Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending the Pilot Period Applicable to Rule 6.65A(c), Which Addresses How the Exchange Treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors During Periods of Extreme Market Volatility, Until February 20, 2015, 19689-19692 [2014-07951]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices modified prior to approval on a permanent basis.’’ 30 Second, the Participants propose to amend Section III to Appendix B of the Plan to delete the requirement that assessments of Plan operations be provided at least two months prior to the end of the pilot period, and instead propose that the assessments be provided by September 30, 2014, nearly five months before the end of the pilot period.31 As originally contemplated, such assessments would have been based on approximately four months’ worth of data from full implementation of the Plan. Under the proposal, such data will be based on nearly seven months of data from full operation of the Plan, providing the Participants with more data on which to base their assessments. The Participants continue to believe that they would be able to assess the Plan based on a similar data set, and that revising the time when such assessments would be provided to the Commission would provide the Participants with sufficient time to conduct such assessments.32 In addition, providing the Commission with such assessments earlier than two months before the end of the pilot period will provide additional time for the Commission to review such assessments to inform any determination of whether the Plan should be modified prior to approval on a permanent basis. For the reasons noted above, the Commission believes that the proposal to amend Section VII(C)(1) and Section I of Appendix A of the Plan is consistent with Section 11A of the Act. The Commission reiterates its expectation that the Participants will continue to monitor the scope and operation of the Plan and study the data produced, and will propose any modifications to the Plan that may be necessary or appropriate.33 Therefore, the Commission finds that the Seventh Amendment to the Plan is consistent with Section 11A of the Act 34 and Rule 608 thereunder.35 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES IV. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 11A of the Act 36 and Rule 608 thereunder,37 that the Seventh 30 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 at 33508 (June 6, 2012). 31 See Notice, supra, note 4 at 13698. 32 See id. 33 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012). 34 15 U.S.C. 78k–1. 35 17 CFR 242.608. 36 15 U.S.C. 78k–1. 37 17 CFR 242.608. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 Amendment to the Plan (File No. 4–631) be, and it hereby is, approved. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.38 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–07881 Filed 4–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–71869; File No. SR– NYSEArca-2014–36] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending the Pilot Period Applicable to Rule 6.65A(c), Which Addresses How the Exchange Treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors During Periods of Extreme Market Volatility, Until February 20, 2015 April 4, 2014. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that, on April 1, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE Arca’’) 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 self-regulatory organization. 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 extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 6.65A(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set to expire on April 8, 2014. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 38 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(29). U.S.C.78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19689 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of 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. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 6.65A(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set to expire on April 8, 2014. Background Rule 6.65A (described below) was adopted in connection with the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS, as it may be amended from time to time (the ‘‘Plan’’).4 The Plan was developed in response to events that occurred on May 6, 2010.5 On May 6, 2010, the U.S. equity markets experienced excessive volatility in an abbreviated time period resulting in, among other things, the prices of a large number of individual securities declining by significant amounts in a very short time period before abruptly returning to prices consistent with their pre-decline levels.6 This extreme volatility resulted in a large number of trades being executed at temporarily depressed prices, including many that were more than 60% away from the predecline prices. As part of the effort to address the events of May 6, 2010 and 4 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 69340 (April 8, 2013), 78 FR 22004 (April 12, 2013) (SR–NYSEArca-2013–10) (‘‘Approval Order’’). 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File No. 4–631) (Order Approving, on a Pilot Basis, the Plan). 