Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a Proposed Rule Change To Amend and Correct Rule 1080.07, 57406-57408 [2015-24062]
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57406
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 184 / Wednesday, September 23, 2015 / Notices
At times, changes in Commission
priorities require alterations in the
scheduling of meeting items.
For further information and to
ascertain what, if any, matters have been
added, deleted or postponed, please
contact the Office of the Secretary at
(202) 551–5400.
Dated: September 18, 2015.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–24217 Filed 9–21–15; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–75942; File No. SR–Phlx–
2015–49]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order
Instituting Proceedings To Determine
Whether To Approve or Disapprove a
Proposed Rule Change To Amend and
Correct Rule 1080.07
September 17, 2015.
I. Introduction
On June 5, 2015, NASDAQ OMX
PHLX LLC (‘‘Exchange’’ or ‘‘Phlx’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 a proposed rule
change to amend and correct several
provisions in Phlx Rule 1080.07,
‘‘Complex Orders on Phlx XL,’’ which
governs the trading of Complex Orders
on the Phlx’s Complex Order System
(‘‘System’’). The proposed rule change
was published for comment in the
Federal Register on June 23, 2015.3 On
July 30, 2015, the Commission extended
the time period for Commission action
to September 21, 2015.4 The
Commission received no comments
regarding the proposal. This order
institutes proceedings under Section
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 5 to determine
whether to disapprove the proposed
rule change.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Description of the Proposal
The Phlx proposes to make a number
of changes to Phlx Rule 1080.07 to
amend and correct inconsistencies in
the rule and provide additional clarity
regarding the trading of Complex Orders
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75189
(June 17, 2015), 80 FR 35997 (‘‘Notice’’).
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75570,
80 FR 46619 (August 5, 2015).
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
2 17
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18:00 Sep 22, 2015
Jkt 235001
on the Exchange. The Phlx’s System for
trading Complex Orders includes a
Complex Order Opening Process
(‘‘COOP’’); the Complex Order Live
Auction (‘‘COLA’’), an automated
auction for seeking liquidity and price
improvement for Complex Orders; and a
Complex Limit Order Book (‘‘CBOOK’’).
According to the Phlx, among other
things, the proposal would revise Phlx
Rule 1080.07 to: (i) Accurately describe
the operation of the COOP and the
execution of orders at the opening,
including the treatment of Immediateor-Cancel (‘‘IOC’’) orders and Do Not
Auction (‘‘DNA’’) orders at the opening;
(ii) add definitions of ‘‘COOP Sweep’’
and ‘‘COLA Sweep,’’ and correct
existing rule text to indicate that only
Phlx XL market makers may submit
COLA Sweeps; (iii) delete rule text that
incorrectly states that a specialist could
be entitled to receive 40% of the
remainder of a COLA-eligible order, as
well as rule text indicating that only a
specialist’s interest at the cPBBO is
aggregated for purposes of determining
the specialist’s entitlement in the COLA,
so that the revised rule will provide that
the specialist is entitled to receive the
greater of (a) the proportion of the
aggregate size associated with the
specialist’s COLA Sweep, SQT and
RSQT COLA Sweeps, and non-SQT
ROT Complex Orders on the CBOOK, or
(b) the Enhanced Specialist
Participation as described in Phlx Rule
1014(g)(ii); (iv) delete rule text
indicating that, for allocation purposes,
the size of a COLA Sweep or responsive
Complex Order will be limited to the
size of the COLA-eligible order, thereby
clarifying that the size of a COLA Sweep
or responsive Complex Order that
exceeds the size of the COLA-eligible
order may trade against remaining
interest after the COLA-eligible order
has been executed to the fullest extent
possible; (v) revise rule text to indicate
that other interest in a COLA may trade
after a COLA-eligible order has been
executed to the fullest extent possible,
rather than in its entirety, and to correct
the description of the execution of
crossing interest after a COLA-eligible
order has been executed; (vi) provide
that the System will place a Complex
Order received during a configurable
period of time prior to the end of a
trading session on the CBOOK after any
marketable portion of the order has been
executed; and (vii) describe the
handling of all-or-none Complex Orders.
