Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq MRX, LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2 Thereto, To Amend the Opening Process, 28113-28125 [2017-12887]

Agencies

• SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28113-28125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12887]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-80937; File No. SR-MRX-2017-01]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq MRX, LLC; Notice of Filing 
of Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 2 Thereto, To 
Amend the Opening Process

June 15, 2017.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on May 31, 2017, Nasdaq MRX, LLC (``MRX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed 
rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been 
prepared by the Exchange. On June 14, 2017, the Exchange filed 
Amendment No. 1 to the proposal. On June 14, 2017, the Exchange 
withdrew Amendment No.1 and filed Amendment No. 2 to the proposal, 
which replaced and superseded the original filing in its entirety. The 
Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the 
proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, from interested 
persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to mend the opening process. This Amendment 
No. 2 supersedes the original filing in its entirety.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at www.ise.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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of this rule change is to amend the MRX opening process 
in connection with a technology migration to a Nasdaq, Inc. 
(``Nasdaq'') supported architecture. INET is the proprietary core 
technology utilized across Nasdaq's global markets and utilized on The 
NASDAQ Options Market LLC (``NOM''), NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'') and 
NASDAQ BX, Inc. (``BX'') (collectively ``Nasdaq Exchanges''). The 
migration of MRX to the Nasdaq INET architecture would result in higher 
performance, scalability, and more robust architecture. With this 
system migration, the Exchange intends to adopt the Phlx opening 
process.
    The Exchange intends to begin implementation of the proposed rule 
change in Q3 2017. The migration will be on a symbol by symbol basis, 
and the Exchange will issue an alert to Members to provide notification 
of the symbols that will migrate and the relevant dates.
Generally
    With the re-platform, the Exchange will now be built on the Nasdaq 
INET architecture, which allows certain trading system functionality to 
be performed in parallel. The Exchange believes that this architecture 
change will improve the Member experience by reducing overall latency 
compared to the current MRX system because of the manner in which the 
system is segregated into component parts to handle processing.
Opening Rotation
    MRX will replace its current opening process at Rule 701 with 
Phlx's Opening Process.\3\ The Exchange believes that the proposed 
opening process will provide a similar experience for Members and 
investors that trade on MRX to the experience that they receive on Phlx 
today.
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    \3\ See Phlx Rule 1017. See also Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 79274 (November 9, 2016), 81 FR 80694 (November 16, 2016) (SR-
Phlx-2017-79) (notice of Filing of Partial Amendment No. 2 and Order 
Granting Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Partial 
Amendment No. 2, to Amend PHLX Rule 1017, Openings in Options).
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Current Opening Process
    Today, for each class of options that has been approved for 
trading, the opening rotation is conducted by the Primary Market Maker 
(``PMM'') appointed to such class of options pursuant to MRX Rule 
701(b)(1). The Exchange may direct that one or more trading rotations 
be employed on any business day to aid in producing a fair and orderly 
market pursuant to MRX Rule 701(a)(1). For each rotation so employed, 
except as the Exchange may direct, rotations are conducted in the order 
and manner the PMM determines to be appropriate under the circumstances 
pursuant to MRX Rule 701(a)(2). The PMM, with the approval of the 
Exchange, has the authority to determine the rotation order and manner 
and may also employ multiple trading rotations simultaneously pursuant 
to MRX Rule 701(a)(3).
    Trading rotations are employed at the opening of the Exchange each 
business day and during the reopening of the market after a trading 
halt pursuant to MRX Rule 701(b). The opening rotation in each class of 
options is held promptly following the opening of the market for the 
underlying security.\4\ The opening rotation for options contracts in 
an underlying security is delayed until the market for such underlying 
security has opened unless the Exchange determines that the interests 
of a fair and orderly market are best served by opening trading in the 
options contracts pursuant to MRX Rule 701(b)(3).
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    \4\ The ``market for the underlying security'' is either the 
primary listing market, the primary volume market (defined as the 
market with the most liquidity in that underlying security for the 
previous two calendar months), or the first market to open the 
underlying security, as determined by the Exchange on an issue-by-
issue basis. See MRX Rule 701(b)(2).
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    Market Makers on MRX are held to quoting obligations as outlined in 
MRX Rule 803. Further, Market Makers quotes prior to the opening 
rotation, including PMM quotes, are permitted with spread differential 
of no more than $0.25 between the bid and offer for each options 
contract for which the bid is less than $2, no more than $0.40 where 
the bid is at least $2 but does not exceed $5, no more than $0.50 where 
the bid is more than $5 but does not exceed $10, no more than $0.80 
where the bid is more than $10 but does not exceed $20, and no more 
than $1 where the bid is $20 or greater, provided that the Exchange may 
establish differences other than the above for one or more options 
series, as specified in MRX Rule

[[Page 28114]]

803(b)(4). These differentials are defined as Valid Width Quotes for 
purposes of this rule proposal.
    The PMM appointed to an option class can initiate the rotation 
process by sending a rotation request to the Exchange or by authorizing 
the Exchange to auto-rotate the class. In addition, there are instances 
where the PMM is unable to initiate the rotation process. In such 
instances the Exchange may initiate the rotation process by using the 
Exchange's ``Delayed Opening Process,'' which provides an alternative 
method for opening an option class when the PMM is unable to initiate 
the rotation process.\5\ Once the PMM or Exchange initiates the opening 
rotation, the Exchange will automatically process displayed quotes and 
orders via a process that determines the price at which the maximum 
number of contracts can trade within certain established boundary 
prices. In order to protect interest from trading at bad prices, quotes 
and orders are not executed outside of the established boundary prices. 
If there are no quotes or orders that lock or cross each other, the 
Exchange will open a series by disseminating the Exchange's best bid 
and offer among quotes and orders under certain conditions.
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    \5\ Certain conditions must be met for the Delayed Opening 
Process to be used to initiate the opening process.
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    The Exchange proposes to replace this process with an opening 
process similar to a recently approved Phlx opening process as noted 
above.\6\
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    \6\ See note 3 above. Nasdaq ISE, LLC (``ISE'') and Nasdaq GEMX, 
LLC (``GEMX'') have similar opening processes. See ISE and GEMX 
Rules 701.
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Opening Process
    The Exchange will adopt a ``Definitions'' section at proposed MRX 
Rule 701(a), similar to Phlx Rule 1017(a), to define several terms that 
are used throughout the opening rule. Similar to today, the Exchange 
will conduct an electronic opening for all option series traded on the 
Exchange using its trading system (hereinafter ``system'').
    The Exchange proposes to define the following terms, which are 
described below: ``ABBO,'' ``market for the underlying security,'' 
``Opening Price,'' ``Opening Process,'' ``Pre-Market BBO,'' ``Potential 
Opening Price,'' ``Quality Opening Market,'' ``Valid Width Quote,'' and 
``Zero Bid Market.''
    The Exchange proposes to define ``Opening Process'' at proposed 
Rule 701(a)(4) by cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(c). The Exchange 
proposes to define ``Opening Price'' at proposed Rule 701(a)(3) by 
cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(h) and (j). The Exchange proposes 
to define ``Potential Opening Price'' at proposed Rule 701(a)(5) by 
cross-referencing proposed Rule 701(g). The Exchange proposes to define 
``ABBO'' at proposed Rule 701(a)(1) as the Away Best Bid or Offer. The 
ABBO does not include MRX's market. The Exchange proposes to define 
``market for the underlying security'' at proposed Rule 702(a)(2) as 
either the primary listing market or the primary volume market (defined 
as the market with the most liquidity in that underlying security for 
the previous two calendar months), as determined by the Exchange by 
underlying and announced to the membership on the Exchange's Web 
site.\7\ The Exchange notes that the term ``Market Makers'' is 
currently defined in MRX Rule 100(a)(25) as referring to Primary Market 
Makers or ``PMMs'' and Competitive Market Makers or ``CMMs,'' 
collectively. The next definition is ``Pre-Market BBO'' defined at 
proposed Rule 701(a)(6) as the highest bid and the lowest offer among 
Valid Width Quotes.\8\ The Pre-Market BBO does not include orders. The 
term ``Quality Opening Market'' is defined at proposed Rule 701(a)(7) 
as a bid/ask differential applicable to the best bid and offer from all 
Valid Width Quotes defined in a table to be determined by the Exchange 
and published on the Exchange's Web site.\9\ This calculation of 
Quality Opening Market is based on the best bid and offer of Valid 
Width Quotes. The differential between the best bid and offer are 
compared to reach this determination. The allowable differential, as 
determined by the Exchange, takes into account the type of security 
(for example, Penny Pilot versus non-Penny Pilot issue), volatility, 
option premium, and liquidity. The Quality Opening Market differential 
is intended to ensure the price at which the Exchange opens reflects 
current market conditions. The Exchange utilizes its experience with 
products to make this determination. Next, a ``Valid Width Quote'' is 
defined at proposed Rule 701(a)(8) as a two-sided electronic quotation 
submitted by a Market Maker that consists of a bid/ask differential 
that is compliant with Rule 803(b)(4). The term ``Zero Bid Market'' is 
defined at proposed Rule 701(a)(9) where the best bid for an options 
series is zero. The Exchange believes that these definitions will bring 
additional clarity to the proposed rule.
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    \7\ Today, all are the primary listing market. The Exchange 
would consider switching to primary volume market if a different 
market begins to trade more volume than the primary listing market 
and the primary volume market becomes a more reliable source of 
prices with more liquidity.
    \8\ Valid Width Quotes is defined at proposed Rule 701(a)(8).
    \9\ Phlx maintains a table on its Web site with this 
information. See https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/content/phlxxl/phlxiisys_overview.pdf. MRX will publish similar details on its Web 
site.
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Eligible Interest
    The first part of the Opening Process determines what constitutes 
eligible interest. Eligible interest during the Opening Process 
includes Valid Width Quotes, Opening Sweeps and orders. The Exchange 
proposes to adopt in proposed paragraph (b) of Rule 701 a provision 
that quotes,\10\ other than Valid Width Quotes, will not be included in 
the Opening Process. All-or-None Orders that can be satisfied, and the 
displayed and non-displayed portions of Reserve Orders are considered 
for execution and in determining the Opening Price throughout the 
Opening Process.
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    \10\ The term quotes shall refer to a two-sided quote.
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    The Exchange notes that only Public Customer interest is routable 
during the Opening Process. All other non-Public Customer interest will 
not be routed during the Opening Process. Unlike the regular session 
where orders route if they cannot execute on MRX, the Opening Process 
is a price discovery process which considers interest, both on MRX and 
away markets, to determine the optimal bid and offer with which to open 
the market. The Opening Process seeks the price point at which the most 
number of contracts may be executed while protecting away market 
interest. The Exchange only routes Public Customer interest at this 
time rather than all interest because this type of interest always 
receives priority on MRX and this process ensures that Public Customer 
interest will be executed with priority during the Opening Process. 
Other interest is not routable until after the Exchange has completed 
the Opening Process.
    The Exchange notes that Opening Sweeps may be submitted through the 
new Specialized Quote Feed or ``SQF'' protocol which permits one-sided 
orders to be entered by a Market Maker. Today, orders are entered by 
all participants through FIX and/or DTI on MRX. After the re-platform 
the INET architecture, all participants will continue to be able to 
submit orders through FIX, however, DTI will no longer be available. An 
Opening Sweep is a Market Maker order submitted for execution against 
eligible interest in the system during the Opening Process.\11\ It is 
similar to an Opening Only Order \12\

