Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Chicago, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) Relating to How Orders Are Repriced and Make Related Changes to Rules 7.36 and 7.38, 15551-15556 [2020-05555]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved. The 45th day after publication of the notice for this proposed rule change is March 15, 2020. The Commission is extending this 45day time period. The Commission finds it appropriate to designate a longer period within which to take action on the proposed rule change so that it has sufficient time to consider the proposed rule change. Accordingly, the Commission, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,5 designates April 29, 2020 as the date by which the Commission shall either approve or disapprove, or institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the proposed rule change (File No. SR–NYSEArca–2020–07). For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.6 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–05554 Filed 3–17–20; 8:45 am] SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–88367; File No. SR– NYSECHX–2020–06] Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Chicago, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) Relating to How Orders Are Repriced and Make Related Changes to Rules 7.36 and 7.38 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES March 12, 2020. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) 1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘‘Act’’) 2 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,3 notice is hereby given that, on February 28, 2020, the NYSE Chicago, Inc. (‘‘NYSE Chicago’’ or the ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons. 6 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(31). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 15 U.S.C. 78a. 3 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:22 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant parts of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 5 Id. I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) relating to how orders are repriced and make related changes to Rules 7.36 and 7.38. The proposed change is available on the Exchange’s website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission’s Public Reference Room. 1. Purpose The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) relating to how orders are repriced and make related changes to Rules 7.36 and 7.38. Background Currently, if an Away Market updates its PBBO and crosses not only the Exchange’s BBO, but also displayed orders in the Exchange Book not represented in the BBO, i.e., depth-ofbook orders, and then the Exchange’s BBO cancels or trades, the Exchange will not disseminate its next-best priced displayed order as its new BBO to the securities information processor (‘‘SIP’’).4 Instead, the Exchange reprices 4 The term ‘‘Away Market’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(b) to mean ‘‘any exchange, alternative trading system (‘‘ATS’’) or other broker-dealer (1) with which the Exchange maintains an electronic linkage and (2) that provides instantaneous responses to orders routed from the Exchange.’’ The term ‘‘BBO’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(c) to mean the best bid or offer on the Exchange, and the term ‘‘BB’’ means the best bid on the Exchange, and the term ‘‘BO’’ means the best offer on the Exchange. The term ‘‘PBB’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(n) to mean the highest Protected Bid, the term ‘‘PBO’’ means the lowest Protected Offer, and ‘‘PBBO’’ means the Best Protected Bid and Best Protected Offer. The terms ‘‘Protected Bid’’ and ‘‘Protected Offer’’ are defined in Rule 1.1(q). The term ‘‘Exchange Book’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(j) to mean the Exchange’s electronic file of orders, which contains all orders entered on the Exchange. PO 00000 Frm 00139 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15551 such order before it is disseminated to the SIP.5 For example, if the Exchange’s BB is $10.05 and on the Exchange Book, there is an order to buy 100 shares ranked Priority 2—Display Orders at $10.04 (‘‘Order A’’), Order A is displayed in the Exchange’s proprietary depth-of-book market data at that $10.04 price but is not disseminated to the SIP.6 If next, an Away Market publishes a PBO of $10.03, the Exchange’s BB of $10.05 will stand its ground. However, if that $10.05 BB trades, cancels, or routes, the Exchange will not disseminate Order A to the SIP as the new BB at $10.04. Instead, as provided for in Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C), Order A will be assigned a display price of $10.02 and a working price of $10.03, which is equal to the Away Market PBO, and will be disseminated to the SIP as the Exchange’s BB at $10.02. Order A will be repriced to $10.04 once the Away Market PBBO no longer locks or crosses the Exchange BBO. Each time Order A is repriced, including back to its original price, it is assigned a new working time.7 The Exchange also applies this repricing functionality to Primary Pegged Orders.8 The Exchange believes that no other exchange reprices resting depth orders in this manner. The Exchange understands that in the same scenario on other exchanges, ‘‘Order A’’ would stand its ground and be disseminated to the SIP as their new BBO at $10.04, even if that price would cross the Away Market PBO of $10.03. The rules of other exchanges vary regarding how much detail is used to describe circumstances when displayed orders stand their ground, and none explicitly address the specific scenario described above, i.e., when a resting, displayed, depth-of-book order is crossed by an Away Market quotation and then 5 See Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C), which provides that ‘‘[i]f a BB (BO) that is locked or crossed by an Away Market PBO (PBB) is cancelled, executed or routed and the next best-priced resting Limit Order(s) on the Exchange Book that would become the new BB (BO) would have a display price that would lock or cross the PBO (PBB), such Limit Order(s) to buy (sell) will be assigned a display price one MPV below (above) the PBO (PBB) and a working price equal to the PBO (PBB). When the PBO (PBB) is updated, the Limit Order(s) to buy (sell) will be repriced consistent with the original terms of the order. If a Day ISO to buy (sell) arrives before the PBO (PBB) is updated, such repriced Limit Order(s) to buy (sell) will be repriced to the lower (higher) of the display price of the Day ISO or the original price of the Limit Order(s).’’ 6 See Rule 7.36(b)(3) (describing which orders are collected and made available to quotation vendors for dissemination pursuant to the requirements of Rule 602 under Regulation NMS under the Act). 7 See Rule 7.36(f)(2) (an order is assigned a new working time any time its working price changes). 8 See Rule 7.31(h)(2)(B). E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 15552 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices becomes the best-priced order on that exchange. For example: • The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (‘‘Nasdaq’’) Rule 4756(c)(2) provides that Nasdaq transmits for display to the appropriate network processor its bestpriced orders. That Rule specifies exceptions of which orders are not transmitted to the SIP, i.e., the reserve size of orders, the discretionary portion of Discretionary Orders, and NonDisplayed Orders. This rule is silent as to whether resting, displayed, depth-ofbook orders that have been locked or crossed by another market center and then become the best-ranked orders on Nasdaq are transmitted to the SIP at their original price. Separately, Nasdaq rules provide that certain previouslydisplayed orders stand their ground. For example, pursuant to Nasdaq Rules 4702(b)(1)(B) and 4702(b)(2)(B), resting ‘‘Price to Comply Orders’’ and ‘‘Price to Display Orders’’ entered via RASH, QIX, or FIX will stand their ground if locked or crossed by another market center. But these rules discuss top-of-book displayed orders that are crossed, not depth-of-book orders. • CBOE BZX Exchange, Inc. (‘‘BZX’’) Rule 11.12(b) (Priority of Orders) provides that the best-ranked order(s) to buy and the best-ranked order(s) to sell that are displayable in the BZX Book and the aggregated displayed size of such orders associated with such prices shall be collected and made available to quotation vendors for dissemination pursuant to the requirements of Rule 602 of Regulation NMS. This rule is silent as to whether resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders that have been locked or crossed by another market center and then become the best-ranked orders on BZX are transmitted to the SIP at their original price. BZX Rule 11.13(a)(2)(C) (Order Execution and Routing) discusses how orders execute on BZX when the PBBO is crossed, and how that exchange processes incoming orders during a crossed market. But that rule does not address the scenario described above regarding resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders and whether they would be made available to quotation vendors for dissemination at their original price, even when the PBBO is crossed. Under Rule 11.13(b)(4), BZX further provides for optional ‘‘Re-Route Instructions’’ pursuant to which if a routable order has been locked or crossed by another market, the routable order on the BZX book would be routed to that other market. However, these are optional instructions, which implies that in the absence of one of these instructions, if a routable order on BZX is locked or VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 crossed by another market, such order stands its ground. • Investors Exchange LLC (‘‘IEX’’) Rule 11.240(c)(1) provides that IEX disseminates the aggregate of its bestranked displayable orders to quotation vendors for dissemination to the SIPs. IEX Rules 11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i) further provide that resting orders that are displayed at a price that later becomes locked or crossed, and were originally displayed in compliance with rules and regulations of IEX, will maintain their displayed price and quantity.9 While these rules do not distinguish between displayed orders at the top of the IEX book and depth-ofbook displayed orders, these rules appear consistent with the Exchange’s proposed change to provide that resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders would stand their ground and are eligible to be disseminated to the SIP as the BBO at their original displayed price. • Long-Term Stock Exchange (‘‘LTSE’’) Rule 11.240(c)(1) provides that LTSE disseminates the aggregate of its best-ranked displayable orders to quotation vendors for dissemination to the SIPs.10 LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) and (g)(3)(B)(i) further provide that resting orders that are displayed at a price that later becomes locked or crossed, and were originally displayed in compliance with rules and regulations of LTSE, will maintain their displayed price and quantity.11 While these rules do not distinguish between displayed orders at the top of the LTSE book and at depth, these rules appear consistent with the Exchange’s proposed change to provide that resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders would stand their ground and are eligible to be disseminated to the SIP as the BBO at their original displayed price. • MEMX LLC (‘‘MEMX’’) has filed a Form 1 application for registration as a national securities exchange pursuant to Section 6 of the Act.12 Proposed MEMX Rule 11.9(b) provides that the bestranked order(s) to buy and the bestranked order(s) to sell that are 9 See also Supplementary Material .02 to IEX Rule 11.190(h) (providing that ‘‘[o]rders displayed on the Exchange which were displayed at a price compliant with Regulation NMS are generally permitted to maintain their displayed price in the event an away trading center locks or crosses the price of the IEX displayed order.’’) 10 LTSE has been approved as a registered exchange but is not yet operational. 11 See also Supplementary Material .02 to LTSE Rule 11.190(g). 12 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87436 (October 31, 2019), 84 FR 59854 (November 6, 2019) (File No. 1—237). Although MEMX has not yet been approved as an exchange, the Exchange believes that its proposed rules are relevant to this discussion as MEMX expects to be operational in 2020, subject to approval of its Form 1 application. PO 00000 Frm 00140 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 displayable in the MEMX Book and the aggregate displayed size of such orders associated with such prices shall be collected and made available to the SIP. MEMX claims that its proposed MEMX Rule 11.6(j)(1)(A)(ii), which provides that ‘‘[f]ollowing the initial ranking and display or an order subject to the Display-Price Sliding instruction, an order will only be re-ranked and redisplayed to the extent it achieves a more aggressive price, provided, however, that the Exchange will re-rank an order at the same price as the displayed price in the event such orders’ displayed price would be a Locking or Crossing Quotation’’ makes clear that an order displayed by MEMX would not be re-priced to a less aggressive price if another market locked or crossed an order displayed by MEMX.13 The Exchange understands this response to mean that MEMX would not re-price displayed orders that were at depth that would become the MEMX best bid or offer. The Exchange proposes to amend its rules to conform how it reprices orders in this scenario to how other exchanges function. The Exchange believes that because such orders did not lock or cross an Away Market PBBO when they were entered on the Exchange and displayed to the Exchange’s proprietary market data, such resting orders have priority at the price at which they were originally displayed.14 In other words, such resting orders did not cause a locked or crossed market condition. The Exchange further believes that providing priority to such resting orders on the Exchange Book (e.g., disseminating ‘‘Order A’’ as a BB at $10.04 in the above-described scenario) would be consistent with Rule 610(d) under the Act (‘‘Rule 610(d)’’).15 Rule 610(d) provides that ‘‘[e]ach national securities exchange . . . shall establish, maintain, and enforce written rules that . . . are reasonably designed to assure the reconciliation of locked quotations in an NMS stock.’’ The proposed rule change is consistent with this requirement because in the scenario described above, the Away Market has published a PBO that crosses not only the Exchange’s BB, but also other orders 13 See Letter from Anders Franzon, General Counsel, MEMX, to Ms. Vanessa Countryman, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, dated February 11, 2020, available here: https:// www.sec.gov/comments/10-237/10237-6795399208386.pdf. 14 If the PBBO is locked or crossed at the time of an order’s arrival, such arriving orders would be either routed, cancelled, or repriced, as provided for in Rule 7.37(c) (for routable orders) or Rule 7.31(e) (for non-routable orders). This proposed rule change is applicable only to resting orders. 15 17 CFR 242.610(d). E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices that have already been entered on the Exchange and displayed on the Exchange’s proprietary market data. Even though such depth-of-book orders have not yet been disseminated to the SIP as part of the Exchange’s BBO, those resting orders pre-exist the Away Market quote that crossed them. Therefore, disseminating any preexisting, displayed orders to the SIP as the new BB at their original price would be consistent with Rule 610(d) because it was the Away Market that crossed previously-displayed orders. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Proposed Rule Change To effect this proposed rule change, the Exchange proposes to delete Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) in its entirety. The Exchange also proposes to delete references to this Rule and describe how the Exchange would process orders, as follows. First, the Exchange proposes several rule changes to specify that previouslydisplayed orders at any price stand their ground and remain eligible to be quoted or traded at their last-displayed price, even if locked or crossed by an Away Market. The Exchange proposes to specify this principal generally for all displayed orders by amending Rule 7.36(b) to add new subparagraph (4) that would provide that if an Away Market locks or crosses the BBO, the Exchange would not change the display price of any Limit Order ranked Priority 2— Display Orders 16 and any such orders would be eligible to be disseminated as the Exchange’s BBO.17 This proposed rule text both (1) provides specificity that all resting, top-of-book displayed orders stand their ground, which is current functionality,18 and (2) describes new functionality for previously displayed depth-of-book orders, which would now stand their ground instead of being repriced if they become the Exchange’s BBO. Because such resting orders would no longer be repriced if locked or crossed by an Away Market, such orders would 16 As set forth in Rule 7.36(c), all non-marketable orders are ranked and maintained in the Exchange Book in the following manner: (1) Price; (2) priority category; (3) time; and (4) ranking restrictions applicable to an order or modifier condition. Under Rule 7.36(e)(2), ‘‘Priority 2—Display Orders’’ are non-marketable Limit Orders with a displayed working price. Limit Orders that are ranked Priority 2—Display Orders can be top of book or at depth. 17 As set forth in Rule 7.36(b)(1), the Exchange considers an order to be ‘‘displayed’’ when it has been disseminated via a market data feed. Because all orders ranked Priority 2—Display Orders, regardless of price, are displayed via proprietary data feeds, such orders are all ‘‘displayed’’ for purposes of Exchange rules. 18 Current Rule 7.31(e)(1)(A)(iii) specifies that Non-Routable Limit Orders stand their ground when crossed by an Away Market PBBO. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 not need to be assigned new working times and would therefore retain priority at their original price. In addition, for market participants that read the Exchange’s proprietary market data and are aware of displayed, depthof-book orders, this proposed change provides greater certainty regarding the price at which a liquidity-taking order would execute on the Exchange. This proposed rule text therefore promotes transparency and clarity in Exchange rules that all resting, displayed orders, including depth-ofbook orders, would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. Proposed Rule 7.36(b)(4) is based in part on IEX Rules 11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i) and LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) and (g)(3)(B)(i), described above, and is consistent with proposed MEMX Rule 11.6(j)(1)(A)(ii). The Exchange proposes related changes to remove references to Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) in connection with Primary Pegged Orders and replace that rule text with proposed new functionality that such orders would stand their ground at their last-displayed price. As described above, if the PBBO becomes locked or crossed, displayed orders on the Exchange would stand their ground. The Exchange proposes that in such scenario, resting Primary Pegged Orders, which are dynamically pegged to the PBBO, would similarly stand their ground. As further proposed, if the PBBO becomes locked or crossed, resting Primary Pegged Orders would wait for a PBBO that is not locked or crossed before the display and working price of such orders is adjusted. While the market is locked or crossed, such orders would remain eligible to trade at their current working price. To effect these changes, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31(h)(2)(B) relating to Primary Pegged Orders by deleting the last clause of that Rule 19 and amend the last sentence of that paragraph as follows (new text underlined, proposed text for deletion in brackets): ‘‘If after arrival, the PBBO becomes locked or crossed, the Primary Pegged Order will wait for a PBBO that is not locked or crossed before the display and working price [is]are adjusted[, but]and remains eligible to trade at its current working price.’’ Second, the Exchange proposes to specify how the Exchange would 19 The last clause of current Rule 7.31(h)(2)(B) provides: ‘‘provided that, if a resting Limit Order on the Exchange Book is assigned a new display price and working price pursuant to Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) and the PBBO is still locked or crossed, a resting Primary Pegged Order will also be assigned a new display price and working price pursuant to Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C).’’ PO 00000 Frm 00141 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15553 process orders following a UTP Regulatory Halt in a UTP Security.20 Because continuous trading did not precede the resumption of trading of such security on the Exchange, the Exchange does not have a displayed quote eligible to stand its ground. Accordingly, to prevent publishing a quote that would lock or cross an Away Market, the Exchange proposes that before the Exchange publishes a quote, orders that are marketable against a protected quotation on an Away Market would be either routed (if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable). The second clause of proposed new Rule 7.36(b)(4) would address how the Exchange would process orders before resuming trading and publishing a quote in a UTP Security following a UTP Regulatory Halt. This proposed rule text would be an exception to the first half of the rule text, described above, that previously-displayed orders stand their ground. The Exchange proposes this exception because during a UTP Regulatory Halt, there is no continuous trading and the Exchange ‘‘zeroes’’ out its quote, meaning the Exchange removes its BBO from the SIP. However, during a UTP Regulatory Halt, the Exchange may still have orders on its book. Specifically, as set forth in Rule 7.18(b), during a UTP Regulatory Halt, the Exchange cancels resting nondisplayed orders and maintains all other resting orders in the Exchange Book at their last working price and display price. The Exchange does not accept new orders during such a halt. As provided for in Rule 7.18(a), the Exchange does not resume trading, including publishing a quote, in such security until it receives notification from the UTP Listing Market that the halt or suspension is no longer in effect and it has received the first Price Band in that security. The Exchange proposes that once it is eligible to resume trading, previously-displayed Limit Orders, i.e., the orders entered before the UTP Regulatory Halt, would be routed (if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable) if such orders would be marketable against protected quotations on Away Markets. For example, if before a UTP Regulatory Halt in XYZ security, the 20 The term ‘‘UTP Security’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(w) to mean a security that is listed on a national securities exchange other than the Exchange and that trades on the Exchange pursuant to unlisted trading privileges and the term ‘‘UTP Regulatory Halt’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(y) to mean a trade suspension, halt, or pause caused by the UTP Listing Market in a UTP Security that requires all market centers to halt trading in that security. The term ‘‘UTP Listing Market’’ is defined in Rule 1.1(x) to mean the primary listing market for a UTP Security. E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 15554 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES Exchange’s BBO was $10.10 (100 shares) × $10.12 (100 shares), and before the Exchange resumes trading following that UTP Regulatory Halt, the first PBBO is $10.08 (100 shares) × $10.09 (100 shares), because the Exchange’s former best bid of $10.10 is marketable against the new $10.09 PBO, the Exchange would either route that order (if routable) or cancel it (if non-routable). The Exchange would publish the former $10.12 because it is not marketable against an Away Market quotation. The Exchange believes that following a UTP Regulatory Halt, orders that would lock or cross the Away Market PBBO should either be routed (if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable) if they would be marketable against protected quotations on Away Markets. The Exchange believes that routing or cancelling such orders is consistent with Rule 610(d) because the Away Market does not have an obligation to prevent locking or crossing an Exchange quote in this scenario. Therefore, in this scenario, to prevent locking or crossing the Away Market PBBO, the Exchange would either route or cancel previouslyentered orders before publishing a quote. Third, the Exchange proposes to apply the proposed processing of orders, described above, to odd-lot orders. In other words, odd-lot orders would no longer be processed differently than orders that are a round lot or greater in size. Currently, Rule 7.38(b)(1) and subparagraphs (A)–(C) describe how the working and display price of odd-lot orders are adjusted in relation to the contra-side PBBO. In short, currently, the working and display prices of oddlot orders are bound by the PBBO, which means that resting odd-lot orders can be repriced if the PBBO changes or becomes locked or crossed.21 As proposed, odd-lot sized orders would be priced the same as orders of a round-lot size or higher, and if they are designated Priority 2- Display Orders, they would stand their ground 21 Current Rule 7.38(b)(1) provides that ‘‘[t]he working and display price of an odd lot order will be adjusted both on arrival and when resting on the Exchange Book as follows: (A) If the limit price of an odd lot order to buy (sell) is at or below (above) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working and display price equal to the limit price. (B) If the limit price of an odd lot order to buy (sell) is above (below) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working price equal to the PBO (PBB). The display price will also be adjusted to the PBO (PBB) unless the order’s instruction requires a display price that is different from the PBBO. (C) If the PBBO is locked or crossed and the limit price of an odd lot order to buy (sell) is above (below) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working and display price equal to the PBB (PBO). The working and display price of such odd lot order will not be adjusted again until the PBBO unlocks or uncrosses.’’ VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 if locked or crossed by an Away Market PBBO. To effect this change, the Exchange proposes to delete Rule 7.38(b)(1) and sub-paragraphs (A)–(C) in their entirety. The Exchange also proposes to delete the clause ‘‘provided that’’ at the end of Rule 7.38(b) and make a non-substantive change to that Rule to replace the term ‘‘in’’ with the term ‘‘on.’’ As a result of these changes, Rule 7.38(b) would provide, without any qualifiers, that ‘‘[r]ound lot, mixed lot and odd-lot orders are treated in the same manner on the Exchange.’’ The Exchange proposes an additional nonsubstantive change to renumber current Rule 7.38(b)(2) as Rule 7.38(c). Fourth, because displayed odd-lot orders would stand their ground, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31(d)(1) to add new subparagraph (F) relating to Reserve Orders to specify new functionality of how non-routable Reserve Orders would be replenished if the display quantity of a resting Reserve Order is decremented to an odd-lot size when the PBBO is crossed. The Exchange proposes this change only for non-routable Reserve Orders. These changes are not necessary for a routable Reserve Order because when such order replenishes, the replenish quantity is evaluated for routing to Away Markets and thus would not be displayed at a price that crosses an Away Market. As proposed in new subparagraph (F) to Rule 7.31(d)(1), if the PBBO is crossed and the display quantity of a Reserve Order to buy (sell) that is a NonRoutable Limit Order is decremented to less than a round lot, the display price and working price of such Reserve Order would not change. This proposed rule text is consistent with the change, described above, that resting displayed orders, including odd-lot sized orders, would stand their ground if crossed by an Away Market. The proposed rule would further provide that the reserve interest that replenishes the display quantity would be assigned a display price one MPV below (above) the PBO (PBB) and a working price equal to the PBO (PBB). Because this is the first time such interest would be displayed, the Exchange proposes to adjust the display and working price so that the replenished quantity would not lock or cross the Away Market, which is the same manner that an arriving NonRoutable Limit Order is priced.22 22 See Rule 7.31(e)(1)(A) (describing how arriving Non-Routable Limit Order is priced). On Nasdaq, a Price to Comply Order with Reserve Size replenishes in a similar manner. See Nasdaq Rule 4703(h); see also Supplementary Material .02 to IEX Rule 11.190(h) (‘‘When a reserve order refreshes its displayed portion, the refreshing shares are not permitted to be displayed at a price that locks or PO 00000 Frm 00142 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 When the PBBO uncrosses, the display price and working price would be adjusted as provided for under paragraph (e)(1) of this Rule relating to Non-Routable Limit Orders. Fifth, as described above, displayed orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. However, non-displayed orders do not. As set forth in Rule 7.31(d)(2)(A), the working price of a resting NonDisplayed Limit Order will be adjusted based on the limit price of the order. If the limit price of a Non-Displayed Limit Order to buy (sell) is at or below (above) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working price equal to the limit price. If the limit price of a Non-Displayed Limit Order to buy (sell) is above (below) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working price equal to the PBO (PBB). The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31(d)(1) to provide that the working price of the reserve interest of resting Reserve Orders, which are non-displayed, would be adjusted in the same manner that the working price of Non-Displayed Limit Orders are adjusted. To effect this change, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31(d)(1) to add the following sentence: ‘‘The working price of the reserve interest of a resting Reserve Order will be adjusted in the same manner as a Non-Displayed Limit Order, as provided for in paragraph (d)(2)(A) of this Rule.’’ The Exchange understands that at least one other exchange also adjusts the price of the non-displayed portion of Reserve Orders in the same manner that such exchange adjusts the price of nondisplayed orders.23 Together with the proposed rule change described above to Rule 7.36(b), these rule changes make clear that on the Exchange, if crossed by an Away Market PBBO, displayed orders would stand their ground and non-displayed orders, including the reserve interest of resting Reserve Orders, would be repriced based off of the PBBO. Implementation Because of the technology changes associated with this proposed rule change, the Exchange will announce the implementation date of this proposed rule change by Trader Update. Subject to effectiveness of this proposed rule crosses the price of a protected quotation on an away market and are subject to display-price sliding’’). 23 See IEX Rule 11.190(b)(2) (stating that the nondisplayed portion of reserve orders are treated as non-displayed orders). IEX reprices its nondisplayed orders differently from how the Exchange reprices Non-Displayed Limit Orders. See IEX Rule 11.190(h)(3)(D). Importantly, both IEX and the Exchange reprice non-displayed when crossed by an Away Market PBBO. E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices change, the Exchange anticipates that the implementation date will be in the Spring of 2020. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,24 in general, and furthers the objectives of Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,25 in particular, because it is designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions in securities, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest and because it is not designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The Exchange believes that deleting Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) and the related proposed amendment to Rule 7.36(b) to add new sub-paragraph (4) would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system because they would promote transparency in Exchange rules that previouslydisplayed orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market PBBO. The proposed rule changes would further promote transparency because they make clear that resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders that have been locked or crossed by an Away Market PBBO would be eligible to be disseminated to the SIP at their original price if they become the BBO. The Exchange believes that previously-displayed orders, including depth-of-book orders, have priority at such price and should be able to stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. The Exchange therefore believes it is consistent with this principle to delete Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) and change functionality on the Exchange for such orders to stand their ground and not be repriced if another market locks or crosses their price. The proposed change therefore benefits those resting orders because they would be able to keep their original working time and any priority ranking associated with such working time. The proposed change would also benefit liquidity takers, who would have greater certainty 24 15 25 15 U.S.C. 78f(b). U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 regarding the price at which they would receive an execution on the Exchange. Moreover, the proposed change is consistent with how other exchanges function. While the rules of other exchanges differ in level of detail, these proposed changes are based in part on IEX Rules 11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i)and LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) and (g)(3)(B)(i), which similarly provide that previouslydisplayed orders on those exchanges maintain their display price and quantity if locked or crossed by an another market center. The proposal is also similar to how MEMX proposes it would function if approved as an exchange. The Exchange further believes that these proposed amendments are consistent with Rule 610(d). If an Away Market publishes a PBBO that crosses not only the Exchange’s BBO, but also resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders, it was the Away Market that crossed previously-displayed orders. If such previously-displayed, depth-of-book orders become the Exchange’s BBO, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to disseminate those previously-displayed prices and quantities to the SIP as the new BBO because those resting orders pre-existed the Away Market quote that locked or crossed them. For the same reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes to Primary Pegged Orders would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system because displayed orders that are pegged to a dynamic price would stand their ground at their original displayed price if locked or crossed by an Away Market, which is consistent with the proposed rule change that all displayed orders would stand their ground. These proposed rule changes also promote transparency by specifying that such orders would continue to be eligible to trade at their original working price, and that their display and working prices would not be adjusted until the PBBO is no longer locked or crossed. The Exchange further believes that routing or cancelling orders that are marketable against an Away Market PBBO following a UTP Regulatory Halt would also remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system because in this scenario, the Away Market would not have had an obligation to prevent displaying a locking or crossing quotation. The Exchange proposes to avoid locking or crossing an Away Market PBBO in this scenario by routing or cancelling previously-displayed orders, as PO 00000 Frm 00143 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15555 applicable. These proposed changes would reduce the number of times resting orders would be repriced, thereby increasing determinism for the price at which orders would be executed on the Exchange. The Exchange believes that processing odd-lot sized orders in the same manner as round-lot sized orders would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market because the same principle applies: An order of any size that has been displayed has priority at that price if an Away Market subsequently locks or crosses that price. In addition, the Exchange believes that processing oddlot orders the same as round-lot sized orders is not novel as it is consistent with the rules of other exchanges.26 Finally, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes to Reserve Orders would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market because it would apply these principles to a Non-Routable Limit Order that is also a Reserve Order. This proposed functionality is also consistent with how Nasdaq and IEX process nonroutable orders with reserve interest.27 The proposed change to reprice the reserve interest of resting Reserve Orders in the same manner as a NonDisplayed Limit Order is priced would also remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market because it would promote consistency in Exchange rules regarding how similar orders are priced when crossed by an Away Market. The proposed change is also consistent with how IEX processes the reserve interest of Reserve Orders.28 B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,29 the Exchange believes that the proposed rule change would not impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed change is competitive because it is designed to conform how the Exchange processes previouslydisplayed orders with the functionality available on other exchanges, i.e., that 26 See, e.g., Nasdaq Rules 4703(b)(3) (defining the term ‘‘odd lot’’ as an order attribute) and 4702 (describing which order attributes are available for orders on Nasdaq, without any discussion of oddlot sized orders being priced differently than roundlot sized orders). See also BZX Rules 11.10 (defining the term ‘‘odd lot’’) and 11.9 (describing BZX Orders and Modifiers, without any discussion of odd-lot sized orders being priced differently than round-lot sized orders). 27 See supra note 22. 28 See supra note 23. 29 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8). E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 15556 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices such orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market and be eligible to be disseminated to the SIP at their original price. The Exchange believes that the proposed change would promote competition because fewer orders would need to be repriced on the Exchange and therefore liquidity providers seeking for their orders to retain priority may route additional orders to the Exchange. Likewise, liquidity takers may be more likely to route orders to the Exchange if they have greater determinism regarding the price at which their resting, displayed orders on the Exchange would be executed. Without this proposed rule change regarding how displayed orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market, the Exchange is currently at a competitive disadvantage vis-a`-vis all other equity exchanges, which do not reprice orders in this manner. As discussed above, displayed orders on all other equity exchanges, including the two exchanges that recently had their Form 1 applications to be approved as an exchange (IEX and LTSE), stand their ground when locked or crossed by an Away Market and such orders are disseminated to the SIP if they become those exchanges’ best bid or offer. In addition, MEMX proposes that displayed orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, or 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 the 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:54 Mar 17, 2020 Jkt 250001 change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments • Use the Commission’s internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an email to rule-comments@ sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– NYSECHX–2020–06 on the subject line. • 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–NYSECHX–2020–06. 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 website (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 website 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 offices of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSECHX–2020–06, and should be submitted on or before April 8, 2020. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.30 J. Matthew DeLesDernier, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–05555 Filed 3–17–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P PO 00000 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00144 Fmt 4703 [Docket No. 2020–0012; Sequence No. 1; OMB Control No. 0960–XXXX] Information Collection; Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A–11, Section 280 Implementation) Social Security Administration. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: As part of the Administration’s commitment to improving customer service delivery, the following proposed Information Collection Request ‘‘Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A– 11, Section 280 Implementation)’’ is pending at the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration will submit it to OMB for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.) within 60 days from the date of this notice. DATES: Submit comments on or before: May 18, 2020. ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by Information Collection 0960–XXXX, Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A–11, Section 280 Implementation), by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments to https:// www.regulations.gov, will be posted to the docket unchanged. • Mail: Social Security Administration, OLCA, 3100 West High Rise, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD. ATTN: Reports Clearance Director, Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A–11, Section 280 Implementation). Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite Information Collection 0960–XXXX, Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A–11, Section 280 Implementation) in all correspondence related to this collection. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check regulations.gov, approximately two-tothree business days after submission to verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail). SUMMARY: Paper Comments 30 17 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Sfmt 4703 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A–11, Section 280 Implementation). Abstract: A modern, streamlined and responsive customer experience means: Raising government-wide customer E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15551-15556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05555]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-88367; File No. SR-NYSECHX-2020-06]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Chicago, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing of Proposed Rule Change Amending Rule 7.31 (Orders and 
Modifiers) Relating to How Orders Are Repriced and Make Related Changes 
to Rules 7.36 and 7.38

