying                     industry of any proposed change to the                to be instead in the range of $8 to $10
                                                    security and the volatility                             TP Provider. The Exchange and other                   because of a recent corporate action in
                                                    characteristics of the option as well as                options exchanges have selected Livevol               the underlying, the Official would
                                                    historical pricing of the option and/or                 as the proposed TP Provider after                     request that the TP Provider review and
                                                    similar options. Although the Rule is                   diligence into various alternatives.                  confirm its calculation and determine
                                                    administered by experienced personnel                   Livevol has, since 2009, been the                     whether it had appropriately accounted
                                                    and the Exchange believes the process is                options industry leader in providing                  for the corporate action. In order to
                                                    currently appropriate, the Exchange                     equity and index options market data                  ensure that other options exchanges that
                                                    recognizes that it is also subjective and               and analytics services.7 The Exchange                 may potentially be relying on the same
                                                    could lead to disparate results for a                   believes that Livevol has established                 Theoretical Price that, in turn, the
                                                    transaction that spans multiple options                 itself within the options industry as a               Official believes to be fundamentally
                                                    exchanges.                                              trusted provider of such services and                 incorrect, the Exchange also proposes to
                                                       The Exchange proposes to adopt                       notes that it and all other options                   promptly provide notice to other
                                                    Interpretation and Policy .04 to specify                exchanges already subscribe to various                options exchanges that the TP Provider
                                                    how the Exchange will determine                         Livevol services. In connection with this             has been contacted to review and
                                                    Theoretical Price when required by sub-                 proposal, Livevol will develop a new                  correct the calculated Theoretical Price
                                                    paragraphs (b)(1)–(3) of the Rule (i.e., at             tool based on its existing technology                 at issue and to include a brief
                                                    the open, when there are no valid                       and services that will supply                         explanation of the reason for the
                                                    quotes or when there is a wide quote).                  Theoretical Price to the Exchange and                 request.9 Although not directly
                                                    In particular, the Exchange has been                    other options exchanges upon request.                 addressed by the proposed Rule, the
                                                    working with other options exchanges                    The Theoretical Price tool will leverage              Exchange expects that all other options
                                                    to identify and select a reliable third                 current market data and surrounding                   exchanges once in receipt of this
                                                    party vendor (‘‘TP Provider’’) that                     strikes to assist in a relative value                 notification would await the
                                                    would provide Theoretical Price to the                  pricing approach to generating a                      determination of the TP Provider and
                                                    Exchange whenever one or more                           Theoretical Price. When relative value                would use the corrected price as soon as
                                                    transactions is under review pursuant to                methods are incapable of generating a                 it is available. The Exchange further
                                                    Rule 521 and the NBBO is unavailable                    valid Theoretical Price, the Theoretical              notes that it expects the TP Provider to
                                                    or deemed unreliable pursuant to Rule                   Price tool will utilize historical trade              cooperate with, but to be independent
                                                    521(b). The Exchange and other options                  and quote data to calculate Theoretical               of, the Exchange and other options
                                                    exchanges have selected CBOE Livevol,                   Price. Because the purpose of the                     exchanges.10
                                                    LLC (‘‘Livevol’’) as the TP Provider, as                proposal is to move away from a                          The Exchange believes that the
                                                    described below. As further described                   subjective determination by Exchange                  proposed provision to allow an Official
                                                    below, proposed Interpretation and                      personnel when the NBBO is                            to contact the TP Provider if he or she
                                                    Policy .04 would codify the use of the                  unavailable or unreliable, the Exchange               believes the provided Theoretical Price
                                                    TP Provider as well as limited                          intends to use the Theoretical Price                  is fundamentally incorrect is necessary,
                                                    exceptions where the Exchange would                     provided by the TP Provider in all such               particularly because the Exchange and
                                                    be able to deviate from the Theoretical                 circumstances. However, the Exchange                  other options exchanges will be using
                                                    Price given by the TP Provider.                         believes it is necessary to retain the                the new process for the first time.
                                                       Pursuant to proposed Interpretation                                                                        Although the exchanges have conducted
                                                                                                            ability to contact the TP Provider if it
                                                    and Policy .04, when the Exchange must                                                                        thorough diligence with respect to
                                                                                                            believes that the Theoretical Price
                                                    determine Theoretical Price pursuant to                                                                       Livevol as the selected TP Provider and
                                                                                                            provided is fundamentally incorrect and
                                                    the sub-paragraphs (b)(1)–(3) of the                                                                          would do so with any potential
                                                                                                            to determine the Theoretical Price in the
                                                    Rule, the Exchange will request                                                                               replacement TP Provider, the Exchange
                                                                                                            limited circumstance of a systems issue
                                                    Theoretical Price from the third party                                                                        is concerned that certain scenarios
                                                                                                            experienced by the TP Provider, as
                                                    vendor to which the Exchange and all
                                                                                                            described below.
                                                    other options exchanges have
                                                                                                               As proposed, to the extent an                         9 See proposed paragraph (b) to Interpretation and
                                                    subscribed. Thus, as set forth in this                                                                        Policy .04.
