82_FR_8249 82 FR 8235 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the PRISM Price Improvement Auction in BX Chapter VI, Section 9 and To Make Pilot Program Permanent

82 FR 8235 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Order Granting Approval of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the PRISM Price Improvement Auction in BX Chapter VI, Section 9 and To Make Pilot Program Permanent

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 14 (January 24, 2017)

Page Range8235-8238
FR Document2017-01467

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8235-8238]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01467]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-79812; File No. SR-BX-2016-063]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Order Granting 
Approval of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the PRISM Price Improvement 
Auction in BX Chapter VI, Section 9 and To Make Pilot Program Permanent

January 17, 2017.

I. Introduction

    On November 21, 2016, NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or 
``Commission''), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 (``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a 
proposed rule change to amend the eligibility requirements for its 
Price Improvement Auction mechanism (``PRISM'' or ``Auction'') and make 
permanent those aspects of the PRISM auction that are currently 
operating on a pilot basis. The proposed rule change was published for 
comment in the Federal Register on December 9, 2016.\3\ The Commission 
received no comments regarding the proposal. This order approves the 
proposed rule change.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79465 (December 5, 
2016), 81 FR 89167 (``Notice'').
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II. Description of the Proposal

    The Exchange established PRISM in November 2015 as a price 
improvement mechanism.\4\ Pursuant to Chapter VI, Section 9 of the BX 
Options Rules, a Participant (an ``Initiating Participant'') may 
electronically submit for execution an order it represents as agent on 
behalf of a Public Customer,\5\ Professional customer, broker dealer, 
or any other entity (``PRISM Order'') against principal interest or 
against any other order it represents as agent (an ``Initiating 
Order''), provided it submits the PRISM Order for electronic execution 
into the Auction. Parts of PRISM are currently operating on a pilot 
basis (``Pilot''),\6\ which is set to expire on January 18, 2017.\7\ 
The Exchange proposes to make the Pilot permanent, and also proposes to 
amend the Auction eligibility requirements for certain PRISM Orders of 
less than 50 option contracts.
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    \4\ See Securities Exchange Release No. 76301 (October 29, 
2015), 80 FR 68347 (November 4, 2015) (SR-BX-2015-032) (``PRISM 
Approval Order'').
    \5\ A Public Customer means a person that is not a broker or 
dealer in securities. See Chapter I, Section 1(a)(50) of the BX 
Options Rules. A ``Professional'' means any person or entity that 
(i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more 
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a 
calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). A Participant or a 
Public Customer may, without limitation, be a Professional. All 
Professional orders shall be appropriately marked by Participants. 
See Chapter I, Section 1(a)(49) of the BX Options Rules. For 
purposes of PRISM rule, a Public Customer order does not include a 
Professional order. See Chapter VI, Section 9 of the BX Options 
Rules.
    \6\ Three components of PRISM were approved by the Commission on 
a pilot basis: (1) The early conclusion of the PRISM Auction; (2) 
the provision that an unrelated market or marketable limit order 
(against the BX BBO) on the opposite side of the market from the 
PRISM Order received during the Auction will not cause the Auction 
to end early and will execute against interest outside of the 
Auction; and (3) no minimum size requirement of orders.
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78249 (July 7, 
2016), 81 FR 45334 (July 13, 2016) (SR-BX-2016-038).
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A. PRISM Eligibility Requirements for PRISM Orders of Fewer Than 50 
Contracts

    Currently, a PRISM Auction may be initiated if certain conditions 
are met. If the PRISM Order is for the account of a Public Customer, 
the Initiating Participant must stop the entire PRISM Order at a price 
that is equal to or better than the National Best Bid/Offer (``NBBO'') 
on the opposite side of the market from the PRISM Order, provided that 
such price must be at least one minimum trading increment (specified in 
Chapter VI, Section 5 of the BX Options Rules) better than any limit 
order on the limit order book on the same side of the market as the 
PRISM Order.\8\ If the PRISM Order is for the account of a broker 
dealer or any other person or entity that is not a Public Customer, the 
Initiating Participant must stop the entire PRISM Order at a price that 
is the better of: (i) The BX BBO price improved by at least the minimum 
trading increment on the same side of the market as the PRISM Order, or 
(ii) the PRISM Order's limit price (if the order is a limit order), 
provided in either case that such price is at or better than the 
NBBO.\9\
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    \8\ See Chapter VI, Section 9(i)(A) of the BX Options Rules.
    \9\ See Chapter VI, Section 9(i)(B) of the BX Options Rules.
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    BX proposes to amend the Auction eligibility requirements to 
require that, if the PRISM Order is for less than 50 option contracts, 
and if the difference between the NBBO is $0.01, the Initiating 
Participant must stop the entire PRISM Order at one minimum price 
improvement increment better than the NBBO on the opposite side of the 
market from the PRISM Order, and better than any limit order on the 
limit order book on the same side of the market as the PRISM Order. 
Thus, BX would require that the PRISM Order receive at least $0.01 
price improvement if that PRISM Order is for less than 50 contracts and 
if the difference between the NBBO is $0.01. This requirement will 
apply regardless of whether the PRISM Order is for the account of a 
Public Customer, or where the PRISM Order is for the account of a 
broker dealer or any other person or entity that is not a Public 
Customer.
    The Exchange will retain the current requirements for Auction 
eligibility in all other instances. Accordingly, if the PRISM Order is 
for the account of a Public Customer and such order is for 50 option 
contracts or more or if the difference between the NBBO is greater than 
$0.01, the Initiating Participant must stop the entire PRISM Order at a 
price that is equal to or better than the NBBO on the opposite side of 
the market from the PRISM Order, provided that such price must be at 
least one minimum trading increment better than any limit order on the 
limit order book on the same side of the market as the PRISM Order. If 
the PRISM Order is for the account of a broker dealer or any other 
person or entity that is not a Public Customer and such order is for 50 
option contracts or more, or if the difference between the NBBO is 
greater than $0.01, the Initiating Participant must stop the entire 
PRISM Order at a price that is the better of: (i) The BX BBO price 
improved by at least the Minimum Increment on the same side of the 
market as the PRISM Order, or (ii) the PRISM Order's limit price (if 
the order is a limit order), provided in