March 12, 2020.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby 
given that, on February 28, 2020, the NYSE Chicago, Inc. (``NYSE 
Chicago'' or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as 
described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by 
the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) 
relating to how orders are repriced and make related changes to Rules 
7.36 and 7.38. The proposed change is available on the Exchange's 
website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and 
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31 (Orders and Modifiers) 
relating to how orders are repriced and make related changes to Rules 
7.36 and 7.38.
Background
    Currently, if an Away Market updates its PBBO and crosses not only 
the Exchange's BBO, but also displayed orders in the Exchange Book not 
represented in the BBO, i.e., depth-of-book orders, and then the 
Exchange's BBO cancels or trades, the Exchange will not disseminate its 
next-best priced displayed order as its new BBO to the securities 
information processor (``SIP'').\4\ Instead, the Exchange reprices such 
order before it is disseminated to the SIP.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The term ``Away Market'' is defined in Rule 1.1(b) to mean 
``any exchange, alternative trading system (``ATS'') or other 
broker-dealer (1) with which the Exchange maintains an electronic 
linkage and (2) that provides instantaneous responses to orders 
routed from the Exchange.'' The term ``BBO'' is defined in Rule 
1.1(c) to mean the best bid or offer on the Exchange, and the term 
``BB'' means the best bid on the Exchange, and the term ``BO'' means 
the best offer on the Exchange. The term ``PBB'' is defined in Rule 
1.1(n) to mean the highest Protected Bid, the term ``PBO'' means the 
lowest Protected Offer, and ``PBBO'' means the Best Protected Bid 
and Best Protected Offer. The terms ``Protected Bid'' and 
``Protected Offer'' are defined in Rule 1.1(q). The term ``Exchange 
Book'' is defined in Rule 1.1(j) to mean the Exchange's electronic 
file of orders, which contains all orders entered on the Exchange.
    \5\ See Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C), which provides that ``[i]f a BB (BO) 
that is locked or crossed by an Away Market PBO (PBB) is cancelled, 
executed or routed and the next best-priced resting Limit Order(s) 
on the Exchange Book that would become the new BB (BO) would have a 
display price that would lock or cross the PBO (PBB), such Limit 
Order(s) to buy (sell) will be assigned a display price one MPV 
below (above) the PBO (PBB) and a working price equal to the PBO 
(PBB). When the PBO (PBB) is updated, the Limit Order(s) to buy 
(sell) will be repriced consistent with the original terms of the 
order. If a Day ISO to buy (sell) arrives before the PBO (PBB) is 
updated, such repriced Limit Order(s) to buy (sell) will be repriced 
to the lower (higher) of the display price of the Day ISO or the 
original price of the Limit Order(s).''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For example, if the Exchange's BB is $10.05 and on the Exchange 
Book, there is an order to buy 100 shares ranked Priority 2--Display 
Orders at $10.04 (``Order A''), Order A is displayed in the Exchange's 
proprietary depth-of-book market data at that $10.04 price but is not 
disseminated to the SIP.\6\ If next, an Away Market publishes a PBO of 
$10.03, the Exchange's BB of $10.05 will stand its ground. However, if 
that $10.05 BB trades, cancels, or routes, the Exchange will not 
disseminate Order A to the SIP as the new BB at $10.04. Instead, as 
provided for in Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C), Order A will be assigned a display 
price of $10.02 and a working price of $10.03, which is equal to the 
Away Market PBO, and will be disseminated to the SIP as the Exchange's 
BB at $10.02. Order A will be repriced to $10.04 once the Away Market 
PBBO no longer locks or crosses the Exchange BBO. Each time Order A is 
repriced, including back to its original price, it is assigned a new 
working time.\7\ The Exchange also applies this repricing functionality 
to Primary Pegged Orders.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See Rule 7.36(b)(3) (describing which orders are collected 
and made available to quotation vendors for dissemination pursuant 
to the requirements of Rule 602 under Regulation NMS under the Act).
    \7\ See Rule 7.36(f)(2) (an order is assigned a new working time 
any time its working price changes).
    \8\ See Rule 7.31(h)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that no other exchange reprices resting depth 
orders in this manner. The Exchange understands that in the same 
scenario on other exchanges, ``Order A'' would stand its ground and be 
disseminated to the SIP as their new BBO at $10.04, even if that price 
would cross the Away Market PBO of $10.03. The rules of other exchanges 
vary regarding how much detail is used to describe circumstances when 
displayed orders stand their ground, and none explicitly address the 
specific scenario described above, i.e., when a resting, displayed, 
depth-of-book order is crossed by an Away Market quotation and then

