Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, Relating to Price Protection Mechanisms and Risk Controls, 79063-79068 [2016-27153]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2016 / Notices
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David Cullison,
NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
comments on the proposal. This order
provides notice of filing of Amendment
No. 1 and approves the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No.
1, on an accelerated basis.
[FR Doc. 2016–27125 Filed 11–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–79244; File No. SR–CBOE–
2016–053]
Self-Regulatory Organizations;
Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing of
Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1, Relating to Price
Protection Mechanisms and Risk
Controls
November 4, 2016.
I. Introduction
On September 1, 2016, Chicago Board
Options Exchange, Incorporated
(‘‘CBOE’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) 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 current and adopt new price
protection mechanisms and risk
controls for orders and quotes. The
Commission published the proposed
rule change for comment in the Federal
Register on September 20, 2016.3 On
September 21, 2016, the Exchange filed
Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule
change.4 The Commission received no
1 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78839
(September 14, 2016), 81 FR 64521 (September 20,
2016) (‘‘Notice’’).
4 In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange conformed
the text of proposed Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B) to CBOE’s
description in the Notice of the drill through price
check parameter. Specifically, the amendment
added detail into the rule to reflect that, pursuant
to the drill through price check parameter, CBOE
will expose the unexecuted portion of an order via
HAL at the better of the NBBO and the drill through
price. In addition, CBOE also proposed to amend
its discussion of existing quote risk monitor
functionality to accurately match the existing rule
text (which involved background discussion of
functionality that CBOE did not propose to amend
in the current proposal). To promote transparency
of its proposed amendment, when CBOE filed
Amendment No. 1 with the Commission, it also
submitted Amendment No. 1 as a comment letter
to the file, which the Commission posted on its
Web site and placed in the public comment file for
SR–CBOE–2016–053 (available at https://
www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboe-2016-053/
cboe2016053-1.pdf). The Exchange also posted a
copy of its Amendment No. 1 on its Web site
(https://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/
submittedsecfilings.aspx) when it filed the
amendment with the Commission.
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II. Description of the Proposed Rule
Change 5
The Exchange currently has in place
various price check mechanisms and
risk controls that are designed to
prevent incoming orders and quotes
from automatically executing at
potentially erroneous prices or to assist
TPHs with managing their risk.6 The
Exchange proposed to amend CBOE
Rules 6.12(a)(3), 6.13(b)(v), 6.14 and
8.18 to add new, as well as amend
current, price protection mechanisms
and risk controls to further assist
brokers in their efforts to prevent errors
and avoid trading activity that could
potentially be unwanted or even
disruptive to the market.7
A. Limit Order Price Parameter for
Simple Orders
The Exchange proposed to amend the
limit order price parameter for simple
orders in Rule 6.12(a)(3). Currently, a
simple limit order is routed directly
from an order entry firm to an order
management terminal (‘‘OMT’’)
designated by the order entry firm if a
limit order to buy (sell) is more than an
acceptable tick distance (‘‘ATD’’) 8
above (below): (i) The Exchange’s
previous day’s closing price prior to the
opening of a series, or (ii) the
disseminated Exchange offer (bid) once
a series has opened.9
The Exchange has now proposed to
amend CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3) to reject a
simple limit order to buy (sell) generally
when it is more than an ATD above
(below) the last disseminated national
best offer (‘‘NBO’’) (national best bid
5A
more detailed description of the proposed
rule change appears in the Notice. See supra note
3.
6 See, e.g., CBOE Rules 6.12(a)(3) through (5)
(limit order price parameters), 6.13(b)(v) (marketwidth and drill through price check parameters),
6.14 (price protections), 6.53C, Interpretation and
Policy .08 (price check parameters for complex
orders), and 8.18 (QRM Mechanism).
7 The proposed rule change also made conforming
changes to CBOE Rules 6.2B, 6.13A, and 6.14A. A
full discussion of those changes may be found in
the Notice. See supra note 3.
8 Currently, the Exchange determines the ATD,
which may be no less than 5 minimum increment
ticks, on a series-by-series and premium basis.
Under the proposed rule change, the ATD, which
may be no less than two minimum increment ticks,
will be determined on a class-by-class and premium
basis. In addition, different ATDs may be applied
to orders entered during the pre-opening, a trading
rotation, a trading halt, or Extended Trading Hours.
See proposed CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3) and Notice,
supra note 3, at 64523 n. 8
9 See CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3).
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(‘‘NBB’’)).10 According to the Exchange,
using the NBBO or NBO (NBB), if
available, will more accurately reflect
the then current market, rather than the
previous day’s closing price or
Exchange BBO.11 The Exchange,
however, will continue to use the
previous day’s closing price or
Exchange BBO in certain instances,
such as when the NBBO is locked or
crossed, or when there is no NBO (NBB)
and the closing price does not cross the
disseminated NBB (NBO).12
CBOE also proposed to apply the limit
order price parameter to immediate-orcancel orders. According to the
Exchange, such orders also are at risk of
execution at extreme and potentially
erroneous prices and thus will benefit
from applicability of these checks.13
However, the limit order price
parameter will not apply to orders
routed from a PAR workstation or OMT.
According to the Exchange, orders
routed from a PAR workstation or OMT
are subject to manual handling, and
therefore, the Exchange believes the
PAR or OMT operator will have
evaluated the price of an order based on
then-existing market conditions prior to
submitting the order for electronic
execution.14 Thus, there is minimal risk
of execution at an erroneous price. The
limit order price parameter also will not
apply to orders with a stop
contingency.15 According to the
Exchange, buy orders with a stop
contingency are generally submitted at a
triggering price that is above the NBO,
and sell orders with a stop contingency
are generally submitted at a triggering
price that is below the NBB.16 As a
result, the Exchange believes these
orders are expected to be priced outside
the NBBO.17
10 Specifically, CBOE will reject the order if it is
more than the ATD above (below): (i) prior to the
opening of a series, (A) the last disseminated
national best offer (‘‘NBO’’) (national best bid
(‘‘NBB’’)), if a series is open on another exchange,
or (B) the Exchange’s previous day’s closing price,
if a series is not yet open on any other exchange;
if the NBBO is locked, crossed, or unavailable; or
if there is no NBO (NBB) and the previous day’s
closing price is greater (less) than or equal to the
NBB (NBO); (ii) intraday, the last disseminated
NBO (NBB), or the Exchange’s best offer (bid) if the
NBBO is locked, crossed or unavailable; or (iii)
during a trading halt, the last disseminated NBO
(NBB).
11 See Notice, supra note 3 at 64522.
12 See id.
13 See id. at 64523.
14 See id.
15 See CBOE Rule 6.53. A stop contingency is
triggered for a buy order if there is a last sale or
bid at or above the stop price and for a sell order
if there is a last sale or offer at or below the stop
price.
16 See Notice, supra note 3 at 64523.
17 See id.
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B. Drill Through Price Check Parameter
The Exchange proposed to amend the
drill through price check parameter in
CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v). Currently, the
Exchange’s trading system (‘‘System’’)
will not automatically execute a market
or marketable limit order18 if the
execution would follow an initial partial
execution on the Exchange at a price not
within an ATD19 from the initial
execution. Instead, the remaining
unexecuted portion of a HAL-eligible
order will be exposed pursuant to the
HAL process in CBOE Rule 6.14A using
the ATD as the exposure price and any
remainder will route via the order
handling system pursuant to CBOE Rule
6.12.20
The Exchange now has proposed to
amend CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v) to add
detail to the rule describing how the
System will handle orders that were not
exposed prior to trading up to the drill
through price and orders that traded up
to the drill through price following
exposure. In particular, orders not
previously exposed would be exposed
via HAL and orders previously exposed
via HAL or SAL would rest in the book
for a period of time and thereafter be
cancelled if they do not execute.21
18 Currently, the Exchange applies the marketwidth check to market orders and the drill through
check to market and marketable limit orders. The
Exchange proposed to codify this current practice
into the rules. See Notice, supra note 3, at 64523
n. 12.
19 Currently, the ATD is determined by the
Exchange on a series-by-series and premium basis
for market orders and/or marketable limit orders
and may be no less than two minimum increment
ticks. Under the proposed rule change, the
Exchange will determine the ATD on a class and
premium basis (which may be no less than two
minimum increment ticks), which the Exchange
will announce via Regulatory Circular. See
proposed CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B)(I).