In addition to these changes, the Phlx
proposes to amend Phlx Rule 1080.07 to
add a definition of ‘‘Firm.’’ 6
Specifically, the Phlx proposes to define
6 See
PO 00000
Phlx Rule 1080.07(a)(x).
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
a ‘‘Firm’’ to mean ‘‘a broker-dealer
trading for its own (proprietary) account
that is: A member of The Options
Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) or
maintains a Joint Back Office (‘‘JBO’’)
arrangement with an OCC member.7 The
Phlx also proposes to revise Phlx Rule
1080.07 to provide that orders from
Firms, like orders from market makers,
would not trigger a COLA.8 In addition,
the Phlx proposes to treat Firms like
market makers for purposes of
determining the allocations and
execution price that their trading
interest will receive at the conclusion of
a COLA.9
The Phlx proposes to treat Firm
orders like non-Phlx market makers for
purposes of these rules because the Phlx
believes that the trading style and needs
of Firms are more like market makers.10
The Phlx states that Firms are large,
well-capitalized broker-dealers that
trade for their own accounts and
generally submit large orders, including
orders that facilitate their clients’ orders
or offset large positions taken to
accommodate their customers.11
According to the Phlx, Firms must have
the financial wherewithal that this role
necessitates.12 Thus, the Phlx states that
Firms, in general, are commonly viewed
as liquidity providers, much like market
makers.13 The Phlx states that Firms do
not expect or need their Complex
Orders to trigger a COLA, nor do they
need or expect to submit Good Til
Cancelled Orders, because these are
features commonly associated with
customers rather than liquidity
providers who function to accommodate
trading interest.14 The Phlx notes that
both of these features involve a temporal
component, and that both a delay and
long-lasting interest are inconsistent
7 Id. Unless otherwise specified, Firms are
included in the category of non-market-maker offfloor broker-dealer. Id.
8 See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(i)(B)(1). Orders from
non-market maker off-floor broker-dealers that are
not Firms would be COLA-eligible. See Phlx Rule
1080.07(e)(i)(B)(1) and Notice, 80 FR at 36003.
9 See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(2) and Notice,
80 FR at 36003. Orders of non-market maker offfloor broker-dealers that are not Firms would be
executed along with the orders of non-broker-dealer
customers at the conclusion of the COLA. See Phlx
Rule 1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(1) and Notice, 80 FR at
36003. At the same price, non-broker-dealer
customer orders would be executed in time priority,
while non-market-maker off-floor broker-dealer
orders would be executed on a pro rata basis at each
price level. See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(1)(d).
10 See Notice, 80 FR at 36003.
11 See Notice, 80 FR at 36003–36004.
12 See Notice, 80 FR at 36004. In addition, Firms
that are OCC clearing members must comply with
OCC rules regarding, among other things, net
capital, risk management procedures, and margin.
See id.
13 See id.
14 See Notice, 80 FR at 36005.
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 184 / Wednesday, September 23, 2015 / Notices
with the sort of accommodation that
Firms provide.15 The Phlx believes that
by tailoring its offerings to the needs
and trading style of Firms, Firms are
more likely to send orders to the
Exchange.16
III. Proceedings To Determine Whether
To Approve or Disapprove SR–Phlx–
2015–49 and Grounds for Disapproval
Under Consideration
The Commission is instituting
proceedings pursuant to Section
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act 17 to determine
whether the proposed rule change
should be disapproved. Institution of
such proceedings is appropriate at this
time in view of the legal and policy
issues raised by the proposed rule
change. Institution of proceedings does
not indicate that the Commission has
reached any conclusions with respect to
any of the issues involved. Rather, as
described in greater detail below, the
Commission seeks and encourages
interested persons to comment on the
proposed rule change to inform the
Commission’s analysis of whether to
approve or disapprove the proposed
rule change.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
Act,18 the Commission is providing
notice of the grounds for disapproval
under consideration. The Commission is
instituting proceedings to allow for
additional analysis of, and input from
commenters with respect to, the
consistency of the proposed rule change
with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,19 which
requires that the rules of a national
securities exchange be designed, among
other things, to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade, to remove impediments to and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
In addition, under the Commission’s
rules of procedure, a self-regulatory
organization that proposes to amend its
rules bears the burden of demonstrating
that its proposal is consistent with the
Act.20 In this regard:
id.
id.