[[Page 8236]]

either case that such price is at or better than the NBBO.\10\
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    \10\ The Exchange also proposes to add language to Chapter VI, 
Section 9(i) of the BX Options Rules to clarify that, if any of the 
auction eligibility criteria are not met, the PRISM Order will be 
rejected. The Exchange will also add language to Chapter VI, Section 
9(i) to clarify the treatment of paired Public Customer-to-Public 
Customer orders pursuant to subparagraph (vi) as a result of these 
proposed changes. Specifically, Exchange will allow a PRISM Order to 
trade on either the bid or offer, pursuant to subparagraph (vi), if 
the NBBO is $0.01 wide, provided (1) the execution price is equal to 
or within the NBBO, (2) there is no resting customer at the 
execution price, and (3) $0.01 is the Minimum Price Variation (MPV) 
of the option. The Exchange also proposes to add language that it 
will continue to reject a PRISM Order to buy (sell) if the NBBO is 
only $0.01 wide and the Agency order is stopped on the bid (offer) 
if there is a resting order on the bid (offer). These requirements 
are unchanged from the Exchange's current handling practices of 
paired Public Customer-to-Public Customer PRISM Orders per 
subparagraph (vi), and the Exchange's current practice of rejecting 
PRISM Orders to buy (sell) if the NBBO is only $0.01 wide and the 
Agency order is stopped on the bid (offer) if there is a resting 
order on the bid (offer).
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    The Exchange believes that these changes to PRISM may provide 
additional opportunities for PRISM Orders of fewer than 50 option 
contracts to receive price improvement over the NBBO where the 
difference in the NBBO is $0.01 and therefore encourage the increased 
submission of orders of fewer than 50 option contracts.\11\ The 
Exchange notes that the statistics for the current pilot, which 
include, among other things, price improvement for orders of fewer than 
50 option contracts under the current auction eligibility requirements, 
show relatively small amounts of price improvement for such orders.\12\ 
BX believes that the proposed requirements will therefore increase the 
price improvement that orders of fewer than 50 option contracts may 
receive in PRISM.\13\ The Exchange also notes that NASDAQ PHLX LLC 
(``Phlx'') operates a similar price improvement mechanism, PIXL, which 
has been operating for a longer period of time and has generated 
similar pilot data.\14\ Given the similarly between the two mechanisms, 
the Exchange expects that PRISM, if operated on a pilot basis over a 
longer period of time, would continue to generate data that is 
comparable to PIXL.\15\
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    \11\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.
    \12\ See id.
    \13\ See id.
    \14\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63027 (October 1, 
2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR-Phlx-2010-108).
    \15\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.
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B. Pilot Program

    Three components of PRISM were approved by the Commission on a 
pilot basis: (1) The early conclusion of the PRISM Auction; \16\ (2) 
the provision that an unrelated market or marketable limit order 
(against the BX BBO) on the opposite side of the market from the PRISM 
Order received during the Auction will not cause the Auction to end 
early and will execute against interest outside of the Auction; \17\ 
and (3) no minimum size requirement of orders. The provisions were 
approved for a pilot period that currently expires on January 18, 
2017.\18\ The Exchange proposes to have the Pilot approved on a 
permanent basis.
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    \16\ See Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(B)(4) of the BX Options 
Rules.
    \17\ See Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(D) of the BX Options Rules.
    \18\ See PRISM Approval Order, supra note 4.
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    During the Pilot period, the Exchange submitted certain data 
periodically as required by the Commission, to provide supporting 
evidence that, among other things, there is meaningful competition for 
all size orders, there is significant price improvement available 
through PRISM, and that there is an active and liquid market 
functioning on the Exchange outside of the Auction mechanism.\19\
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    \19\ See Chapter VI, Section 9(vii).
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1. No Minimum Size Requirement
    Chapter VI, Section 9(vii) provides that, as part of the current 
Pilot, there will be no minimum size requirement for orders to be 
eligible for the Auction. The Exchange believes that the data gathered 
since the approval of the Pilot, which it discussed in the Notice, 
establishes that there is liquidity and competition both within PRISM 
and outside of PRISM, and that there are opportunities for significant 
price improvement within PRISM.\20\
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    \20\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169. See also Exhibit 3 to 
SR-BX-2016-063.
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    The Exchange also has gathered information about activity in orders 
for less than 50 and 50 contracts or greater for PRISM auctions between 
January and June 2016. For auctions occurring during that period, 87.8% 
of auctions were for orders for less than 50 contracts, a percentage 
that remained stable over that time period. Auctions for orders of less 
than 50 contracts accounted for 30.0% of the contract volume traded in 
PRISM. Auctions of 50 contracts or more made up 12.2% of all PRISM 
auctions and accounted for 70.0% of contracts traded in PRISM.\21\
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    \21\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89369.
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    With respect to price improvement, 60.5% of PRISM auctions between 
January and June 2016 executed at a price that was better than the NBBO 
at the time the auction began.\22\ For auctions of less than 50 
contracts, 64.7% received price improvement, while 30.5% of auctions 
for 50 contracts or more received price improvement.\23\
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    \22\ See id.
    \23\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.
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    BX believes that the data gathered during the Pilot period 
indicates that there is meaningful competition in PRISM auctions for 
all size orders, there is an active and liquid market functioning on 
the Exchange outside of the auction mechanism, and that there are 
opportunities for price improvement for orders executed through 
PRISM.\24\ The Exchange therefore has requested that the Commission 
approve the no minimum size requirement on a permanent basis.
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    \24\ See id.
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2. Early Conclusion of the PRISM Auction
    Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(B)(4) of the BX Options Rules provides 
that the PRISM Auction shall conclude at the earlier of (1) the end of 
the Auction period; (2) any time the BX BBO crosses the PRISM Order 
stop price on the same side of the market as the PRISM Order; or (3) 
any time there is a trading halt on the Exchange in the affected 
series.\25\ The latter two conditions are operating as part of the 
current Pilot.
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    \25\ If the situations described in either of the two latter 
conditions occur, the entire PRISM Order will be executed at: (1) In 
the case of the BX BBO crossing the PRISM Order stop price, the best 
response price(s) or, if the stop price is the best price in the 
Auction, at the stop price, unless the best response price is equal 
to or better than the price of a limit order resting on the Order 
Book on the same side of the market as the PRISM Order, in which 
case the PRISM Order will be executed against that response, but at 
a price that is at least the Minimum Increment better than the price 
of such limit order at the time of the conclusion of the Auction; or 
(2) in the case of a trading halt on the Exchange in the affected 
series, the stop price, in which case the PRISM Order will be 
executed solely against the Initiating Order. Any unexecuted PAN 
responses will be cancelled.
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    As with the no minimum size requirement, the Exchange has gathered 
data on these latter two conditions. Between January and June 2016, one 
auction terminated early because the BX BBO crossed the PRISM Order 
stop price. No auctions terminated early because of halts. The number 
of auctions that terminated early was less than 1/100th of 1% of all 
PRISM auctions over the period. The auctions that terminated early were 
less than 1/100th of 1% of contracts traded in PRISM auctions.\26\
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    \26\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.
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    Based on the data gathered during the pilot, the Exchange does not 
anticipate that either of these conditions will occur with significant 
frequency, or will otherwise disrupt the functioning of

