Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendments to Rule 2.11 That Establish the Authority To Cancel Orders and Describe the Operation of an Error Account, 20863-20867 [2012-8269]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices
accurate clearance and settlement of
stock loans. The proposed rule change
is not inconsistent with any rules of
OCC, including any rules proposed to be
amended.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
OCC does not believe that the
proposed rule change would impose any
burden on competition.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
Written comments were not and are
not intended to be solicited with respect
to the proposed rule change and none
have been received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period
up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may
designate if it finds such longer period
to be appropriate and publishes its
reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which
the self-regulatory organization
consents, the Commission will:
(A) By order approve or disapprove
the proposed rule change or
(B) Institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
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IV. Solicitation of Comments
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submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filings
will also be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of OCC
and on OCC’s Web site at https://
www.optionsclearing.com/components/
docs/legal/rules_and_bylaws/
sr_occ_12_04.pdf. All comments
received will be posted without change;
the Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–OCC–
2012–04 and should be submitted on or
before April 27, 2012.
prepared by the Exchange. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.6
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for,
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
self-regulatory organization has
prepared summaries, set forth in
Sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
[FR Doc. 2012–8270 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• Electronic comments may be
submitted by using the Commission’s
Internet comment form (https://
www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml), or send
an email to rule-comments@sec.gov.
Please include File No. SR–OCC–2012–
04 on the subject line.
• Paper comments should be sent in
triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange
Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC, 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–OCC–2012–04. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
20863
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–66714; File No. SR–EDGA–
2012–09]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA
Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of
Proposed Rule Change Relating to
Amendments to Rule 2.11 That
Establish the Authority To Cancel
Orders and Describe the Operation of
an Error Account
April 2, 2012.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on March 22,
2012, EDGA Exchange, Inc. (‘‘Exchange’’
or ‘‘EDGA’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I, II, and
III below, which Items have been
6 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend
Rule 2.11 to (1) add a new subparagraph
(a)(6) that addresses the authority of the
Exchange and its routing broker-dealer,
Direct Edge ECN LLC d/b/a DE Route
(‘‘DE Route’’) to cancel orders if and
when a systems, technical or
operational issue (herein, each
individually referred to as a ‘‘Systems
Issue,’’ and collectively referred to as
‘‘Systems Issues’’) occurs, and (2)
amend subparagraph (a)(4) and add new
subparagraph (a)(7) to describe the
operation of an error account for DE
Route. The text of the proposed rule
change is available on the Exchange’s
Web site, at the Exchange’s principal
office and in the Public Reference Room
of the Commission.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Rule 2.11 by adding subparagraph (a)(6)
to address the authority of the Exchange
and DE Route to cancel orders when a
Systems Issue occurs, and by amending
subparagraph (a)(4) and adding
subparagraph (a)(7) to describe the
conditions under which DE Route may
maintain and use an error account.3
3 DE Route is a facility of the Exchange.
Accordingly, under Exchange Rule 2.11(a)(1), the
Exchange is responsible for filing with the
Commission rule changes and fees relating to DE
Route’s outbound router function. In addition,
EDGA is using the phrase ‘‘the Exchange or DE
Route’’ in this rule filing to reflect the fact that a
decision to cancel orders affected by Systems Issue
may be made by the Exchange or DE Route
Continued
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices
DE Route is the approved outbound
router of EDGA,4 subject to the
conditions listed in Rule 2.11. EDGA
relies on DE Route to provide outbound
routing services from EDGA to external
market centers (each, a ‘‘Trading
Center’’ 5). The Exchange has also been
approved to receive inbound routes of
equities orders by DE Route from EDGX
Exchange, Inc. for a pilot period ending
on June 30, 2012.6 When DE Route
routes orders to a Trading Center, it
does so by sending a corresponding
order in its own name to the Trading
Center. From time to time, the Exchange
and DE Route encounter situations in
which it becomes necessary to cancel
orders and resolve an error position.7
experiences a connectivity issue affecting the
manner in which it sends or receives order
messages to or from Trading Centers, it may
be unable to receive timely execution or
cancellation reports from the Trading
Centers, and DE Route may consequently
seek to cancel the affected routed orders.
Once a decision is made to cancel those
routed orders, any cancellation that a
Member submitted to the Exchange on its
initial order during such a situation would be
honored.9
Example 2. If the Exchange experiences a
Systems Issue, the Exchange may take steps
to cancel all outstanding orders affected by
that issue and notify affected Members of the
cancellations. In those cases, the Exchange
would seek to cancel, via DE Route, any
routed orders related to the Members’ initial
orders.
Circumstances That Could Lead to
Cancelled Orders
A Systems Issue may arise at DE
Route, a Trading Center or the Exchange
that may cause the Exchange or DE
Route to take steps to cancel orders if
the Exchange or DE Route determines
that such action is necessary to maintain
a fair and orderly market. The examples
set forth below describe some of the
circumstances in which the Exchange or
DE Route may decide to cancel orders.
Circumstances That Could Lead to an
Error Position
An error position can arise out of
Systems Issues experienced by DE
Route, the Exchange or a Trading
Center. Connectivity and order
processing related issues are the most
common types of Systems Issues that DE
Route would expect could result in an
error position. Connectivity issues, for
example, would entail problems with
the manner in which DE Route sends or
receives order, execution and
cancellation messages to or from other
Trading Centers. Connectivity issues
could arise either from DE Route’s
systems or from the Trading Center’s
systems. For example, if DE Route’s
connection to a Trading Center is
interrupted after delivering an order, DE
Route may be unable to receive a timely
execution report from the Trading
Center, and as a consequence may
cancel the Member’s order. But DE
Route may later discover after the
connection was restored that the order
was actually executed by the Trading
Center, resulting in an error position.