                                                                                                            Official 8 of the Exchange believes that
                                                    proposed language, Theoretical Price                                                                             10 The Exchange expects any TP Provider selected
                                                                                                            the Theoretical Price provided by the TP
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    would be provided to the Exchange by                                                                          by the Exchange and other options exchanges to act
                                                    the TP Provider on request and not                                                                            independently in its determination and calculation
                                                                                                               7 The Exchange notes that in 2015, Livevol was
                                                                                                                                                                  of Theoretical Price. With respect to Livevol
                                                    through a streaming data feed.6 This                    acquired by CBOE Holdings, Inc., the ultimate         specifically, the Exchange again notes that Livevol
                                                                                                            parent company of the Chicago Board Options           is a subsidiary of CBOE Holdings, Inc., which is
                                                      6 Though the Exchange and other options               Exchange (‘‘CBOE’’) and C2 Options Exchange           also the ultimate parent company of multiple
                                                    exchanges considered a streaming feed, it was           (‘‘C2’’).                                             options exchanges. The Exchange expects Livevol
                                                    determined that it would be more feasible to               8 For purposes of the Rule, an Official is an      to calculate Theoretical Price independent of its
                                                    develop and implement an on demand service and          Officer of the Exchange or such other employee        affiliated exchanges in the same way it will
                                                    that such a service would satisfy the goals of the      designee of the Exchange that is trained in the       calculate Theoretical Price independent of non-
                                                    initiative.                                             application of Rule 521.                              affiliated exchanges.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices                                                   37635

                                                    could arise where the Theoretical Price                   Provider’s services becoming available               Theoretical Price or arising out of any
                                                    generated by the TP Provider does not                     again so long as the Exchange was able               errors or delays in calculating such
                                                    take into account relevant factors and                    to obtain information regarding the                  Theoretical Price. This proposed
                                                    would result in an unfair result for                      issue and the TP Provider had a                      language is modeled after existing
                                                    market participants involved in a                         reasonable expectation of being able to              language in Exchange Rules regarding
                                                    transaction. The Exchange notes that if                   resume normal operations within the                  ‘‘reporting authorities’’ that calculate
                                                    such situations do indeed arise, to the                   next several hours based on                          indices.13
                                                    extent practicable the Exchange will                      communications with the TP Provider.                    In connection with the proposed
                                                    also work with the TP Provider and                        More specifically with respect to                    change described above, the Exchange
                                                    other options exchanges to improve the                    Livevol, Livevol has business continuity             proposes to modify Rule 521 to state
                                                    TP Provider’s calculation of Theoretical                  and disaster recovery procedures that                that the Exchange will rely on paragraph
                                                    Price in future situations. For instance,                 will help to ensure that the Theoretical             (b) and Interpretation and Policy .04
                                                    if the Exchange determines that a                         Price tool remains available or, in the              when determining Theoretical Price.
                                                    particular type of corporate action is not                event of an outage, that service is
                                                    being appropriately captured by the TP                    restored in a timely manner.                         No Valid Quotes—Market Participant
                                                    Provider when such provider is                               The Exchange also notes that if a                 Quoting on Multiple Exchanges
                                                    generating Theoretical Price, while the                   wide-scale event occurred, even if such                 As described above, one of the times
                                                    Exchange believes that it needs the                       event did not qualify as a ‘‘Significant             where the NBB or NBO is deemed to be
                                                    ability to request a review and                           Market Event’’ pursuant to Rule 521(e),              unreliable for purposes of Theoretical
                                                    correction of the Theoretical Price in                    and the TP Provider was unavailable or               Price is when there are no quotes or no
                                                    connection with a specific review in                      otherwise experiencing difficulty, the               valid quotes for the affected series. In
                                                    order to provide a timely decision to                     Exchange believes that it and other                  addition to when there are no quotes,
                                                    market participants, the Exchange                         options exchanges would seek to                      the Exchange does not consider the
                                                    would share information regarding the                     coordinate to the extent possible. In                following to be valid quotes: (i) All
                                                    specific situation with the TP Provider                   particular, the Exchange and other                   quotes in the applicable option series
                                                    and other options exchanges in an effort                  options exchanges now have a process,                published at a time where the last NBB
                                                    to improve the Theoretical Price service                  administered by the Options Clearing                 is higher than the last NBO in such
                                                    for future use. The Exchange notes that                   Corporation, to invoke a discussion                  series (a ‘‘crossed market’’); (ii) quotes
                                                    it does not anticipate needing to rely on                 amongst all options exchanges in the                 published by the Exchange that were
                                                    this provision frequently, if at all, but                 event of any widespread or significant               submitted by either party to the
                                                    believes the provision is necessary                       market events. The Exchange believes                 transaction in question; and (iii) quotes
                                                    nonetheless to best prepare for all                       that this process could be used in the               published by another options exchange
                                                    potential circumstances. Further, the                     event necessary if there were an issue               against which the Exchange has
                                                    Theoretical Price used by the Exchange                    with the TP Provider.                                declared self-help. In recognition of
                                                    in connection with its rulings will                          The Exchange also proposes to adopt               today’s market structure where certain
                                                    always be that received from the TP                       language in paragraph (d) of                         participants actively provide liquidity
                                                    Provider and the Exchange has not                         Interpretation and Policy .04 to Rule 521            on multiple exchanges simultaneously,
                                                    proposed the ability to deviate from                      to disclaim the liability of the Exchange            the Exchange proposes to add an
                                                    such price.11                                             and the TP Provider in connection with               additional category of invalid quotes.