20 See CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v).
21 Specifically, if a buy (sell) order not yet
exposed via HAL partially executes, and the System
determines the unexecuted portion would execute
at a price higher (lower) than the price that is an
ATD above (below) the NBO (NBB) (‘‘drill through
price’’), the System will not automatically execute
the remaining portion but will instead expose it via
HAL at the better of the NBBO and the drill through
price (if eligible for HAL). If a buy (sell) order
exposed via HAL (other than pursuant to the
previous sentence) or the Solicitation Auction
Mechanism (‘‘SAL’’) would, following the exposure
period, execute at a price higher (lower) than the
drill through price, the System will not
automatically execute the order (or unexecuted
portion). These orders (or unexecuted portions) will
rest in the book (based on the time at which they
enter the book for priority purposes) for a time
period in milliseconds (which the Exchange will
determine and announce via Regulatory Circular
and will not exceed three seconds—the Exchange
will initially set the time at two seconds) with a
price equal to the drill through price. If the order
(or any unexecuted portion) does not execute
during that time period, the System cancels it. In
classes in which SAL is activated, an order eligible
for SAL will be exposed immediately and would
not partially execute prior to being exposed via
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Buy (sell) orders (or any unexecuted
portion) that are not eligible for HAL or
SAL and do not otherwise cancel by
their terms will route via the order
handling system pursuant to Rule 6.12.
In addition, the drill through price
check parameter at the open will be
handled pursuant to the separate
process set forth in Rule 6.2B,
Interpretation and Policy .03.22
C. TPH-Designated Risk Settings
The Exchange proposed to amend
CBOE Rule 6.14 to authorize it to share
TPH-designated risk settings with a
TPH’s Clearing TPH. The risk settings
that the Exchange may share with
Clearing TPHs include, but are not
limited to, settings under Rule 8.18
(related to QRM) and proposed CBOE
Rule 6.14(d) (related to order entry and
execution rate checks) and (e) (related to
maximum contract size). The Exchange
represented that other options
exchanges have similar rules permitting
them to share member-designated risk
settings with other members that clear
transactions on the member’s behalf.23
D. Put Strike Price/Call Underlying
Value Checks
The Exchange proposed to amend the
put strike price and call underlying
value checks in CBOE Rule 6.14(a).
Currently, the System rejects back to the
TPH a quote or buy limit order for (i) a
put if the price of the quote bid or order
is greater than or equal to the strike
price of the option, or (ii) a call if the
price of the quote bid or order is greater
than or equal to the consolidated last
sale price of the underlying security,
with respect to equity and exchangetraded fund options, or the last
disseminated value of the underlying
index, with respect to index options.
SAL. For this reason, SAL is not included in
proposed CBOE Rule 6.13(v)(B)(I). See Notice,
supra note 3, at 64523 n. 15. Any order (or
unexecuted portion) that by its terms cancels if it
does not execute immediately (including
immediate-or-cancel, fill-or-kill, intermarket sweep,
and market-maker trade prevention orders) will be
cancelled rather than rest in the book for this time
period in accordance with the definition of those
order types. See proposed CBOE Rule
6.13(b)(v)(B)(III).
22 The proposed rule change also amended the
market width price check parameter in CBOE Rule
6.13(b)(v) (proposed CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v)(A)) to be
determined on a class-by-class basis rather than
series-by-series, as well as made additional nonsubstantive changes to Rule 6.13(b)(v), such as
separating the provisions regarding the marketwidth price check parameter from those regarding
the drill through price check parameter.
23 See Notice, supra note 3 at 64525. See also,
e.g., Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC
(‘‘MIAX’’) Rule 500; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’)
Chapter VI, Section 20; NYSE Arca, Inc. (‘‘Arca’’)
Rule 6.2A(a); NYSE MKT LLC (‘‘MKT’’) Rule
902.1NY(a); and NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC
(‘‘PHLX’’) Rule 1016.
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The Exchange proposed to extend this
check to apply to market orders (and
any remaining size after a partial
execution).24
E. Quote Inverting NBBO Check
The Exchange proposed to amend
Rule CBOE 6.14(b) regarding the quote
inverting NBBO check. Currently, if the
Exchange is at the NBO (NBB), the
System rejects a quote back to a MarketMaker if the quote bid (offer) crosses the
NBO (NBB) by more than a number of
ticks specified by the Exchange. If CBOE
is not at the NBO (NBB), the System
rejects a quote back to a Market-Maker
if the quote bid (offer) locks or crosses
the NBO (NBB). If the NBBO is
unavailable, locked, or crossed, then
this check compares the quote to the
BBO (if available). The rule is currently
silent on what happens if the BBO is
unavailable.
The Exchange has now proposed to
amend Rule 6.14(b) to not apply this
check to incoming quotes when the BBO
is unavailable. The Exchange also
proposed to amend the rule to state that
it will not apply the check to incoming
quotes prior to the opening of a series
if the series is not open on another
exchange, as well as during a trading
halt.25
F. Execution of Quotes That Lock or
Cross NBBO
The Exchange further proposed to
amend the provision concerning the
execution of quotes that lock or cross
the NBBO.26 The rule currently states
that if the System accepts a quote that
locks or crosses the NBBO, it executes
the quote and either (i) cancels any
remainder or (ii) books any remainder if
the price of the quote does not lock or
cross the price of an away exchange.27
Further, CBOE currently will not
disseminate an internally crossed
market, and if a Market-Maker submits
a quote that would invert an existing
quote, the System will change the
24 The Exchange will not apply these checks to
market orders that execute during the opening
process, however, in order to avoid impacting the
determination of the opening price. According to
the Exchange, separate price protections apply
during the opening process, including the drill
through protection in CBOE Rule 6.2B. See Notice,
supra note 3, at 64525. The Exchange also proposed
to amend CBOE Rule 6.14(a) to eliminate discretion
afforded to the Exchange to determine to apply the
call check to a class during Extended Trading
Hours. The Exchange represented that it currently
does not apply the check during Extended Trading
Hours and is eliminating its ability to do so in the
future. See id.
25 See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(ii) and (iii).
26 The Exchange proposed to move this provision
from current CBOE Rule 6.14(b)(iii) to proposed
CBOE Rule 6.14(c).
27 If a quote inverts another quote, it is subject to
CBOE Rules 6.45A(d)(ii) or 6.45B(d)(ii).
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incoming quote so it locks the existing
quote.28 The Exchange then
disseminates the locked market, and
both quotes will be deemed firm. When
the market locks, a counting period will
begin during which Market-Makers may
update those quotes (provided a MarketMaker will be obligated to execute
orders eligible for automatic execution
at its disseminated quote). If at the end
of the counting period the quotes
remain locked, the locked quotes will
automatically execute against each
other.
Under current CBOE Rule 6.14(b)(iii),
any counting period under the quote
lock rule may cause the Exchange to
disseminate a quote that locks that of an
away exchange. The Exchange has now
proposed to amend the rule to no longer
disseminate a lock, and instead will
reject an incoming Market-Maker quote
(or unexecuted portion thereof) that
locks or crosses a resting Market-Maker
quote at the NBBO.29
G. Order Entry, Execution, and Price
Parameter Checks
The Exchange proposed to adopt the
following four mandatory activity-based
risk protections under proposed CBOE
Rule 6.14(d):30
(i) the total number of orders (of all
order types) and auction responses
entered and accepted by the System
(‘‘orders entered’’);
(ii) the total number of contracts (from
orders and auction responses) executed
on the System, which does not count
executed contracts from orders
submitted from a PAR workstation or an
OMT or stock contracts executed as part
of stock-option orders (‘‘contracts
executed’’);
(iii) the total number of orders the
System books or routes via the order
handling system 31 pursuant to the drill
CBOE Rules 6.45A(d)(ii) and 6.45B(d)(ii).
Exchange also proposed to amend the rule
to not apply the check when the NBBO is locked,
crossed, or unavailable. In addition, the Exchange
proposed to authorize a senior official at the
Exchange’s Help Desk to determine not to apply
this check in the interest of maintaining a fair and
orderly market. For example, the Exchange believes
it is appropriate to disable this check in response
to a market event or market volatility to avoid
inadvertently cancelling quotes not erroneously
priced but rather priced to reflect potentially
rapidly changing prices. See Notice, supra note 3,
at 64526. The Exchange represented that, pursuant
to Exchange procedures, any decision to not apply
the check and the reason for such decision will be
documented, retained, and periodically reviewed.
See id.
30 Other exchanges maintain similar activitybased risk protections. See, e.g., International
Securities Exchange, LLC (‘‘ISE’’) Rule 714(d) and
MIAX Rule 519A.