6 See Approval Order, 78 FR, at 22004, n.7 (citing Report of the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC to the Joint Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues, ‘‘Findings Regarding the Market Events of May 6, 2010,’’ dated September 30, 2010, available at, https://www.sec.gov/news/studies/2010/ marketevents-report.pdf). E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1 19690 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES to restore investor confidence in the markets, the equity exchanges filed the Plan. The Plan is designed to prevent trades in individual NMS Stocks from occurring outside of specified Price Bands, which are described in more detail in the Plan.7 In sum, the Price Bands consist of a Lower Price Band and an Upper Price Band for each NMS Stock and are calculated by the Processors.8 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.9 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.10 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 LULD Plan, which would be applicable to all markets trading the security. 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.11 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. The Plan was initially approved for a one-year pilot, which began on April 8, 2013, and would, if not amended, end on April 8, 2014.12 As initially contemplated, the Plan would have been fully implemented across all NMS Stocks within six months of initial Plan operations, which meant there would have been full implementation of the Plan for six months before the end of the 7 Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this rule filing are based on the defined terms of the Plan. 8 See Section V(A) of the Plan. 9 See Section VI(A) of the Plan. 10 See Section VI(B)(1) of the Plan. 11 See Section VII(A)(2) of the Plan. 12 See supra n.5. See also Section VIII of the Plan. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 pilot period.13 The Plan, however, was amended several times since inception and, ultimately, was not implemented across all NMS Stocks until February 24, 2014.14 As a result, if the pilot period were to end in April 2014, there would be less than two months of full operation of the Plan. Because the goal of the pilot was to provide an opportunity to assess whether the Plan should be modified prior to approval on a permanent basis, the Participants recently filed the Seventh Amendment to the Plan to extend the pilot period of the Plan until February 20, 2015 (the ‘‘Seventh Amendment’’).15 Rule 6.65A Coincident with the Plan, the Exchange adopted Rule 6.65A, which provided for how the Exchange would treat orders, market-making quoting obligations, and errors in options overlying NMS Stocks when the Plan is in effect.16 Subsections (a) to (b) Rule 6.65A, which address the treatment of orders when the underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State or Straddle State, and Market Maker quoting obligations, respectively, ‘‘shall be in effect during a pilot period to coincide with the pilot period for the Plan.’’ 17 These provisions need not be amended and will align with the Plan upon approval of the Seventh Amendment to the Plan. Subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A, which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, ‘‘shall be in effect for a one-year pilot period,’’ which began on April 8, 2013.18 The pilot period will expire on 13 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 71649 (March 8, 2014), 79 FR 13696 (March 11, 2014) (File No. 4–631) (notice) (the ‘‘Seventh Amendment’’). 14 Id. 15 Id. The Seventh Amendment to the Plan also seeks to move the time by which Participants would be required to submit assessments of Plan operations, pursuant to Appendix B of the Plan, until September 30, 2014. 16 See Approval Order. 17 Subsection (a) to Rule 6.65A provides that if the underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State or Straddle State, the Exchange shall reject all incoming Market Orders and will not elect Stop Orders. Subsection (b) to Rule 6.65A provides that when evaluating whether a Lead Market Maker has met its market-making quoting requirement pursuant to Rule 6.37B(b) or a Market Maker has met its market-making quoting requirement pursuant to Rule 6.37B(c) in options overlying NMS Stocks, the Exchange shall consider as a mitigating circumstance the frequency and duration of occurrences when an underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State or a Straddle State. 18 Subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A provides that electronic transactions in options that overlay an NMS Stock that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State are not subject to review under Rule 6.87(a) for Obvious Errors or Rule 6.87(d) for Catastrophic Errors. Nothing in Rule 6.65A(c) PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 April 8, 2014. In order to align the pilot period for Rule 6.65A(c) with the proposed Seventh Amendment to the Plan, the Exchange proposes to extend the pilot period for subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A until February 20, 2015. The Exchange believes that extending the pilot period for Rule 6.65A(c) would allow the Exchange additional time to collect and evaluate data related to this provision now that the Plan has been fully implemented. When the Exchange initially adopted subsection (c), the Exchange committed to review the operation of this provision and to analyze the impact of Limit and Straddle States accordingly.19 In addition, at least two months prior to the end of the pilot—i.e., prior to February 2014—the Exchange agreed to provide the Commission with certain data requested to evaluate the impact of the elimination of the Obvious Error rule under these circumstances.20 As noted above, however, the Plan was not fully implemented until February 24, 2014. Thus, in connection with the proposed amendment, the Exchange proposes