[[Page 28115]]

that can be entered for the opening rotation only and any portion of 
the order that is not executed during the opening rotation is 
cancelled. However, it should also be noted that an Opening Sweep may 
only be submitted by a Market Maker when he/she has a Valid Width Quote 
in the affected series whereas, there is no such restriction on Opening 
Only Orders. Since the protocol over which an Opening Sweep is 
submitted is used for Market Maker quoting, the acceptance of an 
Opening Sweep was structured to rely on the Valid Width Quote. If a 
Market Maker does not want to submit or is unable to maintain a Valid 
Width Quote, the Market Maker can submit Opening Only Order instead.
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    \11\ See proposed MRX Rule 715(t).
    \12\ See MRX Rule 715(o).
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Opening Sweep
    Proposed Rule 701(b)(1) provides that a Market Maker assigned in a 
particular option may only submit an Opening Sweep if, at the time of 
entry of the Opening Sweep, that Market Maker has already submitted and 
maintains a Valid Width Quote. All Opening Sweeps in the affected 
series entered by a Market Maker will be cancelled immediately if that 
Market Maker fails to maintain a continuous quote with a Valid Width 
Quote in the affected series. Opening Sweeps may be entered at any 
price with a minimum price variation applicable to the affected series, 
on either side of the market, at single or multiple price level(s), and 
may be cancelled and re-entered. A single Market Maker may enter 
multiple Opening Sweeps, with each Opening Sweep at a different price 
level. If a Market Maker submits multiple Opening Sweeps, the system 
will consider only the most recent Opening Sweep at each price level 
submitted by such Market Maker in determining the Opening Price. 
Unexecuted Opening Sweeps will be cancelled once the affected series is 
open.\13\
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    \13\ See proposed MRX Rule 701(b)(1)(ii). See also proposed MRX 
Rule 715(t).
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    Proposed Rule 701(b)(2) states that the system will aggregate the 
size of all eligible interest for a particular participant category 
\14\ at a particular price level for trade allocation purposes pursuant 
to MRX Rule 713. Eligible interest may be submitted into MRX's system 
and will be received starting at the times noted herein. Proposed Rule 
701(c) provides that Market Maker Valid Width Quotes and Opening Sweeps 
received starting at 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time will be included in the 
Opening Process.\15\ Orders entered at any time before an option series 
opens are included in the Opening Process. This proposed language adds 
specificity to the rule regarding the submission of Valid Width Quotes 
and Opening Sweeps. The 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time trigger is intended to 
tie the option Opening Process to quoting in the majority of the 
underlying securities; \16\ it presumes that option quotes submitted 
before any indicative quotes have been disseminated for the underlying 
security may not be reliable or intentional. Therefore, the Exchange 
has chosen a reasonable timeframe at which to begin utilizing option 
quotes, based on the Exchange's experience when underlying quotes start 
becoming available.\17\
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    \14\ MRX allocates first to Priority Customers and then to all 
other Members by pro-rata. This is different from Phlx which 
allocates to Customers first, then to market makers pro-rata and 
then to all others pro-rata. See MRX Rule 713 and Phlx Rule 
1014(g)(vii).
    \15\ The Opening Process for foreign currency options will also 
include Market Maker Valid Width Quotes and Opening Sweeps received 
starting at 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time.
    \16\ For purposes of this rule, the underlying security can also 
be an index. With respect to foreign currency options, the Exchange 
notes that those markets open prior to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The 
Exchange proposes to open the foreign currency options at the same 
time as other options on the Exchange merely to conform the 
timeframe for the open. Today, on Phlx, foreign currency options 
trade similar to other options. With this proposal all products 
would trade during the same session.
    \17\ Id.
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    Proposed Rule 701(c)(1) describes when the Opening Process can 
begin with specific time-related triggers. The proposed rule provides 
that the Opening Process for an option series will be conducted 
pursuant to proposed Rule 701(f) though (j) on or after 9:30 a.m. 
Eastern Time if: The ABBO, if any is not crossed and the system has 
received, within two minutes (or such shorter time as determined by the 
Exchange and disseminated to membership on the Exchange's Web site) of 
the opening trade or quote on the market for the underlying security in 
the case of equity options or, in the case of index options, within two 
minutes of the receipt of the opening price in the underlying index (or 
such shorter time as determined by the Exchange and disseminated to 
membership on the Exchange's Web site), or within two minutes of market 
opening for the underlying security in the case of U.S. dollar-settled 
foreign currency options (or such shorter time as determined by the 
Exchange and disseminated to membership on the Exchange's Web site) 
\18\ any of the following: (i) The PMM's Valid Width Quote; (ii) the 
Valid Width Quotes of at least two CMMs; or (iii) if neither the PMM's 
Valid Width Quote nor the Valid Width Quotes of two CMMs have been 
submitted within such timeframe, one CMM has submitted a Valid Width 
Quote.\19\ These three requirements are intended to tie the option 
Opening Process to receipt of liquidity. If one of the above three 
conditions are not met, the Exchange will not initiate the Opening 
Process or continue an ongoing Opening Process if we do not have one of 
the three conditions (i, ii or iii); thus, a Forced Opening pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(j)(5) could not occur.
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    \18\ The Exchange anticipates initially setting the timeframe 
during which a PMM Valid Width quote or the presence of at least two 
CMM Valid Width Quotes will initiate the Opening Process at 30 
seconds. The timeframe is consistent with the current timeframe 
utilized on Phlx. The Exchange believes 30 seconds is the 
appropriate amount of time as it provides time for the PMM and CMMs 
to assess the underlying security or index price and submit Valid 
Width Quotes as well as ample time for the underlying security or 
index price to stabilize. After this 30 second period, the Exchange 
will initiate the Opening Process provided one CMM has submitted a 
Valid Width Quote since the market for the underlying security or 
index has had opportunity to stability. The Exchange may reduce this 
timeframe if it is determined that the Opening Process is taking 
longer to initiate than the marketplace expects. The Exchange will 
provide notice of the initial setting to Members. The Exchange will 
provide notice of the shorter time period to Members if the Exchange 
determines to reduce the timeframe.
    \19\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(1)(i)-(iii).
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    The Exchange is proposing to state in proposed Rule 701(c)(2) that 
for all options, the underlying security, including indexes, must be 
open on the primary market for a certain time period to be determined 
by the Exchange for the Opening Process to commence. The Exchange is 
proposing that the time period be no less than 100 milliseconds and no 
more than 5 seconds.\20\ This proposal is intended to permit the price 
of the underlying security to settle down and not flicker back and 
forth among prices after its opening. It is common for a stock to 
fluctuate in price immediately upon opening; such volatility reflects a 
natural uncertainty about the ultimate Opening Price, while the buy and 
sell interest is matched. The Exchange is proposing a range of no less 
than 100 milliseconds and no more than 5 seconds in order to ensure 
that it has the ability to adjust the period for which the underlying 
security must be open on the primary market. The Exchange may