31 As discussed above, orders (or unexecuted
portions) that by their terms cancel if they do not
execute immediately will be cancelled rather than
through price check parameter (as
amended by this proposed rule change)
in proposed Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B) (‘‘drill
through events’’); and
(iv) the total number of orders the
System cancels or routes via the order
handling system pursuant to the limit
order price parameter in Rule 6.12(a)(3)
through (5) (‘‘price reasonability
events’’).
When a TPH exceeds a parameter
within one of the time intervals set by
CBOE, the System will (i) reject all
subsequent incoming orders and quotes,
(ii) cancel all resting quotes, and (iii) for
the orders entered and contracts
executed checks, if the TPH requests,
cancel resting orders in the manner
specified by the TPH (either all orders,
orders with time-in-force of day, or
orders entered on that trading day).32
The System will not accept new
orders or quotes from a restricted
acronym or login until the Exchange
receives the TPH’s manual notification
to reactivate its ability to send orders
and quotes. While an acronym or login
is restricted, a TPH may continue to
interact with any resting orders (i.e.,
orders not cancelled pursuant to this
protection) entered prior to its acronym
or login becoming restricted, including
receiving trade execution reports and
canceling resting orders.
H. Maximum Contract Size
The Exchange proposed to adopt a
maximum contact size risk control
pursuant to which the System will reject
a TPH’s incoming order or quote
(including both sides of a two-sided
quote) if its size exceeds the TPH’s
designated maximum contract size
parameter.33 Each TPH must provide a
maximum contract size for each of
simple orders, complex orders, and
quotes applicable to an acronym or, if
the TPH requests, a login.34
28 See
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29 The
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rest in the book for a period of time (as proposed
in this filing) pursuant to the drill through price
check parameter if triggered. According to the
Exchange, because these orders will not book or
route pursuant to the drill through price check
parameter, these orders will not be included in the
count for the drill through event check. See Notice,
supra note 3, at 64527 n. 33.
32 The Exchange expects the initial time intervals
for all these checks to be set at one and five
minutes. The time intervals set by the Exchange
will apply to all TPHs, who will not be able to
change these time intervals. See Notice, supra note
3, at 64527 n. 34.
33 See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e). The Exchange
represented that other options exchanges have
adopted similar functionality. See Notice, supra
note 3, at 64528 n. 40; MIAX Rule 519(b).
34 For purposes of determining the contract size
of an incoming order or quote, the proposed rule
states the contract size of a complex order will
equal the contract size of the largest option leg of
the order (i.e., if the order is a stock-option order,
this check will not apply to the stock leg of the
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I. Kill Switch
The Exchange further proposed to
adopt a kill switch, which will be on
optional tool allowing a TPH to send a
message to the System to, or contact the
Exchange Help Desk to request that, the
Exchange cancel all its resting quotes,
resting orders (either all orders, orders
with time-in-force of day, or orders
entered on that trading day), or both,
and thereafter reject all subsequent
incoming quotes and/or orders.35 The
System will send a TPH an automated
message when it has processed a kill
switch request and thereafter will not
accept new orders or quotes from a
restricted acronym or login until the
Exchange receives the TPH’s manual
notification to reactivate its ability to
send orders and quotes.
According to the Exchange, the kill
switch message will be accepted by the
System in the order of receipt in the
queue and will be processed in that
order so that interest already in the
System will be processed prior to the
kill switch message.36 Moreover, a
Market-Maker’s utilization of the kill
switch, and subsequent removal of its
quotes, will not diminish or relieve the
Market-Maker of its obligation to
provide continuous two-sided quotes.
Market-Makers will continue to be
required to provide continuous twosided quotes on a daily basis, and a
Market-Maker’s utilization of the kill
switch will not prohibit the Exchange
from taking disciplinary action against
the Market-Maker for failing to meet the
continuing quoting obligation each
trading day.37
J. Quote Risk Monitor Mechanism
Lastly, the Exchange proposed to
amend the QRM Mechanism in CBOE
Rule 8.18. Pursuant to the QRM
mechanism, a Market-Maker may
establish a (i) maximum number of
contracts, (ii) a maximum cumulative
percentage of the original quoted size of
order). See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e). If a TPH
enters an order or quote to replace a resting order
or update a resting quote, and the System rejects the
incoming order or quote because it exceeds the
applicable maximum contract size, the System also
will cancel the resting order or any resting quote in
the same series. In addition, the Exchange proposed
to apply this check to paired orders submitted to
AIM, SAM or as a QCC order. Further, the Exchange
proposed that for an A:AIR order, if the System
rejects the agency order, then the System rejects the
contra-side order; however, if the System rejects the
contra-side order, the System still accepts the
agency order. See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e)(ii).
35 See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(f). The Exchange
represented that other options exchanges have
adopted similar kill switches. See Notice, supra
note 3, at 64529; BOX Options Exchange LLC
(‘‘BOX’’) Rule 7280 and PHLX Rule 1019(b).
36 See Notice, supra note 3 at 64532.
37 See id.
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each side of each series, and (iii) the
maximum number of series for which
either side of its quote is fully traded,
that may trade within a rolling time
period in milliseconds also established
by the Market-Maker. When these
parameters are exceeded within the time
interval, the System cancels the MarketMaker’s quotes in the class and other
classes with the same underlying on the
same trading platform. In addition,
CBOE Rule 8.18 allows Market-Makers
or TPH organizations to specify a
maximum number of QRM incidents
across all classes on an Exchange-wide
basis. When the Exchange determines
that a Market-Maker or TPH
organization has reached its QRM
incident limit during the rolling time
interval, the System will cancel all of
the Market-Maker’s electronic quotes
and Market-Maker orders resting in the
book in all option classes on the
Exchange and prevent the Market-Maker
or TPH organization from sending
additional quotes or orders to the
Exchange until the Market-Maker
reactivates its ability to send quotes or
orders.
Currently, use of the QRM is optional.
The Exchange proposed to amend CBOE
Rule 8.18 to make it mandatory for
Market-Makers to enter values for each
parameter for all classes in which they
quote.38
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III. Discussion and Commission
Findings
After careful review, the Commission
finds that the proposed rule change is
consistent with the requirements of
Section 6 of the Act 39 and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to the
Exchange.40 Specifically, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) 41 requirements that the
rules of an exchange be designed to
prevent fraudulent and manipulative
acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster
cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with
respect to, and facilitating transactions
in securities, to remove impediments to
and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market and a national market
system, and, in general, to protect
38 The Exchange represented that other options
exchanges have made similar functionality
mandatory for all Market-Makers. See Notice, supra
note 3, at 64529; ISE Rule 804(g).
39 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
40 In approving these proposed rule changes, the
Commission has considered the proposed rules’
impact on efficiency, competition, and capital
formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
41 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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investors and the public interest. The
Commission believes that the proposed
rule change is designed to mitigate the
likelihood of orders trading at
potentially erroneous prices, clarify
when certain price/risk controls will
apply, avoid locking an away market,
and assist TPHs in managing their risk
exposure to avoid potentially harmful
and disruptive trading.
As discussed above, CBOE is
proposing to amend its limit order price
parameter for simple orders to use the
NBBO when available in lieu of the
Exchange’s previous day’s closing price
or BBO. To the extent that the use of the
NBBO, when available, rather than the
Exchange’s previous day’s closing price
or BBO, may better reflect the then
current market, it should provide a
suitable measure for purposes of
determining the reasonability of the
prices of orders. Moreover, the
Commission believes that it is
reasonable for CBOE to exclude orders
with a stop contingency or orders routed
from a PAR workstation or OMT from
the limit order price check parameter. In
particular, application of the limit order
price check parameter to stop
contingency orders may interfere with
the application of the stop contingency,
and orders routed from a PAR
workstation or OMT may be less likely
to execute at an erroneous price since
they are manually reviewed and
processed.
The Commission believes that the
proposed rule change to expand the
applicability of the put strike price and
call underlying value checks to market
orders 42 may help TPHs mitigate risks
associated with orders trading at prices
that exceed a corresponding benchmark,
which may indicate an execution at a
price that is potentially erroneous.
Furthermore, the Commission believes
the proposed rule change to eliminate
the flexibility to not apply this check to
orders entered during Extended Trading
Hours will provide market participants
with increased certainty regarding the
inapplicability of this check.
The proposed changes to the drill
through price checks provide additional
detail to the rule regarding how the
System handles certain orders that were
not exposed prior to trading up to the
drill through price and orders that
traded up to the drill through price
following exposure. In addition,
allowing the remainder of orders to rest
in the book for a brief time period at the
drill through price may benefit investors
42 The checks will not apply to market orders
during an opening rotation since separate price
protections will apply during the opening process.
See Notice, supra note 3, at 64525.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
by providing an additional opportunity
for execution of their orders.
