Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Phlx Rules, 8955-8966 [2021-02710]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
markets it serves, consistent with Rule
17Ad–22(e)(21) under the Act.31
IV. Conclusion
On the basis of the foregoing, the
Commission finds that the proposed
rule changes are consistent with the
requirements of the Act and in
particular with the requirements of
Section 17A of the Act 32 and the rules
and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
It is therefore ordered, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act 33 that
proposed rule change SR–DTC–2020–
019, be, and hereby is, approved.34
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.35
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–02712 Filed 2–9–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–91057; File No. SR–
NASDAQ–2020–026]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of
Withdrawal of a Proposed Rule
Change, as Modified by Amendment
Nos. 1 and 2, To Adopt a New
Requirement Related to the
Qualification of Management for
Companies From Restrictive Markets
2020.3 On July 20, 2020, pursuant to
Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,4 the
Commission designated a longer period
within which to approve the proposed
rule change, disapprove the proposed
rule change, or institute proceedings to
determine whether to disapprove the
proposed rule change.5 On August 21,
2020, the Exchange filed Amendment
No. 1 to the proposed rule change,
which replaced and superseded the
proposed rule change as originally
filed.6 On September 9, 2020, the
Commission published notice of
Amendment No. 1 and instituted
proceedings under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of
the Act 7 to determine whether to
approve or disapprove the proposed
rule change, as modified by Amendment
No. 1.8 On November 17, 2020, the
Exchange filed Amendment No. 2 to the
proposed rule change.9 On December 2,
2020, the Commission extended the
period for consideration of the proposed
rule change to February 7, 2021.10 On
February 1, 2021, the Exchange
withdrew the proposed rule change
(SR–NASDAQ–2020–026).
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.11
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–02708 Filed 2–9–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
February 4, 2021.
On May 29, 2020, The Nasdaq Stock
Market LLC (‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’), pursuant to Section
19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (‘‘Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4
thereunder,2 a proposed rule change to
adopt a new requirement related to the
qualification of management for
companies whose business is
principally administered in a
jurisdiction that has secrecy laws,
blocking statutes, national security laws,
or other laws or regulations restricting
access to information by regulators of
U.S.-listed companies. The proposed
rule change was published for comment
in the Federal Register on June 12,
31 Id.
32 15
U.S.C. 78q–1.
U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
34 In approving the proposed rule change, the
Commission considered its impact on efficiency,
competition, and capital formation. 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
35 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
1 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
33 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89028
(June 8, 2020), 85 FR 35967. Comments on the
proposed rule change can be found at: https://
www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2020-026/
srnasdaq2020026.htm.
4 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
5 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89342,
85 FR 44951 (July 24, 2020). The Commission
designated September 10, 2020 as the date by which
the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or
institute proceedings to determine whether to
approve or disapprove, the proposed rule change.
6 Amendment No. 1 is available at https://
www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2020-026/
srnasdaq2020026-7677529-222672.pdf.
7 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
8 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89794,
85 FR 57260 (September 15, 2020).
9 Amendment No. 2 is available at: https://
www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2020-026/
srnasdaq2020026-8048419-225740.pdf.
10 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 90553,
85 FR 79062 (December 8, 2020).
11 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8955
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–91060; File No. SR–Phlx–
2021–05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Amend Phlx Rules
February 4, 2021.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on January
26, 2021, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’ or
‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to amend
Phlx Rules at Options 1, Section 1,
‘‘Applicability, Definitions and
References’’; Options 2, Section 4,
‘‘Obligations of Market Makers’’;
Options 2, Section 6, ‘‘Market Maker
Orders’’; Options 3, Section 6, ‘‘Firm
Quotations’’; Options 3, Section 7,
‘‘Types of Orders and Order and Quote
Protocols’’; Options 3, Section 10,
‘‘Electronic Execution Priority and
Processing in the System’’; Options 3,
Section 13, ‘‘Price Improvement XL
(‘‘PIXL’’)’’; Options 3, Section 15,
‘‘Simple Order Risk Protections’’;
Options 3, Section 23, ‘‘Data Feeds and
Trade Information’’; Options 5, Section
4, ‘‘Order Routing’’; Options 8, Section
2, ‘‘Definitions’’; and Options 8, Section
32, ‘‘Types of Floor-Based (Non-System)
Orders’’.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/
rulebook/phlx/rules, at the principal
office of the Exchange, and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
1 15
2 17
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4.