[[Page 28116]]

determine that in periods of high/low volatility that allowing the 
underlying to be open for a longer/shorter period of time may help to 
ensure more stability in the marketplace prior to initiating the 
Opening Process.
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    \20\ The Phlx Opening Process is set at 100 milliseconds. The 
Exchange believes that 100 milliseconds is the appropriate amount of 
time given the experience with the Phlx market. The Exchange would 
set the timer for MRX initially at 100 milliseconds. The Exchange 
will issue a notice to provide the initial setting and would 
thereafter issue a notice if it were to change the timing, which may 
be between 100 milliseconds and 5 seconds. If the Exchange were to 
select a time not between 100 milliseconds and 5 seconds it would be 
required to file a rule proposal with the Commission.
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    Proposed Rule 701(c)(3) states that the PMM assigned in a 
particular equity or index option must enter a Valid Width Quote, in 
90% of their assigned series, not later than one minute following the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or, in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price in the underlying index. The PMM assigned in a particular 
U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency option must enter a Valid Width 
Quote, in 90% of their assigned series, not later than one minute after 
the announced market opening. PMMs are required to promptly enter a 
Valid Width Quote in the remainder of their assigned series, which were 
not open within one minute following the dissemination of a quote or 
trade by the market for the underlying security or, in the case of 
index options, following the receipt of the opening price. Furthermore, 
a CMM that submits a quote pursuant to proposed Rule 701 in any option 
series when the PMM's quote has not been submitted shall be required to 
submit continuous, two-sided quotes \21\ in such option series until 
such time as the PMM submits his/her quote, after which the Market 
Maker that submitted such quote shall be obligated to submit quotations 
pursuant to Rule 804(e). The Opening Process will stop and an option 
series will not open if the ABBO becomes crossed or a Valid Width 
Quote(s) pursuant to proposed Rule 701(c)(1) is no longer present. Once 
each of these conditions no longer exists, the Opening Process in the 
affected option series will start again pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(e)-(j) as proposed in Rule 701(c)(5). All eligible opening interest 
will continue to be considered during the Opening Process when the 
process is re-started. The proposed rule reflects that the ABBO cannot 
be crossed because it is indicative of uncertainty in the marketplace 
of where the option series should be valued. In this case, the Exchange 
will wait for the ABBO to become uncrossed before initiating the 
Opening Process to ensure that there is stability in the marketplace in 
order to assist the Exchange in determining the Opening Price.
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    \21\ The Exchange has regulatory surveillances in place with 
respect to Market Maker continuous quoting obligations both at the 
opening and during the other trading sessions. See MRX Rule 804 
regarding quoting obligations.
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    The Exchange is requiring a PMM to enter a Valid Width Quote in 90% 
of his or her assigned series not later than one minute following the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or, in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price in the underlying index. The PMM would be required to 
enter a Valid Width Quote the remaining assigned series promptly. 
Specifically, the PMMs must promptly enter a Valid Width Quote in the 
remainder of their assigned series, which did not open within one 
minute following the dissemination of a quote or trade by the market 
for the underlying security or, in the case of index options, following 
the receipt of the opening price or, with respect to U.S. dollar-
settled foreign currency options, following the announced market 
opening. The Exchange notes that with the proposed rule change, the 
Opening Process will be conducted with receipt, within the specified 
timeframe, of either the PMM's Valid Width Quote, the Valid Width 
Quotes of two CMMs or if neither the PMM or two CMM's have submitted 
Valid Width Quotes within the specified time frame then one CMM Valid 
Width Quote.\22\
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    \22\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(1)(i)-(iii).
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Reopening After a Trading Halt
    This section is intended to provide information regarding the 
manner in which a trading halt would impact the Opening Process. 
Proposed Rule 701(d) states that the procedure described in this Rule 
may be used to reopen an option after a trading halt. The Exchange is 
adding that if there is a trading halt or pause in the underlying 
security, the Opening Process will start again irrespective of the 
specific times listed in proposed Rule 701(c)(1). This is because these 
times relate to the normal market opening in the morning.
Opening With a BBO
    This next section describes when the Exchange may open with a quote 
on its market. Proposed Rule 701(e), ``Opening with a BBO (No Trade),'' 
provides that if there are no opening quotes or orders that lock or 
cross each other and no routable orders locking or crossing the ABBO, 
the system will open with an opening quote by disseminating the 
Exchange's best bid and offer among quotes and orders (``BBO'') that 
exist in the system at that time, unless all three of the following 
conditions exist: (i) A Zero Bid Market; (ii) no ABBO; and (iii) no 
Quality Opening Market. A Quality Opening Market is determined by 
reviewing all Valid Width Quotes and determining if the difference of 
the best bid of those Valid Width Quotes and the best offer of those 
Valid Width Quotes are of no more than a certain width.\23\ The 
Exchange utilizes the quotes to assist in determining a fair and 
reasonable Opening Price. Quotes are utilized because Members are 
obligated to provide both a bid and sell price, providing a reasonable 
baseline of where the marketplace views fair value.
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    \23\ Phlx maintains a table on its Web site with this 
information. See https://www.nasdaqtrader.com/content/phlxxl/phlxiisys_overview.pdf. MRX will publish similar details on its Web 
site.
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    If all three of these conditions exist, the Exchange will calculate 
an Opening Quote Range pursuant to paragraph (i) and conduct the Price 
Discovery Mechanism or ``PDM'' pursuant to paragraph (j). The Exchange 
believes that when all three of these conditions exist, further price 
discovery is warranted to validate or perhaps update the Potential 
Opening Price and to attract additional interest to perhaps render an 
opening trade possible, because: (i) A Zero Bid Market reflects a lack 
of buying interest that could benefit from price discovery; (ii) the 
lack of an ABBO means there is no external check on the Exchange's 
market for that options series; and (iii) the lack of a Quality Opening 
Market indicates that the Exchange's market is wide. If no quotes or 
orders lock/cross each other, nothing matches and there can be no 
trade. The Exchange believes that when these conditions exist, it is 
difficult to arrive at a reasonable and expected price. If the 
provisions in proposed Rule 701(e)(i) through (iii) exist, an Opening 
Quote Range is calculated pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i) and 
thereafter, the PDM in proposed Rule 701(j) will initiate.\24\
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    \24\ OQR and PDM processes may also initiate pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(h).
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Further Opening Processes
    If an opening did not occur pursuant to proposed Rule 701(e) and 
there are opening Valid Width Quotes, or orders, that lock or cross 
each other, the system will calculate the Pre-Market BBO.\25\ The 
Exchange notes that the Pre-Market BBO only uses quotes, which provide 
both a bid and offer as compared to orders which are one sided.
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    \25\ See proposed Rule 701(f).
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    Proposed Rule 701(g) describes the general concept of how the 
system calculates the Potential Opening Price under all circumstances 
once the Opening Process is triggered. Specifically, the system will 
take into consideration all Valid Width Quotes and orders (including 
Opening Sweeps and displayed and non-displayed

[[Page 28117]]

portions of Reserve Orders), except All-or-None Orders that cannot be 
satisfied, for the option series and identify the price at which the 
maximum number of contracts can trade (``maximum quantity criterion''). 
Proposed Rule 701(h)(3)(i) and proposed Rule 701(i) at paragraphs (5) 
through (7) contain additional provisions related to Potential Opening 
Price which are discussed in further detail herein. The proposal 
attempts to maximize the number of contracts that can trade, and is 
intended to find the most reasonable and suitable price, relying on the 
maximization to reflect the best price.
    Proposed Rule 701(g)(1) presents the scenario for more than one 
Potential Opening Price. When two or more Potential Opening Prices 
would satisfy the maximum quantity criterion and leave no contracts 
unexecuted, the system takes the highest and lowest of those prices and 
takes the mid-point; if such mid-point is not expressed as a permitted 
minimum price variation, it will be rounded to the minimum price 
variation that is closest to the closing price for the affected series 
from the immediately prior trading session. If there is no closing 
price from the immediately prior trading session, the system will round 
up to the minimum price variation to determine the Opening Price.
    If two or more Potential Opening Prices for the affected series 
would satisfy the maximum quantity criterion and leave contracts 
unexecuted, the Opening Price will be either the lowest executable bid 
or highest executable offer of the largest sized side.\26\ This, again, 
bases the Potential Opening Price on the maximum quantity that is 
executable. The Potential Opening Price calculation is bounded by the 
better away market price that cannot be satisfied with the Exchange 
routable interest.\27\ The Exchange does not open with a trade that 
trades through another market. This process, importantly, breaks a tie 
by considering the largest sized side and away markets, which are 
relevant to determining a fair Opening Price.
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    \26\ See proposed Rule 701(g)(2).
    \27\ See proposed Rule 701(g)(3).
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    The system applies certain boundaries to the Potential Opening 
Price to help ensure that the price is a reasonable one by identifying 
the quality of that price; if a well-defined, fair price can be found 
within these boundaries, the option series can open at that price 
without going through a further PDM. Proposed Rule 701(h), ``Opening 
with Trade,'' provides the Exchange will open the option series for 
trading with a trade of Exchange interest only at the Opening Price, if 
certain conditions described below take place. The first condition is 
provided in proposed Rule 701(h)(1), the Potential Opening Price is at 
or within the best of the Pre-Market BBO and the ABBO. The second 
condition is provided for in Rule 701(h)(2), the Potential Opening 
Price is at or within the non-zero bid ABBO if the Pre-Market BBO is 
crossed. The third provision is provided for in proposed Rule 
701(h)(3), where there is no ABBO, the Potential Opening Price is at or 
within the Pre-Market BBO which is also a Quality Opening Market. For 
the purposes of calculating the midpoint the Exchange will use the 
better of the Pre-Market BBO or ABBO as a boundary price.
    These boundaries serve to validate the quality of the Opening 
Price. Proposed Rule 701(h) provides that the Exchange will open the 
option series for trading with an execution at the resulting Potential 
Opening Price, as long as it is within the defined boundaries 
regardless of any imbalance. The Exchange believes that since the 
Opening Price can be determined within a well-defined boundary and not 
trading through other markets, it is fair to open the market 
immediately with a trade and to have the remaining interest available 
to be executed in the displayed market. Using a boundary-based price 
counterbalances opening faster at a less bounded and perhaps less 
expected price and reduces the possibility of leaving an imbalance.
    Proposed Rule 701(h)(3)(i) provides that if there is more than one 
Potential Opening Price which meets the conditions set forth in 
proposed Rule 701(h)(1), (2) or (3), where (A) no contracts would be 
left unexecuted and (B) any value used for the mid-point calculation 
(which is described in proposed Rule 701(g)) would cross either: (I) 
The Pre-Market BBO or (II) the ABBO, then the Exchange will open the 
option series for trading with an execution and use the best price 
which the Potential Opening Price crosses as a boundary price for the 
purpose of the mid-point calculation. If these aforementioned 
conditions are not met, an Opening Quote Range is calculated as 
described in proposed Rule 701(i) and the PDM, described in proposed 
Rule 701(j), would commence. The proposed rule explains the boundary as 
well as the price basis for the mid-point calculation for immediate 
opening with a trade, which improves the detail included in the rule. 
The Exchange believes that this process is logical because it seeks to 
select a fair and balanced price.
    Proposed Rule 701(i) provides that the system will calculate an 
Opening Quote Range (``OQR'') for a particular option series that will 
be utilized in the PDM if the Exchange has not opened subject to any of 
the provisions described above. Provided the Exchange has been unable 
to open the option series under Rule 701(e) or (h), the OQR would 
broaden the range of prices at which the Exchange may open. This would 
allow additional interest to be eligible for consideration in the 
Opening Process. The OQR is an additional type of boundary beyond the 
boundaries mentioned in proposed Rule 701(g) and (h). OQR is intended 
to limit the Opening Price to a reasonable, middle ground price and 
thus reduce the potential for erroneous trades during the Opening 
Process. Although the Exchange applies other boundaries such as the 
BBO, the OQR provides a range of prices that may be able to satisfy 
additional contracts while still ensuring a reasonable Opening Price. 
The Exchange seeks to execute as much volume as is possible at the 
Opening Price.
    Specifically, to determine the minimum value for the OQR, an 
amount, as defined in a table to be determined by the Exchange,\28\ 
will be subtracted from the highest quote bid among Valid Width Quotes 
on the Exchange and on the away market(s), if any, except as provided 
in proposed Rule 701(i) paragraphs (3) and (4). To determine the 
maximum value for the OQR, an amount, as defined in a table to be 
determined by the Exchange, will be added to the lowest quote offer 
among Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange and on the away market(s), if 
any, except as provided in proposed Rule 701(i) paragraphs (3) and 
(4).\29\ However, if one or more away markets are collectively 
disseminating a BBO that is not crossed, and there are Valid Width 
Quotes on the Exchange that are executable against each other or that 
cross the away market ABBO, then the minimum value for the OQR will be 
the highest away bid.\30\ It should be noted that the Opening Process 
would stop and an option series will not open if the ABBO becomes 
crossed pursuant to proposed Rule 701(c)(5). In addition, the maximum 
value for the OQR will be the lowest away offer.\31\ And if, however, 
there are Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange that are executable 
against each other, and there is no away market disseminating a BBO in 
the affected

