82 FR 37920 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend BOX Rule 7170 (Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including Obvious Errors)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 155 (August 14, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 155 (August 14, 2017)
| Page Range | 37920-37926 | |
| FR Document | 2017-17066 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 155 (Monday, August 14, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 37920-37926] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-17066] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-81351; File No. SR-BOX-2017-25] Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend BOX Rule 7170 (Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions Including Obvious Errors) August 8, 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 3, 2017, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the ``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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 37921]] I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend BOX Rule 7170 (Nullification and Adjustment of Options Transactions including Obvious Errors). The text of the proposed rule change is available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://boxexchange.com. 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 self-regulatory organization 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 self-regulatory organization 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 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 file, except that it omits the section of the proposal that pertains to trading halts due to the fact that IM- 7080-3 already includes the applicable language. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 74556 (March 20, 2015), 80 FR 16031 (March 26, 2015) (SR-BATS-2014-067); 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. 34-81084 (July 6, 2017) (granting approval of Bats BZX proposal), 82 FR 32216 (July 12, 2017); 82 FR 23684 (May 23, 2017) (SR-BatsBZX-2017-035) (notice of filing of Bats BZX proposal). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 7170, 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, 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 IM-7170-5 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 7170 and the NBBO is unavailable or deemed unreliable pursuant to Rule 7170(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 IM-7170-5 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 IM-7170-5, 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.\5\ This language also makes clear that the Exchange and all other options exchanges will use the same TP Provider. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 37922]] 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 IM-7170-5. 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.\6\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 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''). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. As proposed, to the extent an Official \7\ 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.\8\ 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.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ 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 7170. \8\ See proposed paragraph (b) to IM-7170-5. \9\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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.\10\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuant to proposed paragraph (c) of IM-7170-5, 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 7170(e)(4), the Exchange has not proposed a specific time by which the service must be available in order to be considered timely.\11\ 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 [[Page 37923]] 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \11\ 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 7170(e)(4). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 7170(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 IM-7170-5 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 IM-7170-5. 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.\12\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \12\ See, e.g., Rule 6110, which relates to index options potentially listed and traded on the Exchange and disclaims liability for a reporting authority and their affiliates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In connection with the proposed change described above, the Exchange proposes to modify Rule 7170 to state that the Exchange will rely on paragraph (b) and IM-7170-5 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 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, Participant Erroneously Quotes on One Exchange Assumptions For purposes of this example, assume the following:A Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 7170(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. [[Page 37924]] [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 Participant A were non-Customer orders. [cir] The executions in all series would be nullified to the extent the incoming orders submitted by Participant A were Customer orders. Example 2--Current Rule, Participant Erroneously Quotes on Multiple Exchanges Assumptions For purposes of this example, assume the following: A Participant 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 7170(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, Participant Erroneously Quotes on Multiple Exchanges \13\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assumptions For purposes of this example, assume the following: A Participant 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'').\14\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Participant 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 Participant 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 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 7170(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 Participant A were non-Customer orders. [cir] The executions in all series would be nullified to the extent the incoming orders submitted by Participant 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. [[Page 37925]] 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. The Exchange will announce the operative date in a Regulatory Circular made available to its Participants. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act''),\15\ in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\16\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest. In particular, 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 \17\ in that the proposed Rule will foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating and facilitating transactions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \17\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange again reiterates that it has retained the standard of the current rule for most reviews of options transactions pursuant to Rule 7170, 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 \18\ 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 7170. 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 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Exchange also believes its proposal to adopt language in paragraph (d) of IM-7170-5 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,\19\ and 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \19\ See supra, note 12. \20\ 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 \21\ 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 \22\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \21\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act as explained below. 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 is 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 [[Page 37926]] 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 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 The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the proposed rule change. 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 \23\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \24\ thereunder. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \23\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). \24\ 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 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-BOX-2017-25 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-BOX-2017-25. 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-BOX-2017-25, and should be submitted on or before September 5, 2017. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.\25\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \25\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eduardo A. Aleman, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017-17066 Filed 8-11-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
![37920 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices
scenario are extracted from the market Framework, is consistent with Section rule change further ICC’s compliance
history of the most actively traded 17A of the Exchange Act and Rule with CFTC regulations. The
instrument for the considered Risk 17Ad–22(d)(11) thereunder. As Commission also notes that the CFTC is
Factors. represented by ICC, the various the supervisory agency for ICC under
ICC proposed to revise the elements set forth in the Liquidity Risk Section 803(8)(A)(ii) of the Payment,
Hypothetically Constructed (Forward Management Framework, and described Clearing, and Settlement Supervision
Looking) Extreme but Plausible Market above, ensure that ICC has sufficient Act of 2010.18 Based on the foregoing,
Scenarios section to ensure consistency liquidity resources to effectively the Commission finds that good cause
with the loss-given default stress measure, monitor, and manage its exists to approve the proposed rule
scenario set forth in the Liquidity Risk liquidity risk. Further, ICC represented
change on an accelerated basis pursuant
Management Framework, which the Liquidity Risk Management
combines a given historically observed to Section 19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the
Framework supports ICC’s ability to
extreme but plausible market scenario maintain sufficient liquid resources in Exchange Act.