10FEN1
8956
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend
Phlx Rules at Options 1, Section 1,
‘‘Applicability, Definitions and
References’’; Options 2, Section 4,
‘‘Obligations of Market Makers’’;
Options 2, Section 6, ‘‘Market Maker
Orders’’; Options 3, Section 6, ‘‘Firm
Quotations’’; Options 3, Section 7,
‘‘Types of Orders and Order and Quote
Protocols’’; Options 3, Section 10,
‘‘Electronic Execution Priority and
Processing in the System’’; Options 3,
Section 13, ‘‘Price Improvement XL
(‘‘PIXL’’)’’; Options 3, Section 15,
‘‘Simple Order Risk Protections’’;
Options 3, Section 23, ‘‘Data Feeds and
Trade Information’’; Options 5, Section
4, ‘‘Order Routing’’; Options 8, Section
2, ‘‘Definitions’’; and Options 8, Section
32, ‘‘Types of Floor-Based (Non-System)
Orders’’. Each change is described
below.
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange proposes to update the
cross reference within Options 1,
Section 1(b)(46) to Options 1, Section
1(b)(45) and make other non-substantive
grammatical amendments within
Options 1, Section 1.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange proposes to add a title
to Options 2, Section 4(c)(1) to make
clear that this section applies intra-day.
The Exchange proposes to add the title,
‘‘Intra-Day Bid/Ask Differentials (Quote
Spread Parameters).’’
Additionally, the Exchange proposes
to remove the phrase, ‘‘or its decimal
equivalent rounded down to the nearest
minimum increment’’ within Options 2,
Section 4(c)(1). This is a nonsubstantive amendment because the
bid/ask differentials may be as wide as
the spread between the national best bid
and offer in the underlying security, if
rounding up it would cause the spread
to be wider than the underlying spread,
so rounding is superfluous.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange previously filed a rule
change 3 to replace the term ‘‘Registered
Options Traders’’ or ‘‘ROTs’’ with
‘‘Market Makers’’ and replace
‘‘Specialists’’ with ‘‘Lead Market
Makers.’’ The Exchange is updating this
rule to conform to those prior changes.
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 6 to re-number and
re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx’s
rule structure, update rule citations, and
add spacing where necessary.
The Exchange also proposes to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4), which
provides,
(A) If the Best Price is the Exchange’s
next available price . . .
and is also equal to both the ABBO price
and the Acceptable Range price, any
remainder order volume from the
execution on the Exchange will be
routed away, and if after such routing,
there still remain unexecuted contracts,
the remainder will be posted on the
Phlx at the Acceptable Range price for
a period not to exceed ten seconds, and
then cancelled after this time has
elapsed, unless the member that
submitted the original order has
instructed the Exchange in writing to reenter the remaining size, in which case
the remaining size will be automatically
submitted as a new order. During this
up to ten second period, the System will
disseminate, on the opposite side of the
market from remaining unexecuted
contracts: (i) A non-firm bid for the
price and size of the next available
bid(s) on the Exchange if the remaining
size is a seller, or (ii) a non-firm offer
for the price and size of the next
available offer(s) on the Exchange if the
remaining size is a buyer.
The Exchange proposes to amend the
sentence which provides,
If the Best Price is the Exchange’s next
available price . . . and is also equal to both
the ABBO price and the Acceptable Trade
Range price, any remainder order volume
from the execution on the Exchange will be
routed away, and if after such routing, there
still remain unexecuted contracts, the
remainder will be posted on the Phlx at the
Acceptable Trade Range price for a period
not to exceed ten seconds, and then
cancelled after this time has elapsed, unless
the member that submitted the original order
has instructed the Exchange in writing to reenter the remaining size, in which case the
3 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88213
(February 14, 2020), 85 FR 9859 (February 20, 2020)
(SR–Phlx–2020–03) (‘‘Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change
To Relocate Rules From Its Current Rulebook Into
Its New Rulebook Shell’’).