Furthermore, clarifying that an order
exposed via HAL pursuant to the drill
through price check will not be exposed
at a price worse than the NBBO is
consistent with the current treatment of
other orders exposed via HAL at the
NBBO.43
The Commission also believes that the
proposed amendments to the quote
inverting NBBO check will provide
market participants with greater clarity
that CBOE will not apply the check in
the absence of an NBBO and BBO. In
addition, the proposed rule change
eliminates the Exchange’s flexibility to
apply the check prior to the opening of
a series as well as during a trading halt.
Removing this flexibility and clearly
stating when CBOE will not apply the
check considerably enhances the
transparency of the functionality.
With respect to CBOE’s proposed
changes regarding the execution of
quotes that lock or cross the NBBO
(Proposed Rule 6.14(c)), the
Commission believes that the proposed
rule change is consistent with the Act as
it is reasonably designed to prevent the
dissemination of a quote that locks or
crosses an away market. Moreover, to
the extent the Exchange determines to
temporarily deactivate the check in the
interest of maintaining a fair and orderly
market, CBOE has represented that all
such decisions by CBOE will be
adequately justified, documented,
retained, and periodically reviewed.44
Further, the Commission believes that
the Exchange’s proposed risk protection
parameters and mechanisms for orders
and quotes are reasonably designed to
provide TPHs with additional tools to
assist them in managing their risk
exposure. Specifically, the order entry,
execution, and price parameter rate
checks, maximum contract size risk
control, and mandatory use of the QRM
may help TPHs to mitigate the potential
risks associated with entering too many
orders or quotes, executing too many
contracts, having too many orders
rejected because of price protection
parameters, and entering orders or
quotes with size that may be potentially
erroneous that may result from, for
example, technology issues with the
broker’s electronic trading system. To
this extent, these TPH-customizable
settings may help act as a backstop to
the TPH’s own controls and provide an
additional layer of protection
customized to the TPH’s self-selected
parameters. Moreover, the Commission
notes that other exchanges have
43 See
44 See
E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM
current and proposed CBOE Rule 6.14A(b).
supra note 29 and accompanying text.
10NON1
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2016 / Notices
established similar risk protection
mechanisms.45 The Commission notes
that the proposed functionality,
including the cancellation of any resting
interest, must be processed in sequence
with other interest in the System and
comply with the firm quote obligations
in Rule 602 of Regulation NMS.
CBOE will require TPHs and MarketMakers to utilize these risk protection
parameters and mechanisms. However,
TPHs and Market-Makers will have
discretion to customize the parameters
in accordance with their respective risk
management needs. In light of this
flexibility, the Commission reminds
TPHs to be mindful of their obligations,
to among others, seek best execution of
orders they handle on an agency basis
and consider their best execution
obligations when establishing
parameters for the order entry,
execution, price parameter rate checks,
maximum contract size risk control, and
QRM.46 For example, an abnormally
low order entry parameter should be
carefully scrutinized, particularly if a
TPH’s order flow to the Exchange
contains agency orders. To the extent
that a TPH chooses sensitive parameters
and those parameters apply to
connections over which it transmits
customer orders to the Exchange, a TPH
should consider the effect of its chosen
settings on its ability to receive a timely
execution on marketable agency orders
that it sends to the Exchange in various
market conditions. The Commission
cautions brokers considering their best
execution obligations to be aware that
an agency order they represent may be
rejected as a result of these risk
protections.
In addition, in light of the Exchange’s
decision not to set maximum or
minimum values, or default values, the
Commission expects CBOE to
periodically assess whether these risk
protection measures are operating in a
manner that is consistent with the
promotion of fair and orderly markets,
including whether not utilizing
maximum and minimum parameters or
default values continues to be
appropriate and in accordance with the
Act and the rules thereunder.
Further, the Commission believes that
Proposed Rule 6.14(f), which creates an
optional kill switch mechanism, is
consistent with the Act as it may further
enhance risk management capabilities of
45 See ISE Rules 714(d) & 804(g); MIAX Rules
519(b) & 519A.
46 See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos.
37619A (September 6, 1996), 61 FR 48290
(September 12, 1996) (Order Handling Rules
adopting release); 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR
37496, 37537–8 (June 29, 2005) (Regulation NMS
adopting release).
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17:46 Nov 09, 2016
Jkt 241001
TPHs by providing them with the ability
to manage their risk exposure if they
experience a significant system failure.
To the extent that the kill switch
mechanism provides TPHs with an
appropriate backstop in this manner, it
may encourage firms to provide
liquidity on CBOE and thus contribute
to fair and orderly markets in a manner
that protects investors and the public
interest. The Commission notes that the
Exchange represented in its proposal
that the kill switch will operate
consistently with a broker-dealer’s firm
quote obligations pursuant to Rule 602
of Regulation NMS,47 and that the kill
switch does not diminish or relieve a
Market-Maker of its obligation to
provide continuous two-sided quotes.48
The Exchange also represented that the
kill switch message will be accepted by
the System in the order of receipt in the
queue and will be processed in such
order. As such, the System will process
interest already in the System prior to
receipt of the kill switch message prior
to processing the kill switch message.49
Based on these representations, the
Commission believes that the kill switch
is reasonably designed to promote just
and equitable principles of trade and
perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market. Lastly, the Commission
notes that other exchanges have
established kill switches that operate in
a manner similar to that proposed by
CBOE.50
Finally, the Commission believes that
the proposal to authorize CBOE to share
with Clearing TPHs the risk mitigation
settings selected by a TPH for whom the
Clearing TPH clears may assist Clearing
TPHs manage their clearing risk
exposure. The Commission notes that
other exchanges have adopted similar
rules authorizing the sharing of similar
risk settings with clearing members.51
IV. Solicitation of Comments on
Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule
Change
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether Amendment No. 1 to
the proposed rule change is consistent
with the Act. Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
47 See
Notice, supra note 3, at 64532.
id.
49 See id.
50 See, e.g., BOX Rule 7280(b) and PHLX Rule
1019(b).
51 See, e.g., MIAX Rule 500; BX Chapter VI,
Section 20; NYSE Arca Rule 6.2A(a); NYSE MKT
Rule 902.1NY(a); and PHLX Rule 1016.
48 See
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79067
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–
CBOE–2016–053 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–CBOE–2016–053. 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–CBOE–
2016–053, and should be submitted on
or before December 1, 2016.
V. Accelerated Approval of Proposed
Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1
The Commission finds good cause to
approve the proposed rule change, as
modified by Amendment No. 1, prior to
the thirtieth day after the date of
publication of notice of the amended
proposal in the Federal Register. In
Amendment No. 1,52 CBOE clarified in
its drill through rule text the exposure
price of an order via HAL as CBOE had
described it in the Notice. Amendment
52 See
E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM
Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
10NON1
79068
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2016 / Notices
No. 1 further clarified CBOE’s
background discussion of how quotes
and orders are cancelled pursuant to the
QRM Mechanism in order to harmonize
the description of the existing rule with
the text of Rule 8.18. Both of these
changes are consistent with the proposal
as initially filed, and simply add detail
to the filing to resolve internal
inconsistencies. The changes do not
introduce material, new, or novel
concepts. Accordingly, the Commission
finds good cause, pursuant to Section
19(b)(2) of the Act,53 to approve the
proposed rule change, as modified by
Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated
basis.
VI. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,54 that the
proposed rule change (SR–CBOE–2016–
053), as modified by Amendment No. 1,
be, and hereby is, approved on an
accelerated basis.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.55
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–27153 Filed 11–9–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend
Rule 9400, entitled ‘‘Expedited Client
Suspension Proceeding’’ to include a
cross-reference for clarification.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s Web site
at https://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.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
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
1. Purpose
[Release No. 34–79240; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2016–146]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rule
9400 To Include a Cross-Reference
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
November 4, 2016.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’)1, and Rule 19b-4 2 thereunder,
notice is hereby given that, on October
25, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market
LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed
with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
the proposed rule change as described
in Items I and II below, which Items
have been prepared by the Exchange.
The Commission is publishing this
notice to solicit comments on the
proposed rule change from interested
persons.
53 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
id.
55 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
54 See
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19:43 Nov 09, 2016
Jkt 241001
The Exchange is filing this proposal to
amend Rule 9400, entitled ‘‘Expedited
Client Suspension Proceeding’’ to
include a cross-reference Chapter III,
Section 16, entitled ‘‘Disruptive Quoting
and Trading Activity Prohibited’’ within
Rule 9400. The Exchange filed a rule
change to adopt an options rule,
identical to equities Rule 2170, which
relates to disruptive quoting and trading
activity.3 In that rule change, it stated
that ‘‘[t]he Exchange will initiate
disciplinary action for violations of
Chapter III, Section 16, pursuant to Rule
9400.’’ 4 At that time, the Exchange
inadvertently did not include the crossreferences to Chapter III, Section 16
within Rule 9400. The Exchange
proposes to add references to Chapter
III, Section 16 within Rule 9400 for
clarity. This rule change is noncontroversial.