[[Page 28118]]

option series, the minimum value for the OQR will be the lowest quote 
bid among Valid Width Quotes on the Exchange, and the maximum value for 
the OQR will be the highest quote offer among Valid Width Quotes on the 
Exchange.\32\
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    \28\ See note 26 above.
    \29\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(2).
    \30\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(3)(i).
    \31\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(3)(ii).
    \32\ See proposed Rule 701(i)(4)(i) and (ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If there is more than one Potential Opening Price possible where no 
contracts would be left unexecuted, any price used for the mid-point 
calculation (which is described in proposed Rule 701(g)(1)) that is 
outside of the OQR will be restricted to the OQR price on that side of 
the market for the purposes of the mid-point calculation. Rule 
701(i)(5) continues the theme of relying on both maximizing executions 
and looking at the correct side of the market to determine a fair 
price.
    Proposed Rule 701(i)(6) deals with the situation where there is an 
away market price involved. If there is more than one Potential Opening 
Price possible where no contracts would be left unexecuted, pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(g)(3), when contracts will be routed, the system will 
use the away market price as the Potential Opening Price. The Exchange 
is seeking to execute the maximum amount of volume possible at the 
Opening Price. The Exchange will enter into the Order Book any unfilled 
interest at a price equal to or inferior to the Opening Price. It 
should be noted, the Exchange will not trade through an away market.
    Finally, proposed Rule 701(i)(7) provides if the Exchange 
determines that non-routable interest can execute the maximum number of 
Exchange contracts against Exchange interest, after routable interest 
has been determined by the system to satisfy the away market, then the 
Potential Opening Price is the price at which the maximum number of 
contracts can execute, excluding the interest which will be routed to 
an away market, which may be executed on the Exchange as described in 
proposed Rule 701(g). The system will route Public Customer interest in 
price/time priority to satisfy the away market. This continues the 
theme of trying to satisfy the maximum amount of interest during the 
Opening Process.
Price Discovery Mechanism
    If the Exchange has not opened pursuant to proposed Rule 701(e) or 
(h), and after the OQR is calculated pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i), 
the Exchange will conduct a PDM pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j). The 
PDM is the process by which the Exchange seeks to identify an Opening 
Price having not been able to do so following the process outlined thus 
far herein. The principles behind the PDM are, as described above, to 
satisfy the maximum number of contracts possible by identifying a price 
that may leave unexecuted contracts. However, the PDM applies a 
proposed, wider boundary to identify the Opening Price and the PDM 
involves seeking additional liquidity.
    The Exchange believes that conducting the price discovery process 
in these situations protects opening orders from receiving a random 
price that does not reflect the totality of what is happening in the 
markets on the opening and also further protects opening interest from 
receiving a potentially erroneous execution price on the opening. 
Opening immediately has the benefit of speed and certainty, but that 
benefit must be weighed against the quality of the execution price and 
whether orders were left unexecuted. The Exchange believes that the 
proposed rule strikes an appropriate balance.
    The proposed rule attempts to open using Exchange interest only to 
determine an Opening Price, provided certain conditions contained in 
proposed Rule 701(i) are present to ensure market participants receive 
a quality execution in the opening. The proposed rule does not consider 
away market liquidity for purposes of routing interest to other markets 
until the PDM, rather the away market prices are considered for 
purposes of avoiding trade-throughs. As a result, the Exchange might 
open without routing if all of the conditions described above are met. 
The Exchange believes that the benefit of this process is a more rapid 
opening with quality execution prices.
    Specifically, proposed Rule 701(j)(1) provides that the system will 
broadcast an Imbalance Message for the affected series (which includes 
the symbol, side of the imbalance (unmatched contracts), size of 
matched contracts, size of the imbalance, and Potential Opening Price 
bounded by the Pre-Market BBO) to participants, and begin an 
``Imbalance Timer,'' not to exceed three seconds. The Imbalance Timer 
would initially be set 200 milliseconds.\33\ The Imbalance Message is 
intended to attract additional liquidity, much like an auction, using 
an auction message and timer.\34\ The Imbalance Timer would be for the 
same number of seconds for all options traded on the Exchange. Pursuant 
to this proposed rule, as described in more detail below, the Exchange 
may have up to 4 Imbalance Messages which each run its own Imbalance 
Timer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ The Phlx timer is set at 200 milliseconds. The Exchange 
will issue a notice to provide the initial setting and would 
thereafter issue a notice if it were to change the timing. If the 
Exchange were to select a time which exceeds 3 seconds it would be 
required file a rule proposal with the Commission.
    \34\ For example, see COOP and COLA descriptions in Phlx Rule 
1098.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(2), states that any new interest received by 
the system will update the Potential Opening Price. If during or at the 
end of the Imbalance Timer, the Opening Price is at or within the OQR 
the Imbalance Timer will end and the system will open with a trade at 
the Opening Price if the executions consist of Exchange interest only 
without trading through the ABBO and without trading through the limit 
price(s) of interest within OQR which is unable to be fully executed at 
the Opening Price. If no new interest comes in during the Imbalance 
Timer and the Potential Opening Price is at or within OQR and does not 
trade through the ABBO, the Exchange will open with a trade at the end 
of the Imbalance Timer at the Potential Opening Price. This reflects 
that the Exchange is seeking to identify a price on the Exchange 
without routing away, yet which price may not trade through another 
market and the quality of which is addressed by applying the OQR 
boundary.
    Provided the option series has not opened pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(j)(2),\35\ pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)(3) the system will send 
a second Imbalance Message with a Potential Opening Price that is 
bounded by the OQR (and would not trade through the limit price(s) of 
interest within OQR which is unable to be fully executed at the Opening 
Price) and includes away market volume in the size of the imbalance to 
participants; and concurrently initiate a Route Timer, not to exceed 
one second.\36\ The Route Timer is intended to give Exchange users an 
opportunity to respond to an Imbalance Message before any opening 
interest is routed to away markets and, thereby, maximize trading on 
the Exchange. If during the Route Timer, interest is received by the 
system which

[[Page 28119]]

