Self-Regulatory Organizations; the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) Regarding Quoting Obligations, 15995-15997 [2013-05751]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2013 / Notices change, or within such longer period up to 90 days as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission shall either approve the proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day for this filing is March 11, 2013. The Commission is extending this 45-day time period. The Commission finds that it is appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change, the comments received, and any response to the comments submitted by FINRA. The proposed rule change would amend FINRA Rule 2267 to require that members include a prominent description of and link to FINRA BrokerCheck, as prescribed by FINRA, on their Web sites, social media pages, and any comparable Internet presence, and on Web sites, social media pages, and any comparable Internet presence relating to a member’s investment banking or securities business maintained by or on behalf of any person associated with a member. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,6 designates April 25, 2013, as the date by which the Commission should either approve or disapprove or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule change (File Number SR–FINRA–2013–002). For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.7 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–05719 Filed 3–12–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [Release No. 34–69069; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2013–043] Self-Regulatory Organizations; the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) Regarding Quoting Obligations March 7, 2013. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 6 15 7 17 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). CFR 200.30–3(a)(57). VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:11 Mar 12, 2013 (‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2 notice is hereby given that on March 5, 2013, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to adopt a new Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) to provide for how the Exchange proposes to treat options market-making quoting obligations, in response to the Regulation NMS Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility. The text of the proposed rule change is below; proposed new language is italicized. * * * * * Chapter V NOM * * * * * Sec. 3 Trading Halts (a)–(c) No change. (d) This paragraph shall be in effect during a pilot period to coincide with the pilot period for the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS, as it may be amended from time to time (‘‘LULD Plan’’). Capitalized terms used in this paragraph shall have the same meaning as provided for in the LULD Plan. During a Limit State and Straddle State in the Underlying NMS stock: (i)–(ii) No change. (iii) When evaluating whether a Market Maker has met the continuous quoting obligations of Chapter VII, Section 6(d) in options overlying NMS stocks, the Exchange will not consider as part of the trading day the time that an NMS stock underlying an option was in a Limit State or Straddle State. (e) No change. * * * * * 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 1 15 2 17 Jkt 229001 Regulation of Trading on PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 15995 the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and the Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) 3 to provide for how the Exchange will treat options market making quoting obligations in response to the Regulation NMS Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility (the ‘‘Plan’’), which is applicable to all NMS stocks, as defined in Regulation NMS Rule 600(b)(47). The Exchange proposes to adopt new Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) for a pilot period that coincides with the pilot period for the Plan. Background Since May 6, 2010, when the markets experienced excessive volatility in an abbreviated time period, i.e., the ‘‘flash crash,’’ the equities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (‘‘FINRA’’) have implemented marketwide measures designed to restore investor confidence by reducing the potential for excessive market volatility. Among the measures adopted include pilot plans for stock-by-stock trading pauses,4 related changes to the equities market clearly erroneous execution rules,5 and more stringent equities market maker quoting requirements.6 On May 31, 2012, the Commission approved the Plan, as amended, on a one-year pilot basis.7 In addition, the Commission approved changes to the equities market-wide circuit breaker rules on a pilot basis to coincide with the pilot period for the Plan.8 3 The provisions of Chapter V, Sections 3(d)(i)– (ii) and 3(e) were filed and became effective on February 28, 2013, with a 30 day operative delay, on a pilot basis. See SR–NASDAQ–2013–040. 4 See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4120. 5 See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4762. 6 See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4613. 7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File No. 4–631) (Order Approving the Plan on a Pilot Basis). 