[[Page 8237]]

PRISM auctions.\27\ The Exchange therefore has requested that the 
Commission approve this aspect of the Pilot on a permanent basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See id.
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3. Unrelated Market or Marketable Limit Order
    Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(D) of the BX Options Rules provides that 
an unrelated market or marketable limit order (against the BX BBO) on 
the opposite side of the market from the PRISM Order received during 
the Auction will not cause the Auction to end early and will execute 
against interest outside of the Auction. If contracts remain from such 
unrelated order at the time the auction ends, they will be considered 
for participation in the order allocation process described elsewhere 
in the Rule.
    The Exchange states that the provision is based on a similar 
provision in the Phlx PIXL mechanism.\28\ In approving this feature on 
PIXL, also on a pilot basis, the Commission found that ``allowing the 
PIXL auction to continue for the full auction period despite receipt of 
unrelated orders outside the Auction would allow the auction to run its 
full course and, in so doing, will provide a full opportunity for price 
improvement to the PIXL Order. Further, the unrelated order would be 
available to participate in the PIXL order allocation.'' \29\ The 
Exchange does not believe that this provision has had a significant 
impact on either the unrelated order or the PRISM auction process.\30\ 
The Exchange therefore has requested that the Commission approve this 
aspect of the Pilot on a permanent basis.
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    \28\ See Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(D).
    \29\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63027 (October 1, 
2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010) (SR-PHLX-2010-108).
    \30\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.
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III. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange 
and, in particular, with Section 6(b) of the Act.\31\ In particular, 
the Commission finds that the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\32\ which requires, among other things, 
that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing 
information with respect to, and 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 customers, issuers, brokers and dealers.
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    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). In approving this proposed rule change, 
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
    \32\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    As part of its proposal, the Exchange provided summary data on 
Exhibit 3 of its filing for the period January through June 2016, which 
the Exchange and Commission both publicly posted on their respective 
Web sites. Among other things, this data is useful in assessing the 
level of price improvement in the auction, in particular for orders for 
fewer than 50 contracts; the degree of competition for order flow in 
such auctions; and a comparison of liquidity in the auctions with 
liquidity on the Exchange generally.\33\ Based on the data provided by 
the Exchange, the Commission believes that the Exchange's price 
improvement auction generally delivers a meaningful opportunity for 
price improvement to orders, including orders for fewer than 50 
contracts, when the spread in the option is $0.02 or more. At the same 
time, as the Exchange has recognized, the data do not demonstrate that 
such orders have realized significant price improvement when the NBBO 
has a bid/ask differential of $0.01.\34\ Recognizing this, the Exchange 
has proposed to amend the auction eligibility requirements to require 
price improvement of at least one minimum price improvement increment 
over the NBBO for PRISM Orders of less than 50 option contracts where 
the difference in the NBBO is $0.01.
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    \33\ See Exhibit 3 to SR-BX-2016-063.
    \34\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to modify the auction eligibility 
requirements for orders of fewer than 50 contracts and seek permanent 
approval of the Pilot, as amended with the new provision, will, in the 
Commission's view, promote opportunities for price improvement for such 
orders when the NBBO is $0.01 wide, while continuing to provide 
opportunities for price improvement when spreads are wider than $0.01.
    In addition, the Commission has carefully evaluated the PRIME Pilot 
data and has determined that it would be beneficial to customers and to 
the options market as a whole to approve on a permanent basis the 
provisions concerning early conclusion of the PRISM Auction, and the 
receipt of an unrelated market or marketable limit order (against the 
BX BBO) on the opposite side of the market from the PRISM Order during 
the Auction. The Commission notes that there have been few instances of 
early termination of the PRISM. The Commission further notes that 
permitting the PRISM Auction to continue despite receipt of unrelated 
orders outside the Auction would allow the Auction to run its full 
course and provide a full opportunity for price improvement to the 
PRISM Order, while allowing the unrelated order to seek an execution, 
including in the Auction's order allocation.
    The Commission believes that, particularly for auctions for fewer 
than 50 contracts when the bid/ask differential is wider than $0.01, 
the data provided by the Exchange support its proposal to make the 
Pilot permanent. The data demonstrate that the auction generally 
provides price improvement opportunities to orders, including orders of 
retail customers and particularly when the bid/ask differential is 
wider than $0.01, that there is meaningful competition for orders on 
the Exchange; and that there exists an active and liquid market 
functioning on the Exchange outside of the auction.\35\ The Commission 
further believes that the proposed revisions to the eligibility 
requirements for PRISM Orders of fewer than 50 contracts with respect 
to circumstances when the NBBO is $0.01 wide should help to enhance the 
operation of the auction by providing meaningful opportunities for 
price improvement in such circumstances, and should benefit investors 
and others in a manner that is consistent with the Act. Thus, the 
Commission has determined to approve the Exchange's proposed revisions 
to Chapter VI, Section 9(i) of the BX Options Rules and to approve the 
Pilot, as proposed to be modified, on a permanent basis.
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    \35\ See Exhibit 3 to SR-BX-2016-063.
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IV. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\36\ that the proposed rule change (SR-BX-2016-063), be and hereby 
is approved.
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    \36\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).