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
remaining size will be automatically
submitted as a new order.
This statement does not represent the
current function of the System. The
Exchange proposes to amend the rule
text to properly represent system
functionality. Today, in this scenario, if
the Exchange’s next available price is
the ABBO price (which equates to the
Acceptable Trade Range price) after the
remaining order has routed away and
executed with quotes at the away
exchange and the unexecuted contracts
are returned to the Exchange, the
incoming order may post at its original
limit price, with a new timestamp and
would be subject to certain entry
checks. The Exchange proposes to
amend the sentence to correctly
provide,
If the Best Price is the Exchange’s next
available price . . . and is also equal to both
the ABBO price and the Acceptable Trade
Range price, any remainder order volume
from the execution on the Exchange will be
routed away, and if after such routing, there
still remain unexecuted contracts, the
unexecuted contracts would post to the
Order Book at their Limit Order price, with
a new timestamp, subject to order entry price
checks.
The order entry checks are applied for
new orders when they post to the Order
Book as provided for in Phlx Options 3,
Section 5(a)(4). The Exchange filed prior
rule changes 4 which established Phlx’s
System as it exists today. As the new
System was amended through a series of
rule changes, certain technology was
automated to prevent any manual
intervention, and provide Systemenforced functionalities. The Exchange
believes that this process was modified
with certain enhancements which
further automated the System. The
proposed amendment provides the
market participant with greater certainty
as to the order. Further, the Exchange
offers market participants various
options with respect to routing. A
market participant may elect to route as
a FIND or SRCH Order which provides
the Exchange with instructions as to
how an order may route anew once
posted on the Order Book.5 A market
participant may also choose to submit
an order with varying TIF options (e.g.,
DAY, IOC, GTC) that provide the
Exchange instructions as to how to
either post an order on the Order Book
4 See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 50100
(July 27, 2004), 69 FR 46612 (August 3, 2004) (SR–
Phlx–2003–59); 55498 (March 20, 2007, 72 FR
14318 (March 27, 2007) (SR–Phlx–2007–15); 59995
(May 28, 2009), 74 FR 26750 (June 3, 2009) (SR–
Phlx–2009–32); and 72152 (May 12, 2014), 79 FR
28561 (May 16, 2014) (SR–Phlx–2014–32).
5 Options 5, Section 4 describes the various
options routing functionalities available on Phlx.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
or cancel back an order after exhausting
its potential to trade upon entry.
The final sentence of Options 3,
Section 6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4),6 which
is being removed, is no longer relevant
in this scenario as the ten second period
does not exist.
The Exchange proposes to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), which states, ‘‘If there
are no offers both on the Exchange and
on away markets in the affected series,
Market Orders to buy in the affected
series will be cancelled immediately,
and an electronic report of such
cancellation will be transmitted to the
sender.’’ The Exchange proposes to
replace ‘‘cancelled immediately’’ with
the term ‘‘rejected’’ to conform the rule
text to conform to other uses of the word
rejected in the Rulebook. The System
would reject and not accept the order in
this case.
Finally, the Exchange proposes to
amend Supplementary Material .02 to
Options 3, Section 6 which states, ‘‘In
the event that an SQT, RSQT, and/or
Lead Market Maker’s electronically
submitted quotations interact with the
electronically submitted quotations of
other SQTs, RSQTs and/or the Lead
Market Maker, resulting in the
dissemination of a ‘‘locked’’ quotation
(e.g., $1.00 bid–1.00 offer), the locked
quotations will automatically execute
against each other in accordance with
the allocation algorithm set forth in
Options 3, Section 10.’’ The phrase,
‘‘resulting in the dissemination of a
‘‘locked’’ quotation (e.g., $1.00 bid–1.00
offer)’’ is out of date as under the
current Options Order Protection and
Locked/Crossed Market Plan,7 the
Exchange would not disseminate a
locked quotation. Rather, the Exchange
would reprice its quote as described
within Options 3, Section 4(b)(6). As a
result, the Exchange proposes to delete
this rule text. The Exchange believes
that this rule text existed prior to the
Locked and Crossed Market Plan and
was not updated when the new plan
came into existence.