                                                       Pursuant to proposed paragraph (c) to                  the proposed Rule, the TP Provider’s                 Specifically, in order to avoid a
                                                    Interpretation and Policy .04, an Official                calculation of Theoretical Price, and the            situation where a market participant has
                                                    of the Exchange may determine the                         Exchange’s use of such Theoretical                   established the market at an erroneous
                                                    Theoretical Price if the TP Provider has                  Price. Specifically, the proposed rule
                                                                                                                                                                   price on multiple exchanges, the
                                                    experienced a systems issue that has                      would state that neither the Exchange,
                                                                                                                                                                   Exchange proposes to consider as
                                                    rendered its services unavailable to                      the TP Provider, nor any affiliate of the
                                                                                                                                                                   invalid the quotes in a series published
                                                    accurately calculate Theoretical Price                    TP Provider (the TP Provider and its
                                                                                                                                                                   by another options exchange if either
                                                    and such issue cannot be corrected in a                   affiliates are referred to collectively as
                                                                                                                                                                   party to the transaction in question
                                                    timely manner. The Exchange notes that                    the ‘‘TP Provider’’), makes any
                                                                                                                                                                   submitted the quotes in the series
                                                    it does not anticipate needing to rely on                 warranty, express or implied, as to the
                                                                                                                                                                   representing such options exchange’s
                                                    this provision frequently, if at all, but                 results to be obtained by any person or
                                                                                                                                                                   best bid or offer. Thus, similar to being
                                                    believes the provision is necessary                       entity from the use of the TP Provider
                                                                                                                                                                   able to ignore for purposes of the Rule
                                                    nonetheless to best prepare for all                       pursuant to Interpretation .04. The
                                                                                                              proposed rule would further state that               the quotes published by the Exchange if
                                                    potential circumstances. Further,
                                                                                                              the TP Provider does not guarantee the               submitted by either party to the
                                                    consistent with existing text in Rule
                                                                                                              accuracy or completeness of the                      transaction in question, the Exchange
                                                    521(e)(4), the Exchange has not
                                                                                                              calculated Theoretical Price and that the            would be able to ignore for purposes of
                                                    proposed a specific time by which the
                                                                                                              TP Provider disclaims all warranties of              the rule quotations on other options
                                                    service must be available in order to be
                                                                                                              merchantability or fitness for a                     exchanges by that same market
                                                    considered timely.12 The Exchange
                                                                                                              particular purpose or use with respect to            participant.
                                                    expects that it would await the TP
                                                                                                              such Theoretical Price. Finally, the                    In order to continue to apply the Rule
                                                                                                                                                                   in a timely and organized fashion,
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                                                       11 To the extent the TP Provider has been              proposed Rule would state that neither
                                                    contacted by an Official of the Exchange, reviews         the Exchange nor the TP Provider shall               however, the Exchange proposes to
                                                    the Theoretical Price provided but disagrees that
                                                                                                              have any liability for any damages,                  initially limit the scope of this proposed
                                                    there has been any error, then the Exchange would                                                              provision in two ways. First, because
                                                    be bound to use the Theoretical Price provided by         claims, losses (including any indirect or
                                                    the TP Provider.                                          consequential losses), expenses, or                  the process will take considerable
                                                       12 In the context of a Significant Market Event, the
                                                                                                              delays, whether direct or indirect,                    13 See, e.g., MIAX Rule 526, which relates to
                                                    Exchange may determine, ‘‘in consultation with
                                                    other options exchanges . . . that timely adjustment
                                                                                                              foreseen or unforeseen, suffered by any              index options potentially listed and traded on the
                                                    is not feasible due to the extraordinary nature of the    person arising out of any circumstance               Exchange and disclaims liability for a reporting
                                                    situation.’’ See Rule 521(e)(4).                          or occurrence relating to the use of such            authority and their affiliates.



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                                                    37636                         Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                    coordination with other options                           • As there were no other valid quotes               would view the Away Exchange’s
                                                    exchanges to confirm that the quotations                to use as a reference price, the Exchange             quotations as valid, and would thus
                                                    in question on an away options                          would then determine Theoretical Price.               determine Theoretical Price to be $1.05
                                                    exchange were indeed submitted by a                       • Assume the Exchange determines a                  (i.e., the NBO in the case of a potentially
                                                    party to a transaction on the Exchange,                 Theoretical Price of $0.05.                           erroneous buy transaction).
                                                    the Exchange proposes to limit this                       Æ The execution price of $1.00                         • The execution price of $1.00 does
                                                    provision to apply to up to twenty-five                 exceeds the $0.25 minimum amount set                  not exceed the $0.25 minimum amount
                                                    (25) total options series (i.e., whether                forth in the Exchange’s table to                      set forth in the Exchange’s table to
                                                    such series all relate to the same                      determine whether an obvious error has                determine whether an obvious error has
                                                    underlying security or multiple                         occurred (i.e., $0.05 + $0.25 = $0.30) so             occurred (i.e., $1.05 + $0.25 = $1.30) so
                                                    underlying securities). Second, the                     any execution at or above this price is               any execution at or above this price is
                                                    Exchange proposes to require the party                  an obvious error.                                     an obvious error.