17 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
18 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the
Act also provides that proceedings to determine
whether to disapprove a proposed rule change must
be concluded within 180 days of the date of
publication of notice of the filing of the proposed
rule change. The time for conclusion of the
proceedings may be extended for up to 60 days if
the Commission finds good cause for such
extension and publishes its reasons for so finding.
19 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
20 Rule 700(b)(3), 17 CFR 201.700(b)(3).
The description of the proposed rule change,
its purpose and operation, its effect, and a
legal analysis of its consistency with the
applicable requirements must all be
sufficiently detailed and specific to support
an affirmative Commission finding. Any
failure of the self-regulatory organization to
provide the information elicited by Form
19b–4 may result in the Commission not
having a sufficient basis to make an
affirmative finding that a proposed rule
change is consistent with the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder that
are applicable to the self-regulation
organization.21
IV. Procedure: Request for Written
Comments
The Commission requests that
interested persons provide written
submissions of their views, data, and
arguments with respect to the issues
identified above, as well as any others
they may have identified with the
proposal. In particular, the Commission
invites the written views of interested
persons concerning whether the
proposed rule change is consistent with
Section 6(b)(5) or any other provision of
the Act, or the rules and regulations
thereunder. Although there do not
appear to be any issues relevant to
approval or disapproval which would
be facilitated by an oral presentation of
views, data, and arguments, the
Commission will consider, pursuant to
Rule 19b-4, any request for an
opportunity to make an oral
presentation.22
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments regarding whether the
proposed rule change should be
approved or disapproved by October 14,
2015. Any person who wishes to file a
rebuttal to any other person’s
submission must file that rebuttal by
October 28, 2015. The Commission asks
that commenters address the sufficiency
and merit of the Exchange’s statements
in support of the proposed rule change,
in addition to any other comments they
may wish to submit about the proposed
rule change. In particular, the
Commission asks that commenters
address the sufficiency of the
Exchange’s statements, which are set
forth in the Notice,23 in support of its
proposal to prevent Firms’ orders from
15 See
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16 See
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18:00 Sep 22, 2015
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21 Id.
22 Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, as amended by the
Securities Acts Amendments of 1975, Public Law
94–29, 89 Stat. 97 (1975), grants the Commission
flexibility to determine what type of proceeding—
either oral or notice and opportunity for written
comments—is appropriate for consideration of a
particular proposal by a self-regulatory
organization. See Securities Acts Amendments of
1975, Report of the Senate Committee on Banking,
Housing and Urban Affairs to Accompany S. 249,
S. Rep. No. 75, 94th Cong., 1st Sess. 30 (1975).
23 See supra note 3.
PO 00000
Frm 00076
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
57407
triggering a COLA, in addition to any
other comments they may wish to
submit about the proposed rule change.
The Commission notes that the Phlx
states that Firms, like market makers,
are liquidity providers that function to
accommodate the trading interest of
their clients, and that Firms do not
expect or need their orders to trigger a
COLA. With respect to this conclusion,
the Commission seeks comment on
whether there are circumstances in
which a Firm might want its order to
trigger a COLA, and the potential impact
of permitting or prohibiting Firms’
orders from triggering a COLA.
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–
Phlx–2015–49 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR-Phlx-2015–49. 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–Phlx–
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57408
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 184 / Wednesday, September 23, 2015 / Notices
2015–49 and should be submitted by
October 14, 2015. Rebuttal comments
should be submitted by October 28,
2015.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.24
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–24062 Filed 9–22–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–75937; File Nos. SR–NYSE–
2015–31; SR–NYSEMKT–2015–56]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; New
York Stock Exchange LLC; NYSE MKT
LLC; Order Instituting Proceedings To
Determine Whether To Disapprove the
Proposed Rule Changes Amending the
NYSE Trades Market Data and NYSE
MKT Trades Market Data Product
Offerings
September 17, 2015.