Options 3, Section 7
Similar to the changes proposed
within Options 2, Section 6, the
Exchange proposes to replace the term
‘‘Registered Options Traders’’ or
6 During this up to ten second period, the System
will disseminate, on the opposite side of the market
from remaining unexecuted contracts: (i) A nonfirm bid for the price and size of the next available
bid(s) on the Exchange if the remaining size is a
seller, or (ii) a non-firm offer for the price and size
of the next available offer(s) on the Exchange if the
remaining size is a buyer.
7 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60405
(July 30, 2009), 74 FR 39362 (August 6, 2009) (File
No. 4–546).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
‘‘ROTs’’ with ‘‘Market Makers’’ and
replace ‘‘Specialists’’ with ‘‘Lead Market
Makers’’ within Options 3, Section 7 to
conform to the remainder of the
Rulebook.8
The Exchange proposes to amend Allor-None Orders within Options 3,
Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to
the description of an All-or-None Order
to bring greater transparency to this
order type. Today, the Exchange
provides that All-or-None Orders are
non-displayed and non-routable. To
expand on this notion, the Exchange
proposes to amend the sentence to
provide, ‘‘All-or-None Orders are nonroutable. The Exchange does not
disseminate bids or offers of All-orNone Orders to OPRA and the Top of
PHLX Options feed, however All-orNone Orders are displayed in the PHLX
Orders 9 and PHLX Depth of Book 10
feed.’’ This additional rule text will
make clear that these order types are not
disseminated on OPRA or the Top of
PHLX Options feed, however All-orNone Orders are displayed in the PHLX
Orders and PHLX Depth of Book feed.11
Further, the Exchange proposes to add,
‘‘If an All-or-None Order contingency
cannot be met, the All-or-None Order
would be bypassed until such time as
the contingency could be met.’’ This
language is intended to make clear that
an All-or-None Order will not cause
other orders to queue until such time as
the All-or-None Order may execute.
Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest
on the Order Book until the contingency
8 See
note 3 above.
Phlx Options 3, Section 23(a)(2). PHLX
Orders is a real-time full Limit Order book data feed
that provides pricing information for orders on the
PHLX Limit Order book. PHLX Orders is currently
provided as part of the TOPO Plus Orders data
product. PHLX Orders provides real-time
information to enable users to keep track of the
single order book(s), single and Complex Orders,
and Complex Order Live Auction (‘‘COLA’’) for all
symbols listed on Phlx. The data provided for each
options series includes the symbols (series and
underlying security), put or call indicator,
expiration date, the strike price of the series, leg
information on complex strategies and whether the
option series is available for trading on Phlx and
identifies if the series is available for closing
transactions only.
10 See Phlx Options 3, Section 23(a)(3). PHLX
Depth of Market is a data product that provides: (i)
Order and quotation information for individual
quotes and orders on the PHLX book; (ii) last sale
information for trades executed on Phlx; (iii)
auction; and (iv) an Imbalance Message which
includes the symbol, side of the market, size of
matched contracts, size of the imbalance, and price
of the affected series. The data provided for each
options series includes the symbols (series and
underlying security), put or call indicator,
expiration date, the strike price of the series, and
whether the option series is available for trading on
Phlx and identifies if the series is available for
closing transactions only.
11 The Exchange discusses these data feeds in
more detail below.
9 See
PO 00000
Frm 00076
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8957
will be met, at which time that Public
Customer All-or-None Order will have
priority over other orders on the Book.
The Exchange believes the addition of
this rule text will bring greater
transparency to the current System
handling of All-or-None Orders.
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 7(c)(3), ‘‘Opening
Only,’’ to correct incorrect rule text, and
also add a clarifying sentence. Today,
Options 3, Section 7(c)(3) provides, ‘‘An
Opening Only (‘‘OPG’’) order is entered
with a Time in Force (‘‘TIF’’) of ‘‘OPG’’.
This order can only be executed in the
Opening Process pursuant to Options 3,
Section 8. This order type is not subject
to any protections listed in Options 3,
Section 15, except for Automated
Quotation Adjustments.’’ The Exchange
proposes to remove the phrase ‘‘except
for Automated Quotation Adjustments’’
because, today, an OPG order is not
subject to Automated Quotation
Adjustments. As provided for within
Options 3, Section 15(c), Automated
Quotation Adjustments protections are
available to Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers only. Any participant
may enter an Opening Only Order.