Background
The Exchange filed a rule change to
adopt an options rule to clearly prohibit
disruptive quoting and trading activity
on the Exchange and to permit the
Exchange to take prompt action to
suspend members or their clients that
violate such rule pursuant to Rule
9400.5 The Exchange had previously
adopted Rule 9400 to set forth
procedures for issuing suspension
orders, immediately prohibiting a
member from conducting continued
disruptive quoting and trading activity
on the Exchange.6 Rule 9400 provides
the Exchange the authority to order a
member to cease and desist from
providing access to the Exchange to a
client of the member that is conducting
disruptive quoting and trading activity
in violation of Rule 2170. The Exchange
also previously adopted Rule 2400 to
specifically define and prohibit
disruptive equities quoting and trading
activity on the Exchange.7 Chapter III,
Section 16 is identical to Rule 2400,
however applicable to options.
Similarly, Chapter III, Section 16
prohibits members from engaging in or
facilitating disruptive options quoting
and trading activity on the Exchange.
The Exchange proposes to simply add
the cross-references for the options rules
alongside the equity rule for clarity.
This rule change is consistent with the
intent of the rule proposal which
adopted Chapter III, Section 16.8
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act,9 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,10
in particular, in that the rules of the
Exchange are designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and
practices, it [sic] is designed 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 by making clear within
Rule 9400 that violations of Chapter III,
Section 16 are subject to disciplinary
action pursuant to Rule 9400 as stated
in the Exchange’s rule filing.11 This
cross-reference will provide clarity to
members and ease of reference to the
5 See
3 See
Securities and Exchange Release No. 78208
(June 30, 2016), 81 FR 44366 (July 7, 2016) (SR–
NASDAQ–2016–092).
4 See Securities and Exchange Release No. 78208
(June 30, 2016), 81 FR 44366, 44370 (July 7, 2016)
(SR–NASDAQ–2016–092). Rule 9400 is located
within the Code of Procedure rules which apply to
both equities and options violations.
PO 00000
Frm 00102
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
note 3.
Securities and Exchange Release No. 77913
(May 25, 2016), 81 FR 35081 (June 1, 2016) (SR–
NASDAQ–2016–074).
7 See note 3.
8 See note 3.
9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
10 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
11 See note 4.
6 See
E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79063-79068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27153]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-79244; File No. SR-CBOE-2016-053]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Board Options Exchange,
Incorporated; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting
Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1, Relating to Price Protection Mechanisms and Risk
Controls
November 4, 2016.
I. Introduction
On September 1, 2016, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated
(``CBOE'' or ``Exchange'') 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 current and adopt new
price protection mechanisms and risk controls for orders and quotes.
The Commission published the proposed rule change for comment in the
Federal Register on September 20, 2016.\3\ On September 21, 2016, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change.\4\ The
Commission received no comments on the proposal. This order provides
notice of filing of Amendment No. 1 and approves the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78839 (September 14,
2016), 81 FR 64521 (September 20, 2016) (``Notice'').
\4\ In Amendment No. 1, the Exchange conformed the text of
proposed Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B) to CBOE's description in the Notice of
the drill through price check parameter. Specifically, the amendment
added detail into the rule to reflect that, pursuant to the drill
through price check parameter, CBOE will expose the unexecuted
portion of an order via HAL at the better of the NBBO and the drill
through price. In addition, CBOE also proposed to amend its
discussion of existing quote risk monitor functionality to
accurately match the existing rule text (which involved background
discussion of functionality that CBOE did not propose to amend in
the current proposal). To promote transparency of its proposed
amendment, when CBOE filed Amendment No. 1 with the Commission, it
also submitted Amendment No. 1 as a comment letter to the file,
which the Commission posted on its Web site and placed in the public
comment file for SR-CBOE-2016-053 (available at https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-cboe-2016-053/cboe2016053-1.pdf). The Exchange also
posted a copy of its Amendment No. 1 on its Web site (https://www.cboe.com/aboutcboe/legal/submittedsecfilings.aspx) when it filed
the amendment with the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Description of the Proposed Rule Change \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ A more detailed description of the proposed rule change
appears in the Notice. See supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange currently has in place various price check mechanisms
and risk controls that are designed to prevent incoming orders and
quotes from automatically executing at potentially erroneous prices or
to assist TPHs with managing their risk.\6\ The Exchange proposed to
amend CBOE Rules 6.12(a)(3), 6.13(b)(v), 6.14 and 8.18 to add new, as
well as amend current, price protection mechanisms and risk controls to
further assist brokers in their efforts to prevent errors and avoid
trading activity that could potentially be unwanted or even disruptive
to the market.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See, e.g., CBOE Rules 6.12(a)(3) through (5) (limit order
price parameters), 6.13(b)(v) (market-width and drill through price
check parameters), 6.14 (price protections), 6.53C, Interpretation
and Policy .08 (price check parameters for complex orders), and 8.18
(QRM Mechanism).
\7\ The proposed rule change also made conforming changes to
CBOE Rules 6.2B, 6.13A, and 6.14A. A full discussion of those
changes may be found in the Notice. See supra note 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Limit Order Price Parameter for Simple Orders
The Exchange proposed to amend the limit order price parameter for
simple orders in Rule 6.12(a)(3). Currently, a simple limit order is
routed directly from an order entry firm to an order management
terminal (``OMT'') designated by the order entry firm if a limit order
to buy (sell) is more than an acceptable tick distance (``ATD'') \8\
above (below): (i) The Exchange's previous day's closing price prior to
the opening of a series, or (ii) the disseminated Exchange offer (bid)
once a series has opened.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Currently, the Exchange determines the ATD, which may be no
less than 5 minimum increment ticks, on a series-by-series and
premium basis. Under the proposed rule change, the ATD, which may be
no less than two minimum increment ticks, will be determined on a
class-by-class and premium basis. In addition, different ATDs may be
applied to orders entered during the pre-opening, a trading
rotation, a trading halt, or Extended Trading Hours. See proposed
CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3) and Notice, supra note 3, at 64523 n. 8
\9\ See CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange has now proposed to amend CBOE Rule 6.12(a)(3) to
reject a simple limit order to buy (sell) generally when it is more
than an ATD above (below) the last disseminated national best offer
(``NBO'') (national best bid (``NBB'')).\10\ According to the Exchange,
using the NBBO or NBO (NBB), if available, will more accurately reflect
the then current market, rather than the previous day's closing price
or Exchange BBO.\11\ The Exchange, however, will continue to use the
previous day's closing price or Exchange BBO in certain instances, such
as when the NBBO is locked or crossed, or when there is no NBO (NBB)
and the closing price does not cross the disseminated NBB (NBO).\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Specifically, CBOE will reject the order if it is more than
the ATD above (below): (i) prior to the opening of a series, (A) the
last disseminated national best offer (``NBO'') (national best bid
(``NBB'')), if a series is open on another exchange, or (B) the
Exchange's previous day's closing price, if a series is not yet open
on any other exchange; if the NBBO is locked, crossed, or
unavailable; or if there is no NBO (NBB) and the previous day's
closing price is greater (less) than or equal to the NBB (NBO); (ii)
intraday, the last disseminated NBO (NBB), or the Exchange's best
offer (bid) if the NBBO is locked, crossed or unavailable; or (iii)
during a trading halt, the last disseminated NBO (NBB).
\11\ See Notice, supra note 3 at 64522.
\12\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBOE also proposed to apply the limit order price parameter to
immediate-or-cancel orders. According to the Exchange, such orders also
are at risk of execution at extreme and potentially erroneous prices
and thus will benefit from applicability of these checks.\13\ However,
the limit order price parameter will not apply to orders routed from a
PAR workstation or OMT. According to the Exchange, orders routed from a
PAR workstation or OMT are subject to manual handling, and therefore,
the Exchange believes the PAR or OMT operator will have evaluated the
price of an order based on then-existing market conditions prior to
submitting the order for electronic execution.\14\ Thus, there is
minimal risk of execution at an erroneous price. The limit order price
parameter also will not apply to orders with a stop contingency.\15\
According to the Exchange, buy orders with a stop contingency are
generally submitted at a triggering price that is above the NBO, and
sell orders with a stop contingency are generally submitted at a
triggering price that is below the NBB.\16\ As a result, the Exchange
believes these orders are expected to be priced outside the NBBO.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See id. at 64523.