[[Page 8238]]


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    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\37\
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    \37\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-01467 Filed 1-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 24, 2017 / Notices                                                            8235

                                                business days between the hours of                      mechanism.4 Pursuant to Chapter VI,                        person or entity that is not a Public
                                                10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the                  Section 9 of the BX Options Rules, a                       Customer, the Initiating Participant
                                                filing also will be available for                       Participant (an ‘‘Initiating Participant’’)                must stop the entire PRISM Order at a
                                                inspection and copying at the principal                 may electronically submit for execution                    price that is the better of: (i) The BX
                                                office of the Exchange. All comments                    an order it represents as agent on behalf                  BBO price improved by at least the
                                                received will be posted without change;                 of a Public Customer,5 Professional                        minimum trading increment on the
                                                the Commission does not edit personal                   customer, broker dealer, or any other                      same side of the market as the PRISM
                                                identifying information from                            entity (‘‘PRISM Order’’) against                           Order, or (ii) the PRISM Order’s limit
                                                submissions. You should submit only                     principal interest or against any other                    price (if the order is a limit order),
                                                information that you wish to make                       order it represents as agent (an                           provided in either case that such price
                                                available publicly. All submissions                     ‘‘Initiating Order’’), provided it submits                 is at or better than the NBBO.9
                                                should refer to File Number SR–                         the PRISM Order for electronic                                BX proposes to amend the Auction
                                                NASDAQ–2017–001 and should be                           execution into the Auction. Parts of                       eligibility requirements to require that,
                                                submitted on or before February 14,                     PRISM are currently operating on a pilot                   if the PRISM Order is for less than 50
                                                2017.                                                   basis (‘‘Pilot’’),6 which is set to expire                 option contracts, and if the difference
                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of
                                                                                                        on January 18, 2017.7 The Exchange                         between the NBBO is $0.01, the
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              proposes to make the Pilot permanent,                      Initiating Participant must stop the
                                                authority.32                                            and also proposes to amend the Auction                     entire PRISM Order at one minimum
                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      eligibility requirements for certain                       price improvement increment better
                                                                                                        PRISM Orders of less than 50 option                        than the NBBO on the opposite side of
                                                Assistant Secretary.
                                                                                                        contracts.                                                 the market from the PRISM Order, and
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–01464 Filed 1–23–17; 8:45 am]
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                                  A. PRISM Eligibility Requirements for                      better than any limit order on the limit
                                                                                                        PRISM Orders of Fewer Than 50                              order book on the same side of the
                                                                                                        Contracts                                                  market as the PRISM Order. Thus, BX
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                    Currently, a PRISM Auction may be                       would require that the PRISM Order
                                                COMMISSION                                              initiated if certain conditions are met. If                receive at least $0.01 price improvement
                                                                                                        the PRISM Order is for the account of                      if that PRISM Order is for less than 50
                                                [Release No. 34–79812; File No. SR–BX–                  a Public Customer, the Initiating                          contracts and if the difference between
                                                2016–063]                                               Participant must stop the entire PRISM                     the NBBO is $0.01. This requirement
                                                                                                        Order at a price that is equal to or better                will apply regardless of whether the
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations;                          than the National Best Bid/Offer                           PRISM Order is for the account of a
                                                NASDAQ BX, Inc.; Order Granting                         (‘‘NBBO’’) on the opposite side of the                     Public Customer, or where the PRISM
                                                Approval of Proposed Rule Change To                     market from the PRISM Order, provided                      Order is for the account of a broker
                                                Amend the PRISM Price Improvement                       that such price must be at least one                       dealer or any other person or entity that
                                                Auction in BX Chapter VI, Section 9                     minimum trading increment (specified                       is not a Public Customer.
                                                and To Make Pilot Program Permanent                     in Chapter VI, Section 5 of the BX                            The Exchange will retain the current
                                                                                                        Options Rules) better than any limit                       requirements for Auction eligibility in
                                                January 17, 2017.
                                                                                                        order on the limit order book on the                       all other instances. Accordingly, if the
                                                I. Introduction                                         same side of the market as the PRISM                       PRISM Order is for the account of a
                                                   On November 21, 2016, NASDAQ BX,                     Order.8 If the PRISM Order is for the                      Public Customer and such order is for
                                                Inc. (‘‘BX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the            account of a broker dealer or any other                    50 option contracts or more or if the
                                                Securities and Exchange Commission                                                                                 difference between the NBBO is greater
                                                (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to
                                                                                                           4 See Securities Exchange Release No. 76301             than $0.01, the Initiating Participant
                                                                                                        (October 29, 2015), 80 FR 68347 (November 4, 2015)         must stop the entire PRISM Order at a
                                                Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities                      (SR–BX–2015–032) (‘‘PRISM Approval Order’’).
                                                Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),1 and                       5 A Public Customer means a person that is not
                                                                                                                                                                   price that is equal to or better than the
                                                Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule                 a broker or dealer in securities. See Chapter I,           NBBO on the opposite side of the
                                                change to amend the eligibility                         Section 1(a)(50) of the BX Options Rules. A                market from the PRISM Order, provided
                                                                                                        ‘‘Professional’’ means any person or entity that (i)       that such price must be at least one
                                                requirements for its Price Improvement                  is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places
                                                Auction mechanism (‘‘PRISM’’ or                         more than 390 orders in listed options per day on
                                                                                                                                                                   minimum trading increment better than
                                                ‘‘Auction’’) and make permanent those                   average during a calendar month for its own                any limit order on the limit order book
                                                aspects of the PRISM auction that are                   beneficial account(s). A Participant or a Public           on the same side of the market as the
                                                                                                        Customer may, without limitation, be a                     PRISM Order. If the PRISM Order is for
                                                currently operating on a pilot basis. The               Professional. All Professional orders shall be
                                                proposed rule change was published for                  appropriately marked by Participants. See Chapter
                                                                                                                                                                   the account of a broker dealer or any
                                                comment in the Federal Register on                      I, Section 1(a)(49) of the BX Options Rules. For           other person or entity that is not a
                                                December 9, 2016.3 The Commission                       purposes of PRISM rule, a Public Customer order            Public Customer and such order is for
                                                                                                        does not include a Professional order. See Chapter         50 option contracts or more, or if the
                                                received no comments regarding the                      VI, Section 9 of the BX Options Rules.
                                                proposal. This order approves the                          6 Three components of PRISM were approved by
                                                                                                                                                                   difference between the NBBO is greater
                                                proposed rule change.                                   the Commission on a pilot basis: (1) The early             than $0.01, the Initiating Participant
                                                                                                        conclusion of the PRISM Auction; (2) the provision         must stop the entire PRISM Order at a
                                                II. Description of the Proposal                         that an unrelated market or marketable limit order         price that is the better of: (i) The BX
                                                                                                        (against the BX BBO) on the opposite side of the
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                                                 The Exchange established PRISM in                      market from the PRISM Order received during the
                                                                                                                                                                   BBO price improved by at least the
                                                November 2015 as a price improvement                    Auction will not cause the Auction to end early and        Minimum Increment on the same side of
                                                                                                        will execute against interest outside of the Auction;      the market as the PRISM Order, or (ii)
                                                                                                        and (3) no minimum size requirement of orders.             the PRISM Order’s limit price (if the
                                                  32 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                               7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78249
                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).                                (July 7, 2016), 81 FR 45334 (July 13, 2016) (SR–BX–
                                                                                                                                                                   order is a limit order), provided in
                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   2016–038).
                                                  3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 79465          8 See Chapter VI, Section 9(i)(A) of the BX              9 See Chapter VI, Section 9(i)(B) of the BX