I. Introduction
On July 16, 2015, New York Stock
Exchange LLC (‘‘NYSE’’) and NYSE
MKT LLC (‘‘NYSE MKT’’) (collectively,
the ‘‘Exchanges’’) separately filed with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’), pursuant
to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4 thereunder,2 proposed rule
changes to amend, respectively, the
NYSE Trades market data product
offering and the NYSE MKT Trades
market data product offering. The
proposed rule changes were published
for comment in the Federal Register on
August 5, 2015.3 The Commission has
received two comments on the
proposals.4 This order institutes
proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of
the Act 5 to determine whether to
disapprove the proposed rule changes.
II. Description of the Proposals
NYSE and NYSE MKT propose to
modify the data content of their
respective proprietary market data
feeds: NYSE Trades and NYSE MKT
CFR 200.30–3(a)(57).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 75556
(July 30, 2015), 80 FR 46628 (SR–NYSE–2015–31)
and 75559 (July 30, 2015), 80 FR 46642 (SR–
NYSEMKT–2015–56) (‘‘Notices’’).
4 See Letter from Eric S. Hunsader, Nanex, LLC,
dated August 14, 2015 (‘‘Nanex Letter’’); Letter from
John Ramsay, Chief Market Policy Officer, IEX
Group, Inc., to Brent J. Fields, Secretary,
Commission, dated August 20, 2015 (‘‘IEX Letter’’).
5 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
Trades (collectively, the ‘‘Trades
Feeds’’).6
The Trades Feeds currently provides
subscribers and users on a real-time
basis with the same last-sale
information that each Exchange reports
to the Consolidated Tape Association
(‘‘CTA’’) for inclusion in the CTA Plan’s
consolidated data streams. Specifically,
each Exchange’s Trades Feeds includes,
for each security traded on that
Exchange, the real-time last-sale price,
time and size information, bid/ask
quotations, and a stock summary
message. The stock summary message
updates every minute and includes the
offering Exchange’s opening price, high
price, low price, closing price, and
cumulative volume for the security.7
Each Exchange currently reports to
the CTA and distributes on a real-time
basis via the Trades Feeds its market’s
last-sale information based on the
completed execution of an arriving
order. For example, currently, if an
arriving order of 1,000 shares trades
with five resting orders of 200 shares on
NYSE, NYSE would bundle the
executions and report a single
completed trade of 1,000 shares both to
the CTA and through NYSE Trades.
NYSE MKT Trades operates in the same
way.
Each Exchange now proposes to
distribute its last-sale information on its
respective Trades Feed in a different
manner than it distributes last-sale
information to the CTA. Each Exchange
would continue to distribute last-sale
information to the CTA as described
above, but last-sale information
distributed via the Exchange’s Trades
Feed would be based on the individual
resting orders that are executed in the
total completed trade and would not be
bundled for reporting purposes. In the
example above, NYSE would distribute
via NYSE Trades the real-time NYSE
last-sale information of five executions
of 200 shares each,8 but would report to
CTA a single completed trade of 1,000
shares.
The Exchanges have represented that
they would continue to make their lastsale information available through their
Trades Feeds immediately after
providing the last-sale information to
the processor under the CTA Plan. The
24 17
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1 15
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18:00 Sep 22, 2015
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6 NYSE Trades is an NYSE-only last-sale market
data feed and NYSE MKT Trades is a NYSE MKTonly last-sale market data feed.
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 62187
(May 27, 2010), 75 FR 31500 (June 3, 2010) (SR–
NYSEAmex–2010–35), 70065 (July 30, 2013), 78 FR
47450 (Aug. 5, 2013) (SR–NYSEMKT–2013–64) and
69273 (April 2, 2013), 78 FR 20969 (April 8, 2013)
(SR–NYSEMKT–2013–30).
8 Each Exchange has proposed that the five
transactions in such an example would have the
same time stamp.
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Exchanges have argued that reporting
last-sale information in an unbundled
format, based on execution of the
individual resting orders, rather than in
an bundled format based on the
completed execution of an incoming
order would remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market by providing more granular
trade information to vendors and
subscribers who desire it, thus
promoting competition and innovation.