Typically Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers submit Valid Width
Quotes,12 as provided for within
Options 3, Section 8, during the
Opening Process. Further, an Opening
Sweep,13 which is utilized by Market
12 A Valid Width Quote is a two-sided electronic
quotation submitted by a Phlx Electronic Market
Maker that meets the following requirements:
Options on equities and index options bidding and/
or offering so as to create differences of no more
than $.25 between the bid and the offer for each
option contract for which the prevailing bid is less
than $2; no more than $.40 where the prevailing bid
is $2 or more but less than $5; no more than $.50
where the prevailing bid is $5 or more but less than
$10; no more than $.80 where the prevailing bid is
$10 or more but less than $20; and no more than
$1 where the prevailing bid is $20 or more,
provided that, in the case of equity options, the bid/
ask differentials stated above shall not apply to inthe-money series where the market for the
underlying security is wider than the differentials
set forth above. For such series, the bid/ask
differentials may be as wide as the quotation for the
underlying security on the primary market, or its
decimal equivalent rounded down to the nearest
minimum increment. The Exchange may establish
differences other than the above for one or more
series or classes of options. See Options 3, Section
8(a)(ix).
13 An Opening Sweep is a one-sided order entered
by a Specialist or ROT through SQF for execution
against eligible interest in the System during the
Opening Process. This order type is not subject to
any protections listed in Options 3, Section 15,
except for Automated Quotation Adjustments. The
Opening Sweep will only participate in the
Opening Process pursuant to Options 3, Section 8
and will be cancelled upon the open if not
executed. See Options 3, Section 7(b)(6). This
definition is being amended herein to update the
terms Specialist and ROT to Lead Market Maker
and Market Maker.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
8958
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
Makers and Lead Market Makers, is
protected by Automation Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange also
proposes to note that OPG orders may
not route. Both of these amendments
represent current System functionality.
This additional information is proposed
to bring greater clarity to this TIF.
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange proposes to make a
grammatical correction to Options 3,
Section 10 which is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange proposes to update
incorrect rule references within Options
3, Section 13.
The Exchange proposes to amend
various references within Options 3,
Section 13 to make clear the manner in
which All-Or-None Orders 14 are treated
within a PIXL Auction. Specifically, the
Exchange proposes to make clear that
the term ‘‘Reference BBO,’’ as described
within Options 3, Section 13(a)(2),
describes displayed and non-displayed
orders, however, All-Or-None Orders
are not considered. The Exchange does
not consider All-Or-None Orders, until
the order is being allocated because the
System is unable to determine whether
an All-Or-None Order can be satisfied
until the System receives responses to
the PIXL Order and is able to allocate
the PIXL Order. The Exchange proposes
to add rule text to make clear where the
Reference BBO or the Reference
cPBBO 15 is mentioned, whether All-OrNone Orders are included or excluded.
With respect to PIXL entry checks and,
thereafter, the treatment of auction
responses, All-Or-None Orders are not
considered for price checks. The
Exchange does consider All-Or-None
Orders for allocation purposes. Options
3, Section 13(a)(5)(B)(i), which is not
proposed to be amended, provides,
If the Initiating Member selected the single
stop price option of the PIXL Auction (except
if it is a Complex Order), PIXL executions
14 Options 3, Section 7(b)(5) provides, ‘‘An All-orNone Order is a Limit Order or Market Order that
is to be executed in its entirety or not at all. An Allor None Order may only be submitted by a Public
Customer. All-or-None Orders are non-displayed
and non-routable. All-or-None Orders are executed
in price-time priority among all Public Customer
orders if the size contingency can be met. The
Acceptable Trade Range protection in Options 3,
Section 15(a) is not applied to All-Or-None Orders.’’
The Exchange is proposing to amend Options 3,
Section 7(b)(5), please see discussion regarding Allor-None Order on page 9.