to revise the data that the Exchange will gather in order to address the Commission’s concern about whether market quality and liquidity for options is maintained despite these changes to the Obvious Error rules. In addition, the Exchange proposes to revise the date by which certain assessments will be provided to the Commission. First, in lieu of the dataset described in the Exchange’s Comment Letter,21 the Exchange shall provide to the Commission and the public a revised dataset containing the data for each Straddle State and Limit State in NMS Stocks underlying options traded on the Exchange beginning in April 2013, limited to those option classes that have at least one (1) trade on the Exchange during a Straddle State or Limit State. For each of those option classes prevents electronic transactions in options that overlay an NMS Stock that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State from being reviewed on Exchange motion pursuant to 6.87(b)(3). 19 Specifically, the Exchange committed to: ‘‘(1) Evaluate the options market quality during Limit States and Straddle States; (2) assess the character of incoming order flow and transactions during Limit States and Straddle States; and (3) review any complaints from members and their customers concerning executions during Limit States and Straddle States.’’ See Approval Order, 78 FR at 22008. 20 See Letter to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Commission, from Janet L. McGinness, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary, General Counsel, NYSE Markets, dated April 5, 2013 (‘‘Comment Letter’’). 21 Id. E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1 TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices affected, each data record will contain the following information: • Stock symbol, option symbol, time at the start of the Straddle or Limit State, an indicator for whether it is a Straddle or Limit State. • For activity on the Exchange: • Executed volume, time-weighted quoted bid-ask spread, timeweighted average quoted depth at the bid, time-weighted average quoted depth at the offer; • high execution price, low execution price; • number of trades for which a request for review for error was received during Straddle and Limit States; • an indicator variable for whether those options outlined above have a price change exceeding 30% during the underlying stock’s Limit or Straddle state compared to the last available option price as reported by OPRA before the start of the Limit or Straddle State (1 if observe 30% and 0 otherwise). Another indicator variable for whether the option price within five minutes of the underlying stock leaving the Limit or Straddle state (or halt if applicable) is 30% away from the price before the start of the Limit or Straddle state. The Exchange notes that it will update the data available on the Exchange’s Web site for the period April 2013 through January 2014 with the revised dataset once the Exchange has completed its analysis and review of such data. Prospectively, the data made available to the public will be based on the proposed revised dataset described above. In addition, by September 30, 2014, the Exchange shall provide to the Commission assessments relating to the impact of the operation of the Obvious Error rules during Limit and Straddle States as follows: (1) Evaluate the statistical and economic impact of Limit and Straddle States on liquidity and market quality in the options markets; and (2) Assess whether the lack of Obvious Error rules in effect during the Straddle and Limit States are problematic. The timing of this submission would coordinate with Participants’ proposed time frame to submit to the Commission assessments as required under Appendix B of the Plan, per the Seventh Amendment to the Plan.22 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act 23 in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5),24 in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. Specifically, the proposal to extend the pilot program of Rule 6.65A(c) until February 20, 2015, which will align that pilot program with the Pilot Period for the Plan, as proposed in the Seventh Amendment to the Plan, will ensure that trading in options that overlay NMS Stocks continues to be appropriately modified to reflect market conditions that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State in a manner that promotes just and equitable principles of trade and removes impediments to, and perfects the mechanism of, a free and open market and a national market system. The Exchange believes that the extension of Rule 6.65A(c) will help encourage market participants to continue to provide liquidity during extraordinary market volatility. Moreover, the Exchange believes that revising the dataset that it provides to the Commission and the public would remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market because the revised dataset will provide more information from which to assess the impact of Rule 6.65A(c). In addition, the Exchange believes that extending the time for the Exchange to provide its overall assessment of the Rule 6.65A(c) pilot to September 30, 2014 is appropriate and in the public interest, for the protection of investors, and the maintenance of a fair and orderly market because it will align the timing of such assessments with the time that the Participants have proposed to provide the Commission with assessments pursuant to Appendix B of the Plan. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed changes will not impose any burden on competition and will instead provide certainty regarding the treatment and execution of options orders, specifically the treatment of Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extraordinary volatility in the underlying NMS Stock, and will 23 15 22 See supra n. 15. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 24 15 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19691 facilitate appropriate liquidity during a Limit State or Straddle State. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 25 and Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.26 The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement will allow the Exchange to extend the pilot program prior to its expiration on April 8, 2014. The Exchange also stated that waiver of this requirement would ensure the pilot program would align with the pilot period for the Plan and would ensure that trading in options that overlay NMS Stocks continues to be appropriately modified to reflect market conditions that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State. For these reasons, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change presents no novel issues and that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.27 At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 25 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). As required under Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 27 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has also considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). 26 17 E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1 19692 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 9, 2014 / Notices temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved. should refer to File Number SR– NYSEArca–2014–36 and should be submitted on or before April 30, 2014. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.28 Kevin M. O’Neill, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–07951 Filed 4–8–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 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– NYSEArca–2014–36 on the subject line. TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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: Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE MKT LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending the Pilot Period Applicable to Rule 953.1NY(c), Which Addresses How the Exchange Treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors During Periods of Extreme Market Volatility, Until February 20, 2015 Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca–2014–36. 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 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:54 Apr 08, 2014 Jkt 232001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–71870; File No. SR– NYSEMKT–2014–31] April 4, 2014. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that, on April 1, 2014 NYSE MKT LLC (the ‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘NYSE MKT’’) 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 self-regulatory organization. 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 extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 953.1NY(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set to expire on April 8, 2014. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 28 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of 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. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 953.1NY(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set to expire on April 8, 2014. Background Rule 953.1NY (described below) was adopted in connection with the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of Regulation NMS, as it may be amended from time to time (the ‘‘Plan’’).4 The Plan was developed in response to events that occurred on May 6, 2010.5 On May 6, 2010, the U.S. equity markets experienced excessive volatility in an abbreviated time period resulting in, among other things, the prices of a large number of individual securities declining by significant amounts in a very short time period before abruptly returning to prices consistent with their pre-decline levels.6 This extreme volatility resulted in a large number of trades being executed at temporarily depressed prices, including many that were more than 60% away from the predecline prices. As part of the effort to 4 See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 69339 (April 8, 2013), 78 FR 22011 (April 12, 2013) (SR–NYSEMKT–2013–10) (‘‘Approval Order’’). 5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File No. 4–631) (Order Approving, on a Pilot Basis, the Plan). 6 See Approval Order, 78 FR, at 22011, n.7 (citing Report of the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC to the Joint Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues, ‘‘Findings Regarding the Market Events of May 6, 2010,’’ dated September 30, 2010, available at, https://www.sec.gov/news/studies/2010/ marketevents-report.pdf). E:\FR\FM\09APN1.SGM 09APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19689-19692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07951]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-71869; File No. SR-NYSEArca-2014-36]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Arca, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Extending the Pilot 
Period Applicable to Rule 6.65A(c), Which Addresses How the Exchange 
Treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors During Periods of Extreme Market 
Volatility, Until February 20, 2015