Similarly, if the Trading Center
attempted to cancel all open orders that
it had previously accepted due to a
Systems Issue, but either transmitted
cancellations on orders that had
previously been executed, or
subsequently submitted executions of
the orders to The Depository Trust
Clearing Corporation (‘‘DTCC’’) for
clearance and settlement, an error
position would result.
An error position might also result if
DE Route failed to process order
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Example 1. If DE Route or a Trading Center
experiences a Systems Issue that results in
DE Route not receiving responses to
immediate or cancel (‘‘IOC’’) orders that it
sent to the Trading Center, and that issue is
not resolved in a timely manner, DE Route
may need to cancel the routed orders affected
by the issue.8 For instance, if DE Route
depending on where those orders are located at the
time of that decision.
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61698
(March 12, 2010), 75 FR 13151 (March 18, 2010).
5 As defined in EDGA Rule 2.11(a) and Rule
600(b)(78) of Regulation NMS under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’), 17 CFR
242.600(b)(78).
6 See Release No. 61698 at n. 4. See also
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64362 (April
28, 2011), 76 FR 25386 (May 4, 2011) (SR–EDGA–
2011–13); see also SR–EDGA–2012–10 (March 16,
2012) (pending filing to extend the pilot period
through June 30, 2013).
7 The examples described in this filing are not
intended to be exclusive. Proposed subparagraph
(a)(6) of EDGA Rule 2.11 would provide general
authority for the Exchange or DE Route to cancel
orders in order to maintain fair and orderly markets
when Systems Issues are occurring, and proposed
subparagraph (a)(7) of Rule 2.11 would set forth the
manner in which an error position may be handled
by DE Route. The proposed rule changes are not
limited to addressing order cancellation or an error
position resulting only from the specific examples
described in this filing.
8 In a normal situation (i.e., one in which a
Systems Issue does not exist), DE Route should
receive an immediate response to an IOC order from
a Trading Center, and would pass the resulting fill
or cancellation on to the Member. After submitting
an order that is routed to a Trading Center, if a
Member sends an instruction to cancel that order,
the cancellation is held by the Exchange until a
response is received from the Trading Center. For
instance, if the Trading Center executes that order,
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the execution would be passed on to the Member
and the cancellation instruction would be
disregarded.
9 If a Member did not submit a cancellation to the
Exchange, however, that initial order would remain
‘‘live’’ and thus be eligible for execution or posting
on the Exchange, and neither the Exchange nor DE
Route would treat any execution of that initial order
or any subsequent routed order related to that
initial order as an error position.
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messages correctly. For example, if DE
Route’s connection to the Exchange is
temporarily interrupted and DE Route
were to erroneously re-route orders that
had previously been executed after the
connection was restored, DE Route will
have received executions of orders
where there were effectively no
corresponding orders on the Exchange.
In this case, the executions would not
necessarily be nullified since DE Route
is a regular member of other Trading
Centers and is therefore subject to those
venues’ policies for honoring trades.10
A Systems Issue experienced by the
Exchange could also result in an error
position relating to a routed order. For
example, if an order were routed from
the Exchange to a Trading Center by DE
Route, and then due to a Systems Issue
the Exchange would not accept the
resulting execution of the order (but
rather transmitted a cancellation to the
Member instead), an error position
would result. Another example might be
where a Systems Issue experienced by
the Exchange automatically changed the
number of shares associated with all
orders from one or more Members, or all
orders in one or more symbols (in either
case resulting in overfills), or changed
the symbol on one or more orders
(resulting in executions in the wrong
stocks), where such orders were routed
by DE Route to a Trading Center for
execution.11
Assignment Methodology
Regardless of how an error position
arose, DE Route would not typically
learn about an error position until the
next business day following the trade
date, usually (but not exclusively)
during the clearing process when a
Trading Center has submitted to DTCC
a transaction for clearance and
settlement of which DE Route had not
received an execution confirmation.
Nonetheless, if DE Route reasonably
determines that it has accurate and
sufficient information, and a sufficient
amount of time, it will assign the full
amount of the resulting error position to
one or more Members. For example, if
Member A placed an order to buy 100
shares of symbol XYZ, and a Systems
10 See, e.g., Nasdaq Rule 4627 (stating that all
members must honor trades); BATS Rule 11.15(b);
and NSX Rule 11.17(b) (both stating that
transactions are locked-in and automatically
processed for clearance and settlement).
11 This discussion of potential scenarios that
could lead to an error position is not intended to
be an exhaustive list of all scenarios, but rather is
just illustrative. The Exchange cannot anticipate
every scenario, but does acknowledge that the types
of error positions that might warrant use by DE
Route of an error account would be limited to those
arising from Systems Issues, as defined herein,
which resulted in erroneous executions occurring
on one or more Trading Centers.
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Issue caused DE Route to route an order
for the wrong number of shares (e.g.,
1000 shares), or route an order for the
correct number of shares but in the
wrong symbol (e.g., symbol XYY instead
of XYZ), then, in either situation, DE
Route would assign to Member A the
full amount of the resulting error
position (in the above examples, 1000
shares of XYZ, of which 900 shares
would be the error position, or 100
shares of XYY, respectively). Under
these circumstances, because the error
position would have been caused by an
Exchange or DE Route’s Systems Issue,
Member A would be permitted to
submit a claim for reimbursement
pursuant to EDGA Rule 11.12 to the
extent that Member A incurred a loss
after trading out of the error position.