would allow the Opening Price to be within OQR without trading through 
away markets and without trading through the limit price(s) of interest 
within OQR which is unable to be fully executed at the Opening Price, 
the system will open with a trade at the Opening Price and the Route 
Timer will simultaneously end. The system will monitor quotes received 
during the Route Timer period and make ongoing corresponding changes to 
the permitted OQR and Potential Opening Price to reflect them.\37\ This 
proposal serves to widen the boundary of available Opening Prices, 
which should similarly increase the likelihood that an Opening Price 
can be determined. The Route Timer, like the Imbalance Timer, is 
intended to permit responses to be submitted and considered by the 
system in calculating the Potential Opening Price. The system does not 
route away until the Route Timer ends.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ The Exchange notes that the system would not open pursuant 
to proposed Rule 701(j)(2) if the Potential Opening Price is outside 
of the OQR or if the Potential Opening Price is at or within the 
OQR, but would otherwise trade through the ABBO or through the limit 
price(s) of interest within the OQR which is unable to be fully 
executed at the Potential Opening Price.
    \36\ The Route Timer would be a brief timer that operates as a 
pause before an order is routed to an away market. Currently, the 
Phlx Route Timer is set to one second. The MRX Route Timer will also 
be initially set to one second. The Exchange will issue a notice to 
Members to provide the initial setting and would thereafter issue a 
notice to Members if it were to change the timing within the range 
of up to one second. If the Exchange were to select a time beyond 
one second it would be required file a rule proposal with the 
Commission.
    \37\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) provides, if no trade occurred 
pursuant to proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(ii), when the Route Timer expires, 
if the Potential Opening Price is within OQR (and would not trade 
through the limit price(s) of interest within OQR that is unable to be 
fully executed at the Opening Price), the system will determine if the 
total number of contracts displayed at better prices than the 
Exchange's Potential Opening Price on away markets (``better priced 
away contracts'') would satisfy the number of marketable contracts 
available on the Exchange. This provision protects the unexecuted 
interest and should result in a fairer price. The Exchange will open 
the option series by routing and/or trading on the Exchange, pursuant 
to proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii) paragraphs (A) through (C).
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(A) provides if the total number of 
better priced away contracts would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts available on the Exchange on either the buy or sell side, the 
system will route all marketable contracts on the Exchange to such 
better priced away markets as Intermarket Sweep Order (``ISO'') 
designated as Immediate-or-Cancel (``IOC'') order(s), and determine an 
opening Best Bid or Offer (``BBO'') that reflects the interest 
remaining on the Exchange. The system will price any contracts routed 
to away markets at the Exchange's Opening Price or pursuant to proposed 
Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(B) or (C) described hereinafter. Routing away at 
the Exchange's Opening Price is intended to achieve the best possible 
price available at the time the order is received by the away market.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(B) provides if the total number of 
better priced away contracts would not satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts the Exchange has, the system will determine how many 
contracts it has available at the Exchange Opening Price. If the total 
number of better priced away contracts plus the number of contracts 
available at the Exchange Opening Price would satisfy the number of 
marketable contracts on the Exchange on either the buy or sell side, 
the system will contemporaneously route, based on price/time priority 
of routable interest, a number of contracts that will satisfy interest 
at away markets at prices better than the Exchange Opening Price, and 
trade available contracts on the Exchange at the Exchange Opening 
Price. The system will price any contracts routed to away markets at 
the better of the Exchange Opening Price or the order's limit price 
pursuant to Rule 701(j)(vi)(C)(3)(ii). This continues with the theme of 
maximum possible execution of the interest on the Exchange or away 
markets.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(C) provides if the total number of 
better priced away contracts plus the number of contracts available at 
the Exchange Opening Price plus the contracts available at away markets 
at the Exchange Opening Price would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts the Exchange has on either the buy or sell side, the system 
will contemporaneously route, based on price/time priority of routable 
interest, a number of contracts that will satisfy interest at away 
markets at prices better than the Exchange Opening Price (pricing any 
contracts routed to away markets at the better of the Exchange Opening 
Price or the order's limit price), trade available contracts on the 
Exchange at the Exchange Opening Price, and route a number of contracts 
that will satisfy interest at other markets at prices equal to the 
Exchange Opening Price. This provision is intended to introduce routing 
to away markets potentially both at a better price than the Exchange 
Opening Price as well as at the Exchange Opening Price to access as 
much liquidity as possible to maximize the number of contracts able to 
be traded as part of the Opening Process. The Exchange routes at the 
better of the Exchange's Opening Price or the order's limit price to 
first ensure the order's limit price is not violated. Routing away at 
the Exchange's Opening Price is intended to achieve the best possible 
price available at the time the order is received by the away market.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(4) provides that the system may send up to two 
additional Imbalance Messages \38\ (which may occur while the Route 
Timer is operating) bounded by OQR and reflecting away market interest 
in the volume. These boundaries are intended to assist in determining a 
reasonable price at which an option series might open.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ The first two Imbalance Messages always occur if there is 
interest which will route to an away market. If the Exchange is 
thereafter unable to open at a price without trading through the 
ABBO, up to two more Imbalance Messages may occur based on whether 
or not the Exchange has been able to open before repeating the 
Imbalance Process. The Exchange may open prior to the end of the 
first two Imbalance Messages provided routing is not necessary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This provision is proposed to further state that after the Route 
Timer has expired, the processes in proposed Rule 701(j)(3) will repeat 
(except no new Route Timer will be initiated). No new Route Timer is 
initiated because the Exchange believes that after the Route Timer has 
been initiated and subsequently expired, no further delay is needed 
before routing contracts if at any point thereafter the Exchange is 
able to satisfy the total number of marketable contracts the Exchange 
has by executing on the Exchange and routing to other markets.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(5), entitled ``Forced Opening,'' will describe 
what happens as a last resort in order to open an options series when 
the processes described above have not resulted in an opening of the 
options series. Under this process, called a Forced Opening, after all 
additional Imbalance Messages have occurred pursuant to proposed Rule 
701(j)(4), the system will open the series executing as many contracts 
as possible by routing to away markets at prices better than the 
Exchange Opening Price for their disseminated size, trading available 
contracts on the Exchange at the Exchange Opening Price bounded by OQR 
(without trading through the limit price(s) of interest within OQR 
which is unable to be fully executed at the Opening Price). The system 
will also route contracts to away markets at prices equal to the 
Exchange Opening Price at their disseminated size. In this situation, 
the system will price any contracts routed to away markets at the 
better of the Exchange Opening Price or the order's limit price. Any 
unexecuted contracts from the imbalance not traded or routed will be 
cancelled back to the entering participant if they remain unexecuted 
and priced through the Opening Price, otherwise orders will remain in 
the Order Book.

[[Page 28120]]

    The boundaries of OQR and limit prices within the OQR are intended 
to ensure a quality Opening Price as well as protect the unexecutable 
interest entered with a limit price which may not be able to be fully 
executed. There is some language in the Phlx rule that is not 
applicable to the MRX opening because MRX does not have automatic re-
pricing of orders resting in the Rulebook. Phlx's rule permits members 
to provide instructions to re-enter the remaining size of an unexecuted 
order for automatic submission as a new order, the MRX rule will not 
permit this submission.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(6) provides the system will execute orders at 
the Opening Price that have contingencies (such as without limitation, 
All-or-None and Reserve Orders) and non-routable orders such as ``Do-
Not-Route'' or ``DNR'' Orders,\39\ to the extent possible. The system 
will only route non-contingency Public Customer orders, except that the 
full volume of Public Customer Reserve Orders may route. The Exchange 
is adding this detail to memorialize the manner in which the system 
will execute orders at the opening. The Exchange desires to provide 
certainty to market participants as to which contingency orders will 
execute and which orders will route during the Opening Process.
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    \39\ A Do-Not-Route order is a market or limit order that is to 
be executed in whole or in part on the Exchange only. Due to prices 
available on another options exchange (as provided in Chapter 19 
(Order Protection; Locked and Crossed Markets)), any balance of a 
do-not-route order that cannot be executed upon entry, or placed on 
the Exchange's limit order book, will be automatically cancelled. 
See Rule 715(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule (j)(6)(i) provides the system will cancel (1) any 
portion of a Do-Not-Route order that would otherwise have to be routed 
to the exchange(s) disseminating the ABBO for an opening to occur, or 
(2) any order that is priced through the Opening Price. All other 
interest will remain in the system and be eligible for trading after 
opening. The Exchange cancels these orders since it lacks enough 
liquidity to satisfy these orders on the opening yet their limit price 
gives the appearance that they should have been executed. The Exchange 
believes that participants would prefer to have these orders returned 
to them for further assessment rather than have these orders 
immediately entered onto the order book at a price which is more 
aggressive than the price at which the Exchange opened.
    Proposed Rule 701(k) provides during the opening of the option 
series, where there is an execution possible, the system will give 
priority to Market Orders \40\ first, then to resting Limit Orders \41\ 
and quotes. The allocation provisions of MRX Rule 713 and the 
Supplementary Material to that rule apply with respect to other orders 
and quotes with the same price. The Exchange is providing certainty to 
market participants as to the priority scheme during the Opening 
Process. Market Orders will be immediately executed first because these 
orders have no specified price and Limit Orders will be executed 
thereafter in accordance with the prices specified.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ A Market Orders is defined as an order to buy or sell a 
stated number of options contracts that is to be executed at the 
best price obtainable when the order reaches the Exchange. See MRX 
Rule 715(a).
    \41\ A Limit Order is an order to buy or sell a stated number of 
options contracts at a specified price or better. See MRX Rule 
715(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, proposed Rule 701(l) provides upon opening of the option 
series, regardless of an execution, the system disseminates the price 
and size of the Exchange's best bid and offer (BBO).\42\ This provision 
simply makes known the manner in which the Exchange establishes the BBO 
for purposes of reference upon opening.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are some differences between the Phlx and MRX rules. MRX has 
a Reserve Order and Phlx does not have this order type. With Reserve 
Orders, the displayed and non-displayed portions of Reserve Orders are 
considered for execution and in determining the Opening Price 
throughout the Opening Process. Today, MRX permits orders to route 
during regular trading, however, the Exchange does not perform away 
market routing during the opening rotation. With this proposal, routing 
is considered during the Opening Process.
    With respect to the Opening Sweep, the Exchange proposes to adopt 
an order type at new Rule 715(t) entitled ``Opening Sweep.'' This order 
type is proposed to be a Market Maker order submitted for execution 
against eligible interest in the system during the Opening Process 
pursuant to Rule 701(b)(i). The Exchange believes that describing this 
order type within Rule 715 will provide clarity to the introduction of 
Opening Sweeps.
Opening Process Examples
    The following examples are intended to demonstrate the Opening 
Process.
    Example 1. Proposed Rule 701(e) Opening with an Exchange BBO (No 
Trade). Suppose the PMM in an option enters a quote, 2.00 (100) bid and 
2.10 (100) offer and a buy order to pay 2.05 for 10 contracts is 
present in the system. The System also observes an ABBO is present with 
CBOE quoting a spread of 2.05 (100) and 2.15 (100). Given the Exchange 
has no interest which locks or crosses each other and does not cross 
the ABBO, the option opens for trading with an Exchange BBO of 2.05 
(10) x 2.10 (100) and no trade. Since there is an ABBO and no Zero Bid 
Market, the System does not conduct the PDM and the option opens 
without delay.
    Example 2a. Proposed Rule 701(h) Opening with Trade. Suppose the 
PMM enters the same quote in an option, 2.00 (100) bid and 2.10 (100) 
offer. This quote defines the pre-market BBO. CBOE disseminates a quote 
of 2.01 (100) by 2.09 (100), making up the ABBO. Firm A enters a buy 
order at 2.04 for 50 contracts. Firm B enters a sell order at 2.04 for 
50 contracts. The Exchange opens with the Firm A and Firm B orders 
fully trading at an Opening Price of 2.04 which satisfies the condition 
defined in proposed Rule 701(h)(i), the Potential Opening Price is at 
or within the best of the Pre-Market BBO and the ABBO.
    Example 2b. Proposed Rule 701(h) Opening with Trade. Similarly, 
suppose the PMM enters the same quote in an option, 2.00 (100) bid and 
2.10 (100) offer. A Market Maker enters a quote of 2.00 (100) x 2.12 
(100). The pre-market BBO is therefore 2.00 bid and 2.10 offer. CBOE 
disseminates a quote of 2.05 (100) by 2.15 (100), making up the ABBO. 
Firm A enters a buy order at 2.11 for 300 contracts. Firm B enters a 
sell order at 2.11 for 100 contracts. The option does not open for 
trading because the Potential Opening Price of 2.11 does not satisfy 
the condition defined in proposed Rule 701(h)(i), as the Potential 
Opening Price is outside the Pre-Market BBO. The System thereafter 
calculates the OQR and initiates the PDM, as discussed in proposed Rule 
701(j), to facilitate the Opening Process for the option.
    Example 3. Proposed Rule 701(j)(2) Price Discovery Mechanism and 
first iteration. Assume the set up described in Example 2b and an 
allowable OQR of 0.04. When the PDM is initiated, the System broadcasts 
an Imbalance Message. At the end of the Imbalance Timer, the option 
opens with an Opening Price of 2.11 because it is within OQR and the 
ABBO. The maximum value for OQR is the lowest quote offer of 2.10 plus 
0.04.
    Example 4. Proposed Rule 701(j)(3) Price Discovery Mechanism and 
second iteration with routing. Suppose the PMM enters a quote, 2.00 
(100) bid and 2.10 (100) offer and the defined allowable OQR is 0.04. 
If CBOE disseminates a quote of 2.00 (100) by