April 4, 2014.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on April 1, 2014, NYSE Arca, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or 
``NYSE Arca'') 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 self-regulatory 
organization. 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\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 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 extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 
6.65A(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and 
Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until 
February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set 
to expire on April 8, 2014. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available on the Exchange's Web site at www.nyse.com, at the principal 
office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of 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.

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to extend the pilot period applicable to Rule 
6.65A(c), which addresses how the Exchange treats Obvious and 
Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market volatility, until 
February 20, 2015. The pilot period for subsection (c) is currently set 
to expire on April 8, 2014.
Background
    Rule 6.65A (described below) was adopted in connection with the 
Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule 608 of 
Regulation NMS, as it may be amended from time to time (the 
``Plan'').\4\ The Plan was developed in response to events that 
occurred on May 6, 2010.\5\ On May 6, 2010, the U.S. equity markets 
experienced excessive volatility in an abbreviated time period 
resulting in, among other things, the prices of a large number of 
individual securities declining by significant amounts in a very short 
time period before abruptly returning to prices consistent with their 
pre-decline levels.\6\ This extreme volatility resulted in a large 
number of trades being executed at temporarily depressed prices, 
including many that were more than 60% away from the pre-decline 
prices. As part of the effort to address the events of May 6, 2010 and

[[Page 19690]]