8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67090 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33531 (June 6, 2012) (SR– BATS–2011–038; SR–BYX–2011–025; SR–BX– 2011–068; SR–CBOE–2011–087; SR–C2–2011–024; SR–CHX–2011–30; SR–EDGA–2011–31; SR–EDGX– 2011–30; SR–FINRA–2011–054; SR–ISE–2011–61; Continued Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1 15996 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2013 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The Plan is designed to prevent trades in individual NMS stocks from occurring outside of specified Price Bands.9 As described more fully below, the requirements of the Plan are coupled with Trading Pauses to accommodate more fundamental price moves (as opposed to erroneous trades or momentary gaps in liquidity). All trading centers in NMS stocks, including both those operated by Participants and those operated by members of Participants, are required to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to comply with the requirements specified in the Plan. As set forth in more detail in the Plan, Price Bands consisting of a Lower Price Band and an Upper Price Band for each NMS Stock are calculated by the Processors.10 When the National Best Bid (Offer) is below (above) the Lower (Upper) Price Band, the Processors shall disseminate such National Best Bid (Offer) with an appropriate flag identifying it as unexecutable. When the National Best Bid (Offer) is equal to the Upper (Lower) Price Band, the Processors shall distribute such National Best Bid (Offer) with an appropriate flag identifying it as a Limit State Quotation.11 All trading centers in NMS stocks must maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent the display of offers below the Lower Price Band and bids above the Upper Price Band for NMS stocks. Notwithstanding this requirement, the Processor shall display an offer below the Lower Price Band or a bid above the Upper Price Band, but with a flag that it is nonexecutable. Such bids or offers shall not be included in the National Best Bid or National Best Offer calculations.12 Trading in an NMS stock immediately enters a Limit State if the National Best Offer (Bid) equals but does not cross the Lower (Upper) Price Band.13 Trading for an NMS stock exits a Limit State if, within 15 seconds of entering the Limit State, all Limit State Quotations were executed or canceled in their entirety. If the market does not exit a Limit State within 15 seconds, then the Primary Listing Exchange would declare a fiveminute trading pause pursuant to Section VII of the Plan, which would be SR–NASDAQ–2011–131; SR–NSX–2011–11; SR– NYSE–2011–48; SR–NYSEAmex–011–73; SR– NYSEArca–2011–68; SR-Phlx–2011–129). 9 Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this rule filing are based on the defined terms of the Plan. 10 See Section V(A) of the Plan. 11 See Section VI(A) of the Plan. 12 See Section VI(A)(3) of the Plan. 13 See Section VI(B)(1) of the Plan. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:11 Mar 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 applicable to all markets trading the security.14 In addition, the Plan defines a Straddle State as when the National Best Bid (Offer) is below (above) the Lower (Upper) Price Band and the NMS stock is not in a Limit State. For example, assume the Lower Price Band for an NMS Stock is $9.50 and the Upper Price Band is $10.50, such NMS stock would be in a Straddle State if the National Best Bid were below $9.50, and therefore unexecutable, and the National Best Offer were above $9.50 (including a National Best Offer that could be above $10.50). If an NMS stock is in a Straddle State and trading in that stock deviates from normal trading characteristics, the Primary Listing Exchange may declare a trading pause for that NMS stock if such Trading Pause would support the Plan’s goal to address extraordinary market volatility. Proposal The Exchange proposes to adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) to provide that the Exchange shall exclude the amount of time an NMS stock underlying a NOM option is in a Limit State or Straddle State from the total amount of time in the trading day when calculating the percentage of the trading day Options Market Makers are required to quote. Currently, the quoting requirements appear in Chapter VII, Sections 5 and 6, which generally require that, on a daily basis, a Market Maker must during regular market hours make markets consistent with the applicable quoting requirements specified in these rules, on a continuous basis in at least sixty percent (60%) of the series in options in which the Market Maker is registered. To satisfy this requirement with respect to quoting a series, a Market Maker must quote such series 90% of the trading day (as a percentage of the total number of minutes in such trading day) or such higher percentage as NASDAQ may announce in advance. The Exchange now proposes to subtract from the total number of minutes in a trading day the time period for an option when the underlying NMS stock was in a Limit State or Straddle State. The Exchange believes that this is appropriate for the same reasons discussed above, in light of the limited price discovery in the underlying stock and the direct relationship between an options price and the price of the 14 The primary listing market would declare a Trading Pause in an NMS stock; upon notification by the primary listing market, the Processor would disseminate this information to the public. No trades in that NMS stock could occur during the trading pause, but all bids and offers may be displayed. See Section VII(A) of the Plan. PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 underlying security. During a Limit State or Straddle State, the bid price or offer price of the underlying security will be