                                                    that believes it established the best bid                 Æ Accordingly, the executions in all                   • The transactions on the Exchange
                                                    or offer on one or more other options                   series would be adjusted by the                       would not be nullified or adjusted.
                                                    exchanges to identify to the Exchange                   Exchange to executions at $0.20 per                      • As the Exchange and all other
                                                    the quotes which were submitted by                      contract (Theoretical Price of $0.05 plus             options exchanges have identical rules
                                                    such party and published by other                       $0.15) to the extent the incoming orders              with respect to the process described
                                                    options exchanges. In other words, as                   submitted by Member A were non-                       above, the transactions on the Away
                                                    proposed, the burden will be on the                     Customer orders.                                      Exchange would not be nullified or
                                                    party seeking that the Exchange                           Æ The executions in all series would                adjusted.
                                                    disregard their quotations on other                     be nullified to the extent the incoming
                                                    options exchanges to identify such                                                                            Example 3—Proposed Rule, Member
                                                                                                            orders submitted by Member A were                     Erroneously Quotes on Multiple
                                                    quotations. In turn, the Exchange will                  Customer orders.
                                                    verify with such other options                                                                                Exchanges 14
                                                    exchanges that such quotations were                     Example 2—Current Rule, Member                        Assumptions
                                                    indeed submitted by such party.                         Erroneously Quotes on Multiple
                                                                                                            Exchanges                                                For purposes of this example, assume
                                                      Below are examples of both the                                                                              the following:
                                                    current rule and the rule as proposed to                Assumptions                                              • A Member acting as a Market Maker
                                                    be amended.                                                                                                   on the Exchange (‘‘Market Maker A’’) is
                                                                                                               For purposes of this example, assume
                                                    Example 1—Current Rule, Member                          the following:                                        quoting in twenty series of options
                                                    Erroneously Quotes on One Exchange                         • A Member acting as a Market Maker                underlying security ABCD on the
                                                                                                            on the Exchange (‘‘Market Maker A’’) is               Exchange and on a second exchange
                                                    Assumptions
                                                                                                            quoting in twenty series of options                   (‘‘Away Exchange’’).15
                                                      For purposes of this example, assume                  underlying security ABCD on the                          • Market Maker A makes an error in
                                                    the following:                                          Exchange and on a second exchange                     calculating the market for options on
                                                      • A Member acting as a Market Maker                                                                         ABCD, and publishes quotes on both the
                                                                                                            (‘‘Away Exchange’’).
                                                    on the Exchange (‘‘Market Maker A’’) is
                                                                                                               • Market Maker A makes an error in                 Exchange and the Away Exchange in all
                                                    quoting in twenty series of options                                                                           twenty series to buy options at $1.00
                                                                                                            calculating the market for options on
                                                    underlying security ABCD on the                                                                               and to sell options at $1.05.
                                                                                                            ABCD, and publishes quotes on both the
                                                    Exchange (and only the Exchange).                                                                                • In fact, options on ABCD in these
                                                      • Market Maker A makes an error in                    Exchange and the Away Exchange in all
                                                                                                            twenty series to buy options at $1.00                 series are nearly worthless and no other
                                                    calculating the market for options on                                                                         market participant is quoting in such
                                                    ABCD, and publishes quotes in all                       and to sell options at $1.05.
                                                                                                               • In fact, options on ABCD in these                series.
                                                    twenty series to buy options at $1.00                                                                            • Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty
                                                    and to sell options at $1.05.                           series are nearly worthless and no other
                                                                                                            market participant is quoting in such                 series at issue is $1.00 × $1.05 (with the
                                                      • In fact, options on ABCD in these                                                                         Exchange and the Away Exchange
                                                    series are nearly worthless and no other                series.
                                                                                                               • Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty                representing the NBBO based on Market
                                                    market participant is quoting in such                                                                         Maker A’s quotes).
                                                    series.                                                 series at issue is $1.00 × $1.05 (with the
                                                                                                            Exchange and the Away Exchange                           • Assume Member A immediately
                                                      • Therefore, the NBBO in the twenty                                                                         enters sell orders and executes against
                                                    series at issue is $1.00 × $1.05 (with the              representing the NBBO based on Market
                                                                                                            Maker A’s quotes).                                    Market Maker A’s quotes at $1.00.
                                                    Exchange representing the NBBO based                                                                             • Assume Market Maker A submits to
                                                    on Market Maker A’s quotes).                               • Assume Member A immediately
                                                                                                                                                                  the Exchange and to the Away Exchange
                                                      • Assume Member A immediately                         enters sell orders and executes against
                                                                                                            Market Maker A’s quotes at $1.00.                     timely requests for review of the trades
                                                    enters sell orders and executes against
                                                                                                               • Assume Market Maker A submits to                 with Member A as potentially erroneous
                                                    Market Maker A’s quotes at $1.00.
                                                      • Assume Market Maker A submits to                    the Exchange and to the Away Exchange                 transactions to buy. At the time of
                                                    the Exchange a timely request for review                timely requests for review of the trades              submitting the requests for review to the
                                                    of the trades with Member A as                          with Member A as potentially erroneous                Exchange and the Away Exchange,
                                                    potentially erroneous transactions to                   transactions to buy.                                  Market Maker A identifies to the
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                                                    buy.                                                    Result                                                  14 The Exchange notes that its proposed rule will

                                                    Result                                                                                                        not impact the proposed handling of a request for
                                                                                                               • Based on the Exchange’s current                  review where a market participant is quoting only
                                                       • Based on the Exchange’s current                    rules, the Exchange would identify                    on the Exchange, thus, the Exchange has not
                                                    rules, the Exchange would identify                      Market Maker A as a participant to the                included a separate example for such a fact-pattern.