to restore investor confidence in the markets, the equity exchanges 
filed the Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 69340 (April 8, 
2013), 78 FR 22004 (April 12, 2013) (SR-NYSEArca-2013-10) 
(``Approval Order'').
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 
2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (File No. 4-631) (Order Approving, 
on a Pilot Basis, the Plan).
    \6\ See Approval Order, 78 FR, at 22004, n.7 (citing Report of 
the Staffs of the CFTC and SEC to the Joint Advisory Committee on 
Emerging Regulatory Issues, ``Findings Regarding the Market Events 
of May 6, 2010,'' dated September 30, 2010, available at, https://www.sec.gov/news/studies/2010/marketevents-report.pdf).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Plan is designed to prevent trades in individual NMS Stocks 
from occurring outside of specified Price Bands, which are described in 
more detail in the Plan.\7\ In sum, the Price Bands consist of a Lower 
Price Band and an Upper Price Band for each NMS Stock and are 
calculated by the Processors.\8\ 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.\9\
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    \7\ Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this 
rule filing are based on the defined terms of the Plan.
    \8\ See Section V(A) of the Plan.
    \9\ See Section VI(A) of the Plan.
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    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.\10\ 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 LULD 
Plan, which would be applicable to all markets trading the security. 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.\11\ 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 VI(B)(1) of the Plan.
    \11\ See Section VII(A)(2) of the Plan.
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    The Plan was initially approved for a one-year pilot, which began 
on April 8, 2013, and would, if not amended, end on April 8, 2014.\12\ 
As initially contemplated, the Plan would have been fully implemented 
across all NMS Stocks within six months of initial Plan operations, 
which meant there would have been full implementation of the Plan for 
six months before the end of the pilot period.\13\ The Plan, however, 
was amended several times since inception and, ultimately, was not 
implemented across all NMS Stocks until February 24, 2014.\14\ As a 
result, if the pilot period were to end in April 2014, there would be 
less than two months of full operation of the Plan. Because the goal of 
the pilot was to provide an opportunity to assess whether the Plan 
should be modified prior to approval on a permanent basis, the 
Participants recently filed the Seventh Amendment to the Plan to extend 
the pilot period of the Plan until February 20, 2015 (the ``Seventh 
Amendment'').\15\
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    \12\ See supra n.5. See also Section VIII of the Plan.
    \13\ See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 71649 (March 8, 
2014), 79 FR 13696 (March 11, 2014) (File No. 4-631) (notice) (the 
``Seventh Amendment'').
    \14\ Id.
    \15\ Id. The Seventh Amendment to the Plan also seeks to move 
the time by which Participants would be required to submit 
assessments of Plan operations, pursuant to Appendix B of the Plan, 
until September 30, 2014.
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Rule 6.65A
    Coincident with the Plan, the Exchange adopted Rule 6.65A, which 
provided for how the Exchange would treat orders, market-making quoting 
obligations, and errors in options overlying NMS Stocks when the Plan 
is in effect.\16\ Subsections (a) to (b) Rule 6.65A, which address the 
treatment of orders when the underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State 
or Straddle State, and Market Maker quoting obligations, respectively, 
``shall be in effect during a pilot period to coincide with the pilot 
period for the Plan.'' \17\ These provisions need not be amended and 
will align with the Plan upon approval of the Seventh Amendment to the 
Plan.
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    \16\ See Approval Order.
    \17\ Subsection (a) to Rule 6.65A provides that if the 
underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State or Straddle State, the 
Exchange shall reject all incoming Market Orders and will not elect 
Stop Orders. Subsection (b) to Rule 6.65A provides that when 
evaluating whether a Lead Market Maker has met its market-making 
quoting requirement pursuant to Rule 6.37B(b) or a Market Maker has 
met its market-making quoting requirement pursuant to Rule 6.37B(c) 
in options overlying NMS Stocks, the Exchange shall consider as a 
mitigating circumstance the frequency and duration of occurrences 
when an underlying NMS Stock is in a Limit State or a Straddle 
State.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A, which addresses how the Exchange 
treats Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of extreme market 
volatility, ``shall be in effect for a one-year pilot period,'' which 
began on April 8, 2013.\18\ The pilot period will expire on April 8, 
2014. In order to align the pilot period for Rule 6.65A(c) with the 
proposed Seventh Amendment to the Plan, the Exchange proposes to extend 
the pilot period for subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A until February 20, 
2015. The Exchange believes that extending the pilot period for Rule 
6.65A(c) would allow the Exchange additional time to collect and 
evaluate data related to this provision now that the Plan has been 
fully implemented.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ Subsection (c) to Rule 6.65A provides that electronic 
transactions in options that overlay an NMS Stock that occur during 
a Limit State or a Straddle State are not subject to review under 
Rule 6.87(a) for Obvious Errors or Rule 6.87(d) for Catastrophic 
Errors. Nothing in Rule 6.65A(c) prevents electronic transactions in 
options that overlay an NMS Stock that occur during a Limit State or 
a Straddle State from being reviewed on Exchange motion pursuant to 
6.87(b)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When the Exchange initially adopted subsection (c), the Exchange 
committed to review the operation of this provision and to analyze the 
impact of Limit and Straddle States accordingly.\19\ In addition, at 
least two months prior to the end of the pilot--i.e., prior to February 
2014--the Exchange agreed to provide the Commission with certain data 
requested to evaluate the impact of the elimination of the Obvious 
Error rule under these circumstances.\20\ As noted above, however, the 
Plan was not fully implemented until February 24, 2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Specifically, the Exchange committed to: ``(1) Evaluate the 
options market quality during Limit States and Straddle States; (2) 
assess the character of incoming order flow and transactions during 
Limit States and Straddle States; and (3) review any complaints from 
members and their customers concerning executions during Limit 
States and Straddle States.'' See Approval Order, 78 FR at 22008.
    \20\ See Letter to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Commission, 
from Janet L. McGinness, Executive Vice President and Corporate 
Secretary, General Counsel, NYSE Markets, dated April 5, 2013 
(``Comment Letter'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Thus, in connection with the proposed amendment, the Exchange 
proposes to revise the data that the Exchange will gather in order to 
address the Commission's concern about whether market quality and 
liquidity for options is maintained despite these changes to the 
Obvious Error rules. In addition, the Exchange proposes to revise the 
date by which certain assessments will be provided to the Commission.
    First, in lieu of the dataset described in the Exchange's Comment 
Letter,\21\ the Exchange shall provide to the Commission and the public 
a revised dataset containing the data for each Straddle State and Limit 
State in NMS Stocks underlying options traded on the Exchange beginning 
in April 2013, limited to those option classes that have at least one 
(1) trade on the Exchange during a Straddle State or Limit State. For 
each of those option classes