The foregoing assignment
methodology is designed to ensure that
an error position is assigned to Members
in a non-discriminatory manner. Thus,
if DE Route reasonably concludes that it
is unable to trace each erroneous
execution comprising an error position
back to one or more Members’ orders,
then DE Route will assume the entire
amount of the error position in the error
account. Moreover, if DE Route
reasonably concludes, due to the
number of erroneous executions and/or
the number of Members potentially
impacted, that it would not be able to
trace each erroneous execution
comprising an error position back to
such Members in a timely manner
(which will be defined to mean by the
first business day following the trade
date on which the error position was
established, or ‘‘T+1’’), then DE Route
will assume the entire amount of the
error position in the error account.
When an error position is acquired into
DE Route’s error account, it will then be
liquidated as soon as practicable
pursuant to proposed paragraph (a)(7) of
Rule 2.11.
Proposed Changes to Exchange Rule
2.11
The Exchange proposes to amend
EDGA Rule 2.11 to amend subparagraph
(a)(4) and add new subparagraphs (a)(6)
and (a)(7) to address the cancellation of
orders due to Systems Issues and the
use of an error account by DE Route,
respectively.
Specifically, under proposed
subparagraph (a)(6), the Exchange or DE
Route would be expressly authorized to
cancel orders as may be necessary to
maintain fair and orderly markets if a
Systems Issue occurred at the Exchange,
DE Route or a Trading Center.12 The
12 Such a situation may not cause the Exchange
to declare self-help against the Trading Center
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Exchange or DE Route would be
required to provide notice of the
cancellation to affected Members as
soon as practicable.
Under amended subparagraph (a)(4)
and new subparagraph (a)(7), DE Route
would be authorized, when providing
routing services to the Exchange, to
maintain an error account for the
purpose of liquidating an error position
acquired as a result of Systems Issues
experienced either by DE Route itself,
the Exchange or at a Trading Center, as
described above. The rule amendments
provide that DE Route would only
assume an error position in the error
account under documented
circumstances when the error position
could not fairly and practicably be
assigned to one or more Members.
With proposed new subparagraph
(a)(7) of Rule 2.11, the Exchange is
proposing that DE Route would consider
the following factors in determining
whether the entire amount of an error
position can be fairly and practicably
assigned to one or more Members: (i)
Whether DE Route has accurate and
sufficient information to trace each
erroneous execution comprising an error
position back to one or more Members’
orders; and (ii) whether DE Route is able
to review available information in order
to assign the entire amount of an error
position to all affected Members by the
first business day following the trade
date on which the error position was
created (considering, among other
factors, the size of the error position and
the total number of Members potentially
impacted). If as a result of the foregoing,
DE Route reasonably concludes that the
entire amount of an error position can
be assigned to one or more Members in
a timely and non-discriminatory
manner, the entire amount of the error
position will accordingly be assigned to
such Members.13 An example of this
might be where a Systems Issue of
limited scope or duration occurred at a
Trading Center, and the resulting trades
submitted for clearance and settlement
by such Trading Center to DTCC,
coupled with the number of Member
orders transmitted during that same
time period or possessing similar,
traceable characteristics, are adequately
manageable so as to allow a sufficient
amount of time to match the error
pursuant to Rule 611 of Regulation NMS under the
Act. If the Exchange or DE Route determines to
cancel orders routed to a Trading Center under
proposed subparagraph (a)(6), but does not declare
self-help against that Trading Center, the Exchange
would continue to be subject to the order protection
requirements of Rule 611 with respect to that
Trading Center.
13 See examples listed under the section entitled
‘‘Assignment Methodology,’’ supra.
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20865
position with Members’ orders in a nondiscriminatory fashion.
There may be scenarios, however, in
which the entire amount of a particular
error position resulting from a Systems
Issue cannot be assigned to Members, or
cannot be assigned to Members in a
non-discriminatory manner. For
example, in the event that there is
insufficient and/or inaccurate
information, or the routed order that led
to an erroneous execution could not be
attributed to a Member’s order, then DE
Route would not be able to trace
erroneous executions back to a
Member’s order. Also, if the information
available would enable tracing of some,
but not all, of the erroneous executions
comprising an error position to
Members, then the Exchange believes
that assigning only a portion of an error
position to Members might unfairly
discriminate against those Members. In
these circumstances, therefore, DE
Route may reasonably conclude,
pursuant to the factors set forth in
proposed Rule 2.11(a)(7), that it cannot
assign the entire amount of an error
position to one or more Members, or
cannot assign it in a non-discriminatory
manner, and must instead acquire the
entire amount of the error position into
the error account.
There may also be scenarios in which
the entire amount of a particular error
position resulting from a Systems Issue
cannot practicably be assigned to
Members in a timely manner. For
example, the number of erroneous
executions comprising an error position,
and/or the number of Members
potentially impacted, could be such that
the research necessary to trace all of the
erroneous executions comprising the
error position back to particular
Members’ orders could reasonably be
expected to extend beyond T+1. The
Exchange believes that assigning an
error position to a Member beyond T+1
significantly increases the potential for
disruptions in the normal clearance and
settlement process,14 and also could
result in adverse regulatory
consequences for affected Members
(e.g., their compliance with Rule 15c3–
1 under the Act). In these
circumstances, therefore, DE Route may
reasonably conclude, pursuant to the
factors set forth in proposed Rule
2.11(a)(7), that it is not practicable to
assign the entire amount of an error
position to one or more Members by
T+1, and must instead acquire the entire
14 Specifically, the Exchange believes that the
likelihood of erroneous executions failing to settle
within the normal clearance and settlement cycle
would increase the closer in time to the settlement
date that the error position was assigned to a
Member.