unexecutable and the ability to hedge the purchase or sale of an option will be jeopardized. Recognizing that it may be impossible to hedge to offset the risk created by trading options, the Exchange expects that Options Market Makers will, as a result, modify their quoting behavior. The Exchange believes it is reasonable and appropriate to exclude this time period, which the Exchange believes will generally be limited. The Exchange has considered waiving its bid/ask differential requirement (also known as quote spread parameters), but ultimately determined that those requirements should be maintained in order to promote liquidity and the operation of a fair and orderly market. Accordingly, even when the quoting obligation is not in effect, Options Market Makers who choose to quote must do so within the applicable bidask differentials. The Exchange believes that this should help ensure the quality of the quotes that are entered and preserves one of the obligations of being a market maker. 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,15 in general, and with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,16 in particular, which requires that the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest, because the Exchange believes that excluding the Limit and Straddle State from an Options Market Maker’s quoting obligation calculation should promote just and equitable principles of trade by recognizing the particular risk that arises for liquidity providers who cannot hedge. Whenever an NMS stock is in a Limit State or Straddle State, trading continues; however, there will not be a reliable price for a security to serve as a benchmark for the price of the option. Accordingly, the Exchange seeks to expressly remove these periods from consideration in order to enable Options 15 15 16 15 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM U.S.C. 78f. U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). 13MRN1 15997 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2013 / Notices Market Makers to provide the necessary liquidity and facilitate transactions on the Exchange. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended. Specifically, the proposal does not impose an intra-market burden on competition, because it will apply to all Participants subject to those obligations in the same manner. Nor will the proposal impose a burden on competition among the options exchanges, because, in addition to the vigorous competition for order flow among the options exchanges, the proposal addresses a regulatory situation common to all options exchanges. To the extent that market participants disagree with the particular approach taken by the Exchange herein, market participants can easily and readily operate on competing venues. The Exchange believes this proposal will not impose a burden on competition and will help provide liquidity during periods of extraordinary volatility in an NMS stock. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others Written comments were neither solicited nor received. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:11 Mar 12, 2013 Jkt 229001 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 No. SR–NASDAQ–2013–043 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 No. SR–NASDAQ–2013–043. 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 available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR–NASDAQ– 2013–043 and should be submitted on or before March 28, 2013. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.17 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2013–05751 Filed 3–12–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–69058; File No. SR– NASDAQ–2013–039] Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Replace the Current Mid-Point Test Applied to the Definition of Theoretical Price March 7, 2013. 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 February 26, 2013, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (‘‘NASDAQ’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange has filed a proposed rule change for the NASDAQ Options Market (‘‘NOM’’) to amend Chapter V Regulation of Trading on NOM, Section 6, Obvious Errors, to replace the current mid-point test applied to the definition of Theoretical Price, as described further below. The text of the proposed rule change is below. Proposed new language is italicized. * * * * * Chapter V NOM * * PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 * * * Sec. 6 Obvious Errors (a) Nasdaq shall either nullify a transaction or adjust the execution price of a transaction that meets the standards provided in this Section. (b) No change. (c) Definition of Theoretical Price. For purposes of this Section only, the Theoretical Price of an option series is, (i) If the series is traded on at least one other options exchange, the [mid-point of the] last National Best Bid price with respect to an erroneous sell transaction and the last National Best Offer price with respect to an erroneous buy transaction [and Offer (‘‘NBBO’’)], just prior to the transaction; or (ii) No change. 1 15 17 17 Regulation of Trading on 2 17 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). CFR 240.19b–4. 13MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15995-15997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05751]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-69069; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2013-043]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt Chapter V, Section 
3(d)(iii) Regarding Quoting Obligations