[[Page 15552]]

becomes the best-priced order on that exchange. For example:
     The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'') Rule 4756(c)(2) 
provides that Nasdaq transmits for display to the appropriate network 
processor its best-priced orders. That Rule specifies exceptions of 
which orders are not transmitted to the SIP, i.e., the reserve size of 
orders, the discretionary portion of Discretionary Orders, and Non-
Displayed Orders. This rule is silent as to whether resting, displayed, 
depth-of-book orders that have been locked or crossed by another market 
center and then become the best-ranked orders on Nasdaq are transmitted 
to the SIP at their original price. Separately, Nasdaq rules provide 
that certain previously-displayed orders stand their ground. For 
example, pursuant to Nasdaq Rules 4702(b)(1)(B) and 4702(b)(2)(B), 
resting ``Price to Comply Orders'' and ``Price to Display Orders'' 
entered via RASH, QIX, or FIX will stand their ground if locked or 
crossed by another market center. But these rules discuss top-of-book 
displayed orders that are crossed, not depth-of-book orders.
     CBOE BZX Exchange, Inc. (``BZX'') Rule 11.12(b) (Priority 
of Orders) provides that the best-ranked order(s) to buy and the best-
ranked order(s) to sell that are displayable in the BZX Book and the 
aggregated displayed size of such orders associated with such prices 
shall be collected and made available to quotation vendors for 
dissemination pursuant to the requirements of Rule 602 of Regulation 
NMS. This rule is silent as to whether resting, displayed, depth-of-
book orders that have been locked or crossed by another market center 
and then become the best-ranked orders on BZX are transmitted to the 
SIP at their original price. BZX Rule 11.13(a)(2)(C) (Order Execution 
and Routing) discusses how orders execute on BZX when the PBBO is 
crossed, and how that exchange processes incoming orders during a 
crossed market. But that rule does not address the scenario described 
above regarding resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders and whether 
they would be made available to quotation vendors for dissemination at 
their original price, even when the PBBO is crossed. Under Rule 
11.13(b)(4), BZX further provides for optional ``Re-Route 
Instructions'' pursuant to which if a routable order has been locked or 
crossed by another market, the routable order on the BZX book would be 
routed to that other market. However, these are optional instructions, 
which implies that in the absence of one of these instructions, if a 
routable order on BZX is locked or crossed by another market, such 
order stands its ground.
     Investors Exchange LLC (``IEX'') Rule 11.240(c)(1) 
provides that IEX disseminates the aggregate of its best-ranked 
displayable orders to quotation vendors for dissemination to the SIPs. 
IEX Rules 11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i) further provide that 
resting orders that are displayed at a price that later becomes locked 
or crossed, and were originally displayed in compliance with rules and 
regulations of IEX, will maintain their displayed price and 
quantity.\9\ While these rules do not distinguish between displayed 
orders at the top of the IEX book and depth-of-book displayed orders, 
these rules appear consistent with the Exchange's proposed change to 
provide that resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders would stand their 
ground and are eligible to be disseminated to the SIP as the BBO at 
their original displayed price.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See also Supplementary Material .02 to IEX Rule 11.190(h) 
(providing that ``[o]rders displayed on the Exchange which were 
displayed at a price compliant with Regulation NMS are generally 
permitted to maintain their displayed price in the event an away 
trading center locks or crosses the price of the IEX displayed 
order.'')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Long-Term Stock Exchange (``LTSE'') Rule 11.240(c)(1) 
provides that LTSE disseminates the aggregate of its best-ranked 
displayable orders to quotation vendors for dissemination to the 
SIPs.\10\ LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) and (g)(3)(B)(i) further 
provide that resting orders that are displayed at a price that later 
becomes locked or crossed, and were originally displayed in compliance 
with rules and regulations of LTSE, will maintain their displayed price 
and quantity.\11\ While these rules do not distinguish between 
displayed orders at the top of the LTSE book and at depth, these rules 
appear consistent with the Exchange's proposed change to provide that 
resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders would stand their ground and 
are eligible to be disseminated to the SIP as the BBO at their original 
displayed price.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ LTSE has been approved as a registered exchange but is not 
yet operational.
    \11\ See also Supplementary Material .02 to LTSE Rule 11.190(g).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     MEMX LLC (``MEMX'') has filed a Form 1 application for 
registration as a national securities exchange pursuant to Section 6 of 
the Act.\12\ Proposed MEMX Rule 11.9(b) provides that the best-ranked 
order(s) to buy and the best-ranked order(s) to sell that are 
displayable in the MEMX Book and the aggregate displayed size of such 
orders associated with such prices shall be collected and made 
available to the SIP. MEMX claims that its proposed MEMX Rule 
11.6(j)(1)(A)(ii), which provides that ``[f]ollowing the initial 
ranking and display or an order subject to the Display-Price Sliding 
instruction, an order will only be re-ranked and re-displayed to the 
extent it achieves a more aggressive price, provided, however, that the 
Exchange will re-rank an order at the same price as the displayed price 
in the event such orders' displayed price would be a Locking or 
Crossing Quotation'' makes clear that an order displayed by MEMX would 
not be re-priced to a less aggressive price if another market locked or 
crossed an order displayed by MEMX.\13\ The Exchange understands this 
response to mean that MEMX would not re-price displayed orders that 
were at depth that would become the MEMX best bid or offer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87436 (October 31, 
2019), 84 FR 59854 (November 6, 2019) (File No. 1--237). Although 
MEMX has not yet been approved as an exchange, the Exchange believes 
that its proposed rules are relevant to this discussion as MEMX 
expects to be operational in 2020, subject to approval of its Form 1 
application.
    \13\ See Letter from Anders Franzon, General Counsel, MEMX, to 
Ms. Vanessa Countryman, Secretary, Securities and Exchange 
Commission, dated February 11, 2020, available here: https://www.sec.gov/comments/10-237/10237-6795399-208386.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange proposes to amend its rules to conform how it reprices 
orders in this scenario to how other exchanges function. The Exchange 
believes that because such orders did not lock or cross an Away Market 
PBBO when they were entered on the Exchange and displayed to the 
Exchange's proprietary market data, such resting orders have priority 
at the price at which they were originally displayed.\14\ In other 
words, such resting orders did not cause a locked or crossed market 
condition.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ If the PBBO is locked or crossed at the time of an order's 
arrival, such arriving orders would be either routed, cancelled, or 
repriced, as provided for in Rule 7.37(c) (for routable orders) or 
Rule 7.31(e) (for non-routable orders). This proposed rule change is 
applicable only to resting orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange further believes that providing priority to such 
resting orders on the Exchange Book (e.g., disseminating ``Order A'' as 
a BB at $10.04 in the above-described scenario) would be consistent 
with Rule 610(d) under the Act (``Rule 610(d)'').\15\ Rule 610(d) 
provides that ``[e]ach national securities exchange . . . shall 
establish, maintain, and enforce written rules that . . . are 
reasonably designed to assure the reconciliation of locked quotations 
in an NMS stock.'' The proposed rule change is consistent with this 
requirement because in the scenario described above, the Away Market 
has published a PBO that crosses not only the Exchange's BB, but also 
other orders