[[Page 28121]]

2.09 (100), the away offer is better than the PMM quote. Customer A 
enters a routable buy order at 2.10 for 150 contracts. The PDM 
initiates because the Potential Opening Price (2.10) is equal to the 
Pre-Market BBO but outside of the ABBO. The Potential Opening Price is 
2.10 because there is both buy and sell interest at that price point. 
The System is unable to open after the first iteration of Imbalance 
since the Potential Opening Price is within the OQR but outside of the 
ABBO. The System proceeds with the PDM and initiates a Route Timer and 
broadcasts a second Imbalance Message (assume no additional interest is 
received during the imbalance period). The System opens the option for 
trading after the Route Timer has expired and the Imbalance Timer has 
completed since the Potential Opening Price is within OQR. The System 
routes 100 contracts of the Customer order to the better priced away 
offer at CBOE. The Exchange would route to CBOE at an Opening Price of 
2.10 to execute against the interest at 2.09 on CBOE. The 50 options 
contracts open and execute on the Exchange with an Opening Price of 
2.10. The Exchange routes to CBOE using the Exchange's Opening Price to 
ensure, if there is market movement, that the routed order is able to 
access any price point equal to or better than the Exchange's Opening 
Price.
    Example 5. Proposed Rule 701(j)(5) Forced Opening. Suppose the PMM 
enters a quote, 2.00 (100) bid and 2.10 (100) offer and the defined 
allowable OQR is 0.04. A Market Maker enters a quote for 2.05 (100) x 
2.14 (100). Firm A enters a buy order of 250 contracts for 2.15 which 
is more aggressive than the expected OQR of 2.14. The PDM initiates 
because the Potential Opening Price of 2.15 is outside the Pre-Market 
BBO (2.05 x 2.10). Assume no additional interest is received during the 
PDM. After the final Imbalance Timer, the System opens the option for 
trading with an execution of 200 contracts at an Opening Price of 2.14, 
which is the boundary of OQR. The residual 50 contracts from Firm A are 
cancelled back to the participant because the limit order price of 2.15 
is priced through the Opening Price of 2.14.
After-hours Trading Rotations
    The Exchange notes that no after-hours trading rotation will be 
offered with the proposed Opening Process. The current MRX rule 
describes a manual process related to after-hours trading rotations 
that does not exist in the automated Opening Process described in the 
proposed rule. Today, MRX Rule 701(c)(2)-(4) permits the Exchange to 
employ a manual trading rotation if the conditions specified in MRX 
Rule 701(c)(1) permit such a trading rotation and notice was provided 
prior to such rotation for a non-expiring options contract. MRX has not 
employed after-hours trading rotations for several years. With the 
proposed opening rule, there will be no after-hours trading.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\43\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\44\ in particular, in that it 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 for the reasons stated below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \44\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal to adopt the Phlx Opening Process is 
consistent with the Act because the new rule seeks to find the best 
price. The proposal permits the price of the underlying security to 
settle down and not flicker back and forth among prices after its 
opening. It is common for a stock to fluctuate in price immediately 
upon opening; such volatility reflects a natural uncertainty about the 
ultimate Opening Price, while the buy and sell interest is matched. The 
proposed rule provides for a range of no less than 100 milliseconds and 
no more than 5 seconds in order to ensure that it has the ability to 
adjust the period for which the underlying security must be open on the 
primary market. The Exchange may determine that in periods of high/low 
volatility that allowing the underlying to be open for a longer/shorter 
period of time may help to ensure more stability in the marketplace 
prior to initiating the Opening Process.
Definitions
    The Exchange's proposal to adopt a ``Definitions'' section is 
consistent with the Act because the terms will assist market 
participants in understanding the meaning of terms used throughout the 
proposed Rule. The Exchange added the definitions to provide clarity 
and consistency throughout the proposed rule.
Eligible Interest
    The first part of the Opening Process determines what constitutes 
eligible interest. The Exchange's proposal seeks to make clear what 
type of eligible opening interest is included. The Exchange notes that 
Valid Width Quotes; Opening Sweeps; and orders are included. The 
Exchange further notes that Market Makers may submit quotes, Opening 
Sweeps and orders, but quotes other than Valid Width Quotes will not be 
included in the Opening Process. Finally, All-or-None Orders that can 
be satisfied, and the displayed and non-displayed portions of Reserve 
Orders are considered for execution and in determining the Opening 
Price throughout the Opening Process. The Exchange believes that 
defining what qualifies as eligible interest is consistent with the Act 
because market participants will be provided with certainty when 
submitting interest as to which type of interest will be considered in 
the Opening Process.
    The system will only route Public Customer orders during the 
Opening Process. Other non-Public Customer orders will not route. 
Unlike the regular session where orders route if they cannot execute on 
MRX, the Opening Process is a price discovery process which considers 
interest, both on MRX and away markets, to determine the optimal bid 
and offer with which to open the market. The Opening Process seeks the 
price point at which the most number of contracts may be executed while 
protecting away market interest. The Exchange only routes Public 
Customer interest at this time rather than all interest because this 
type of interest always receives priority on MRX and this process 
ensures that Public Customer interest will be executed with priority 
during the Opening Process. Other interest is not routable until after 
the Exchange has completed the Opening Process.
Opening Sweep
    The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act to 
introduce the concept of an Opening Sweep and memorialize this order 
type within Rule 715(t). While the Opening Sweep is similar to an 
Opening Only Order,\45\ it can be entered for the Opening Process only 
and any portion of the order that is not executed during the Opening 
Process is cancelled. An Opening Sweep may only be submitted by a 
Market Maker when he/she has a Valid Width Quote in the affected series 
\46\ whereas, there is no such restriction on Opening Only Orders. The 
Exchange believes the addition of this order type is consistent

[[Page 28122]]