\14\ See id.
\15\ See CBOE Rule 6.53. A stop contingency is triggered for a
buy order if there is a last sale or bid at or above the stop price
and for a sell order if there is a last sale or offer at or below
the stop price.
\16\ See Notice, supra note 3 at 64523.
\17\ See id.
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[[Page 79064]]
B. Drill Through Price Check Parameter
The Exchange proposed to amend the drill through price check
parameter in CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v). Currently, the Exchange's trading
system (``System'') will not automatically execute a market or
marketable limit order\18\ if the execution would follow an initial
partial execution on the Exchange at a price not within an ATD\19\ from
the initial execution. Instead, the remaining unexecuted portion of a
HAL-eligible order will be exposed pursuant to the HAL process in CBOE
Rule 6.14A using the ATD as the exposure price and any remainder will
route via the order handling system pursuant to CBOE Rule 6.12.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ Currently, the Exchange applies the market-width check to
market orders and the drill through check to market and marketable
limit orders. The Exchange proposed to codify this current practice
into the rules. See Notice, supra note 3, at 64523 n. 12.
\19\ Currently, the ATD is determined by the Exchange on a
series-by-series and premium basis for market orders and/or
marketable limit orders and may be no less than two minimum
increment ticks. Under the proposed rule change, the Exchange will
determine the ATD on a class and premium basis (which may be no less
than two minimum increment ticks), which the Exchange will announce
via Regulatory Circular. See proposed CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B)(I).
\20\ See CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v).
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The Exchange now has proposed to amend CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v) to add
detail to the rule describing how the System will handle orders that
were not exposed prior to trading up to the drill through price and
orders that traded up to the drill through price following exposure. In
particular, orders not previously exposed would be exposed via HAL and
orders previously exposed via HAL or SAL would rest in the book for a
period of time and thereafter be cancelled if they do not execute.\21\
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\21\ Specifically, if a buy (sell) order not yet exposed via HAL
partially executes, and the System determines the unexecuted portion
would execute at a price higher (lower) than the price that is an
ATD above (below) the NBO (NBB) (``drill through price''), the
System will not automatically execute the remaining portion but will
instead expose it via HAL at the better of the NBBO and the drill
through price (if eligible for HAL). If a buy (sell) order exposed
via HAL (other than pursuant to the previous sentence) or the
Solicitation Auction Mechanism (``SAL'') would, following the
exposure period, execute at a price higher (lower) than the drill
through price, the System will not automatically execute the order
(or unexecuted portion). These orders (or unexecuted portions) will
rest in the book (based on the time at which they enter the book for
priority purposes) for a time period in milliseconds (which the
Exchange will determine and announce via Regulatory Circular and
will not exceed three seconds--the Exchange will initially set the
time at two seconds) with a price equal to the drill through price.
If the order (or any unexecuted portion) does not execute during
that time period, the System cancels it. In classes in which SAL is
activated, an order eligible for SAL will be exposed immediately and
would not partially execute prior to being exposed via SAL. For this
reason, SAL is not included in proposed CBOE Rule 6.13(v)(B)(I). See
Notice, supra note 3, at 64523 n. 15. Any order (or unexecuted
portion) that by its terms cancels if it does not execute
immediately (including immediate-or-cancel, fill-or-kill,
intermarket sweep, and market-maker trade prevention orders) will be
cancelled rather than rest in the book for this time period in
accordance with the definition of those order types. See proposed
CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v)(B)(III).
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Buy (sell) orders (or any unexecuted portion) that are not eligible
for HAL or SAL and do not otherwise cancel by their terms will route
via the order handling system pursuant to Rule 6.12. In addition, the
drill through price check parameter at the open will be handled
pursuant to the separate process set forth in Rule 6.2B, Interpretation
and Policy .03.\22\
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\22\ The proposed rule change also amended the market width
price check parameter in CBOE Rule 6.13(b)(v) (proposed CBOE Rule
6.13(b)(v)(A)) to be determined on a class-by-class basis rather
than series-by-series, as well as made additional non-substantive
changes to Rule 6.13(b)(v), such as separating the provisions
regarding the market-width price check parameter from those
regarding the drill through price check parameter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. TPH-Designated Risk Settings
The Exchange proposed to amend CBOE Rule 6.14 to authorize it to
share TPH-designated risk settings with a TPH's Clearing TPH. The risk
settings that the Exchange may share with Clearing TPHs include, but
are not limited to, settings under Rule 8.18 (related to QRM) and
proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(d) (related to order entry and execution rate
checks) and (e) (related to maximum contract size). The Exchange
represented that other options exchanges have similar rules permitting
them to share member-designated risk settings with other members that
clear transactions on the member's behalf.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See Notice, supra note 3 at 64525. See also, e.g., Miami
International Securities Exchange, LLC (``MIAX'') Rule 500; NASDAQ
OMX BX, Inc. (``BX'') Chapter VI, Section 20; NYSE Arca, Inc.
(``Arca'') Rule 6.2A(a); NYSE MKT LLC (``MKT'') Rule 902.1NY(a); and
NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC (``PHLX'') Rule 1016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. Put Strike Price/Call Underlying Value Checks
The Exchange proposed to amend the put strike price and call
underlying value checks in CBOE Rule 6.14(a). Currently, the System
rejects back to the TPH a quote or buy limit order for (i) a put if the
price of the quote bid or order is greater than or equal to the strike
price of the option, or (ii) a call if the price of the quote bid or
order is greater than or equal to the consolidated last sale price of
the underlying security, with respect to equity and exchange-traded
fund options, or the last disseminated value of the underlying index,
with respect to index options. The Exchange proposed to extend this
check to apply to market orders (and any remaining size after a partial
execution).\24\
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\24\ The Exchange will not apply these checks to market orders
that execute during the opening process, however, in order to avoid
impacting the determination of the opening price. According to the
Exchange, separate price protections apply during the opening
process, including the drill through protection in CBOE Rule 6.2B.
See Notice, supra note 3, at 64525. The Exchange also proposed to
amend CBOE Rule 6.14(a) to eliminate discretion afforded to the
Exchange to determine to apply the call check to a class during
Extended Trading Hours. The Exchange represented that it currently
does not apply the check during Extended Trading Hours and is
eliminating its ability to do so in the future. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Quote Inverting NBBO Check
The Exchange proposed to amend Rule CBOE 6.14(b) regarding the
quote inverting NBBO check. Currently, if the Exchange is at the NBO
(NBB), the System rejects a quote back to a Market-Maker if the quote
bid (offer) crosses the NBO (NBB) by more than a number of ticks
specified by the Exchange. If CBOE is not at the NBO (NBB), the System
rejects a quote back to a Market-Maker if the quote bid (offer) locks
or crosses the NBO (NBB). If the NBBO is unavailable, locked, or
crossed, then this check compares the quote to the BBO (if available).
The rule is currently silent on what happens if the BBO is unavailable.
The Exchange has now proposed to amend Rule 6.14(b) to not apply
this check to incoming quotes when the BBO is unavailable. The Exchange
also proposed to amend the rule to state that it will not apply the
check to incoming quotes prior to the opening of a series if the series
is not open on another exchange, as well as during a trading halt.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(ii) and (iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
F. Execution of Quotes That Lock or Cross NBBO
The Exchange further proposed to amend the provision concerning the
execution of quotes that lock or cross the NBBO.\26\ The rule currently
states that if the System accepts a quote that locks or crosses the
NBBO, it executes the quote and either (i) cancels any remainder or
(ii) books any remainder if the price of the quote does not lock or
cross the price of an away exchange.\27\ Further, CBOE currently will
not disseminate an internally crossed market, and if a Market-Maker
submits a quote that would invert an existing quote, the System will
change the
[[Page 79065]]
incoming quote so it locks the existing quote.\28\ The Exchange then
disseminates the locked market, and both quotes will be deemed firm.
When the market locks, a counting period will begin during which
Market-Makers may update those quotes (provided a Market-Maker will be
obligated to execute orders eligible for automatic execution at its
disseminated quote). If at the end of the counting period the quotes
remain locked, the locked quotes will automatically execute against
each other.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ The Exchange proposed to move this provision from current
CBOE Rule 6.14(b)(iii) to proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(c).
\27\ If a quote inverts another quote, it is subject to CBOE
Rules 6.45A(d)(ii) or 6.45B(d)(ii).