Each Exchanges has also proposed to
remove the bid/ask data from its Trades
Feed. Each Exchange currently has a
data feed—the NYSE BBO data feed and
the NYSE MKT BBO data feed—that
includes the same bid/ask data currently
included in the Exchange’s Trades Feed,
and each Exchange has represented that
its respective BBO feed would continue
to include the best bids and offers for all
securities that are traded on its facilities
and for which it reports quotes to the
Consolidated Quotation Association
(‘‘CQA’’) under the Consolidated
Quotation (‘‘CQ’’) Plan for inclusion in
the CQ Plan’s consolidated quotation
information data stream.9 Each
Exchange has stated that removing the
bid/ask data from its Trades Feeds
would streamline its products and
would align them with last-sale data
feeds offered by other exchanges that
offer last-sale data products, which do
not include bid and offer information.10
Each Exchange has stated that it
expects to offer both the current Trades
Feed and the proposed Trades Feed for
a limited transition period, after which
it would stop offering the current Trades
Feed and offer only the Trades Feed
proposed in its filing. Each Exchange
has stated that it would announce the
transition dates in advance. Each
Exchange has also stated that there
would be no change to the fees for the
Trades Feed in connection with the
proposed changes.
III. Comment Letters
The Commission has received two
comment letters on the proposals.11
Both commenters are opposed to the
proposals. The commenters note that
the NYSE and its affiliated exchanges
are the only national securities
exchanges that report their last-sale
information to the securities
information processor (‘‘SIP’’) in a
9 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release No.
72326 (June 5, 2014), 79 FR 33605 (June 11, 2014)
(SR–NYSEMKT–2014–49).
10 As examples, the Exchanges cited to the lastsale data products offered by The Nasdaq Stock
Market, LLC and BATS, Inc. See NASDAQ Rule
7039 (Nasdaq Last Sale) and BATS Rule 11.22(g)
(BATS Last Sale).
11 See supra note 4.
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23SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57406-57408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24062]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-75942; File No. SR-Phlx-2015-49]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Order
Instituting Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove a
Proposed Rule Change To Amend and Correct Rule 1080.07
September 17, 2015.
I. Introduction
On June 5, 2015, NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``Exchange'' or ``Phlx'')
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''),
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ a proposed rule change to
amend and correct several provisions in Phlx Rule 1080.07, ``Complex
Orders on Phlx XL,'' which governs the trading of Complex Orders on the
Phlx's Complex Order System (``System''). The proposed rule change was
published for comment in the Federal Register on June 23, 2015.\3\ On
July 30, 2015, the Commission extended the time period for Commission
action to September 21, 2015.\4\ The Commission received no comments
regarding the proposal. This order institutes proceedings under Section
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \5\ to determine whether to disapprove the
proposed rule change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75189 (June 17,
2015), 80 FR 35997 (``Notice'').
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 75570, 80 FR 46619
(August 5, 2015).
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Description of the Proposal
The Phlx proposes to make a number of changes to Phlx Rule 1080.07
to amend and correct inconsistencies in the rule and provide additional
clarity regarding the trading of Complex Orders on the Exchange. The
Phlx's System for trading Complex Orders includes a Complex Order
Opening Process (``COOP''); the Complex Order Live Auction (``COLA''),
an automated auction for seeking liquidity and price improvement for
Complex Orders; and a Complex Limit Order Book (``CBOOK''). According
to the Phlx, among other things, the proposal would revise Phlx Rule
1080.07 to: (i) Accurately describe the operation of the COOP and the
execution of orders at the opening, including the treatment of
Immediate-or-Cancel (``IOC'') orders and Do Not Auction (``DNA'')
orders at the opening; (ii) add definitions of ``COOP Sweep'' and
``COLA Sweep,'' and correct existing rule text to indicate that only
Phlx XL market makers may submit COLA Sweeps; (iii) delete rule text
that incorrectly states that a specialist could be entitled to receive
40% of the remainder of a COLA-eligible order, as well as rule text
indicating that only a specialist's interest at the cPBBO is aggregated
for purposes of determining the specialist's entitlement in the COLA,
so that the revised rule will provide that the specialist is entitled
to receive the greater of (a) the proportion of the aggregate size
associated with the specialist's COLA Sweep, SQT and RSQT COLA Sweeps,
and non-SQT ROT Complex Orders on the CBOOK, or (b) the Enhanced
Specialist Participation as described in Phlx Rule 1014(g)(ii); (iv)
delete rule text indicating that, for allocation purposes, the size of
a COLA Sweep or responsive Complex Order will be limited to the size of
the COLA-eligible order, thereby clarifying that the size of a COLA
Sweep or responsive Complex Order that exceeds the size of the COLA-
eligible order may trade against remaining interest after the COLA-
eligible order has been executed to the fullest extent possible; (v)
revise rule text to indicate that other interest in a COLA may trade
after a COLA-eligible order has been executed to the fullest extent
possible, rather than in its entirety, and to correct the description
of the execution of crossing interest after a COLA-eligible order has
been executed; (vi) provide that the System will place a Complex Order
received during a configurable period of time prior to the end of a
trading session on the CBOOK after any marketable portion of the order
has been executed; and (vii) describe the handling of all-or-none
Complex Orders.