[[Page 19691]]

affected, each data record will contain the following information:

    \21\ Id.
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 Stock symbol, option symbol, time at the start of the Straddle 
or Limit State, an indicator for whether it is a Straddle or Limit 
State.
 For activity on the Exchange:
     Executed volume, time-weighted quoted bid-ask spread, 
time-weighted average quoted depth at the bid, time-weighted average 
quoted depth at the offer;
     high execution price, low execution price;
     number of trades for which a request for review for error 
was received during Straddle and Limit States;
     an indicator variable for whether those options outlined 
above have a price change exceeding 30% during the underlying stock's 
Limit or Straddle state compared to the last available option price as 
reported by OPRA before the start of the Limit or Straddle State (1 if 
observe 30% and 0 otherwise). Another indicator variable for whether 
the option price within five minutes of the underlying stock leaving 
the Limit or Straddle state (or halt if applicable) is 30% away from 
the price before the start of the Limit or Straddle state.

    The Exchange notes that it will update the data available on the 
Exchange's Web site for the period April 2013 through January 2014 with 
the revised dataset once the Exchange has completed its analysis and 
review of such data. Prospectively, the data made available to the 
public will be based on the proposed revised dataset described above.
    In addition, by September 30, 2014, the Exchange shall provide to 
the Commission assessments relating to the impact of the operation of 
the Obvious Error rules during Limit and Straddle States as follows: 
(1) Evaluate the statistical and economic impact of Limit and Straddle 
States on liquidity and market quality in the options markets; and (2) 
Assess whether the lack of Obvious Error rules in effect during the 
Straddle and Limit States are problematic. The timing of this 
submission would coordinate with Participants' proposed time frame to 
submit to the Commission assessments as required under Appendix B of 
the Plan, per the Seventh Amendment to the Plan.\22\
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    \22\ See supra n. 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
Section 6(b) of the Act \23\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Section 6(b)(5),\24\ in particular, in that it is designed to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market 
system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Specifically, the proposal to extend the pilot program of Rule 
6.65A(c) until February 20, 2015, which will align that pilot program 
with the Pilot Period for the Plan, as proposed in the Seventh 
Amendment to the Plan, will ensure that trading in options that overlay 
NMS Stocks continues to be appropriately modified to reflect market 
conditions that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State in a 
manner that promotes just and equitable principles of trade and removes 
impediments to, and perfects the mechanism of, a free and open market 
and a national market system. The Exchange believes that the extension 
of Rule 6.65A(c) will help encourage market participants to continue to 
provide liquidity during extraordinary market volatility.
    Moreover, the Exchange believes that revising the dataset that it 
provides to the Commission and the public would remove impediments to, 
and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market because the 
revised dataset will provide more information from which to assess the 
impact of Rule 6.65A(c). In addition, the Exchange believes that 
extending the time for the Exchange to provide its overall assessment 
of the Rule 6.65A(c) pilot to September 30, 2014 is appropriate and in 
the public interest, for the protection of investors, and the 
maintenance of a fair and orderly market because it will align the 
timing of such assessments with the time that the Participants have 
proposed to provide the Commission with assessments pursuant to 
Appendix B of the Plan.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed changes will 
not impose any burden on competition and will instead provide certainty 
regarding the treatment and execution of options orders, specifically 
the treatment of Obvious and Catastrophic Errors during periods of 
extraordinary volatility in the underlying NMS Stock, and will 
facilitate appropriate liquidity during a Limit State or Straddle 
State.

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

    No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the 
proposed rule change.

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

    Because the proposed rule change does not (i) significantly affect 
the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any 
significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 
days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the 
Commission may designate if consistent with the protection of investors 
and the public interest, the proposed rule change has become effective 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \25\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.\26\
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    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \26\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written 
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a 
brief description and the text of the proposed rule change, at least 
five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule 
change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative 
delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon 
filing. The Exchange stated that waiver of this requirement will allow 
the Exchange to extend the pilot program prior to its expiration on 
April 8, 2014. The Exchange also stated that waiver of this requirement 
would ensure the pilot program would align with the pilot period for 
the Plan and would ensure that trading in options that overlay NMS 
Stocks continues to be appropriately modified to reflect market 
conditions that occur during a Limit State or a Straddle State. For 
these reasons, the Commission believes that the proposed rule change 
presents no novel issues and that waiver of the 30-day operative delay 
is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. 
Therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be 
operative upon filing.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule 
change, the Commission summarily may

[[Page 19692]]

temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission 
that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the 
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSEArca-2014-36 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSEArca-2014-36. 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 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-NYSEArca-2014-36 and should 
be submitted on or before April 30, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-07951 Filed 4-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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