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amount of the error position into the
error account.
DE Route would be required to
document the factors considered in
determining to assume an error position
in the error account. Similarly, if DE
Route determined that an error position
could be assigned to a particular
Member in a timely fashion, then DE
Route would be required to document
the rationale for the assignment to that
Member. The assignment of any error
position to any one or more Members
would be required to be done in a nondiscriminatory fashion; this includes,
for example, that the entire amount of
an error position must be assigned to all
Members to which such position could
reasonably be attributed. If time would
not permit a full analysis of all Members
to which a position could be attributed,
then DE Route would not assign any
portion of the error position to
Members, but would rather have to
assume the error position in its error
account. Documentation reflecting
assignment of an error position to one
or more Members shall reflect such
methodology.
Proposed subparagraph (a)(7) would
further describe the manner in which
DE Route would liquidate an error
position from the error account. When,
as and if DE Route determined to book
an error position to its error account, DE
Route would be required to liquidate
such error position as soon as
practicable in a manner that would
effectively confer investment discretion
over the error position to a third-party
broker-dealer. Specifically, DE Route
would be required to: (i) Provide
complete time and price discretion to
the third-party broker-dealer in the
liquidation of the error position,
including that it would not be permitted
to exercise any influence or control over
the timing or methods of trading; and
(ii) establish and implement written
policies and procedures in accordance
with paragraph (a)(7) that are reasonably
designed to restrict the flow of any
confidential and proprietary
information associated with the
liquidation of an error position between
the Exchange and DE Route, on one
hand, and the third-party broker-dealer,
on the other.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the
proposed rule change is consistent with
the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,15
in general, and furthers the objectives of
Section 6(b)(5),16 in particular, as it is
designed to prevent fraudulent and
15 15
16 15
U.S.C. 78f.
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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 investors and the
public interest, and is not designed to
permit unfair discrimination between
customers, brokers or dealers. The
Exchange believes that this proposal is
in keeping with those principles since
the Exchange’s and DE Route’s ability to
cancel orders as a result of a Systems
Issue and to maintain an error account
facilitates the smooth and efficient
operations of the market. Specifically,
the Exchange believes that allowing the
Exchange or DE Route to cancel orders
as a result of a Systems Issue would
allow the Exchange to maintain fair and
orderly markets. Moreover, the
Exchange believes that allowing DE
Route to assume a bona fide error
position in an error account, and to
liquidate the error position subject to
the conditions set forth in the proposed
amendments to Rule 2.11, would be the
least disruptive means to correct the
error position, except where it is
practicable for DE Route to assign an
error position to one or more Members
of the Exchange. The proposed
amendments are designed to ensure full
trade certainty for market participants
and avoid disrupting the clearance and
settlement process. The proposed
amendments are also designed to
provide a consistent methodology for
handling an error position in a manner
that does not discriminate among
Members. Finally, the proposed
amendments are also consistent with
Section 6 insofar as they would require
DE Route to establish controls that are
reasonably designed to restrict the flow
of any confidential information
associated with the liquidation of an
error position between the Exchange
and DE Route, on one hand, and the
third-party broker-dealer, on the other.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not
impose any burden on competition that
is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and
does not intend to solicit, comments on
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this proposed rule change. The
Exchange has not received any
unsolicited written comments from
members or other interested parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register or within such longer period (i)
as the Commission may designate up to
90 days of such date if it finds such
longer period to be appropriate and
publishes its reasons for so finding or
(ii) as to which the self-regulatory
organization consents, the Commission
will:
A. By order approve or disapprove
such proposed rule change; or
B. institute proceedings to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–EDGA–2012–09 on the
subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary,
Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–EDGA–2012–09. This file
number should be included on the
subject line if email is used. To help the
Commission process and review your
comments more efficiently, please use
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2012 / Notices
available for Web site viewing and
printing in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also
will be available for inspection and
copying at the principal office of the
Exchange. All comments received will
be posted without change; the
Commission does not edit personal
identifying information from
submissions. You should submit only
information that you wish to make
available publicly. All submissions
should refer to File Number SR–EDGA–
2012–09 and should be submitted on or
before April 27, 2012.
Rule 1079 (FLEX Index, Equity and
Currency Options) to extend a pilot
program that eliminates minimum value
sizes for FLEX index options and FLEX
equity options (together known as
‘‘FLEX Options’’).4
The Exchange requests that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay period contained in Exchange Act
Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii).5
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at https://
nasdaqomxphlx.cchwallstreet.com/
NASDAQOMXPHLX/Filings/, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority. 17
Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for,
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant parts of such
statements.
[FR Doc. 2012–8269 Filed 4–5–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–66711; File No. SR–PHLX–
2012–44]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Extend the
FLEX No Minimum Value Pilot Program
April 2, 2012.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on March 30,
2012, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC
(‘‘Phlx’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Exchange has
designated the proposed rule change as
constituting a rule change under Rule
19b–4(f)(6) under the Act,3 which
renders the proposal effective upon
filing with the Commission. The
Commission is publishing this notice to
solicit comments on the proposed rule
change from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is filing with the
Commission a proposal to amend Phlx
17 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
1 15
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:17 Apr 05, 2012
Jkt 226001
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The purpose of this proposed rule
change is to amend Phlx Rule 1079
(FLEX Index, Equity and Currency
Options) to extend a pilot program that
eliminates minimum value sizes for
FLEX Options (the ‘‘Pilot Program’’ or
‘‘Pilot’’).