                                                (December 5, 2016), 81 FR 89167 (‘‘Notice’’).           Options Rules.                                             Options Rules.



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                                                8236                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 24, 2017 / Notices

                                                either case that such price is at or better                PRISM Auction; 16 (2) the provision that              auctions of less than 50 contracts,
                                                than the NBBO.10                                           an unrelated market or marketable limit               64.7% received price improvement,
                                                   The Exchange believes that these                        order (against the BX BBO) on the                     while 30.5% of auctions for 50 contracts
                                                changes to PRISM may provide                               opposite side of the market from the                  or more received price improvement.23
                                                additional opportunities for PRISM                         PRISM Order received during the                          BX believes that the data gathered
                                                Orders of fewer than 50 option contracts                   Auction will not cause the Auction to                 during the Pilot period indicates that
                                                to receive price improvement over the                      end early and will execute against                    there is meaningful competition in
                                                NBBO where the difference in the                           interest outside of the Auction; 17 and               PRISM auctions for all size orders, there
                                                NBBO is $0.01 and therefore encourage                      (3) no minimum size requirement of                    is an active and liquid market
                                                the increased submission of orders of                      orders. The provisions were approved                  functioning on the Exchange outside of
                                                fewer than 50 option contracts.11 The                      for a pilot period that currently expires             the auction mechanism, and that there
                                                Exchange notes that the statistics for the                 on January 18, 2017.18 The Exchange                   are opportunities for price improvement
                                                current pilot, which include, among                        proposes to have the Pilot approved on                for orders executed through PRISM.24
                                                other things, price improvement for                        a permanent basis.                                    The Exchange therefore has requested
                                                orders of fewer than 50 option contracts                      During the Pilot period, the Exchange              that the Commission approve the no
                                                under the current auction eligibility                      submitted certain data periodically as                minimum size requirement on a
                                                requirements, show relatively small                        required by the Commission, to provide                permanent basis.
                                                amounts of price improvement for such                      supporting evidence that, among other
                                                                                                           things, there is meaningful competition               2. Early Conclusion of the PRISM
                                                orders.12 BX believes that the proposed                                                                          Auction
                                                requirements will therefore increase the                   for all size orders, there is significant
                                                price improvement that orders of fewer                     price improvement available through                     Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(B)(4) of the
                                                than 50 option contracts may receive in                    PRISM, and that there is an active and                BX Options Rules provides that the
                                                PRISM.13 The Exchange also notes that                      liquid market functioning on the                      PRISM Auction shall conclude at the
                                                NASDAQ PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’) operates                        Exchange outside of the Auction                       earlier of (1) the end of the Auction
                                                a similar price improvement                                mechanism.19                                          period; (2) any time the BX BBO crosses
                                                mechanism, PIXL, which has been                            1. No Minimum Size Requirement                        the PRISM Order stop price on the same
                                                operating for a longer period of time and                                                                        side of the market as the PRISM Order;
                                                                                                              Chapter VI, Section 9(vii) provides                or (3) any time there is a trading halt on
                                                has generated similar pilot data.14 Given
                                                                                                           that, as part of the current Pilot, there             the Exchange in the affected series.25
                                                the similarly between the two
                                                                                                           will be no minimum size requirement                   The latter two conditions are operating
                                                mechanisms, the Exchange expects that
                                                                                                           for orders to be eligible for the Auction.            as part of the current Pilot.
                                                PRISM, if operated on a pilot basis over
                                                                                                           The Exchange believes that the data                     As with the no minimum size
                                                a longer period of time, would continue
                                                                                                           gathered since the approval of the Pilot,             requirement, the Exchange has gathered
                                                to generate data that is comparable to
                                                                                                           which it discussed in the Notice,                     data on these latter two conditions.
                                                PIXL.15
                                                                                                           establishes that there is liquidity and               Between January and June 2016, one
                                                B. Pilot Program                                           competition both within PRISM and                     auction terminated early because the BX
                                                                                                           outside of PRISM, and that there are                  BBO crossed the PRISM Order stop
                                                  Three components of PRISM were                           opportunities for significant price
                                                approved by the Commission on a pilot                                                                            price. No auctions terminated early
                                                                                                           improvement within PRISM.20                           because of halts. The number of
                                                basis: (1) The early conclusion of the                        The Exchange also has gathered                     auctions that terminated early was less