In addition to these changes, the Phlx proposes to amend Phlx Rule
1080.07 to add a definition of ``Firm.'' \6\ Specifically, the Phlx
proposes to define a ``Firm'' to mean ``a broker-dealer trading for its
own (proprietary) account that is: A member of The Options Clearing
Corporation (``OCC'') or maintains a Joint Back Office (``JBO'')
arrangement with an OCC member.\7\ The Phlx also proposes to revise
Phlx Rule 1080.07 to provide that orders from Firms, like orders from
market makers, would not trigger a COLA.\8\ In addition, the Phlx
proposes to treat Firms like market makers for purposes of determining
the allocations and execution price that their trading interest will
receive at the conclusion of a COLA.\9\
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\6\ See Phlx Rule 1080.07(a)(x).
\7\ Id. Unless otherwise specified, Firms are included in the
category of non-market-maker off-floor broker-dealer. Id.
\8\ See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(i)(B)(1). Orders from non-market
maker off-floor broker-dealers that are not Firms would be COLA-
eligible. See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(i)(B)(1) and Notice, 80 FR at
36003.
\9\ See Phlx Rule 1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(2) and Notice, 80 FR at
36003. Orders of non-market maker off-floor broker-dealers that are
not Firms would be executed along with the orders of non-broker-
dealer customers at the conclusion of the COLA. See Phlx Rule
1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(1) and Notice, 80 FR at 36003. At the same
price, non-broker-dealer customer orders would be executed in time
priority, while non-market-maker off-floor broker-dealer orders
would be executed on a pro rata basis at each price level. See Phlx
Rule 1080.07(e)(viii)(C)(1)(d).
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The Phlx proposes to treat Firm orders like non-Phlx market makers
for purposes of these rules because the Phlx believes that the trading
style and needs of Firms are more like market makers.\10\ The Phlx
states that Firms are large, well-capitalized broker-dealers that trade
for their own accounts and generally submit large orders, including
orders that facilitate their clients' orders or offset large positions
taken to accommodate their customers.\11\ According to the Phlx, Firms
must have the financial wherewithal that this role necessitates.\12\
Thus, the Phlx states that Firms, in general, are commonly viewed as
liquidity providers, much like market makers.\13\ The Phlx states that
Firms do not expect or need their Complex Orders to trigger a COLA, nor
do they need or expect to submit Good Til Cancelled Orders, because
these are features commonly associated with customers rather than
liquidity providers who function to accommodate trading interest.\14\
The Phlx notes that both of these features involve a temporal
component, and that both a delay and long-lasting interest are
inconsistent
[[Page 57407]]
with the sort of accommodation that Firms provide.\15\ The Phlx
believes that by tailoring its offerings to the needs and trading style
of Firms, Firms are more likely to send orders to the Exchange.\16\
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\10\ See Notice, 80 FR at 36003.
\11\ See Notice, 80 FR at 36003-36004.
\12\ See Notice, 80 FR at 36004. In addition, Firms that are OCC
clearing members must comply with OCC rules regarding, among other
things, net capital, risk management procedures, and margin. See id.
\13\ See id.
\14\ See Notice, 80 FR at 36005.
\15\ See id.
\16\ See id.