[[Page 15553]]

that have already been entered on the Exchange and displayed on the 
Exchange's proprietary market data. Even though such depth-of-book 
orders have not yet been disseminated to the SIP as part of the 
Exchange's BBO, those resting orders pre-exist the Away Market quote 
that crossed them. Therefore, disseminating any pre-existing, displayed 
orders to the SIP as the new BB at their original price would be 
consistent with Rule 610(d) because it was the Away Market that crossed 
previously-displayed orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ 17 CFR 242.610(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Rule Change
    To effect this proposed rule change, the Exchange proposes to 
delete Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) in its entirety. The Exchange also proposes 
to delete references to this Rule and describe how the Exchange would 
process orders, as follows.
    First, the Exchange proposes several rule changes to specify that 
previously-displayed orders at any price stand their ground and remain 
eligible to be quoted or traded at their last-displayed price, even if 
locked or crossed by an Away Market. The Exchange proposes to specify 
this principal generally for all displayed orders by amending Rule 
7.36(b) to add new subparagraph (4) that would provide that if an Away 
Market locks or crosses the BBO, the Exchange would not change the 
display price of any Limit Order ranked Priority 2--Display Orders \16\ 
and any such orders would be eligible to be disseminated as the 
Exchange's BBO.\17\ This proposed rule text both (1) provides 
specificity that all resting, top-of-book displayed orders stand their 
ground, which is current functionality,\18\ and (2) describes new 
functionality for previously displayed depth-of-book orders, which 
would now stand their ground instead of being repriced if they become 
the Exchange's BBO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ As set forth in Rule 7.36(c), all non-marketable orders are 
ranked and maintained in the Exchange Book in the following manner: 
(1) Price; (2) priority category; (3) time; and (4) ranking 
restrictions applicable to an order or modifier condition. Under 
Rule 7.36(e)(2), ``Priority 2--Display Orders'' are non-marketable 
Limit Orders with a displayed working price. Limit Orders that are 
ranked Priority 2--Display Orders can be top of book or at depth.
    \17\ As set forth in Rule 7.36(b)(1), the Exchange considers an 
order to be ``displayed'' when it has been disseminated via a market 
data feed. Because all orders ranked Priority 2--Display Orders, 
regardless of price, are displayed via proprietary data feeds, such 
orders are all ``displayed'' for purposes of Exchange rules.
    \18\ Current Rule 7.31(e)(1)(A)(iii) specifies that Non-Routable 
Limit Orders stand their ground when crossed by an Away Market PBBO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because such resting orders would no longer be repriced if locked 
or crossed by an Away Market, such orders would not need to be assigned 
new working times and would therefore retain priority at their original 
price. In addition, for market participants that read the Exchange's 
proprietary market data and are aware of displayed, depth-of-book 
orders, this proposed change provides greater certainty regarding the 
price at which a liquidity-taking order would execute on the Exchange.
    This proposed rule text therefore promotes transparency and clarity 
in Exchange rules that all resting, displayed orders, including depth-
of-book orders, would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an 
Away Market. Proposed Rule 7.36(b)(4) is based in part on IEX Rules 
11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i) and LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) 
and (g)(3)(B)(i), described above, and is consistent with proposed MEMX 
Rule 11.6(j)(1)(A)(ii).
    The Exchange proposes related changes to remove references to Rule 
7.31(a)(2)(C) in connection with Primary Pegged Orders and replace that 
rule text with proposed new functionality that such orders would stand 
their ground at their last-displayed price. As described above, if the 
PBBO becomes locked or crossed, displayed orders on the Exchange would 
stand their ground. The Exchange proposes that in such scenario, 
resting Primary Pegged Orders, which are dynamically pegged to the 
PBBO, would similarly stand their ground. As further proposed, if the 
PBBO becomes locked or crossed, resting Primary Pegged Orders would 
wait for a PBBO that is not locked or crossed before the display and 
working price of such orders is adjusted. While the market is locked or 
crossed, such orders would remain eligible to trade at their current 
working price.
    To effect these changes, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 
7.31(h)(2)(B) relating to Primary Pegged Orders by deleting the last 
clause of that Rule \19\ and amend the last sentence of that paragraph 
as follows (new text underlined, proposed text for deletion in 
brackets): ``If after arrival, the PBBO becomes locked or crossed, the 
Primary Pegged Order will wait for a PBBO that is not locked or crossed 
before the display and working price [is]are adjusted[, but]and remains 
eligible to trade at its current working price.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ The last clause of current Rule 7.31(h)(2)(B) provides: 
``provided that, if a resting Limit Order on the Exchange Book is 
assigned a new display price and working price pursuant to Rule 
7.31(a)(2)(C) and the PBBO is still locked or crossed, a resting 
Primary Pegged Order will also be assigned a new display price and 
working price pursuant to Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C).''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the Exchange proposes to specify how the Exchange would 
process orders following a UTP Regulatory Halt in a UTP Security.\20\ 
Because continuous trading did not precede the resumption of trading of 
such security on the Exchange, the Exchange does not have a displayed 
quote eligible to stand its ground. Accordingly, to prevent publishing 
a quote that would lock or cross an Away Market, the Exchange proposes 
that before the Exchange publishes a quote, orders that are marketable 
against a protected quotation on an Away Market would be either routed 
(if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ The term ``UTP Security'' is defined in Rule 1.1(w) to mean 
a security that is listed on a national securities exchange other 
than the Exchange and that trades on the Exchange pursuant to 
unlisted trading privileges and the term ``UTP Regulatory Halt'' is 
defined in Rule 1.1(y) to mean a trade suspension, halt, or pause 
caused by the UTP Listing Market in a UTP Security that requires all 
market centers to halt trading in that security. The term ``UTP 
Listing Market'' is defined in Rule 1.1(x) to mean the primary 
listing market for a UTP Security.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The second clause of proposed new Rule 7.36(b)(4) would address how 
the Exchange would process orders before resuming trading and 
publishing a quote in a UTP Security following a UTP Regulatory Halt. 
This proposed rule text would be an exception to the first half of the 
rule text, described above, that previously-displayed orders stand 
their ground. The Exchange proposes this exception because during a UTP 
Regulatory Halt, there is no continuous trading and the Exchange 
``zeroes'' out its quote, meaning the Exchange removes its BBO from the 
SIP. However, during a UTP Regulatory Halt, the Exchange may still have 
orders on its book. Specifically, as set forth in Rule 7.18(b), during 
a UTP Regulatory Halt, the Exchange cancels resting non-displayed 
orders and maintains all other resting orders in the Exchange Book at 
their last working price and display price. The Exchange does not 
accept new orders during such a halt. As provided for in Rule 7.18(a), 
the Exchange does not resume trading, including publishing a quote, in 
such security until it receives notification from the UTP Listing 
Market that the halt or suspension is no longer in effect and it has 
received the first Price Band in that security. The Exchange proposes 
that once it is eligible to resume trading, previously-displayed Limit 
Orders, i.e., the orders entered before the UTP Regulatory Halt, would 
be routed (if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable) if such orders 
would be marketable against protected quotations on Away Markets.
    For example, if before a UTP Regulatory Halt in XYZ security, the