with the Act because it provides for a specific type of order that may 
be entered during the Opening Process similar to Phlx for proposes of 
qualifying as eligible interest. The Exchange notes that this order 
type would be not valid outside of the opening in other trading 
sessions. The Exchange is providing definitive rules that concern the 
manner in which Opening Sweeps may be entered into the system. For 
example, an Opening Sweep may be entered at any price with a minimum 
price variation applicable to the affected series, on either side of 
the market, at single or multiple price level(s), and may be cancelled 
and re-entered. A single Market Maker may enter multiple Opening 
Sweeps, with each Opening Sweep at a different price level. If a Market 
Maker submits multiple Opening Sweeps, the system will consider only 
the most recent Opening Sweep at each price level submitted by such 
Market Maker. Unexecuted Opening Sweeps will be cancelled once the 
affected series is open.\47\ The Exchange believes that the addition of 
Opening Sweeps will also provide certainty to market participants as to 
the manner in which the system will handle such interest.
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    \45\ See MRX Rule 715(o).
    \46\ All Opening Sweeps in the affected series entered by a 
Market Maker will be cancelled immediately if that Market Maker 
fails to maintain a continuous quote with a Valid Width Quote in the 
affected series.
    \47\ See proposed MRX Rule 701(b)(1)(ii). See also proposed MRX 
Rule 715(t).
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    With respect to trade allocation, the proposal notes at Rule 
701(b)(2) that the system will aggregate the size of all eligible 
interest for a particular participant category \48\ at a particular 
price level for trade allocation purposes pursuant to MRX Rule 713. The 
Exchange believes that this allocation is consistent with the Act 
because it mirrors the current allocation process on MRX in other 
trading sessions.
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    \48\ MRX allocates first to Priority Customers and then to all 
other Members by pro-rata. This is different from Phlx which 
allocates to Customers first, then to market makers pro-rata and 
then to all others pro-rata. See MRX Rule 713 and Phlx Rule 
1014(g)(vii).
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    The proposed rule notes the specific times that eligible interest 
may be submitted into MRX's system. The Exchange's proposed time for 
entering Market Maker Valid Width Quotes and Opening Sweeps (9:25 a.m. 
Eastern Time) eligible to participate in the Opening Process, are 
consistent with the Act because the times are intended to tie the 
option Opening Process to quoting in certain underlying securities; 
\49\ it presumes that option quotes submitted before any indicative 
quotes have been disseminated for the underlying security may not be 
reliable or intentional. The Exchange believes the time represents a 
reasonable timeframe at which to begin utilizing option quotes, based 
on the Exchange's experience when underlying quotes start becoming 
available. With respect to foreign currency options, the Exchange notes 
that those markets open prior to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Exchange 
proposes to open the foreign currency options at the same time as other 
options. The Exchange believes that conforming the Opening Process and 
trading hours for foreign currency options to that of other options 
will conform the trading rules so all products would trade during the 
same session. Also, this proposed language adds specificity to the rule 
regarding the submission of orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ For purposes of this rule, the underlying security can also 
be an index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposal at Rule 701(c)(1) describes when the 
Opening Process can begin with specific time-related triggers. The 
proposed rule, which provides that the Opening Process for an option 
series will be conducted on or after 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time provided 
the ABBO, if any, is not crossed and the system has received within 
specified time periods certain specified interest,\50\ is consistent 
with the Act because this requirement is intended to tie the option 
Opening Process to receipt of liquidity. If one of the above three 
conditions specified in proposed Rule 701(c)(1)(i)-(iii) is not met, 
the Exchange will not initiate the Opening Process or continue an 
ongoing Opening Process. The Exchange's proposed rule considers the 
liquidity present on its market before initiating other processes to 
obtain additional pricing information. The Exchange's proposal to adopt 
the Phlx Opening Process is consistent with the Act because the new 
rule seeks to find the best price.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ See proposed Rule 701(c)(1)(i)-(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange's proposed rule considers the underlying security, 
including indexes, which must be open on the primary market for a 
certain time period for all options to be determined by the Exchange 
for the Opening Process to commence. The Exchange proposes a time 
period be no less than 100 milliseconds and no more than 5 seconds to 
permit the price of the underlying security to settle down and not 
flicker back and forth among prices after its opening. Since it is 
common for a stock to fluctuate in price immediately upon opening, the 
Exchange accounts for such volatility in its process. The volatility 
reflects a natural uncertainty about the ultimate Opening Price, while 
the buy and sell interest is matched. The Exchange's proposed range is 
consistent with the Act because it ensures that it has the ability to 
adjust the period for which the underlying security must be open on the 
primary market. The Exchange may determine that in periods of high/low 
volatility that allowing the underlying to be open for a longer/shorter 
period of time may help to ensure more stability in the marketplace 
prior to initiating the Opening Process.
    The Exchange's proposal at Rule 701(c)(3) requires the PMM assigned 
in a particular equity or index option to enter a Valid Width Quote, in 
90% of their assigned series, not later than one minute following the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or, in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price in the underlying index. The PMM assigned in a particular 
U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency option must enter a Valid Width 
Quote, in 90% of their assigned series, also not later than one minute 
after the announced market opening. The Exchange's proposal with 
respect to a PMM's requirement to enter Valid Width Quotes is 
consistent with the Act because the 90% requirement to provide a Valid 
Width Quote in a series to which the PMM is assigned will continue to 
ensure that options series are opened in a timely manner, while not 
imposing an burdensome requirement on market participants. PMMs would 
be required to promptly enter a Valid Width Quote in the remainder of 
their assigned series, which did not open within one minute of the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price or, with respect to U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency 
options, following the announced market opening. The Exchange would 
monitor PMMs to ensure that they promptly provided a Valid Width Quote 
for the remainder of the series within a reasonable amount of time. The 
Exchange notes that market conditions could cause a PMM to experience 
circumstances where opening 100% of their assigned series within one 
minute of the dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the 
underlying security or, in the case of index options, following the 
receipt of the opening price in the underlying index or, with respect 
to U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency options, following the 
announced market opening is not possible. The Exchange believes that 
the proposed 90% Valid Width Quoting obligation, not later than one 
minute following the dissemination of a quote or trade by the market 
for the underlying security or, in the case of

[[Page 28123]]

index options, following the receipt of the opening price in the 
underlying index or, with respect to U.S. dollar-settled foreign 
currency options, following the announced market opening, along with 
the ``prompt'' standard for the remaining 10% will ensure all series 
are opened in a timely manner. The Exchange believes that the time 
frame for PMMs to provide a Valid Width Quote in 90% of their assigned 
series not later than one minute following the dissemination of a quote 
or trade by the market for the underlying security or, in the case of 
index options, following the receipt of the opening price in the 
underlying index or, with respect to U.S. dollar-settled foreign 
currency options, following the announced market opening will ensure 
liquidity on MRX during the Opening Process. The Exchange desires to 
encourage PMMs to continue to make markets on MRX at the Opening. The 
Exchange believes that requiring PMMs to provide a Valid Width Quote in 
90% of their assigned options not later than one minute following the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or, in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price in the underlying index or, with respect to U.S. dollar-
settled foreign currency options, following the announced market 
opening along with the ``prompt'' standard for the remaining 10% will 
enhance the market making functions for PMMs and serve to maintain a 
fair and orderly market thereby promoting the protection of investors 
and the public interest.
    Furthermore, the Exchange proposes that a CMM that submits a quote 
pursuant to proposed Rule 701 in any option series when the PMM's quote 
has not been submitted shall be required to submit continuous, two-
sided quotes in such option series until such time as the PMM submits 
his/her quote, after which the Market Maker that submitted such quote 
shall be obligated to submit quotations pursuant to Rule 804(e). This 
proposal is consistent with the Act because the Exchange will not open 
if the ABBO becomes crossed or a Valid Width Quote(s) pursuant to 
proposed Rule 701(c)(1) is no longer present. Instead the process would 
restart and all eligible opening interest will continue to be 
considered during the Opening Process when the process is re-started. 
The Exchange's proposal is consistent with the Act and promotes just 
and equitable principles of trade because the rule reflects that the 
ABBO cannot be crossed because it is indicative of uncertainty in the 
marketplace of where the option series should be valued. The Exchange 
will wait for the ABBO to become uncrossed before initiating the 
Opening Process to ensure that there is stability in the marketplace in 
order to assist the Exchange in determining the Opening Price.
Reopening After a Trading Halt
    In order to provide certainty to market participants in the event 
of a trading halt, the Exchange provides in its proposal information 
regarding the manner in which a trading halt would impact the Opening 
Process. Proposed Rule 701(d) provides if there is a trading halt or 
pause in the underlying security, the Opening Process will start again 
irrespective of the specific times listed in Rule 701(c)(1). The 
Exchange's proposal to restart in the event of a trading halt is 
consistent with the Act and promotes just and equitable principles of 
trade because the proposed rule ensures that there is stability in the 
marketplace in order to assist the Exchange in determining the Opening 
Price.
Opening With a BBO
    The Exchange's proposed rule accounts for a situation where there 
are no opening quotes or orders that lock or cross each other and no 
routable orders locking or crossing the ABBO. In this situation, the 
system will open with an opening quote by disseminating the Exchange's 
best bid and offer among quotes and orders (``BBO'') that exist in the 
system at that time, unless all three of the following conditions 
exist: (i) A Zero Bid Market; (ii) no ABBO; and (iii) no Quality 
Opening Market.\51\ The Exchange utilizes the quotes to assist in 
determining a fair and reasonable Opening Price, which is consistent 
with the Act because Members are obligated to provide both a bid and 
sell price. The Exchange believes that this measure provides a 
reasonable baseline of where the marketplace views fair value.
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    \51\ The Exchange notes herein that a Quality Opening Market is 
determined by reviewing all Valid Width Quotes and determining if 
the difference of the best bid of those Valid Width Quotes and the 
best offer of those Valid Width Quotes are of no more than a certain 
width.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If all three of these conditions exist, the Exchange will calculate 
an OQR pursuant to paragraph (i) and conduct the PDM pursuant to 
paragraph (j). This approach is consistent with the Act because the 
[sic] when all three of these conditions exist, further price discovery 
is warranted to validate or perhaps update the Exchange's BBO and to 
attract additional interest to perhaps render an opening trade 
possible. The Exchange notes that a Zero Bid Market reflects a lack of 
buying interest to assist in validating a reasonable opening BBO, the 
lack of an ABBO means there is no external check on the Exchange's 
market for that options series; and the lack of a Quality Opening 
Market indicates that the Exchange's market is wide. For these reasons, 
the Exchange believes that when these conditions exist, it is difficult 
to determine if the Exchange BBO is reasonable and therefore an OQR is 
calculated pursuant to proposed Rule 701(i) and thereafter, the PDM in 
proposed Rule 701(j) will initiate.
    The Exchange believes that proposed rule promotes just and 
equitable principles of trade, because the proposed conditions 
involving Zero Bid Markets, no ABBO and no Quality Opening Market 
trigger the PDM rather than an immediate opening in order to validate 
the Opening Price against away markets or by attracting additional 
interest to address the specific condition. This is consistent with the 
Act because it should avoid opening executions in very wide or unusual 
markets where an opening execution price cannot be validated.
Further Opening Processes and Price Discovery Mechanism
    The proposed rule promotes just and equitable principles of trade 
because in arriving at the Potential Opening Price the rule considers 
the maximum number of contracts that can be executed, which results in 
a price that is logical and reasonable in light of away markets and 
other interest present in the system. As noted herein, the Exchange's 
Opening Price is bounded by the OQR without trading through the limit 
price(s) of interest within OQR which is unable to fully execute at the 
Opening Price in order to provide participants with assurance that 
their orders will not be traded through. Although the Exchange applies 
other boundaries such as the BBO, the OQR provides a range of prices 
that may be able to satisfy additional contracts while still ensuring a 
reasonable Opening Price. The Exchange seeks to execute as much volume 
as is possible at the Opening Price. When choosing between multiple 
Opening Prices when some contracts would remain unexecuted, using the 
lowest bid or highest offer of the largest sized side of the market 
promotes just and equitable principles of trade because it uses size as 
a tie breaker. The Exchange's method for determining the Potential 
Opening Price and Opening Price is consistent with the Act because the 
proposed process seeks to discover a reasonable price and considers 
both interest present in MRX's