                                                                                                           information about activity in orders for              than 1/100th of 1% of all PRISM
                                                   10 The Exchange also proposes to add language to
                                                                                                           less than 50 and 50 contracts or greater              auctions over the period. The auctions
                                                Chapter VI, Section 9(i) of the BX Options Rules to
                                                clarify that, if any of the auction eligibility criteria
                                                                                                           for PRISM auctions between January                    that terminated early were less than 1/
                                                are not met, the PRISM Order will be rejected. The         and June 2016. For auctions occurring                 100th of 1% of contracts traded in
                                                Exchange will also add language to Chapter VI,             during that period, 87.8% of auctions                 PRISM auctions.26
                                                Section 9(i) to clarify the treatment of paired Public     were for orders for less than 50
                                                Customer-to-Public Customer orders pursuant to                                                                     Based on the data gathered during the
                                                subparagraph (vi) as a result of these proposed
                                                                                                           contracts, a percentage that remained                 pilot, the Exchange does not anticipate
                                                changes. Specifically, Exchange will allow a PRISM         stable over that time period. Auctions                that either of these conditions will occur
                                                Order to trade on either the bid or offer, pursuant        for orders of less than 50 contracts                  with significant frequency, or will
                                                to subparagraph (vi), if the NBBO is $0.01 wide,           accounted for 30.0% of the contract
                                                provided (1) the execution price is equal to or                                                                  otherwise disrupt the functioning of
                                                within the NBBO, (2) there is no resting customer
                                                                                                           volume traded in PRISM. Auctions of 50
                                                at the execution price, and (3) $0.01 is the               contracts or more made up 12.2% of all                  23 See   Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.
                                                Minimum Price Variation (MPV) of the option. The           PRISM auctions and accounted for                        24 See   id.
                                                Exchange also proposes to add language that it will        70.0% of contracts traded in PRISM.21                    25 If the situations described in either of the two
                                                continue to reject a PRISM Order to buy (sell) if the
                                                NBBO is only $0.01 wide and the Agency order is
                                                                                                              With respect to price improvement,                 latter conditions occur, the entire PRISM Order will
                                                                                                           60.5% of PRISM auctions between                       be executed at: (1) In the case of the BX BBO
                                                stopped on the bid (offer) if there is a resting order
                                                                                                                                                                 crossing the PRISM Order stop price, the best
                                                on the bid (offer). These requirements are                 January and June 2016 executed at a                   response price(s) or, if the stop price is the best
                                                unchanged from the Exchange’s current handling             price that was better than the NBBO at                price in the Auction, at the stop price, unless the
                                                practices of paired Public Customer-to-Public
                                                Customer PRISM Orders per subparagraph (vi), and
                                                                                                           the time the auction began.22 For                     best response price is equal to or better than the
                                                                                                                                                                 price of a limit order resting on the Order Book on
                                                the Exchange’s current practice of rejecting PRISM
                                                                                                             16 See Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(B)(4) of the BX    the same side of the market as the PRISM Order,
                                                Orders to buy (sell) if the NBBO is only $0.01 wide
                                                                                                                                                                 in which case the PRISM Order will be executed
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                                                and the Agency order is stopped on the bid (offer)         Options Rules.
                                                                                                             17 See Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(D) of the BX       against that response, but at a price that is at least
                                                if there is a resting order on the bid (offer).
                                                                                                                                                                 the Minimum Increment better than the price of
                                                   11 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.                  Options Rules.
                                                                                                             18 See PRISM Approval Order, supra note 4.
                                                                                                                                                                 such limit order at the time of the conclusion of the
                                                   12 See id.
                                                                                                                                                                 Auction; or (2) in the case of a trading halt on the
                                                   13 See id.                                                19 See Chapter VI, Section 9(vii).
                                                                                                                                                                 Exchange in the affected series, the stop price, in
                                                   14 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63027          20 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169. See also
                                                                                                                                                                 which case the PRISM Order will be executed
                                                (October 1, 2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010)           Exhibit 3 to SR–BX–2016–063.                          solely against the Initiating Order. Any unexecuted
                                                (SR–Phlx–2010–108).                                          21 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89369.              PAN responses will be cancelled.
                                                   15 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.                    22 See id.                                             26 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.