with explicit Jump-to-Default events. all relevant currencies to effect same- IV. Conclusion
The proposed revisions specify that day and, where appropriate, intraday
there would be up to two reference and multiday settlement of payment It is therefore ordered pursuant to
entities selected for a hypothetical obligations with a high degree of Section 19(b)(2) of the Exchange Act
adverse credit event. confidence under a wide range of that the proposed rule change (SR–ICC–
Finally, ICC proposed to revise the potential stress scenarios. ICC 2017–011) be, and hereby is, approved
description of the discordant scenarios represented that changes to the Stress on an accelerated basis.19
(i.e., scenarios under which selected Testing Framework were necessary
risk factors move in opposite directions) For the Commission by the Division of
following recent changes to the
in the Stress Testing Framework to Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
Liquidity Risk Management Framework,
reflect the introduction of Risk Factor authority.20
as ICC operates its stress testing and
specific scenarios. According to ICC, the liquidity stress testing on a unified set Eduardo A. Aleman,
discordant scenarios are designed to of stress testing scenarios and systems. Assistant Secretary.
reproduce significant discordant market ICC stated that its stress testing practices [FR Doc. 2017–17052 Filed 8–11–17; 8:45 am]
outcomes observed during the will continue to ensure the adequacy of BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
considered historical period. ICC creates systemic risk protections. ICC
discordant scenarios for North represented that the revised stress test
American corporate single names and scenarios set forth in the Stress Testing SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
indices; European corporate single Framework will continue to ensure that COMMISSION
names and indices; and sovereign ICC maintains sufficient financial
reference entities. resources to withstand a default by the [Release No. 34–81351; File No. SR–BOX–
III. Discussion and Commission CP family to which it has the largest 2017–25]
exposure in extreme but plausible
Findings
market conditions. The Commission Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX
Section 19(b)(2)(C) of the Exchange therefore believes that the proposed Options Exchange LLC; Notice of
Act directs the Commission to approve revisions to the ICC Liquidity Risk
a proposed rule change of a self- Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Management Framework and Stress a Proposed Rule Change To Amend
regulatory organization if it finds that Testing Framework are designed to
such proposed rule change is consistent BOX Rule 7170 (Nullification and
promote the prompt and accurate
with the requirements of the Exchange settlement of securities transactions, Adjustment of Options Transactions
Act and the rules and regulations derivatives agreements, contracts, and Including Obvious Errors)
thereunder applicable to such transactions for which ICC is August 8, 2017.
organization.15 Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of responsible, consistent with Section
the Exchange Act requires, among other 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Exchange Act. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
things, that the rules of a registered Furthermore, for similar reasons, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
clearing agency be designed to promote Commission finds that the proposed ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
the prompt and accurate clearance and revisions are consistent with the notice is hereby given that on August 3,
settlement of securities transactions requirements of Rule 17Ad–22(d)(11). 2017, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the
and, to the extent applicable, derivative Section 19(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
agreements, contracts, and Exchange Act allows the Commission to and Exchange Commission
transactions.16 Rule 17Ad–22(d)(11) approve a proposed rule change earlier (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
requires, in relevant part, that a than 30 days after the date of change as described in Items I and II
registered clearing agency establish publication of the notice of the below, which Items have been prepared
default procedures that ensure that the proposed rule change in the Federal by the Exchange. The Commission is
clearing agency can take timely action to Register where the Commission finds publishing this notice to solicit
contain losses and liquidity pressures good cause for so doing and publishes comments on the proposed rule change
and to continue meeting its obligations the reason for the finding.17 In its filing,
from interested persons.
in the event of a participant default. ICC requested that the Commission
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
The Commission finds that the approve the proposed rule change on an 18 12 U.S.C. 5462(8)(A)(ii).
proposed rule change, which revises accelerated basis for good cause shown. 19 In approving the proposed rule change, the
ICC’s Liquidity Risk Management ICC represented that the amendments to Commission considered the proposal’s impact on
Framework and makes conforming ICC’s Liquidity Risk Management efficiency, competition, and capital formation. 15
changes to ICC’s Stress Testing Framework and Stress Testing U.S.C. 78c(f).