[[Page 15554]]

Exchange's BBO was $10.10 (100 shares) x $10.12 (100 shares), and 
before the Exchange resumes trading following that UTP Regulatory Halt, 
the first PBBO is $10.08 (100 shares) x $10.09 (100 shares), because 
the Exchange's former best bid of $10.10 is marketable against the new 
$10.09 PBO, the Exchange would either route that order (if routable) or 
cancel it (if non-routable). The Exchange would publish the former 
$10.12 because it is not marketable against an Away Market quotation.
    The Exchange believes that following a UTP Regulatory Halt, orders 
that would lock or cross the Away Market PBBO should either be routed 
(if routable) or cancelled (if non-routable) if they would be 
marketable against protected quotations on Away Markets. The Exchange 
believes that routing or cancelling such orders is consistent with Rule 
610(d) because the Away Market does not have an obligation to prevent 
locking or crossing an Exchange quote in this scenario. Therefore, in 
this scenario, to prevent locking or crossing the Away Market PBBO, the 
Exchange would either route or cancel previously-entered orders before 
publishing a quote.
    Third, the Exchange proposes to apply the proposed processing of 
orders, described above, to odd-lot orders. In other words, odd-lot 
orders would no longer be processed differently than orders that are a 
round lot or greater in size. Currently, Rule 7.38(b)(1) and 
subparagraphs (A)-(C) describe how the working and display price of 
odd-lot orders are adjusted in relation to the contra-side PBBO. In 
short, currently, the working and display prices of odd-lot orders are 
bound by the PBBO, which means that resting odd-lot orders can be 
repriced if the PBBO changes or becomes locked or crossed.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ Current Rule 7.38(b)(1) provides that ``[t]he working and 
display price of an odd lot order will be adjusted both on arrival 
and when resting on the Exchange Book as follows: (A) If the limit 
price of an odd lot order to buy (sell) is at or below (above) the 
PBO (PBB), it will have a working and display price equal to the 
limit price. (B) If the limit price of an odd lot order to buy 
(sell) is above (below) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working price 
equal to the PBO (PBB). The display price will also be adjusted to 
the PBO (PBB) unless the order's instruction requires a display 
price that is different from the PBBO. (C) If the PBBO is locked or 
crossed and the limit price of an odd lot order to buy (sell) is 
above (below) the PBO (PBB), it will have a working and display 
price equal to the PBB (PBO). The working and display price of such 
odd lot order will not be adjusted again until the PBBO unlocks or 
uncrosses.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As proposed, odd-lot sized orders would be priced the same as 
orders of a round-lot size or higher, and if they are designated 
Priority 2- Display Orders, they would stand their ground if locked or 
crossed by an Away Market PBBO. To effect this change, the Exchange 
proposes to delete Rule 7.38(b)(1) and sub-paragraphs (A)-(C) in their 
entirety. The Exchange also proposes to delete the clause ``provided 
that'' at the end of Rule 7.38(b) and make a non-substantive change to 
that Rule to replace the term ``in'' with the term ``on.'' As a result 
of these changes, Rule 7.38(b) would provide, without any qualifiers, 
that ``[r]ound lot, mixed lot and odd-lot orders are treated in the 
same manner on the Exchange.'' The Exchange proposes an additional non-
substantive change to renumber current Rule 7.38(b)(2) as Rule 7.38(c).
    Fourth, because displayed odd-lot orders would stand their ground, 
the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 7.31(d)(1) to add new subparagraph 
(F) relating to Reserve Orders to specify new functionality of how non-
routable Reserve Orders would be replenished if the display quantity of 
a resting Reserve Order is decremented to an odd-lot size when the PBBO 
is crossed. The Exchange proposes this change only for non-routable 
Reserve Orders. These changes are not necessary for a routable Reserve 
Order because when such order replenishes, the replenish quantity is 
evaluated for routing to Away Markets and thus would not be displayed 
at a price that crosses an Away Market.
    As proposed in new subparagraph (F) to Rule 7.31(d)(1), if the PBBO 
is crossed and the display quantity of a Reserve Order to buy (sell) 
that is a Non-Routable Limit Order is decremented to less than a round 
lot, the display price and working price of such Reserve Order would 
not change. This proposed rule text is consistent with the change, 
described above, that resting displayed orders, including odd-lot sized 
orders, would stand their ground if crossed by an Away Market. The 
proposed rule would further provide that the reserve interest that 
replenishes the display quantity would be assigned a display price one 
MPV below (above) the PBO (PBB) and a working price equal to the PBO 
(PBB). Because this is the first time such interest would be displayed, 
the Exchange proposes to adjust the display and working price so that 
the replenished quantity would not lock or cross the Away Market, which 
is the same manner that an arriving Non-Routable Limit Order is 
priced.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See Rule 7.31(e)(1)(A) (describing how arriving Non-
Routable Limit Order is priced). On Nasdaq, a Price to Comply Order 
with Reserve Size replenishes in a similar manner. See Nasdaq Rule 
4703(h); see also Supplementary Material .02 to IEX Rule 11.190(h) 
(``When a reserve order refreshes its displayed portion, the 
refreshing shares are not permitted to be displayed at a price that 
locks or crosses the price of a protected quotation on an away 
market and are subject to display-price sliding'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When the PBBO uncrosses, the display price and working price would 
be adjusted as provided for under paragraph (e)(1) of this Rule 
relating to Non-Routable Limit Orders.
    Fifth, as described above, displayed orders would stand their 
ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. However, non-displayed 
orders do not. As set forth in Rule 7.31(d)(2)(A), the working price of 
a resting Non-Displayed Limit Order will be adjusted based on the limit 
price of the order. If the limit price of a Non-Displayed Limit Order 
to buy (sell) is at or below (above) the PBO (PBB), it will have a 
working price equal to the limit price. If the limit price of a Non-
Displayed Limit Order to buy (sell) is above (below) the PBO (PBB), it 
will have a working price equal to the PBO (PBB). The Exchange proposes 
to amend Rule 7.31(d)(1) to provide that the working price of the 
reserve interest of resting Reserve Orders, which are non-displayed, 
would be adjusted in the same manner that the working price of Non-
Displayed Limit Orders are adjusted.
    To effect this change, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule 
7.31(d)(1) to add the following sentence: ``The working price of the 
reserve interest of a resting Reserve Order will be adjusted in the 
same manner as a Non-Displayed Limit Order, as provided for in 
paragraph (d)(2)(A) of this Rule.'' The Exchange understands that at 
least one other exchange also adjusts the price of the non-displayed 
portion of Reserve Orders in the same manner that such exchange adjusts 
the price of non-displayed orders.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ See IEX Rule 11.190(b)(2) (stating that the non-displayed 
portion of reserve orders are treated as non-displayed orders). IEX 
reprices its non-displayed orders differently from how the Exchange 
reprices Non-Displayed Limit Orders. See IEX Rule 11.190(h)(3)(D). 
Importantly, both IEX and the Exchange reprice non-displayed when 
crossed by an Away Market PBBO.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Together with the proposed rule change described above to Rule 
7.36(b), these rule changes make clear that on the Exchange, if crossed 
by an Away Market PBBO, displayed orders would stand their ground and 
non-displayed orders, including the reserve interest of resting Reserve 
Orders, would be repriced based off of the PBBO.
Implementation
    Because of the technology changes associated with this proposed 
rule change, the Exchange will announce the implementation date of this 
proposed rule change by Trader Update. Subject to effectiveness of this 
proposed rule