[[Page 28124]]

system as well as away market interest. The Exchange's method seeks to 
validate the Opening Price and avoid opening at aberrant prices. The 
rule provides for opening with a trade, which is consistent with the 
Act because it enables an immediate opening to occur within a certain 
boundary without need for the price discovery process. The boundary 
provides protections while still ensuring a reasonable Opening Price.
    The proposed rule considers more than one Potential Opening Price, 
which is consistent with the Act because it forces the Potential 
Opening Price to fall within the OQR boundary, thereby providing price 
protection. Specifically, the mid-point calculation balances the price 
among interest participating in the Opening when there is more than one 
price at which the maximum number of contracts could execute. Limiting 
the mid-point calculation to the OQR when a price would otherwise fall 
outside of the OQR ensures the final mid-point price will be within the 
protective OQR boundary. If there is more than one Potential Opening 
Price possible where no contracts would be left unexecuted and any 
price used for the mid-point calculation is an away market price when 
contracts will be routed, the system will use the away market price as 
the Potential Opening Price.
    The PDM reflects what is generally known as an imbalance process 
and is intended to attract liquidity to improve the price at which an 
option series will open as well as to maximize the number of contracts 
that can be executed on the opening. This process will only occur of 
the Exchange has not been able to otherwise open an option series 
utilizing the other processes available in proposed Rule 701. The 
Exchange believes the process presented in the PDM is consistent with 
just and equitable principles of trade because the process applies a 
proposed, wider boundary to identify the Opening Price and seeks 
additional liquidity. The PDM also promotes just and equitable 
principles of trade by taking into account whether all interest can be 
fully executed, which helps investors by including as much interest as 
possible in the Opening Process. The Exchange believes that conducting 
the price discovery process in these situations protects opening orders 
from receiving a random price that does not reflect the totality of 
what is happening in the markets on the opening and also further 
protects opening interest from receiving a potentially erroneous 
execution price on the opening. Opening immediately has the benefit of 
speed and certainty, but that benefit must be weighed against the 
quality of the execution price and whether orders were left unexecuted. 
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule strikes an appropriate 
balance.
    It is consistent with the Act to not consider away market 
liquidity, i.e. away market volume, until the PDM occurs because this 
proposed process provides for a swift, yet conservative opening. The 
Exchange is bounded by the Pre-Market BBO when determining an Opening 
Price. The away market prices would be considered, albeit not 
immediately. It is consistent with the Act to consider interest on the 
Exchange prior to routing to an away market because the Exchange is 
utilizing the interest currently present on its market to determine a 
quality Opening Price. The Exchange will attempt to match interest in 
the system, which is within the OQR, and not leave interest unsatisfied 
that was otherwise at that price. The Exchange will not trade-through 
the away market interest in satisfying this interest at the Exchange. 
The proposal attempts to maximize the number of contracts that can 
trade, and is intended to find the most reasonable and suitable price, 
relying on the maximization to reflect the best price.
    With respect to the manner in which the Exchange sends an Imbalance 
Message as proposed within Rule 701(j)(1), the Imbalance Message is 
intended to attract additional liquidity, much like an auction, using 
an auction message and timer. The Imbalance Timer is consistent with 
the Act because it would provide a reasonable time for participants to 
respond to the Imbalance Message before any opening interest is routed 
to away markets and, thereby, maximize trading on the Exchange. The 
Imbalance Timer would be for the same number of seconds for all options 
traded on the Exchange. This process will repeat, up to four 
iterations, until the options series opens. The Exchange believes that 
this process is consistent with the Act because the Exchange is seeking 
to identify a price on the Exchange without routing away, yet which 
price may not trade through another market and the quality of which is 
addressed by applying the OQR boundary.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(3)(iii)(C) provides if the total number of 
better priced away contracts plus the number of contracts available at 
the Exchange Opening Price plus the contracts available at away markets 
at the Exchange Opening Price would satisfy the number of marketable 
contracts the Exchange has on either the buy or sell side, the system 
will contemporaneously route a number of contracts that will satisfy 
interest at away markets at prices better than the Exchange Opening 
Price (pricing any contracts routed to away markets at the better of 
the Exchange Opening Price or the order's limit price), trade available 
contracts on the Exchange at the Exchange Opening Price, and route a 
number of contracts that will satisfy interest at other markets at 
prices equal to the Exchange Opening Price. This provision is 
consistent with the Act because it considers routing to away markets 
potentially both at a better price than the Exchange Opening Price as 
well as at the Exchange Opening Price to access as much liquidity as 
possible to maximize the number of contracts able to be traded as part 
of the Opening Process. The Exchange routes at the better of the 
Exchange's Opening Price or the order's limit price to first ensure the 
order's limit price is not violated. Routing away at the Exchange's 
Opening Price is intended to achieve the best possible price available 
at the time the order is received by the away market.
    Proposed Rule 701(j)(5), entitled ``Forced Opening,'' provides for 
the situation where, as a last resort, in order to open an options 
series when the processes described above have not resulted in an 
opening of the options series. Under a Forced Opening, the system will 
open the series executing as many contracts as possible by routing to 
away markets at prices better than the Exchange Opening Price for their 
disseminated size, trading available contracts on the Exchange at the 
Exchange Opening Price bounded by OQR (without trading through the 
limit price(s) of interest within OQR which is unable to be fully 
executed at the Opening Price). The system will also route contracts to 
away markets at prices equal to the Exchange Opening Price at their 
disseminated size. In this situation, the system will price any 
contracts routed to away markets at the better of the Exchange Opening 
Price or the order's limit price. Any unexecuted contracts from the 
imbalance not traded or routed will be cancelled back to the entering 
participant if they remain unexecuted and priced through the Opening 
Price, otherwise orders will remain in the Order Book. The Exchange 
believes that this process is consistent with the Act because after 
attempting to open by soliciting interest on MRX and considering other 
away market interest and considering interest responding to Imbalance 
Messages, the Exchange could not otherwise locate a fair and reasonable 
price with which to open options series.

[[Page 28125]]

    The Exchange's proposal to memorialize the manner in which proposed 
rule will cancel and prioritize interest provides certainty to market 
participants as to the priority scheme during the Opening Process.\52\ 
The Exchange's proposal to execute Market Orders first and then Limit 
Orders is consistent with the Act because these orders have no 
specified price and Limit Orders will be executed thereafter in 
accordance with the prices specified due to the nature of these order 
types. This is consistent with the manner in which these orders execute 
after the opening today.
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    \52\ See proposed Rule 701(j)(6)(i) and (k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, proposed Rule 701(l) provides upon opening of the option 
series, regardless of an execution, the system dissemination of the 
price and size of the Exchange's BBO is consistent with the Act because 
it clarifies the manner in which the Exchange establishes the BBO for 
purposes of reference upon opening.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposal does not change 
the intense competition that exists among the options markets for 
options business including on the opening. Nor does the Exchange 
believe that the proposal will impose any burden on intra-market 
competition; the Opening Process involves many types of participants 
and interest.
    The Exchange's proposal to require a PMM to enter a Valid Width 
Quote in 90% of their assigned series not later than one minute time 
following the dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the 
underlying security or, in the case of index options, following the 
receipt of the opening price in the underlying index or, with respect 
to U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency options, following the 
announced market opening and promptly enter a Valid Width quote for the 
remaining 10% their assigned series does not create an undue burden on 
competition. The proposal will continue to ensure that options series 
are opened in a timely manner, while not imposing a burdensome 
requirement on market participants. PMMs would be required to promptly 
enter a Valid Width Quote in the remainder of their assigned series 
which were not open within one minute following the dissemination of a 
quote or trade by the market for the underlying security or, in the 
case of index options, following the receipt of the opening price in 
the underlying index or, with respect to U.S. dollar-settled foreign 
currency options, following the announced market opening. The Exchange 
would monitor PMMs to ensure that they promptly entered a Valid Width 
Quote for the remainder of their assigned series within a reasonable 
amount of time. The Exchange notes that market conditions could cause a 
PMM to experience circumstances where entering a Valid Width Quote for 
100% of their assigned series within one minute following the 
dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the underlying 
security or, in the case of index options, following the receipt of the 
opening price in the underlying index or with respect to U.S. dollar-
settled foreign currency options within one minute after the announced 
market opening is not possible. The Exchange believes that the proposed 
90% timeframe to enter a Valid Width Quote not later than one minute 
following the dissemination of a quote or trade by the market for the 
underlying security or, in the case of index options, following the 
receipt of the opening price in the underlying index or, with respect 
to U.S. dollar-settled foreign currency options, following the 
announced market opening for the underlying security along with the 
``prompt'' standard for the remaining series will ensure all series are 
opened in a timely manner.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the 
Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be 
appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to 
which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:
    (A) By order approve or disapprove such proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change, as modified by Amendment No. 2, 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-MRX-2017-01 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-MRX-2017-01. 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-MRX-2017-01 and should be 
submitted on or before July 11, 2017.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\53\
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    \53\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Eduardo A. Aleman,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-12887 Filed 6-19-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P