15 The term ‘‘cPBBO’’ means the best net debit or
credit price for a Complex Order Strategy based on
the PBBO for the individual options components of
such Complex Order Strategy, and, where the
underlying security is a component of the Complex
Order, the National Best Bid and/or Offer for the
underlying security. See Options 3, Section
14(a)(iv).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
will occur at prices that improve the stop
price, and then at the stop price with up to
40% of the remaining contracts after Public
Customer interest is satisfied being allocated
to the Initiating Member at the stop price.
However, if only one other participant
matches the stop price, then the Initiating
Member may be allocated up to 50% of the
contracts executed at such price. Remaining
contracts shall be allocated pursuant to the
algorithm set forth in Options 3, Section
10(a)(1)(G) among remaining quotes, orders
and PAN responses at the stop price.
Thereafter, remaining contracts, if any, shall
be allocated to the Initiating Member. The
allocation will account for Surrender, if
applicable.
Options 3, Section 10 considers AllOr-None Orders that can be satisfied.
This proposal clarifies the current
System operation.
The Exchange also proposes to add
rule text, within Options 3, Section
13(f), to provide that with respect to a
PIXL Order for the account of a Public
Customer that is paired with an order
for the account of another Public
Customer, that All-or-None Orders that
can be satisfied are included within the
Reference BBO. The Exchange considers
All-Or-None Orders when checking the
Order Book for other Public Customer
Orders. The proposed rule text within
Options 3, Section 13(f) clarifies the
current System operation. The addition
of ‘‘including Reference BBO’’ is
necessary with respect to Complex
Orders because a Complex Public
Customer-to-Public Customer Cross
Order cannot trade equal to or through
a non-displayed price. The Complex
Public Customer-to-Public Customer
Cross Order would be rejected if the
result were that it would trade at a price
equal to or through the cPBBO.
The Exchange proposes to note
‘‘including Reference BBO’’ within
Options 3, Section 13(b)(2)(C) and 13(f)
to conform the rule text throughout the
rule. These amendments represent
current System operation. The
Reference BBO also pertains to Complex
Orders because the cPBBO is derived
from displayed quotes for the individual
legs.
These amendments are intended to
bring greater clarity to the
representation of All-Or-None Orders
within this Rule.
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 13 in various places
to replace ‘‘one minimum price
improvement increment,’’ with ‘‘$0.01.’’
This amendment is non-substantive.
The Exchange proposes amendments
to Options 3, Section 13(b)(7) and (8) to
clarify the rule text. The proposed
amendments are non-substantive and
are similar to amendments recently
made to BX Options 3, Section 13(ii)(I).
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Exchange proposes to add some
context to the rule to better reflect the
current System operation. First, the
Exchange purposes to add the word
‘‘execution’’ in the first sentences of
Options 3, Section 13 (b)(7) and (8). The
execution price of the PIXL Auction is
utilized to compare to the price of an
order on the Limit Order book. The
Exchange utilizes the execution price
today on Phlx. Adding the word
‘‘execution’’ makes clear to members
that the initial PIXL Order stop price is
not utilized to compare the same side of
the market transactions at execution. If
the potential execution price of the PIXL
Order would be the same or better than
the price of an order on the Limit Order
book on the same side of the market as
the PIXL Order then, today, the PIXL
Order would be executed at a price
$0.01 better than such limit order,
regardless of whether such limit was a
Public or Non-Public Customer Order.
Second, while the phrase ‘‘or better’’ is
not clearly specified in the rule text,
today, the System captures cases where
PAN responses provide price
improvement for the PIXL Order at
prices that are crossed with the same
side interest mentioned above. Third,
the remainder of the changes are
grammatical and technical in nature.
The Exchange is creating two separate
sentences for readability.
The remainder of the proposed
changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature
and therefore non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 15(c)(1) to make clear
that the Anti-Internalization
functionality does not apply during the
Opening Process described within
Options 3, Section 8. A similar change
was recently made to BX’s Rules.16 The
Exchange proposes to clarify that AntiInternalization does not apply during an
Opening Process or reopening following
a trading halt, pursuant to Options 3,
Section 8, to provide more specificity on
how this functionality currently
operates. The same procedures used
during an Opening Process are used to
reopen an option series after a trading
halt, and therefore proposes to specify
that Anti-Internalization will not apply
during the Opening Process (i.e., the
opening and halt reopening processes).