\28\ See CBOE Rules 6.45A(d)(ii) and 6.45B(d)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under current CBOE Rule 6.14(b)(iii), any counting period under the
quote lock rule may cause the Exchange to disseminate a quote that
locks that of an away exchange. The Exchange has now proposed to amend
the rule to no longer disseminate a lock, and instead will reject an
incoming Market-Maker quote (or unexecuted portion thereof) that locks
or crosses a resting Market-Maker quote at the NBBO.\29\
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\29\ The Exchange also proposed to amend the rule to not apply
the check when the NBBO is locked, crossed, or unavailable. In
addition, the Exchange proposed to authorize a senior official at
the Exchange's Help Desk to determine not to apply this check in the
interest of maintaining a fair and orderly market. For example, the
Exchange believes it is appropriate to disable this check in
response to a market event or market volatility to avoid
inadvertently cancelling quotes not erroneously priced but rather
priced to reflect potentially rapidly changing prices. See Notice,
supra note 3, at 64526. The Exchange represented that, pursuant to
Exchange procedures, any decision to not apply the check and the
reason for such decision will be documented, retained, and
periodically reviewed. See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. Order Entry, Execution, and Price Parameter Checks
The Exchange proposed to adopt the following four mandatory
activity-based risk protections under proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(d):\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ Other exchanges maintain similar activity-based risk
protections. See, e.g., International Securities Exchange, LLC
(``ISE'') Rule 714(d) and MIAX Rule 519A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) the total number of orders (of all order types) and auction
responses entered and accepted by the System (``orders entered'');
(ii) the total number of contracts (from orders and auction
responses) executed on the System, which does not count executed
contracts from orders submitted from a PAR workstation or an OMT or
stock contracts executed as part of stock-option orders (``contracts
executed'');
(iii) the total number of orders the System books or routes via the
order handling system \31\ pursuant to the drill through price check
parameter (as amended by this proposed rule change) in proposed Rule
6.13(b)(v)(B) (``drill through events''); and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ As discussed above, orders (or unexecuted portions) that by
their terms cancel if they do not execute immediately will be
cancelled rather than rest in the book for a period of time (as
proposed in this filing) pursuant to the drill through price check
parameter if triggered. According to the Exchange, because these
orders will not book or route pursuant to the drill through price
check parameter, these orders will not be included in the count for
the drill through event check. See Notice, supra note 3, at 64527 n.
33.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iv) the total number of orders the System cancels or routes via
the order handling system pursuant to the limit order price parameter
in Rule 6.12(a)(3) through (5) (``price reasonability events'').
When a TPH exceeds a parameter within one of the time intervals set
by CBOE, the System will (i) reject all subsequent incoming orders and
quotes, (ii) cancel all resting quotes, and (iii) for the orders
entered and contracts executed checks, if the TPH requests, cancel
resting orders in the manner specified by the TPH (either all orders,
orders with time-in-force of day, or orders entered on that trading
day).\32\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ The Exchange expects the initial time intervals for all
these checks to be set at one and five minutes. The time intervals
set by the Exchange will apply to all TPHs, who will not be able to
change these time intervals. See Notice, supra note 3, at 64527 n.
34.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The System will not accept new orders or quotes from a restricted
acronym or login until the Exchange receives the TPH's manual
notification to reactivate its ability to send orders and quotes. While
an acronym or login is restricted, a TPH may continue to interact with
any resting orders (i.e., orders not cancelled pursuant to this
protection) entered prior to its acronym or login becoming restricted,
including receiving trade execution reports and canceling resting
orders.
H. Maximum Contract Size
The Exchange proposed to adopt a maximum contact size risk control
pursuant to which the System will reject a TPH's incoming order or
quote (including both sides of a two-sided quote) if its size exceeds
the TPH's designated maximum contract size parameter.\33\ Each TPH must
provide a maximum contract size for each of simple orders, complex
orders, and quotes applicable to an acronym or, if the TPH requests, a
login.\34\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\33\ See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e). The Exchange represented
that other options exchanges have adopted similar functionality. See
Notice, supra note 3, at 64528 n. 40; MIAX Rule 519(b).
\34\ For purposes of determining the contract size of an
incoming order or quote, the proposed rule states the contract size
of a complex order will equal the contract size of the largest
option leg of the order (i.e., if the order is a stock-option order,
this check will not apply to the stock leg of the order). See
proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e). If a TPH enters an order or quote to
replace a resting order or update a resting quote, and the System
rejects the incoming order or quote because it exceeds the
applicable maximum contract size, the System also will cancel the
resting order or any resting quote in the same series. In addition,
the Exchange proposed to apply this check to paired orders submitted
to AIM, SAM or as a QCC order. Further, the Exchange proposed that
for an A:AIR order, if the System rejects the agency order, then the
System rejects the contra-side order; however, if the System rejects
the contra-side order, the System still accepts the agency order.
See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(e)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Kill Switch
The Exchange further proposed to adopt a kill switch, which will be
on optional tool allowing a TPH to send a message to the System to, or
contact the Exchange Help Desk to request that, the Exchange cancel all
its resting quotes, resting orders (either all orders, orders with
time-in-force of day, or orders entered on that trading day), or both,
and thereafter reject all subsequent incoming quotes and/or orders.\35\
The System will send a TPH an automated message when it has processed a
kill switch request and thereafter will not accept new orders or quotes
from a restricted acronym or login until the Exchange receives the
TPH's manual notification to reactivate its ability to send orders and
quotes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\35\ See proposed CBOE Rule 6.14(f). The Exchange represented
that other options exchanges have adopted similar kill switches. See
Notice, supra note 3, at 64529; BOX Options Exchange LLC (``BOX'')
Rule 7280 and PHLX Rule 1019(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the Exchange, the kill switch message will be accepted
by the System in the order of receipt in the queue and will be
processed in that order so that interest already in the System will be
processed prior to the kill switch message.\36\ Moreover, a Market-
Maker's utilization of the kill switch, and subsequent removal of its
quotes, will not diminish or relieve the Market-Maker of its obligation
to provide continuous two-sided quotes. Market-Makers will continue to
be required to provide continuous two-sided quotes on a daily basis,
and a Market-Maker's utilization of the kill switch will not prohibit
the Exchange from taking disciplinary action against the Market-Maker
for failing to meet the continuing quoting obligation each trading
day.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\36\ See Notice, supra note 3 at 64532.
\37\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Quote Risk Monitor Mechanism
Lastly, the Exchange proposed to amend the QRM Mechanism in CBOE
Rule 8.18. Pursuant to the QRM mechanism, a Market-Maker may establish
a (i) maximum number of contracts, (ii) a maximum cumulative percentage
of the original quoted size of
[[Page 79066]]
each side of each series, and (iii) the maximum number of series for
which either side of its quote is fully traded, that may trade within a
rolling time period in milliseconds also established by the Market-
Maker. When these parameters are exceeded within the time interval, the
System cancels the Market-Maker's quotes in the class and other classes
with the same underlying on the same trading platform. In addition,
CBOE Rule 8.18 allows Market-Makers or TPH organizations to specify a
maximum number of QRM incidents across all classes on an Exchange-wide
basis. When the Exchange determines that a Market-Maker or TPH
organization has reached its QRM incident limit during the rolling time
interval, the System will cancel all of the Market-Maker's electronic
quotes and Market-Maker orders resting in the book in all option
classes on the Exchange and prevent the Market-Maker or TPH
organization from sending additional quotes or orders to the Exchange
until the Market-Maker reactivates its ability to send quotes or
orders.
Currently, use of the QRM is optional. The Exchange proposed to
amend CBOE Rule 8.18 to make it mandatory for Market-Makers to enter
values for each parameter for all classes in which they quote.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\38\ The Exchange represented that other options exchanges have
made similar functionality mandatory for all Market-Makers. See
Notice, supra note 3, at 64529; ISE Rule 804(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Discussion and Commission Findings
After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6 of the Act \39\
and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to the
Exchange.\40\ Specifically, the Commission finds that the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Section 6(b)(5) \41\ requirements that
the rules of an exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and
manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable
principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with
persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing
information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in
securities, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a
free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to
protect investors and the public interest. The Commission believes that
the proposed rule change is designed to mitigate the likelihood of
orders trading at potentially erroneous prices, clarify when certain
price/risk controls will apply, avoid locking an away market, and
assist TPHs in managing their risk exposure to avoid potentially
harmful and disruptive trading.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\39\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\40\ In approving these proposed rule changes, the Commission
has considered the proposed rules' impact on efficiency,
competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
\41\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed above, CBOE is proposing to amend its limit order
price parameter for simple orders to use the NBBO when available in
lieu of the Exchange's previous day's closing price or BBO. To the
extent that the use of the NBBO, when available, rather than the
Exchange's previous day's closing price or BBO, may better reflect the
then current market, it should provide a suitable measure for purposes
of determining the reasonability of the prices of orders. Moreover, the
Commission believes that it is reasonable for CBOE to exclude orders
with a stop contingency or orders routed from a PAR workstation or OMT
from the limit order price check parameter. In particular, application
of the limit order price check parameter to stop contingency orders may
interfere with the application of the stop contingency, and orders
routed from a PAR workstation or OMT may be less likely to execute at
an erroneous price since they are manually reviewed and processed.