                                                                                                                                                                    15 The Exchange notes that the proposed rule
                                                    Market Maker A as a participant to the                  trades at issue and would consider
                                                                                                                                                                  would operate the same if Market Maker A was
                                                    trades at issue and would consider                      Market Maker A’s quotations on the                    quoting on more than two exchanges. The Exchange
                                                    Market Maker A’s quotations invalid                     Exchange invalid pursuant to Rule                     has limited the example to two exchanges for
                                                    pursuant to Rule 521(b)(2).                             521(b)(2). The Exchange, however,                     simplicity.



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices                                          37637

                                                    Exchange the quotes on the Away                         due to the amount of coordination that                   As described above, the Exchange and
                                                    Exchange as quotes also represented by                  will be necessary in such a scenario to               other options exchanges are seeking to
                                                    Market Maker A (and to the Away                         confirm that the quotations in question               further modify their harmonized rules
                                                    Exchange, the quotes on the Exchange                    on an away options exchange were                      related to the adjustment and
                                                    as quotes also represented by Market                    indeed submitted by a party to a                      nullification of erroneous options
                                                    Maker A).                                               transaction on the Exchange.                          transactions. The Exchange believes that
                                                                                                                                                                  the proposal to utilize a TP Provider in
                                                    Result                                                  Trading Halts—Clarifying Change to                    the event the NBBO is unavailable or
                                                       • Based on the proposed rules, the                   Rules 504 and 521(f)                                  unreliable will provide greater
                                                    Exchange would identify Market Maker                       Exchange Rules 504 and 521(f)                      transparency and clarity with respect to
                                                    A as a participant to the trades at issue               describe the Exchange’s authority to                  the adjustment and nullification of
                                                    and would consider Market Maker A’s                     declare trading halts in one or more                  erroneous options transactions.
                                                    quotations on the Exchange invalid                      options traded on the Exchange.                       Particularly, the proposed changes seek
                                                    pursuant to Rule 521(b)(2).                             Currently, Rule 521(f) and Interpretation             to achieve consistent results for
                                                       • The Exchange and the Away                          and Policy .04 to Rule 504 both state                 participants across U.S. options
                                                    Exchange would also coordinate to                       that the Exchange shall nullify any                   exchanges while maintaining a fair and
                                                    confirm that the quotations identified by               transaction that occurs during a trading              orderly market, protecting investors and
                                                    Market Maker A on the other exchange                    halt in the affected option on the                    protecting the public interest. Thus, the
                                                    were indeed Market Maker A’s                            Exchange or, with respect to equity                   Exchange believes that the proposal is
                                                    quotations. Once confirmed, each of the                 options, during a trading halt on the                 consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                                    Exchange and the Away Exchange                          primary listing market for the                        Act 19 in that the proposed Rule will
                                                    would also consider invalid the                         underlying security. The Exchange                     foster cooperation and coordination
                                                    quotations published on the other                       proposes to make clear with respect to                with persons engaged in regulating and
                                                    exchange.                                               equity options that it shall nullify any              facilitating transactions.
                                                       • As there were no other valid quotes                transaction that occurs during a                         The Exchange again reiterates that it
                                                    to use as a reference price, the Exchange               regulatory halt as declared by the                    has retained the standard of the current
                                                    would then determine Theoretical Price.                 primary listing market for the                        rule for most reviews of options
                                                       • Assume the Exchange determines a                                                                         transactions pursuant to Rule 521,
                                                                                                            underlying security. The Exchange
                                                    Theoretical Price of $0.05.                                                                                   which is to rely on the NBBO to
                                                       Æ The execution price of $1.00                       believes this change is necessary to
                                                                                                                                                                  determine Theoretical Price if such
                                                    exceeds the $0.25 minimum amount set                    distinguish a declared regulatory halt,
                                                                                                                                                                  NBBO can reasonably be relied upon.
                                                    forth in the Exchange’s table to                        where the underlying security should
                                                                                                                                                                  The proposal to use a TP Provider when
                                                    determine whether an obvious error has                  not be actively trading on any venue,
                                                                                                                                                                  the NBBO is unavailable or unreliable is
                                                    occurred (i.e., $0.05 + $0.25 = $0.30) so               from an operational issue on the
                                                                                                                                                                  consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the
                                                    any execution at or above this price is                 primary listing exchange where the
                                                                                                                                                                  Act 20 in that the proposed Rule will
                                                    an obvious error.                                       security continues to safely trade on
                                                                                                                                                                  foster cooperation and coordination
                                                       Æ Accordingly, the executions in all                 other trading venues.