During the Opening Process, Lead
Market Makers are able to observe the
primary market and then determine how
they would like to submit a Valid Width
16 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89759
(September 3, 2020). 85 FR 55877 (September 10,
2020) (SR–BX–2020–023).
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
Quote. AIQ is unnecessary during an
Opening Process due to the high level
of control that Market Makers exercise
over their quotes during this process.
This clarifying rule text reflects current
System functionality.
The Exchange also proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 15 to note that with
Automated Quotation Adjustments all
interest entered through SQF will be
automatically removed. As provided for
within Options 3, Section 7(a)(i)(B),
Specialized Quote Feed’’ or ‘‘SQF’’ is an
interface that allows Lead Market Makers,
Streaming Quote Traders (‘‘SQTs’’) and
Remote Streaming Quote Traders (‘‘RSQTs’’)
to connect, send, and receive messages
related to quotes, Immediate-or-Cancel
Orders, and auction responses into and from
the Exchange. Features include the following:
(1) Options symbol directory messages (e.g.,
underlying and complex instruments); (2)
system event messages (e.g., start of trading
hours messages and start of opening); (3)
trading action messages (e.g., halts and
resumes); (4) execution messages; (5) quote
messages; (6) Immediate-or-Cancel Order
messages; (7) risk protection triggers and
purge notifications; (8) opening imbalance
messages; (9) auction notifications; and (10)
auction responses. The SQF Purge Interface
only receives and notifies of purge request
from the Lead Market Maker, SQT or RSQT.
Lead Market Makers, SQTs and RSQTs may
only enter interest into SQF in their assigned
options series.
Today, Quotes and Immediate-orCancel Orders that may be entered
through SQF are removed when the
Automated Quotation Adjustment risk
mechanism is triggered. The current
rule text only considers quotes entered
through SQF. The amendment will
update the rule text to represent current
System functionality, and will bring
greater clarity to Automated Quotation
removals. Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers utilize the Immediate-orCancel Orders within SQF to respond to
auctions. The auction response requires
the same protection afforded by the
Automation Quotation Adjustments
which it affords the underlying option
in which the Market Maker or Lead
Market Maker is quoting continuously
among its assigned options classes. The
Automation Quotation Adjustments
protection removes both quotes and
Immediate-or-Cancel Orders submitted
through SQF because Market Maker and
Lead Market Maker risk applies to all
interest in the underlying option in
which the Market Maker or Lead Marker
Maker is assigned to quote in
throughout the trading day. Market
Makers and Lead Marker Makers
measure risk per underlying option. The
System functionality for the Automated
Quotation Adjustment is not being
amended.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 3, Section 23(a)(2) which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed.
The proposed amendments represent
the current information contained in the
PHLX Orders feed. The proposed
amendments are intended to better
represent the information in the feed by
adding more description to the current
rule text.
The Exchange proposes to note in the
first sentence of Options 3, Section
23(a)(2) that PHLX Orders is a real-time
full Limit Order book data feed that
provides pricing information for orders
on the PHLX Order book for displayed
order types and All-or-None Orders,17 as
well as market participant capacity.
All-or-None Orders are non-displayed
and non-routable. They are executed in
price-time priority among all Public
Customer Orders if the size contingency
can be met. All-or-None Orders have a
quantity contingency requiring the full
quantity of the order to execute in order
for any trade to take place which may
cause the order to not execute. If an Allor-None Order contingency cannot be
met, the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the
contingency could be met.18 The
Exchange is proposing to amend the
rule text within Options 3, Section
7(b)(5) which describes All-or-None
Orders to add more clarity about the
dissemination of All-or-None Orders
and the manner in which the System
will bypass those orders if the
contingency cannot be met.19
The PHLX Orders data feed displays
all orders on the Phlx Order Book with
original information, this is in contrast
to the Top of PHLX Options 20 feed,
which is not being amended by this
17 See
note 14 above.