[[Page 15555]]

change, the Exchange anticipates that the implementation date will be 
in the Spring of 2020.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\24\ in general, and furthers the objectives of 
Sections 6(b)(5) of the Act,\25\ in particular, because it is designed 
to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote 
just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and 
coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing, settling, 
processing information with respect to, and facilitating transactions 
in securities, to remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanisms of, 
a free and open market and a national market system and, in general, to 
protect investors and the public interest and because it is not 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \25\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Exchange believes that deleting Rule 7.31(a)(2)(C) and the 
related proposed amendment to Rule 7.36(b) to add new sub-paragraph (4) 
would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and 
open market and a national market system because they would promote 
transparency in Exchange rules that previously-displayed orders would 
stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market PBBO. The 
proposed rule changes would further promote transparency because they 
make clear that resting, displayed, depth-of-book orders that have been 
locked or crossed by an Away Market PBBO would be eligible to be 
disseminated to the SIP at their original price if they become the BBO.
    The Exchange believes that previously-displayed orders, including 
depth-of-book orders, have priority at such price and should be able to 
stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market. The Exchange 
therefore believes it is consistent with this principle to delete Rule 
7.31(a)(2)(C) and change functionality on the Exchange for such orders 
to stand their ground and not be repriced if another market locks or 
crosses their price. The proposed change therefore benefits those 
resting orders because they would be able to keep their original 
working time and any priority ranking associated with such working 
time. The proposed change would also benefit liquidity takers, who 
would have greater certainty regarding the price at which they would 
receive an execution on the Exchange.
    Moreover, the proposed change is consistent with how other 
exchanges function. While the rules of other exchanges differ in level 
of detail, these proposed changes are based in part on IEX Rules 
11.190(h)(3)(A)(i) and (h)(3)(B)(i)and LTSE Rules 11.190(g)(3)(A)(i) 
and (g)(3)(B)(i), which similarly provide that previously-displayed 
orders on those exchanges maintain their display price and quantity if 
locked or crossed by an another market center. The proposal is also 
similar to how MEMX proposes it would function if approved as an 
exchange.
    The Exchange further believes that these proposed amendments are 
consistent with Rule 610(d). If an Away Market publishes a PBBO that 
crosses not only the Exchange's BBO, but also resting, displayed, 
depth-of-book orders, it was the Away Market that crossed previously-
displayed orders. If such previously-displayed, depth-of-book orders 
become the Exchange's BBO, the Exchange believes it is appropriate to 
disseminate those previously-displayed prices and quantities to the SIP 
as the new BBO because those resting orders pre-existed the Away Market 
quote that locked or crossed them.
    For the same reasons, the Exchange believes that the proposed 
changes to Primary Pegged Orders would remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market 
system because displayed orders that are pegged to a dynamic price 
would stand their ground at their original displayed price if locked or 
crossed by an Away Market, which is consistent with the proposed rule 
change that all displayed orders would stand their ground. These 
proposed rule changes also promote transparency by specifying that such 
orders would continue to be eligible to trade at their original working 
price, and that their display and working prices would not be adjusted 
until the PBBO is no longer locked or crossed.
    The Exchange further believes that routing or cancelling orders 
that are marketable against an Away Market PBBO following a UTP 
Regulatory Halt would also remove impediments to and perfect the 
mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system 
because in this scenario, the Away Market would not have had an 
obligation to prevent displaying a locking or crossing quotation. The 
Exchange proposes to avoid locking or crossing an Away Market PBBO in 
this scenario by routing or cancelling previously-displayed orders, as 
applicable. These proposed changes would reduce the number of times 
resting orders would be repriced, thereby increasing determinism for 
the price at which orders would be executed on the Exchange.
    The Exchange believes that processing odd-lot sized orders in the 
same manner as round-lot sized orders would remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market because the same 
principle applies: An order of any size that has been displayed has 
priority at that price if an Away Market subsequently locks or crosses 
that price. In addition, the Exchange believes that processing odd-lot 
orders the same as round-lot sized orders is not novel as it is 
consistent with the rules of other exchanges.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See, e.g., Nasdaq Rules 4703(b)(3) (defining the term ``odd 
lot'' as an order attribute) and 4702 (describing which order 
attributes are available for orders on Nasdaq, without any 
discussion of odd-lot sized orders being priced differently than 
round-lot sized orders). See also BZX Rules 11.10 (defining the term 
``odd lot'') and 11.9 (describing BZX Orders and Modifiers, without 
any discussion of odd-lot sized orders being priced differently than 
round-lot sized orders).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the Exchange believes that the proposed changes to Reserve 
Orders would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free 
and open market because it would apply these principles to a Non-
Routable Limit Order that is also a Reserve Order. This proposed 
functionality is also consistent with how Nasdaq and IEX process non-
routable orders with reserve interest.\27\ The proposed change to 
reprice the reserve interest of resting Reserve Orders in the same 
manner as a Non-Displayed Limit Order is priced would also remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market 
because it would promote consistency in Exchange rules regarding how 
similar orders are priced when crossed by an Away Market. The proposed 
change is also consistent with how IEX processes the reserve interest 
of Reserve Orders.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See supra note 22.
    \28\ See supra note 23.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,\29\ the Exchange 
believes that the proposed rule change would not impose any burden on 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. The proposed change is competitive because it is 
designed to conform how the Exchange processes previously-displayed 
orders with the functionality available on other exchanges, i.e., that

[[Page 15556]]

such orders would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away 
Market and be eligible to be disseminated to the SIP at their original 
price. The Exchange believes that the proposed change would promote 
competition because fewer orders would need to be repriced on the 
Exchange and therefore liquidity providers seeking for their orders to 
retain priority may route additional orders to the Exchange. Likewise, 
liquidity takers may be more likely to route orders to the Exchange if 
they have greater determinism regarding the price at which their 
resting, displayed orders on the Exchange would be executed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Without this proposed rule change regarding how displayed orders 
would stand their ground if locked or crossed by an Away Market, the 
Exchange is currently at a competitive disadvantage vis-[agrave]-vis 
all other equity exchanges, which do not reprice orders in this manner. 
As discussed above, displayed orders on all other equity exchanges, 
including the two exchanges that recently had their Form 1 applications 
to be approved as an exchange (IEX and LTSE), stand their ground when 
locked or crossed by an Away Market and such orders are disseminated to 
the SIP if they become those exchanges' best bid or offer. In addition, 
MEMX proposes that displayed orders would stand their ground if locked 
or crossed by an Away Market.

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

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

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

    Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register, or 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 the proposed rule change, or
    (B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule 
change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-NYSECHX-2020-06 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-NYSECHX-2020-06. 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 website (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 website 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 offices of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-NYSECHX-2020-06, and should be submitted 
on or before April 8, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-05555 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.