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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 24, 2017 / Notices                                                    8237

                                                PRISM auctions.27 The Exchange                          rules of a national securities exchange                 concerning early conclusion of the
                                                therefore has requested that the                        be designed to prevent fraudulent and                   PRISM Auction, and the receipt of an
                                                Commission approve this aspect of the                   manipulative acts and practices, to                     unrelated market or marketable limit
                                                Pilot on a permanent basis.                             promote just and equitable principles of                order (against the BX BBO) on the
                                                                                                        trade, to foster cooperation and                        opposite side of the market from the
                                                3. Unrelated Market or Marketable Limit                 coordination with persons engaged in
                                                Order                                                                                                           PRISM Order during the Auction. The
                                                                                                        regulating, clearing, settling, processing              Commission notes that there have been
                                                   Chapter VI, Section 9(ii)(D) of the BX               information with respect to, and                        few instances of early termination of the
                                                Options Rules provides that an                          facilitating transactions in securities, to             PRISM. The Commission further notes
                                                unrelated market or marketable limit                    remove impediments to and perfect the
                                                                                                                                                                that permitting the PRISM Auction to
                                                order (against the BX BBO) on the                       mechanism of a free and open market
                                                                                                                                                                continue despite receipt of unrelated
                                                opposite side of the market from the                    and a national market system, and, in
                                                                                                        general, to protect customers, issuers,                 orders outside the Auction would allow
                                                PRISM Order received during the
                                                Auction will not cause the Auction to                   brokers and dealers.                                    the Auction to run its full course and
                                                end early and will execute against                         As part of its proposal, the Exchange                provide a full opportunity for price
                                                interest outside of the Auction. If                     provided summary data on Exhibit 3 of                   improvement to the PRISM Order, while
                                                contracts remain from such unrelated                    its filing for the period January through               allowing the unrelated order to seek an
                                                order at the time the auction ends, they                June 2016, which the Exchange and                       execution, including in the Auction’s
                                                will be considered for participation in                 Commission both publicly posted on                      order allocation.
                                                the order allocation process described                  their respective Web sites. Among other                    The Commission believes that,
                                                elsewhere in the Rule.                                  things, this data is useful in assessing                particularly for auctions for fewer than
                                                   The Exchange states that the                         the level of price improvement in the                   50 contracts when the bid/ask
                                                provision is based on a similar                         auction, in particular for orders for                   differential is wider than $0.01, the data
                                                provision in the Phlx PIXL                              fewer than 50 contracts; the degree of
                                                                                                                                                                provided by the Exchange support its
                                                mechanism.28 In approving this feature                  competition for order flow in such
                                                                                                                                                                proposal to make the Pilot permanent.
                                                on PIXL, also on a pilot basis, the                     auctions; and a comparison of liquidity
                                                                                                        in the auctions with liquidity on the                   The data demonstrate that the auction
                                                Commission found that ‘‘allowing the                                                                            generally provides price improvement
                                                PIXL auction to continue for the full                   Exchange generally.33 Based on the data
                                                                                                        provided by the Exchange, the                           opportunities to orders, including
                                                auction period despite receipt of
                                                                                                        Commission believes that the                            orders of retail customers and
                                                unrelated orders outside the Auction
                                                                                                        Exchange’s price improvement auction                    particularly when the bid/ask
                                                would allow the auction to run its full
                                                                                                        generally delivers a meaningful                         differential is wider than $0.01, that
                                                course and, in so doing, will provide a
                                                full opportunity for price improvement                  opportunity for price improvement to                    there is meaningful competition for
                                                to the PIXL Order. Further, the                         orders, including orders for fewer than                 orders on the Exchange; and that there
                                                unrelated order would be available to                   50 contracts, when the spread in the                    exists an active and liquid market
                                                participate in the PIXL order                           option is $0.02 or more. At the same                    functioning on the Exchange outside of
                                                allocation.’’ 29 The Exchange does not                  time, as the Exchange has recognized,                   the auction.35 The Commission further
                                                believe that this provision has had a                   the data do not demonstrate that such                   believes that the proposed revisions to
                                                significant impact on either the                        orders have realized significant price                  the eligibility requirements for PRISM
                                                unrelated order or the PRISM auction                    improvement when the NBBO has a bid/                    Orders of fewer than 50 contracts with
                                                process.30 The Exchange therefore has                   ask differential of $0.01.34 Recognizing                respect to circumstances when the
                                                requested that the Commission approve                   this, the Exchange has proposed to                      NBBO is $0.01 wide should help to
                                                this aspect of the Pilot on a permanent                 amend the auction eligibility                           enhance the operation of the auction by
                                                basis.                                                  requirements to require price                           providing meaningful opportunities for
                                                                                                        improvement of at least one minimum
                                                III. Discussion and Commission                                                                                  price improvement in such
                                                                                                        price improvement increment over the
                                                Findings                                                                                                        circumstances, and should benefit
                                                                                                        NBBO for PRISM Orders of less than 50
                                                                                                                                                                investors and others in a manner that is
                                                   After careful review, the Commission                 option contracts where the difference in
                                                                                                        the NBBO is $0.01.                                      consistent with the Act. Thus, the
                                                finds that the proposed rule change is                                                                          Commission has determined to approve
                                                consistent with the requirements of the                    The Exchange’s proposal to modify
                                                                                                        the auction eligibility requirements for                the Exchange’s proposed revisions to
                                                Act and the rules and regulations                                                                               Chapter VI, Section 9(i) of the BX
                                                thereunder applicable to a national                     orders of fewer than 50 contracts and
                                                                                                        seek permanent approval of the Pilot, as                Options Rules and to approve the Pilot,
                                                securities exchange and, in particular,
                                                                                                        amended with the new provision, will,                   as proposed to be modified, on a
                                                with Section 6(b) of the Act.31 In
                                                                                                        in the Commission’s view, promote                       permanent basis.
                                                particular, the Commission finds that
                                                the proposed rule change is consistent                  opportunities for price improvement for
                                                                                                                                                                IV. Conclusion
                                                with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,32 which                such orders when the NBBO is $0.01
                                                requires, among other things, that the                  wide, while continuing to provide                         It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
                                                                                                        opportunities for price improvement                     Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,36 that the
                                                  27 See id.                                            when spreads are wider than $0.01.                      proposed rule change (SR–BX–2016–
                                                  28 See Phlx Rule 1080(n)(ii)(D).                         In addition, the Commission has                      063), be and hereby is approved.
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                                                  29 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63027      carefully evaluated the PRIME Pilot data
                                                (October 1, 2010), 75 FR 62160 (October 7, 2010)        and has determined that it would be
                                                (SR–PHLX–2010–108).                                     beneficial to customers and to the
                                                  30 See Notice, supra note 3, at 89170.
                                                  31 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). In approving this proposed
                                                                                                        options market as a whole to approve on
                                                rule change, the Commission has considered the          a permanent basis the provisions
                                                proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
                                                                                                                                                                  35 See   Exhibit 3 to SR–BX–2016–063.
                                                and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).              33 See   Exhibit 3 to SR–BX–2016–063.
                                                  32 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).                                 34 See   Notice, supra note 3, at 89169.                36 15   U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).



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                                                8238                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 24, 2017 / Notices