Rule 1079 deals with the process of
listing and trading FLEX equity, index,
and currency options on the Exchange.
Rule 1079(a)(8)(A) currently sets the
minimum opening transaction value
size in the case of a FLEX Option in a
newly established (opening) series if
there is no open interest in the
particular series when a Request-for4 In addition to FLEX Options, FLEX currency
options are also traded on the Exchange. These
flexible index, equity, and currency options provide
investors the ability to customize basic option
features including size, expiration date, exercise
style, and certain exercise prices; and may have
expiration dates within five years. See Rule 1079.
FLEX currency options traded on the Exchange are
also known as FLEX World Currency Options
(‘‘WCO’’) or Foreign Currency Options (‘‘FCO’’).
The pilot program discussed herein does not
encompass FLEX currency options.
5 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20867
Quote (‘‘RFQ’’) is submitted (except as
provided in Commentary .01 to Rule
1079): (i) $10 million underlying
equivalent value, respecting FLEX
market index options, and $5 million
underlying equivalent value respecting
FLEX industry index options; 6 (ii) the
lesser of 250 contracts or the number of
contracts overlying $1 million in the
underlying securities, with respect to
FLEX equity options (together the
‘‘minimum value size’’).7
Presently, Commentary .01 to Rule
1079 states that by virtue of the Pilot
Program ending March 30, 2012, there
shall be no minimum value size
requirements for FLEX Options as noted
in subsections (a)(8)(A)(i) and
(a)(8)(A)(ii) above.8
The Exchange now proposes to extend
the Pilot Program for a period ending
May 31, 2012.9
The Exchange believes that there is
sufficient investor interest and demand
in the Pilot Program to warrant an
extension. The Exchange believes that
the Pilot Program has provided
investors with additional means of
managing their risk exposures and
carrying out their investment objectives.
Extension of the Pilot Program would
continue to provide greater
opportunities for traders and investors
to manage risk through the use of FLEX
Options, including investors that may
otherwise trade in the unregulated over
the counter (‘‘OTC’’) market where
similar size restrictions do not apply.10
In support of the proposed extension
of the Pilot Program, the Exchange has
under separate cover submitted to the
Commission a Pilot Program Report
6 Market index options and industry index
options are broad-based index options and narrowbased index options, respectively. See Rule
1000A(b)(11) and (12).
7 Subsection (a)(8)(A) also provides a third
alternative: (iii) 50 contracts in the case of FLEX
currency options. However, this alternative is not
part of the Pilot Program.
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64108
(March 22, 2011), 76 FR 17174 (March 28, 2011)
(SR–Phlx–2011–35) (notice of filing and immediate
effectiveness of proposal to extend Pilot Program).
The Pilot Program was instituted in 2010. See
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62900
(September 13, 2010), 75 FR 57098 (September 17,
2010) (SR–Phlx–2010–123)(notice of filing and
immediate effectiveness of proposal to institute
Pilot Program).
9 The Exchange notes that any positions
established under this Pilot would not be impacted
by the expiration of the Pilot. For example, a 10contract FLEX equity option opening position that
overlies less than $1 million in the underlying
security and expires in January 2015 could be
established during the Pilot. If the Pilot Program
were not extended, the position would continue to
exist and any further trading in the series would be
subject to the minimum value size requirements for
continued trading in that series.
10 The Exchange has not experienced any adverse
market effects with respect to the Pilot Program.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20863-20867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8269]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-66714; File No. SR-EDGA-2012-09]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGA Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing of Proposed Rule Change Relating to Amendments to Rule 2.11 That
Establish the Authority To Cancel Orders and Describe the Operation of
an Error Account
April 2, 2012.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on March 22, 2012, EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or ``EDGA'') filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the
proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from
interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 2.11 to (1) add a new
subparagraph (a)(6) that addresses the authority of the Exchange and
its routing broker-dealer, Direct Edge ECN LLC d/b/a DE Route (``DE
Route'') to cancel orders if and when a systems, technical or
operational issue (herein, each individually referred to as a ``Systems
Issue,'' and collectively referred to as ``Systems Issues'') occurs,
and (2) amend subparagraph (a)(4) and add new subparagraph (a)(7) to
describe the operation of an error account for DE Route. The text of
the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site, at
the Exchange's principal office and in the Public Reference Room of the
Commission.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization has prepared summaries,
set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant
aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 2.11 by adding subparagraph
(a)(6) to address the authority of the Exchange and DE Route to cancel
orders when a Systems Issue occurs, and by amending subparagraph (a)(4)
and adding subparagraph (a)(7) to describe the conditions under which
DE Route may maintain and use an error account.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ DE Route is a facility of the Exchange. Accordingly, under
Exchange Rule 2.11(a)(1), the Exchange is responsible for filing
with the Commission rule changes and fees relating to DE Route's
outbound router function. In addition, EDGA is using the phrase
``the Exchange or DE Route'' in this rule filing to reflect the fact
that a decision to cancel orders affected by Systems Issue may be
made by the Exchange or DE Route depending on where those orders are
located at the time of that decision.