                                                                                                                                                                  with persons engaged in regulating and
                                                    series would be adjusted by the                         Implementation Date                                   facilitating transactions by further
                                                    Exchange to executions at $0.20 per                                                                           reducing the possibility of disparate
                                                    contract (Theoretical Price of $0.05 plus                 The Exchange proposes to delay the                  results between options exchanges and
                                                    $0.15) to the extent the incoming orders                operative date of this proposal to a date             increasing the objectivity of the
                                                    submitted by Member A were non-                         within ninety (90) days after the                     application of Rule 521. Further, the
                                                    Customer orders.                                        Commission approved the Bats BZX                      Exchange believes that the proposed
                                                       Æ The executions in all series would                 proposal on July 6, 2017.16 The                       Rule is transparent with respect to the
                                                    be nullified to the extent the incoming                 Exchange will announce the operative                  limited circumstances under which the
                                                    orders submitted by Member A were                       date in a Regulatory Alert made                       Exchange will request a review and
                                                    Customer orders.                                        available to its Members.                             correction of Theoretical Price from the
                                                       • As the Exchange and all other                      2. Statutory Basis                                    TP Provider, and has sought to limit
                                                    options exchanges would have identical                                                                        such circumstances as much as possible.
                                                    rules with respect to the process                         The Exchange believes that its                      The Exchange notes that under the
                                                    described above, as other options                       proposal is consistent with the                       current Rule, Exchange personnel are
                                                    exchanges intend to adopt the same rule                 requirements of the Act and the rules                 required to determine Theoretical Price
                                                    if the proposed rule is approved, the                   and regulations thereunder that are                   in certain circumstances and yet rarely
                                                    transactions on the Away Exchange                       applicable to a national securities                   do so because such circumstances have
                                                    would also be nullified or adjusted as                  exchange, and, in particular, with the                already been significantly limited under
                                                    set forth above.                                        requirements of Section 6(b) of the                   the harmonized rule (for example,
                                                       • If this example was instead                        Act.17 Specifically, the proposal is                  because the wide quote provision of the
                                                    modified such that Market Maker A was                   consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                harmonized rule only applies if the
                                                    quoting in 200 series rather than 20, the               Act 18 because it would promote just                  quote was narrower and then gapped
                                                    Exchange notes that Market Maker A                      and equitable principles of trade,                    but does not apply if the quote had been
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                                                    could only request that the Exchange                    remove impediments to, and perfect the                persistently wide). Thus, the Exchange
                                                    consider as invalid their quotations in                 mechanism of, a free and open market                  believes it will need to request
                                                    25 of those series on other exchanges.                  and a national market system, and, in                 Theoretical Price from the TP Provider
                                                    As noted above, the Exchange has                        general, protect investors and the public             only in very rare circumstances and in
                                                    proposed to limit the proposed rule to                  interest.                                             turn, the Exchange anticipates that the
                                                    25 series in order to continue to process                                                                     need to contact the TP Provider for
                                                    requests for review in a timely and                       16 See supra, note 4.
                                                    organized fashion in order to provide                     17 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).                                  19 Id.

                                                    certainty to market participants. This is                 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                               20 Id.




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                                                    37638                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                    additional review of the Theoretical                     Act 24 because they will ensure that the                 markets nearly simultaneously, the
                                                    Price provided by the TP Provider will                   Exchange is able to continue to apply                    Exchange believes that a participant
                                                    be even rarer. Similarly, the Exchange                   the Rule in a timely and organized                       should have a consistent experience
                                                    believes it is unlikely that an Exchange                 fashion, thus fostering cooperation and                  with respect to the nullification or
                                                    Official will ever be required to                        coordination with persons engaged in                     adjustment of transactions. To that end,
                                                    determine Theoretical Price, as such                     regulating and facilitating transactions                 the selection and implementation of a
                                                    circumstance would only be in the                        and also removing impediments to and                     TP Provider utilized by all options
                                                    event of a systems issue that has                        perfecting the mechanism of a free and                   exchanges will further reduce the
                                                    rendered the TP Provider’s services                      open market and a national market                        possibility that participants with
                                                    unavailable and such issue cannot be                     system.                                                  potentially erroneous transactions that
                                                    corrected in a timely manner.                               Finally, with respect to the proposed                 span multiple options exchanges are
                                                       The Exchange also believes its                        modification to the Exchange’s trading                   handled differently on such exchanges.
                                                    proposal to adopt language in paragraph                  halt rules, Rule 504 and Rule 521(f), the                Similarly, the proposed ability to
                                                    (d) of Interpretation and Policy .04 to                  Exchange believes that this proposal is                  consider quotations invalid on another
                                                    Rule 521 to disclaim the liability of the                consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                   options exchange if ultimately
                                                    Exchange and the TP Provider in                          Act 25 because such proposal clarifies                   originating from a party to a potentially
                                                    connection with the proposed Rule, the                   the provision by distinguishing between                  erroneous transaction on the Exchange
                                                    TP Provider’s calculation of Theoretical                 a trading halt in an underlying security                 represents a proposal intended to
                                                    Price, and the Exchange’s use of such                    where the security has halted trading                    further foster cooperation by the options
                                                    Theoretical Price is consistent with the                 across the industry (i.e., a regulatory                  exchanges with respect to market
                                                    Act. As noted above, this proposed                       halt) from a situation where the primary                 events. The Exchange understands that
                                                    language is modeled after existing                       exchange has experienced a technical                     all other options exchanges either have
                                                    language in Exchange Rules regarding                     issue but the underlying security                        or they intend to file proposals that are
                                                    ‘‘reporting authorities’’ that calculate                 continues to trade on other equities                     substantially similar to this proposal.