 March 7, 2013.
    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 5, 2013, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``NASDAQ'' or 
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in 
Items I and II, below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. 
The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to adopt a new Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) 
to provide for how the Exchange proposes to treat options market-making 
quoting obligations, in response to the Regulation NMS Plan to Address 
Extraordinary Market Volatility.
    The text of the proposed rule change is below; proposed new 
language is italicized.
* * * * *

Chapter V Regulation of Trading on NOM

* * * * *

Sec. 3 Trading Halts

    (a)-(c) No change.
    (d) This paragraph shall be in effect during a pilot period to 
coincide with the pilot period for the Plan to Address Extraordinary 
Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS, as it may be 
amended from time to time (``LULD Plan''). Capitalized terms used in 
this paragraph shall have the same meaning as provided for in the LULD 
Plan. During a Limit State and Straddle State in the Underlying NMS 
stock:
    (i)-(ii) No change.
    (iii) When evaluating whether a Market Maker has met the continuous 
quoting obligations of Chapter VII, Section 6(d) in options overlying 
NMS stocks, the Exchange will not consider as part of the trading day 
the time that an NMS stock underlying an option was in a Limit State or 
Straddle State.
    (e) No change.
* * * * *

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) \3\ to 
provide for how the Exchange will treat options market making quoting 
obligations in response to the Regulation NMS Plan to Address 
Extraordinary Market Volatility (the ``Plan''), which is applicable to 
all NMS stocks, as defined in Regulation NMS Rule 600(b)(47). The 
Exchange proposes to adopt new Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) for a pilot 
period that coincides with the pilot period for the Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The provisions of Chapter V, Sections 3(d)(i)-(ii) and 3(e) 
were filed and became effective on February 28, 2013, with a 30 day 
operative delay, on a pilot basis. See SR-NASDAQ-2013-040.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background
    Since May 6, 2010, when the markets experienced excessive 
volatility in an abbreviated time period, i.e., the ``flash crash,'' 
the equities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority 
(``FINRA'') have implemented market-wide measures designed to restore 
investor confidence by reducing the potential for excessive market 
volatility. Among the measures adopted include pilot plans for stock-
by-stock trading pauses,\4\ related changes to the equities market 
clearly erroneous execution rules,\5\ and more stringent equities 
market maker quoting requirements.\6\ On May 31, 2012, the Commission 
approved the Plan, as amended, on a one-year pilot basis.\7\ In 
addition, the Commission approved changes to the equities market-wide 
circuit breaker rules on a pilot basis to coincide with the pilot 
period for the Plan.\8\
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    \4\ See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4120.
    \5\ See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4762.
    \6\ See e.g., NASDAQ Rule 4613.
    \7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 
2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File No. 4-631) (Order Approving 
the Plan on a Pilot Basis).
    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67090 (May 31, 
2012), 77 FR 33531 (June 6, 2012) (SR-BATS-2011-038; SR-BYX-2011-
025; SR-BX-2011-068; SR-CBOE-2011-087; SR-C2-2011-024; SR-CHX-2011-
30; SR-EDGA-2011-31; SR-EDGX-2011-30; SR-FINRA-2011-054; SR-ISE-
2011-61; SR-NASDAQ-2011-131; SR-NSX-2011-11; SR-NYSE-2011-48; SR-
NYSEAmex-011-73; SR-NYSEArca-2011-68; SR-Phlx-2011-129).

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[[Page 15996]]