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[[Page 20864]]
DE Route is the approved outbound router of EDGA,\4\ subject to the
conditions listed in Rule 2.11. EDGA relies on DE Route to provide
outbound routing services from EDGA to external market centers (each, a
``Trading Center'' \5\). The Exchange has also been approved to receive
inbound routes of equities orders by DE Route from EDGX Exchange, Inc.
for a pilot period ending on June 30, 2012.\6\ When DE Route routes
orders to a Trading Center, it does so by sending a corresponding order
in its own name to the Trading Center. From time to time, the Exchange
and DE Route encounter situations in which it becomes necessary to
cancel orders and resolve an error position.\7\
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\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 61698 (March 12,
2010), 75 FR 13151 (March 18, 2010).
\5\ As defined in EDGA Rule 2.11(a) and Rule 600(b)(78) of
Regulation NMS under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
``Act''), 17 CFR 242.600(b)(78).
\6\ See Release No. 61698 at n. 4. See also Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 64362 (April 28, 2011), 76 FR 25386 (May 4, 2011)
(SR-EDGA-2011-13); see also SR-EDGA-2012-10 (March 16, 2012)
(pending filing to extend the pilot period through June 30, 2013).
\7\ The examples described in this filing are not intended to be
exclusive. Proposed subparagraph (a)(6) of EDGA Rule 2.11 would
provide general authority for the Exchange or DE Route to cancel
orders in order to maintain fair and orderly markets when Systems
Issues are occurring, and proposed subparagraph (a)(7) of Rule 2.11
would set forth the manner in which an error position may be handled
by DE Route. The proposed rule changes are not limited to addressing
order cancellation or an error position resulting only from the
specific examples described in this filing.
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Circumstances That Could Lead to Cancelled Orders
A Systems Issue may arise at DE Route, a Trading Center or the
Exchange that may cause the Exchange or DE Route to take steps to
cancel orders if the Exchange or DE Route determines that such action
is necessary to maintain a fair and orderly market. The examples set
forth below describe some of the circumstances in which the Exchange or
DE Route may decide to cancel orders.
Example 1. If DE Route or a Trading Center experiences a Systems
Issue that results in DE Route not receiving responses to immediate
or cancel (``IOC'') orders that it sent to the Trading Center, and
that issue is not resolved in a timely manner, DE Route may need to
cancel the routed orders affected by the issue.\8\ For instance, if
DE Route experiences a connectivity issue affecting the manner in
which it sends or receives order messages to or from Trading
Centers, it may be unable to receive timely execution or
cancellation reports from the Trading Centers, and DE Route may
consequently seek to cancel the affected routed orders. Once a
decision is made to cancel those routed orders, any cancellation
that a Member submitted to the Exchange on its initial order during
such a situation would be honored.\9\
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\8\ In a normal situation (i.e., one in which a Systems Issue
does not exist), DE Route should receive an immediate response to an
IOC order from a Trading Center, and would pass the resulting fill
or cancellation on to the Member. After submitting an order that is
routed to a Trading Center, if a Member sends an instruction to
cancel that order, the cancellation is held by the Exchange until a
response is received from the Trading Center. For instance, if the
Trading Center executes that order, the execution would be passed on
to the Member and the cancellation instruction would be disregarded.
\9\ If a Member did not submit a cancellation to the Exchange,
however, that initial order would remain ``live'' and thus be
eligible for execution or posting on the Exchange, and neither the
Exchange nor DE Route would treat any execution of that initial
order or any subsequent routed order related to that initial order
as an error position.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example 2. If the Exchange experiences a Systems Issue, the
Exchange may take steps to cancel all outstanding orders affected by
that issue and notify affected Members of the cancellations. In
those cases, the Exchange would seek to cancel, via DE Route, any
routed orders related to the Members' initial orders.
Circumstances That Could Lead to an Error Position
An error position can arise out of Systems Issues experienced by DE
Route, the Exchange or a Trading Center. Connectivity and order
processing related issues are the most common types of Systems Issues
that DE Route would expect could result in an error position.
Connectivity issues, for example, would entail problems with the manner
in which DE Route sends or receives order, execution and cancellation
messages to or from other Trading Centers. Connectivity issues could
arise either from DE Route's systems or from the Trading Center's
systems. For example, if DE Route's connection to a Trading Center is
interrupted after delivering an order, DE Route may be unable to
receive a timely execution report from the Trading Center, and as a
consequence may cancel the Member's order. But DE Route may later
discover after the connection was restored that the order was actually
executed by the Trading Center, resulting in an error position.
Similarly, if the Trading Center attempted to cancel all open orders
that it had previously accepted due to a Systems Issue, but either
transmitted cancellations on orders that had previously been executed,
or subsequently submitted executions of the orders to The Depository
Trust Clearing Corporation (``DTCC'') for clearance and settlement, an
error position would result.