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III. Proceedings To Determine Whether To Approve or Disapprove SR-Phlx-
2015-49 and Grounds for Disapproval Under Consideration
The Commission is instituting proceedings pursuant to Section
19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \17\ to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be disapproved. Institution of such proceedings is
appropriate at this time in view of the legal and policy issues raised
by the proposed rule change. Institution of proceedings does not
indicate that the Commission has reached any conclusions with respect
to any of the issues involved. Rather, as described in greater detail
below, the Commission seeks and encourages interested persons to
comment on the proposed rule change to inform the Commission's analysis
of whether to approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.
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\17\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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Pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act,\18\ the Commission is
providing notice of the grounds for disapproval under consideration.
The Commission is instituting proceedings to allow for additional
analysis of, and input from commenters with respect to, the consistency
of the proposed rule change with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\19\ which
requires that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed,
among other things, to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and
a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the
public interest.
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\18\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B). Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act also
provides that proceedings to determine whether to disapprove a
proposed rule change must be concluded within 180 days of the date
of publication of notice of the filing of the proposed rule change.
The time for conclusion of the proceedings may be extended for up to
60 days if the Commission finds good cause for such extension and
publishes its reasons for so finding.
\19\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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In addition, under the Commission's rules of procedure, a self-
regulatory organization that proposes to amend its rules bears the
burden of demonstrating that its proposal is consistent with the
Act.\20\ In this regard:
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\20\ Rule 700(b)(3), 17 CFR 201.700(b)(3).
The description of the proposed rule change, its purpose and
operation, its effect, and a legal analysis of its consistency with
the applicable requirements must all be sufficiently detailed and
specific to support an affirmative Commission finding. Any failure
of the self-regulatory organization to provide the information
elicited by Form 19b-4 may result in the Commission not having a
sufficient basis to make an affirmative finding that a proposed rule
change is consistent with the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder that are applicable to the self-regulation
organization.\21\
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\21\ Id.
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IV. Procedure: Request for Written Comments
The Commission requests that interested persons provide written
submissions of their views, data, and arguments with respect to the
issues identified above, as well as any others they may have identified
with the proposal. In particular, the Commission invites the written
views of interested persons concerning whether the proposed rule change
is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) or any other provision of the Act,
or the rules and regulations thereunder. Although there do not appear
to be any issues relevant to approval or disapproval which would be
facilitated by an oral presentation of views, data, and arguments, the
Commission will consider, pursuant to Rule 19b-4, any request for an
opportunity to make an oral presentation.\22\
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\22\ Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, as amended by the Securities
Acts Amendments of 1975, Public Law 94-29, 89 Stat. 97 (1975),
grants the Commission flexibility to determine what type of
proceeding--either oral or notice and opportunity for written
comments--is appropriate for consideration of a particular proposal
by a self-regulatory organization. See Securities Acts Amendments of
1975, Report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban
Affairs to Accompany S. 249, S. Rep. No. 75, 94th Cong., 1st Sess.
30 (1975).
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Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments regarding whether the proposed rule change should be approved
or disapproved by October 14, 2015. Any person who wishes to file a
rebuttal to any other person's submission must file that rebuttal by
October 28, 2015. The Commission asks that commenters address the
sufficiency and merit of the Exchange's statements in support of the
proposed rule change, in addition to any other comments they may wish
to submit about the proposed rule change. In particular, the Commission
asks that commenters address the sufficiency of the Exchange's
statements, which are set forth in the Notice,\23\ in support of its
proposal to prevent Firms' orders from triggering a COLA, in addition
to any other comments they may wish to submit about the proposed rule
change. The Commission notes that the Phlx states that Firms, like
market makers, are liquidity providers that function to accommodate the
trading interest of their clients, and that Firms do not expect or need
their orders to trigger a COLA. With respect to this conclusion, the
Commission seeks comment on whether there are circumstances in which a
Firm might want its order to trigger a COLA, and the potential impact
of permitting or prohibiting Firms' orders from triggering a COLA.
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\23\ See supra note 3.
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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-Phlx-2015-49 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Brent J. Fields,
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2015-49. 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-Phlx-
[[Page 57408]]
2015-49 and should be submitted by October 14, 2015. Rebuttal comments
should be submitted by October 28, 2015.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
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\24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(57).
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Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-24062 Filed 9-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P