Framework set forth in the proposed 20 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
15 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C). 1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
16 15 U.S.C. 78q–1(b)(3)(F). 17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(C)(iii). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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![37926 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 155 / Monday, August 14, 2017 / Notices
adjustment of transactions. To that end, to determine whether the proposed rule For the Commission, by the Division of
the selection and implementation of a should be approved or disapproved. Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
TP Provider utilized by all options authority.25
exchanges will further reduce the IV. Solicitation of Comments Eduardo A. Aleman,
possibility that participants with Assistant Secretary.
Interested persons are invited to
potentially erroneous transactions that submit written data, views, and [FR Doc. 2017–17066 Filed 8–11–17; 8:45 am]
span multiple options exchanges are arguments concerning the foregoing, BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
handled differently on such exchanges.
including whether the proposed rule
Similarly, the proposed ability to
change is consistent with the Act. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
consider quotations invalid on another
Comments may be submitted by any of COMMISSION
options exchange if ultimately
originating from a party to a potentially the following methods:
[Release No. 34–81353; File No. SR–MRX–
erroneous transaction on the Exchange Electronic Comments 2017–16]
represents a proposal intended to
further foster cooperation by the options • Use the Commission’s Internet Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
exchanges with respect to market comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ MRX, LLC; Notice of Filing and
events. The Exchange understands that rules/sro.shtml); or Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
all other options exchanges intend to • Send an email to rule-comments@ Rule Change To Amend Rule 720,
file proposals that are substantially sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– Nullification and Adjustment of
similar to this proposal. BOX–2017–25 on the subject line. Options Transactions Including
The Exchange does not believe that Obvious Errors
the proposed rule change imposes a Paper Comments
burden on intramarket competition August 8, 2017.
because the proposed provisions apply • Send paper comments in triplicate Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
to all market participants equally. to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. notice is hereby given that on August 3,
Statement on Comments on the 2017, Nasdaq MRX, LLC (‘‘MRX’’ or
Proposed Rule Change Received From All submissions should refer to File ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
Members, Participants, or Others Number SR–BOX–2017–25. This file and Exchange Commission
number should be included on the (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
The Exchange has neither solicited
subject line if email is used. To help the change as described in Items I and II
nor received comments on the proposed
rule change. Commission process and review your below, which Items have been prepared
comments more efficiently, please use by the Exchange. The Commission is
III. Date of Effectiveness of the only one method. The Commission will publishing this notice to solicit
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for post all comments on the Commission’s comments on the proposed rule change
Commission Action Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ from interested persons.
Because the foregoing proposed rule rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
change does not: (i) Significantly affect submission, all subsequent
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the protection of investors or the public amendments, all written statements
the Proposed Rule Change
interest; (ii) impose any significant with respect to the proposed rule
burden on competition; and (iii) become change that are filed with the The Exchange proposes to amend
operative for 30 days after the date of Commission, and all written Rule 720, Nullification and Adjustment
the filing, or such shorter time as the communications relating to the of Options Transactions including
Commission may designate, it has proposed rule change between the Obvious Errors.
become effective pursuant to 19(b)(3)(A) Commission and any person, other than While these amendments are effective
of the Act 23 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 24 those that may be withheld from the upon filing, the Exchange has
thereunder. designated the proposed amendments to
public in accordance with the
At any time within 60 days of the be operative on a date that is within
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
filing of the proposed rule change, the ninety (90) days after the Commission
available for Web site viewing and approved a similar proposal filed by
Commission summarily may printing in the Commission’s Public
temporarily suspend such rule change if Bats BZX on July 6, 2017.
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., The text of the proposed rule change
it appears to the Commission that such
Washington, DC 20549 on official is available on the Exchange’s Web site
action is necessary or appropriate in the
business days between the hours of at www.ise.com, at the principal office
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such of the Exchange, and at the
the purposes of the Act. If the filing also will be available for Commission’s Public Reference Room.
Commission takes such action, the inspection and copying at the principal
office of the Exchange. All comments II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Commission shall institute proceedings Statement of the Purpose of, and
received will be posted without change;
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
23 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). the Commission does not edit personal
Change
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
24 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b– identifying information from
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give submissions. You should submit only In its filing with the Commission, the
the Commission written notice of its intent to file information that you wish to make Exchange included statements
the proposed rule change, along with a brief concerning the purpose of and basis for
description and text of the proposed rule change, available publicly. All submissions
at least five business days prior to the date of filing should refer to File Number SR–BOX– 25 17
of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
2017–25, and should be submitted on or 1 15
as designated by the Commission. The Exchange U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
has satisfied this requirement. before September 5, 2017. 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:52:34
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:52:34
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
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| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 37920 |
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