An error position might also result if DE Route failed to process
order messages correctly. For example, if DE Route's connection to the
Exchange is temporarily interrupted and DE Route were to erroneously
re-route orders that had previously been executed after the connection
was restored, DE Route will have received executions of orders where
there were effectively no corresponding orders on the Exchange. In this
case, the executions would not necessarily be nullified since DE Route
is a regular member of other Trading Centers and is therefore subject
to those venues' policies for honoring trades.\10\
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\10\ See, e.g., Nasdaq Rule 4627 (stating that all members must
honor trades); BATS Rule 11.15(b); and NSX Rule 11.17(b) (both
stating that transactions are locked-in and automatically processed
for clearance and settlement).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Systems Issue experienced by the Exchange could also result in an
error position relating to a routed order. For example, if an order
were routed from the Exchange to a Trading Center by DE Route, and then
due to a Systems Issue the Exchange would not accept the resulting
execution of the order (but rather transmitted a cancellation to the
Member instead), an error position would result. Another example might
be where a Systems Issue experienced by the Exchange automatically
changed the number of shares associated with all orders from one or
more Members, or all orders in one or more symbols (in either case
resulting in overfills), or changed the symbol on one or more orders
(resulting in executions in the wrong stocks), where such orders were
routed by DE Route to a Trading Center for execution.\11\
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\11\ This discussion of potential scenarios that could lead to
an error position is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
scenarios, but rather is just illustrative. The Exchange cannot
anticipate every scenario, but does acknowledge that the types of
error positions that might warrant use by DE Route of an error
account would be limited to those arising from Systems Issues, as
defined herein, which resulted in erroneous executions occurring on
one or more Trading Centers.
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Assignment Methodology
Regardless of how an error position arose, DE Route would not
typically learn about an error position until the next business day
following the trade date, usually (but not exclusively) during the
clearing process when a Trading Center has submitted to DTCC a
transaction for clearance and settlement of which DE Route had not
received an execution confirmation. Nonetheless, if DE Route reasonably
determines that it has accurate and sufficient information, and a
sufficient amount of time, it will assign the full amount of the
resulting error position to one or more Members. For example, if Member
A placed an order to buy 100 shares of symbol XYZ, and a Systems
[[Page 20865]]
Issue caused DE Route to route an order for the wrong number of shares
(e.g., 1000 shares), or route an order for the correct number of shares
but in the wrong symbol (e.g., symbol XYY instead of XYZ), then, in
either situation, DE Route would assign to Member A the full amount of
the resulting error position (in the above examples, 1000 shares of
XYZ, of which 900 shares would be the error position, or 100 shares of
XYY, respectively). Under these circumstances, because the error
position would have been caused by an Exchange or DE Route's Systems
Issue, Member A would be permitted to submit a claim for reimbursement
pursuant to EDGA Rule 11.12 to the extent that Member A incurred a loss
after trading out of the error position.
The foregoing assignment methodology is designed to ensure that an
error position is assigned to Members in a non-discriminatory manner.
Thus, if DE Route reasonably concludes that it is unable to trace each
erroneous execution comprising an error position back to one or more
Members' orders, then DE Route will assume the entire amount of the
error position in the error account. Moreover, if DE Route reasonably
concludes, due to the number of erroneous executions and/or the number
of Members potentially impacted, that it would not be able to trace
each erroneous execution comprising an error position back to such
Members in a timely manner (which will be defined to mean by the first
business day following the trade date on which the error position was
established, or ``T+1''), then DE Route will assume the entire amount
of the error position in the error account. When an error position is
acquired into DE Route's error account, it will then be liquidated as
soon as practicable pursuant to proposed paragraph (a)(7) of Rule 2.11.
Proposed Changes to Exchange Rule 2.11
The Exchange proposes to amend EDGA Rule 2.11 to amend subparagraph
(a)(4) and add new subparagraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7) to address the
cancellation of orders due to Systems Issues and the use of an error
account by DE Route, respectively.
Specifically, under proposed subparagraph (a)(6), the Exchange or
DE Route would be expressly authorized to cancel orders as may be
necessary to maintain fair and orderly markets if a Systems Issue
occurred at the Exchange, DE Route or a Trading Center.\12\ The
Exchange or DE Route would be required to provide notice of the
cancellation to affected Members as soon as practicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Such a situation may not cause the Exchange to declare
self-help against the Trading Center pursuant to Rule 611 of
Regulation NMS under the Act. If the Exchange or DE Route determines
to cancel orders routed to a Trading Center under proposed
subparagraph (a)(6), but does not declare self-help against that
Trading Center, the Exchange would continue to be subject to the
order protection requirements of Rule 611 with respect to that
Trading Center.
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Under amended subparagraph (a)(4) and new subparagraph (a)(7), DE
Route would be authorized, when providing routing services to the
Exchange, to maintain an error account for the purpose of liquidating
an error position acquired as a result of Systems Issues experienced
either by DE Route itself, the Exchange or at a Trading Center, as
described above. The rule amendments provide that DE Route would only
assume an error position in the error account under documented
circumstances when the error position could not fairly and practicably
be assigned to one or more Members.
With proposed new subparagraph (a)(7) of Rule 2.11, the Exchange is
proposing that DE Route would consider the following factors in
determining whether the entire amount of an error position can be
fairly and practicably assigned to one or more Members: (i) Whether DE
Route has accurate and sufficient information to trace each erroneous
execution comprising an error position back to one or more Members'
orders; and (ii) whether DE Route is able to review available
information in order to assign the entire amount of an error position
to all affected Members by the first business day following the trade
date on which the error position was created (considering, among other
factors, the size of the error position and the total number of Members
potentially impacted). If as a result of the foregoing, DE Route
reasonably concludes that the entire amount of an error position can be
assigned to one or more Members in a timely and non-discriminatory
manner, the entire amount of the error position will accordingly be
assigned to such Members.\13\ An example of this might be where a
Systems Issue of limited scope or duration occurred at a Trading
Center, and the resulting trades submitted for clearance and settlement
by such Trading Center to DTCC, coupled with the number of Member
orders transmitted during that same time period or possessing similar,
traceable characteristics, are adequately manageable so as to allow a
sufficient amount of time to match the error position with Members'
orders in a non-discriminatory fashion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See examples listed under the section entitled ``Assignment
Methodology,'' supra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
There may be scenarios, however, in which the entire amount of a
particular error position resulting from a Systems Issue cannot be
assigned to Members, or cannot be assigned to Members in a non-
discriminatory manner. For example, in the event that there is
insufficient and/or inaccurate information, or the routed order that
led to an erroneous execution could not be attributed to a Member's
order, then DE Route would not be able to trace erroneous executions
back to a Member's order. Also, if the information available would
enable tracing of some, but not all, of the erroneous executions
comprising an error position to Members, then the Exchange believes
that assigning only a portion of an error position to Members might
unfairly discriminate against those Members. In these circumstances,
therefore, DE Route may reasonably conclude, pursuant to the factors
set forth in proposed Rule 2.11(a)(7), that it cannot assign the entire
amount of an error position to one or more Members, or cannot assign it
in a non-discriminatory manner, and must instead acquire the entire
amount of the error position into the error account.