    The Plan is designed to prevent trades in individual NMS stocks 
from occurring outside of specified Price Bands.\9\ As described more 
fully below, the requirements of the Plan are coupled with Trading 
Pauses to accommodate more fundamental price moves (as opposed to 
erroneous trades or momentary gaps in liquidity). All trading centers 
in NMS stocks, including both those operated by Participants and those 
operated by members of Participants, are required to establish, 
maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures that are 
reasonably designed to comply with the requirements specified in the 
Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this 
rule filing are based on the defined terms of the Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As set forth in more detail in the Plan, Price Bands consisting of 
a Lower Price Band and an Upper Price Band for each NMS Stock are 
calculated by the Processors.\10\ When the National Best Bid (Offer) is 
below (above) the Lower (Upper) Price Band, the Processors shall 
disseminate such National Best Bid (Offer) with an appropriate flag 
identifying it as unexecutable. When the National Best Bid (Offer) is 
equal to the Upper (Lower) Price Band, the Processors shall distribute 
such National Best Bid (Offer) with an appropriate flag identifying it 
as a Limit State Quotation.\11\ All trading centers in NMS stocks must 
maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed 
to prevent the display of offers below the Lower Price Band and bids 
above the Upper Price Band for NMS stocks. Notwithstanding this 
requirement, the Processor shall display an offer below the Lower Price 
Band or a bid above the Upper Price Band, but with a flag that it is 
non-executable. Such bids or offers shall not be included in the 
National Best Bid or National Best Offer calculations.\12\ Trading in 
an NMS stock immediately enters a Limit State if the National Best 
Offer (Bid) equals but does not cross the Lower (Upper) Price Band.\13\ 
Trading for an NMS stock exits a Limit State if, within 15 seconds of 
entering the Limit State, all Limit State Quotations were executed or 
canceled in their entirety. If the market does not exit a Limit State 
within 15 seconds, then the Primary Listing Exchange would declare a 
five-minute trading pause pursuant to Section VII of the Plan, which 
would be applicable to all markets trading the security.\14\ In 
addition, the Plan defines a Straddle State as when the National Best 
Bid (Offer) is below (above) the Lower (Upper) Price Band and the NMS 
stock is not in a Limit State. For example, assume the Lower Price Band 
for an NMS Stock is $9.50 and the Upper Price Band is $10.50, such NMS 
stock would be in a Straddle State if the National Best Bid were below 
$9.50, and therefore unexecutable, and the National Best Offer were 
above $9.50 (including a National Best Offer that could be above 
$10.50). If an NMS stock is in a Straddle State and trading in that 
stock deviates from normal trading characteristics, the Primary Listing 
Exchange may declare a trading pause for that NMS stock if such Trading 
Pause would support the Plan's goal to address extraordinary market 
volatility.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Section V(A) of the Plan.
    \11\ See Section VI(A) of the Plan.
    \12\ See Section VI(A)(3) of the Plan.
    \13\ See Section VI(B)(1) of the Plan.
    \14\ The primary listing market would declare a Trading Pause in 
an NMS stock; upon notification by the primary listing market, the 
Processor would disseminate this information to the public. No 
trades in that NMS stock could occur during the trading pause, but 
all bids and offers may be displayed. See Section VII(A) of the 
Plan.
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Proposal
    The Exchange proposes to adopt Chapter V, Section 3(d)(iii) to 
provide that the Exchange shall exclude the amount of time an NMS stock 
underlying a NOM option is in a Limit State or Straddle State from the 
total amount of time in the trading day when calculating the percentage 
of the trading day Options Market Makers are required to quote.
    Currently, the quoting requirements appear in Chapter VII, Sections 
5 and 6, which generally require that, on a daily basis, a Market Maker 
must during regular market hours make markets consistent with the 
applicable quoting requirements specified in these rules, on a 
continuous basis in at least sixty percent (60%) of the series in 
options in which the Market Maker is registered. To satisfy this 
requirement with respect to quoting a series, a Market Maker must quote 
such series 90% of the trading day (as a percentage of the total number 
of minutes in such trading day) or such higher percentage as NASDAQ may 
announce in advance.
    The Exchange now proposes to subtract from the total number of 
minutes in a trading day the time period for an option when the 
underlying NMS stock was in a Limit State or Straddle State. The 
Exchange believes that this is appropriate for the same reasons 
discussed above, in light of the limited price discovery in the 
underlying stock and the direct relationship between an options price 
and the price of the underlying security. During a Limit State or 
Straddle State, the bid price or offer price of the underlying security 
will be unexecutable and the ability to hedge the purchase or sale of 
an option will be jeopardized. Recognizing that it may be impossible to 
hedge to offset the risk created by trading options, the Exchange 
expects that Options Market Makers will, as a result, modify their 
quoting behavior. The Exchange believes it is reasonable and 
appropriate to exclude this time period, which the Exchange believes 
will generally be limited.
    The Exchange has considered waiving its bid/ask differential 
requirement (also known as quote spread parameters), but ultimately 
determined that those requirements should be maintained in order to 
promote liquidity and the operation of a fair and orderly market. 
Accordingly, even when the quoting obligation is not in effect, Options 
Market Makers who choose to quote must do so within the applicable bid-
ask differentials. The Exchange believes that this should help ensure 
the quality of the quotes that are entered and preserves one of the 
obligations of being a market maker.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the provisions of Section 6 of the Act,\15\ in general, and with 
Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\16\ in particular, which requires that the 
rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative 
acts and practices, promote just and equitable principles of trade, 
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, 
clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and 
facilitating transactions in securities, remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market 
system, and, in general, protect investors and the public interest, 
because the Exchange believes that excluding the Limit and Straddle 
State from an Options Market Maker's quoting obligation calculation 
should promote just and equitable principles of trade by recognizing 
the particular risk that arises for liquidity providers who cannot 
hedge. Whenever an NMS stock is in a Limit State or Straddle State, 
trading continues; however, there will not be a reliable price for a 
security to serve as a benchmark for the price of the option. 
Accordingly, the Exchange seeks to expressly remove these periods from 
consideration in order to enable Options

[[Page 15997]]

Market Makers to provide the necessary liquidity and facilitate 
transactions on the Exchange.
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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 Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended. 
Specifically, the proposal does not impose an intra-market burden on 
competition, because it will apply to all Participants subject to those 
obligations in the same manner. Nor will the proposal impose a burden 
on competition among the options exchanges, because, in addition to the 
vigorous competition for order flow among the options exchanges, the 
proposal addresses a regulatory situation common to all options 
exchanges. To the extent that market participants disagree with the 
particular approach taken by the Exchange herein, market participants 
can easily and readily operate on competing venues. The Exchange 
believes this proposal will not impose a burden on competition and will 
help provide liquidity during periods of extraordinary volatility in an 
NMS stock.

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

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

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

    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 No. SR-NASDAQ-2013-043 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 No. SR-NASDAQ-2013-043. 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 available for Web site viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available 
for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All 
comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does 
not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File No. SR-NASDAQ-2013-043 and should be 
submitted on or before March 28, 2013.

    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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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-05751 Filed 3-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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