The Commission believes that the proposed rule change to expand the
applicability of the put strike price and call underlying value checks
to market orders \42\ may help TPHs mitigate risks associated with
orders trading at prices that exceed a corresponding benchmark, which
may indicate an execution at a price that is potentially erroneous.
Furthermore, the Commission believes the proposed rule change to
eliminate the flexibility to not apply this check to orders entered
during Extended Trading Hours will provide market participants with
increased certainty regarding the inapplicability of this check.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\42\ The checks will not apply to market orders during an
opening rotation since separate price protections will apply during
the opening process. See Notice, supra note 3, at 64525.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed changes to the drill through price checks provide
additional detail to the rule regarding how the System handles certain
orders that were not exposed prior to trading up to the drill through
price and orders that traded up to the drill through price following
exposure. In addition, allowing the remainder of orders to rest in the
book for a brief time period at the drill through price may benefit
investors by providing an additional opportunity for execution of their
orders. Furthermore, clarifying that an order exposed via HAL pursuant
to the drill through price check will not be exposed at a price worse
than the NBBO is consistent with the current treatment of other orders
exposed via HAL at the NBBO.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\43\ See current and proposed CBOE Rule 6.14A(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission also believes that the proposed amendments to the
quote inverting NBBO check will provide market participants with
greater clarity that CBOE will not apply the check in the absence of an
NBBO and BBO. In addition, the proposed rule change eliminates the
Exchange's flexibility to apply the check prior to the opening of a
series as well as during a trading halt. Removing this flexibility and
clearly stating when CBOE will not apply the check considerably
enhances the transparency of the functionality.
With respect to CBOE's proposed changes regarding the execution of
quotes that lock or cross the NBBO (Proposed Rule 6.14(c)), the
Commission believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Act as it is reasonably designed to prevent the dissemination of a
quote that locks or crosses an away market. Moreover, to the extent the
Exchange determines to temporarily deactivate the check in the interest
of maintaining a fair and orderly market, CBOE has represented that all
such decisions by CBOE will be adequately justified, documented,
retained, and periodically reviewed.\44\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\44\ See supra note 29 and accompanying text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further, the Commission believes that the Exchange's proposed risk
protection parameters and mechanisms for orders and quotes are
reasonably designed to provide TPHs with additional tools to assist
them in managing their risk exposure. Specifically, the order entry,
execution, and price parameter rate checks, maximum contract size risk
control, and mandatory use of the QRM may help TPHs to mitigate the
potential risks associated with entering too many orders or quotes,
executing too many contracts, having too many orders rejected because
of price protection parameters, and entering orders or quotes with size
that may be potentially erroneous that may result from, for example,
technology issues with the broker's electronic trading system. To this
extent, these TPH-customizable settings may help act as a backstop to
the TPH's own controls and provide an additional layer of protection
customized to the TPH's self-selected parameters. Moreover, the
Commission notes that other exchanges have
[[Page 79067]]
established similar risk protection mechanisms.\45\ The Commission
notes that the proposed functionality, including the cancellation of
any resting interest, must be processed in sequence with other interest
in the System and comply with the firm quote obligations in Rule 602 of
Regulation NMS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\45\ See ISE Rules 714(d) & 804(g); MIAX Rules 519(b) & 519A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CBOE will require TPHs and Market-Makers to utilize these risk
protection parameters and mechanisms. However, TPHs and Market-Makers
will have discretion to customize the parameters in accordance with
their respective risk management needs. In light of this flexibility,
the Commission reminds TPHs to be mindful of their obligations, to
among others, seek best execution of orders they handle on an agency
basis and consider their best execution obligations when establishing
parameters for the order entry, execution, price parameter rate checks,
maximum contract size risk control, and QRM.\46\ For example, an
abnormally low order entry parameter should be carefully scrutinized,
particularly if a TPH's order flow to the Exchange contains agency
orders. To the extent that a TPH chooses sensitive parameters and those
parameters apply to connections over which it transmits customer orders
to the Exchange, a TPH should consider the effect of its chosen
settings on its ability to receive a timely execution on marketable
agency orders that it sends to the Exchange in various market
conditions. The Commission cautions brokers considering their best
execution obligations to be aware that an agency order they represent
may be rejected as a result of these risk protections.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\46\ See, e.g., Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 37619A
(September 6, 1996), 61 FR 48290 (September 12, 1996) (Order
Handling Rules adopting release); 51808 (June 9, 2005), 70 FR 37496,
37537-8 (June 29, 2005) (Regulation NMS adopting release).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, in light of the Exchange's decision not to set maximum
or minimum values, or default values, the Commission expects CBOE to
periodically assess whether these risk protection measures are
operating in a manner that is consistent with the promotion of fair and
orderly markets, including whether not utilizing maximum and minimum
parameters or default values continues to be appropriate and in
accordance with the Act and the rules thereunder.
Further, the Commission believes that Proposed Rule 6.14(f), which
creates an optional kill switch mechanism, is consistent with the Act
as it may further enhance risk management capabilities of TPHs by
providing them with the ability to manage their risk exposure if they
experience a significant system failure. To the extent that the kill
switch mechanism provides TPHs with an appropriate backstop in this
manner, it may encourage firms to provide liquidity on CBOE and thus
contribute to fair and orderly markets in a manner that protects
investors and the public interest. The Commission notes that the
Exchange represented in its proposal that the kill switch will operate
consistently with a broker-dealer's firm quote obligations pursuant to
Rule 602 of Regulation NMS,\47\ and that the kill switch does not
diminish or relieve a Market-Maker of its obligation to provide
continuous two-sided quotes.\48\ The Exchange also represented that the
kill switch message will be accepted by the System in the order of
receipt in the queue and will be processed in such order. As such, the
System will process interest already in the System prior to receipt of
the kill switch message prior to processing the kill switch
message.\49\ Based on these representations, the Commission believes
that the kill switch is reasonably designed to promote just and
equitable principles of trade and perfect the mechanism of a free and
open market. Lastly, the Commission notes that other exchanges have
established kill switches that operate in a manner similar to that
proposed by CBOE.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\47\ See Notice, supra note 3, at 64532.
\48\ See id.
\49\ See id.
\50\ See, e.g., BOX Rule 7280(b) and PHLX Rule 1019(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the Commission believes that the proposal to authorize
CBOE to share with Clearing TPHs the risk mitigation settings selected
by a TPH for whom the Clearing TPH clears may assist Clearing TPHs
manage their clearing risk exposure. The Commission notes that other
exchanges have adopted similar rules authorizing the sharing of similar
risk settings with clearing members.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\51\ See, e.g., MIAX Rule 500; BX Chapter VI, Section 20; NYSE
Arca Rule 6.2A(a); NYSE MKT Rule 902.1NY(a); and PHLX Rule 1016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule
Change
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether Amendment No. 1
to 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-CBOE-2016-053 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-CBOE-2016-053. 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-CBOE-2016-053, and should be
submitted on or before December 1, 2016.
V. Accelerated Approval of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by
Amendment No. 1
The Commission finds good cause to approve the proposed rule
change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, prior to the thirtieth day
after the date of publication of notice of the amended proposal in the
Federal Register. In Amendment No. 1,\52\ CBOE clarified in its drill
through rule text the exposure price of an order via HAL as CBOE had
described it in the Notice. Amendment
[[Page 79068]]
No. 1 further clarified CBOE's background discussion of how quotes and
orders are cancelled pursuant to the QRM Mechanism in order to
harmonize the description of the existing rule with the text of Rule
8.18. Both of these changes are consistent with the proposal as
initially filed, and simply add detail to the filing to resolve
internal inconsistencies. The changes do not introduce material, new,
or novel concepts. Accordingly, the Commission finds good cause,
pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,\53\ to approve the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, on an accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\52\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 4.
\53\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
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VI. Conclusion
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the
Act,\54\ that the proposed rule change (SR-CBOE-2016-053), as modified
by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved on an accelerated
basis.
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\54\ See id.
\55\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\55\
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-27153 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P