                                                    indices,21 and is consistent with Section                platforms. The Exchange notes that this                     The Exchange does not believe that
                                                    6(b)(5) of the Act 22 in that the proposed               distinction is already clear in the rules                the proposed rule change imposes a
                                                    Rule will foster cooperation and                         of certain other options exchanges, and                  burden on intramarket competition
                                                    coordination with persons engaged in                     thus, has been found to be consistent                    because the proposed provisions apply
                                                    regulating and facilitating transactions.                with the Act.26                                          to all market participants equally.
                                                       As described above, the Exchange
                                                    proposes a modification to the valid                     B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                        C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    quotes provision to also exclude quotes                  Statement on Burden on Competition                       Statement on Comments on the
                                                    in a series published by another options                                                                          Proposed Rule Change Received From
                                                                                                               The Exchange does not believe that                     Members, Participants, or Others
                                                    exchange if either party to the                          the proposed rule change will impose
                                                    transaction in question submitted the                    any burden on competition that is not                      Written comments were neither
                                                    orders or quotes in the series                           necessary or appropriate in furtherance                  solicited nor received.
                                                    representing such options exchange’s                     of the purposes of the Act. The                          III. Date of Effectiveness of the
                                                    best bid or offer. The Exchange believes                 Exchange believes the entire proposal is                 Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
                                                    this proposal is consistent with Section                 consistent with Section 6(b)(8) of the                   Commission Action
                                                    6(b)(5) of the Act 23 because the                        Act 27 in that it does not impose any
                                                    application of the rule will foster                                                                                  Because the foregoing proposed rule
                                                                                                             burden on competition that is not                        change does not: (i) Significantly affect
                                                    cooperation and coordination with                        necessary or appropriate in furtherance
                                                    persons engaged in regulating and                                                                                 the protection of investors or the public
                                                                                                             of the purposes of the Act as explained                  interest; (ii) impose any significant
                                                    facilitating transactions by allowing the                below.
                                                    Exchange to coordinate with other                                                                                 burden on competition; and (iii) become
                                                                                                               Importantly, the Exchange does not                     operative for 30 days after the date of
                                                    options exchanges to determine whether                   believe that the proposal will impose a
                                                    a market participant that is party to a                                                                           the filing, or such shorter time as the
                                                                                                             burden on intermarket competition but                    Commission may designate, it has
                                                    potentially erroneous transaction on the                 rather that it will alleviate any burden
                                                    Exchange established the market in an                                                                             become effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A)
                                                                                                             on competition because it is the result                  of the Act 28 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 29
                                                    option on other options exchanges; to                    of a collaborative effort by all options
                                                    the extent this can be established, the                                                                           thereunder.
                                                                                                             exchanges to further harmonize and                          At any time within 60 days of the
                                                    Exchange believes such participant’s                     improve the process related to the
                                                    quotes should be excluded in the same                                                                             filing of the proposed rule change, the
                                                                                                             adjustment and nullification of                          Commission summarily may
                                                    way such quotes are excluded on the                      erroneous options transactions. The                      temporarily suspend such rule change if
                                                    Exchange. The Exchange also believes it                  Exchange does not believe that the rules                 it appears to the Commission that such
                                                    is reasonable to limit the scope of this                 applicable to such process in [sic] an                   action is necessary or appropriate in the
                                                    provision to twenty-five (25) series and                 area where options exchanges should                      public interest, for the protection of
                                                    to require the party that believes it                    compete, but rather, that all options                    investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
                                                    established the best bid or offer on one                 exchanges should have consistent rules                   the purposes of the Act. If the
                                                    or more other options exchanges to                       to the extent possible. Particularly
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                                                    identify to the Exchange the quotes                      where a market participant trades on                       28 15  U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
                                                    which were submitted by that party and                   several different exchanges and an                         29 17  CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
                                                    published by other options exchanges.                    erroneous trade may occur on multiple                    4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
                                                    The Exchange believes these limitations                                                                           the Commission written notice of its intent to file
                                                    are consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the                 24 15
                                                                                                                                                                      the proposed rule change, along with a brief
                                                                                                                        U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                             description and text of the proposed rule change,
                                                                                                               25 Id.
                                                                                                                                                                      at least five business days prior to the date of filing
                                                      21 See supra, note 13.                                   26 See, e.g., Interpretation and Policy .07 to CBOE
                                                                                                                                                                      of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time
                                                      22 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                Rule 6.3.                                                as designated by the Commission. The Exchange
                                                      23 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                  27 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).                                has satisfied this requirement.



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 154 / Friday, August 11, 2017 / Notices                                                 37639

                                                    Commission takes such action, the                         For the Commission, by the Division of              II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    Commission shall institute proceedings                  Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated            Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                    to determine whether the proposed rule                  authority.30                                          Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    should be approved or disapproved.                      Eduardo A. Aleman,                                    Change
                                                    IV. Solicitation of Comments                            Assistant Secretary.                                     In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–16924 Filed 8–10–17; 8:45 am]           Exchange included statements
                                                      Interested persons are invited to                     BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                concerning the purpose of and basis for
                                                    submit written data, views, and                                                                               the proposed rule change and discussed
                                                    arguments concerning the foregoing,                                                                           any comments it received on the
                                                    including whether the proposed rule                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                               proposed rule change. The text of these
                                                    change is consistent with the Act.                      COMMISSION                                            statements may be examined at the
                                                    Comments may be submitted by any of                                                                           places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                    the following methods:                                  [Release No. 34–81323; File No. SR–                   Exchange has prepared summaries, set
                                                                                                            NASDAQ–2017–078]                                      forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
                                                    Electronic Comments                                                                                           the most significant aspects of such
                                                      • Use the Commission’s Internet                       Self-Regulatory Organizations; The                    statements.