There may also be scenarios in which the entire amount of a
particular error position resulting from a Systems Issue cannot
practicably be assigned to Members in a timely manner. For example, the
number of erroneous executions comprising an error position, and/or the
number of Members potentially impacted, could be such that the research
necessary to trace all of the erroneous executions comprising the error
position back to particular Members' orders could reasonably be
expected to extend beyond T+1. The Exchange believes that assigning an
error position to a Member beyond T+1 significantly increases the
potential for disruptions in the normal clearance and settlement
process,\14\ and also could result in adverse regulatory consequences
for affected Members (e.g., their compliance with Rule 15c3-1 under the
Act). In these circumstances, therefore, DE Route may reasonably
conclude, pursuant to the factors set forth in proposed Rule
2.11(a)(7), that it is not practicable to assign the entire amount of
an error position to one or more Members by T+1, and must instead
acquire the entire
[[Page 20866]]
amount of the error position into the error account.
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\14\ Specifically, the Exchange believes that the likelihood of
erroneous executions failing to settle within the normal clearance
and settlement cycle would increase the closer in time to the
settlement date that the error position was assigned to a Member.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE Route would be required to document the factors considered in
determining to assume an error position in the error account.
Similarly, if DE Route determined that an error position could be
assigned to a particular Member in a timely fashion, then DE Route
would be required to document the rationale for the assignment to that
Member. The assignment of any error position to any one or more Members
would be required to be done in a non-discriminatory fashion; this
includes, for example, that the entire amount of an error position must
be assigned to all Members to which such position could reasonably be
attributed. If time would not permit a full analysis of all Members to
which a position could be attributed, then DE Route would not assign
any portion of the error position to Members, but would rather have to
assume the error position in its error account. Documentation
reflecting assignment of an error position to one or more Members shall
reflect such methodology.
Proposed subparagraph (a)(7) would further describe the manner in
which DE Route would liquidate an error position from the error
account. When, as and if DE Route determined to book an error position
to its error account, DE Route would be required to liquidate such
error position as soon as practicable in a manner that would
effectively confer investment discretion over the error position to a
third-party broker-dealer. Specifically, DE Route would be required to:
(i) Provide complete time and price discretion to the third-party
broker-dealer in the liquidation of the error position, including that
it would not be permitted to exercise any influence or control over the
timing or methods of trading; and (ii) establish and implement written
policies and procedures in accordance with paragraph (a)(7) that are
reasonably designed to restrict the flow of any confidential and
proprietary information associated with the liquidation of an error
position between the Exchange and DE Route, on one hand, and the third-
party broker-dealer, on the other.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent
with the objectives of Section 6 of the Act,\15\ in general, and
furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),\16\ in particular, as it is
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged in 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 investors and the public interest, and is not
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, brokers or
dealers. The Exchange believes that this proposal is in keeping with
those principles since the Exchange's and DE Route's ability to cancel
orders as a result of a Systems Issue and to maintain an error account
facilitates the smooth and efficient operations of the market.
Specifically, the Exchange believes that allowing the Exchange or DE
Route to cancel orders as a result of a Systems Issue would allow the
Exchange to maintain fair and orderly markets. Moreover, the Exchange
believes that allowing DE Route to assume a bona fide error position in
an error account, and to liquidate the error position subject to the
conditions set forth in the proposed amendments to Rule 2.11, would be
the least disruptive means to correct the error position, except where
it is practicable for DE Route to assign an error position to one or
more Members of the Exchange. The proposed amendments are designed to
ensure full trade certainty for market participants and avoid
disrupting the clearance and settlement process. The proposed
amendments are also designed to provide a consistent methodology for
handling an error position in a manner that does not discriminate among
Members. Finally, the proposed amendments are also consistent with
Section 6 insofar as they would require DE Route to establish controls
that are reasonably designed to restrict the flow of any confidential
information associated with the liquidation of an error position
between the Exchange and DE Route, on one hand, and the third-party
broker-dealer, on the other.
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\15\ 15 U.S.C. 78f.
\16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The proposed rule change does not impose any burden on competition
that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of
the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit,
comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received
any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested
parties.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register or within such longer period (i) as the Commission may
designate up to 90 days of such date if it finds such longer period to
be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
A. By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change; or
B. institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include
File Number SR-EDGA-2012-09 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-EDGA-2012-09. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
[[Page 20867]]
available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to
File Number SR-EDGA-2012-09 and should be submitted on or before April
27, 2012.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority. \17\
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\17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Elizabeth M. Murphy,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-8269 Filed 4-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