                                                  For the Commission, by the Division of                A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                      via PULSe to that customer will be
                                                Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated              Statement of the Purpose of, and                       charged a fee of $500 per month. If that
                                                authority.37                                            Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                 PULSe broker sends drop copies via
                                                Eduardo A. Aleman,                                      Change                                                 PULSe to multiple non-TPH customers,
                                                Assistant Secretary.                                                                                           the PULSe broker will be charged the
                                                                                                        1. Purpose
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–01467 Filed 1–23–17; 8:45 am]                                                                    fee for each customer. For example, if
                                                BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                                                                           The Exchange proposes to amend its                  PULSe broker A sends drop copies via
                                                                                                        Fees Schedule. The Exchange is adding                  its PULSe workstation to each of non-
                                                                                                        fees for functionality related to its                  TPH customer A, non-TPH customer B
                                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 PULSe workstation. The Exchange is                     and non-TPH customer C, PULSe broker
                                                COMMISSION                                              also making minor formatting updates to                A (the sending TPH) will be charged a
                                                                                                        organize the footnotes in PULSe                        fee of $1500 per month for drop copies
                                                [Release No. 34–79807; File No. SR–C2–                  workstation section of its Fees
                                                2017–002]                                                                                                      it sends via PULSe to non-TPH
                                                                                                        Schedule.3 The fees herein will be                     customers A, B and C (the receiving
                                                Self-Regulatory Organizations; C2                       effective on January 3, 2017.                          non-TPHs).
                                                                                                           By way of background, the PULSe
                                                Options Exchange, Incorporated;                                                                                Non-PULSe-to-PULSe Routing
                                                                                                        workstation is a front-end order entry
                                                Notice of Filing and Immediate
                                                                                                        system designed for use with respect to                   Upon request, the Exchange provides
                                                Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule To
                                                                                                        orders that may be sent to the trading                 customers, both TPH and non-TPH, of
                                                Amend the Fees Schedule
                                                                                                        systems of the Exchange. Exchange                      PULSe brokers with the ability to
                                                January 17, 2017.                                       Trading Permit Holders (‘‘TPHs’’) may                  transmit orders electronically to PULSe
                                                   Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the                  also make workstations available to                    brokers’ PULSe workstations using
                                                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the                    their customers, which may include                     order management systems other than
                                                ‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2                  TPHs, non-broker dealer public                         PULSe (i.e., non-PULSe-to-PULSe).4
                                                notice is hereby given that on January 3,               customers and non-TPH broker dealers.                  These customers utilize the existing
                                                2017, C2 Options Exchange,                              Drop Copies                                            infrastructure of such systems to send
                                                Incorporated (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘C2’’)                                                                      orders to their PULSe brokers
                                                filed with the Securities and Exchange                     Financial Information eXchange
                                                                                                        (‘‘FIX’’) language-based connectivity,                 electronically.
                                                Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’) the                                                                               The Exchange is proposing a monthly
                                                proposed rule change as described in                    upon request, provides customers (both
                                                                                                        TPH and non-TPH) of TPHs that are                      fee payable by TPH customers who
                                                Items I, II, and III below, which Items                                                                        request non-PULSe-to-PULSe
                                                have been prepared by the Exchange.                     brokers and PULSe users (‘‘PULSe
                                                                                                        brokers’’) with the ability to receive                 functionality. This fee will allow for the
                                                The Commission is publishing this                                                                              recoupment of costs of maintaining and
                                                                                                        ‘‘drop-copy’’ order fill messages from
                                                notice to solicit comments on the                                                                              supporting non-PULSe-to-PULSe
                                                                                                        their PULSe brokers. These fill messages
                                                proposed rule change from interested                                                                           routing functionality. A TPH customer
                                                                                                        allow customers to update positions,
                                                persons.                                                                                                       sending orders electronically to PULSe
                                                                                                        risk calculations and streamline back-
                                                I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                       office functions.                                      brokers through these non-PULSe
                                                Statement of the Terms of Substance of                     The Exchange is proposing a monthly                 systems will be charged a fee of $500 a
                                                the Proposed Rule Change                                fee to be assessed on TPHs who are                     month per PULSe broker to which the
                                                                                                        either receiving or sending drop copies                customer sends orders. For example, if
                                                   The Exchange proposes to amend its                                                                          TPH customer A transmits orders
                                                                                                        via a PULSe workstation. This fee will
                                                Fees Schedule. The text of the proposed                                                                        electronically through a non-PULSe
                                                                                                        allow for the recoupment of costs of
                                                rule change is available on the                                                                                order management terminal to PULSe
                                                                                                        maintaining and supporting drop copy
                                                Exchange’s Web site (http://                                                                                   workstations of each of PULSe broker A,
                                                                                                        functionality. Whether the drop copy
                                                www.c2exchange.com/Legal/), at the                                                                             PULSe broker B, and PULSe broker C,
                                                                                                        sender or receiver is assessed the fee is
                                                Exchange’s Office of the Secretary, and                                                                        TPH customer A (the sending TPH) will
                                                                                                        dependent upon whether the customer
                                                at the Commission’s Public Reference                                                                           be charged a fee of $1500 per month for
                                                                                                        receiving the drop copies is a TPH or
                                                Room.                                                                                                          the ability to send orders electronically
                                                                                                        non-TPH.
                                                II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s                         If a customer receiving drop copies is              to the PULSe workstations of PULSe
                                                Statement of the Purpose of, and                        a TPH, that TPH customer (the receiving                brokers A, B and C.5 The Exchange does
                                                Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule                  TPH) will be charged a fee of $1000 per                not assess any fee, to the PULSe broker
                                                Change                                                  month, per PULSe broker from whom it                   or otherwise, for a non-TPH customer
                                                                                                        receives drop copies via PULSe. For                    electing to use non-PULSe-to-PULSe
                                                  In its filing with the Commission, the
                                                                                                        example, if TPH customer A receives                    routing functionality.
                                                Exchange included statements
                                                                                                        drop copies from each of PULSe broker
                                                concerning the purpose of and basis for                                                                        FIX Integration Drop Copy Start-Up/
                                                                                                        A, PULSe broker B, and PULSe broker
                                                the proposed rule change and discussed                                                                         Cancellation Fees
                                                                                                        C (all of which are TPHs), TPH A (the
                                                any comments it received on the                                                                                  The Exchange is proposing fees for
                                                                                                        receiving TPH) will be charged a fee of
                                                proposed rule change. The text of these                                                                        both the start-up and cancellation of the
                                                                                                        $3000 per month for receiving drop
                                                statements may be examined at the                                                                              FIX integration needed to send and
                                                                                                        copies via PULSe from PULSe brokers
                                                places specified in Item IV below. The
                                                                                                        A, B and C (the sending TPHs).
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                                                Exchange has prepared summaries, set                       If a customer receiving drop copies is                4 Non-PULSe-to-PULSe routing is an ‘‘add-on’’

                                                forth in sections A, B, and C below, of                 a non-TPH, the PULSe broker (the                       feature to drop copy connectivity. If a TPH or non-
                                                the most significant aspects of such                                                                           TPH customer of a PULSe brokers elects to send
                                                                                                        sending TPH) who sends drop copies                     orders through its third-party order management
                                                statements.                                                                                                    system to its broker’s PULSe workstations, it must
                                                                                                          3 The footnotes in the PULSe workstation section     also elect to have the drop copy connectivity.
                                                  37 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).                            have been changed from asterisks to numerical            5 In addition, the TPH customer would be charged
                                                  1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
                                                                                                        footnotes to account for the increased volume of       $3,000/month for receiving drop copies from the
                                                  2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.                                   footnotes.                                             three PULSe brokers, as discussed above.



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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:12:30
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:12:30
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 8235 

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