                                                    comment form (http://www.sec.gov/                       NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of                    A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
                                                    rules/sro.shtml); or                                    Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of                 Statement of the Purpose of, and
                                                      • Send an email to rule-comments@                     Proposed Rule Change To Amend                         Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
                                                    sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–                 Chapter V, Section 6, Nullification and               Change
                                                    MIAX–2017–38 on the subject line.                       Adjustment of Options Transactions
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Purpose
                                                                                                            Including Obvious Errors
                                                    Paper Comments                                                                                                   The Exchange and other options
                                                                                                            August 7, 2017.                                       exchanges recently adopted a new,
                                                      • Send paper comments in triplicate                                                                         harmonized rule related to the
                                                                                                               Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
                                                    to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities                                                                     adjustment and nullification of
                                                    and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                                                                                                            ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                erroneous options transactions,
                                                    NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.                                                                               including a specific provision related to
                                                                                                            notice is hereby given that on July 26,
                                                    All submissions should refer to File                    2017, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC                     coordination in connection with large-
                                                    Number SR–MIAX–2017–38. This file                       (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the           scale events involving erroneous
                                                    number should be included on the                                                                              options transactions.3 The Exchange
                                                                                                            Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                    subject line if email is used. To help the                                                                    believes that the changes the options
                                                                                                            (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
                                                    Commission process and review your                                                                            exchanges implemented with the new,
                                                                                                            change as described in Items I and II                 harmonized rule have led to increased
                                                    comments more efficiently, please use                   below, which Items have been prepared
                                                    only one method. The Commission will                                                                          transparency and finality with respect to
                                                                                                            by the Exchange. The Commission is                    the adjustment and nullification of
                                                    post all comments on the Commission’s                   publishing this notice to solicit
                                                    Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/                                                                        erroneous options transactions.
                                                                                                            comments on the proposed rule change                  However, as part of the initial initiative,
                                                    rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the                         from interested persons.
                                                    submission, all subsequent                                                                                    the Exchange and other options
                                                    amendments, all written statements                      I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                     exchanges deferred a few specific
                                                    with respect to the proposed rule                       Statement of the Terms of Substance of                matters for further discussion.
                                                    change that are filed with the                          the Proposed Rule Change                              Specifically, as described in the Initial
                                                    Commission, and all written                                                                                   Filing, the Exchange and all other
                                                    communications relating to the                             The Exchange proposes to amend                     options exchanges have been working to
                                                    proposed rule change between the                        Chapter V, Section 6 of the Exchange’s                further improve the review of
                                                    Commission and any person, other than                   Options Rules (the ‘‘Rules’’), entitled               potentially erroneous transactions as
                                                    those that may be withheld from the                     ‘‘Nullification and Adjustment of                     well as their subsequent adjustment by
                                                    public in accordance with the                           Options Transactions including Obvious                creating an objective and universal way
                                                    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be                     Errors.’’                                             to determine Theoretical Price in the
                                                    available for Web site viewing and                                                                            event a reliable NBBO is not available.
                                                                                                               While these amendments are effective               Because this initiative required
                                                    printing in the Commission’s Public                     upon filing, the Exchange has
                                                    Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,                                                                             additional exchange and industry
                                                                                                            designated the proposed amendments to                 discussion as well as additional time for
                                                    Washington, DC 20549 on official                        be operative on a date that is within
                                                    business days between the hours of                                                                            development and implementation, the
                                                                                                            ninety (90) days after the Commission                 Exchange and the other options
                                                    10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such
                                                                                                            approved a similar proposal filed by                  exchanges determined to proceed with
                                                    filing also will be available for
                                                    inspection and copying at the principal                 Bats BZX on July 6, 2017.                             the Initial Filing and to undergo a
                                                    office of the Exchange. All comments                       The text of the proposed rule change               secondary initiative to complete any
                                                    received will be posted without change;                 is available on the Exchange’s Web site               additional improvements to the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    the Commission does not edit personal                   at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at                applicable rule. In this filing, the
                                                    identifying information from                            the principal office of the Exchange, and             Exchange proposes to adopt procedures
                                                    submissions. You should submit only                     at the Commission’s Public Reference                  that will lead to a more objective and
                                                    information that you wish to make                       Room.                                                 uniform way to determine Theoretical
                                                    available publicly. All submissions                                                                           Price in the event a reliable NBBO is not
                                                    should refer to File Number SR–MIAX–                      30 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34–
                                                    2017–38, and should be submitted on or                    1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                              74915 (May 8, 2015); 80 FR 27801 (May 14, 2015)
                                                    before September 1, 2017.                                 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                 (SR–NASDAQ–2015–054) (the ‘‘Initial Filing’’).



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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:47:41
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:47:41
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 37633 

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