3, Section 7(b)(5)(i) provides, ‘‘NonDisplayed Contingency Orders. A Non-Displayed
Contingency Order shall be defined to include the
following non-displayed order types: (1) Stop
Orders; and (2) All-or-None Orders.’’ Unlike All-orNone Orders, Stop Orders are not available for
execution until such time as the Stop Order’s
contingency has been met, therefore, Stop Orders
are not displayed on data feeds or OPRA until the
Stop Order is available for execution.
19 See proposed Options 3, Section 7(b)(5).
20 Top of PHLX Options (‘‘TOPO’’) is a direct data
feed product that includes the Exchange’s best bid
and offer price, with aggregate size, based on
displayable order and quoting interest on Phlx and
last sale information for trades executed on Phlx.
The data contained in the TOPO data feed is
identical to the data simultaneously sent to the
processor for the OPRA and subscribers of the data
feed. The data provided for each options series
includes the symbols (series and underlying
security), put or call indicator, expiration date, the
strike price of the series, and whether the option
series is available for trading on Phlx and identifies
if the series is available for closing transactions
only. See Options 3, Section 23(a)(1).
18 Options
PO 00000
Frm 00078
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8959
proposal, that only provides information
as to the displayed Order Book. The
Exchange does not disseminate All-orNone Orders to either the Top of PHLX
Options feed or the OPRA data feed
because All-or-None Orders may only
execute if the contingency can be met,
otherwise the System would bypass the
All-or-None Order. As such, All-orNone Orders are non-displayed to avoid
locking or crossing away markets by
displaying this order type which may
not execute because of the contingency
attributed to the order pursuant to the
Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Plan.21 The Exchange does
display All-Or-None Orders on the
PHLX Orders data feed to inform market
participants of orders that are available
for execution. Public Customers
submitting All-or-None Orders on Phlx
desire their orders to be executed and
the display of those orders on the PHLX
Orders data feed allows other member
organizations to see their orders are
available to execute against those
orders.
Similar to Phlx, Cboe permits all-ornone orders to rest in its order book and
does not disseminate all-or-none orders
to OPRA.22 Similar to Phlx, Cboe
displays all-or-none orders on its Orders
and Depth of Book feed.23
The Exchange proposes to remove the
second use of the word ‘‘Limit’’, as it is
redundant. The additional text makes
clear that both displayed and nondisplayed orders types and market
participant capacity are available.
21 17 CFR 242.608. The ‘‘NBBO’’ is the best
Protected Bid and Protected Offer as defined in the
Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed
Markets Plan; Protected Bids and Protected Offers
that are displayed at a price but available on the
Exchange at a better non-displayed price shall be
included in the NBBO at their better non-displayed
price for purposes of this rule. See Reg. NMS Rule
600(a)(42). Options 5, Section 1(o) defines a
‘‘Protected Bid’’ or ‘‘Protected Offer’’ as a Bid or
Offer in an options series, respectively, that: (i) Is
disseminated pursuant to the OPRA Plan; and (ii) is
the Best Bid or Best Offer, respectively, displayed
by an Eligible Exchange.
22 Cboe Rule 5.6(b) provides, ‘‘. . . An ‘‘All-orNone’’ or ‘‘AON’’ order is an order to be executed
in its entirety or not at all. An AON order may be
a market or limit order. Users may not designate an
AON order as All Sessions. (1) The Exchange does
not disseminate bids or offers of AON orders to
OPRA. (2) A User may not designate an AON order
as Post Only. (3) An AON limit order is always
subject to the Price Adjust process as set forth in
Rule 5.32. (4) A User may apply MCN (as defined
below), but no other MTP Modifier (if a User
applies any other MTP Modifier to an AON order,
the System handles it as an MCN), to an AON order.
(5) The Exchange may restrict the entry of AON
orders in a series or class if the Exchange deems it
necessary or appropriate to maintain a fair and
orderly market. (6) A User may not designate a bulk
message as AON.’’
23 See Section 4.5 of this specification: https://
cdn.cboe.com/resources/membership/US_
EQUITIES_OPTIONS_MULTICAST_PITCH_
SPECIFICATION.pdf.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
8960
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
The second sentence is being
amended to add ‘‘and complex’’ in lieu
of ‘‘single and Complex Orders, and
Complex Order Live Auction (‘‘COLA’’)
for all symbols listed on Phlx. The
sentence, as proposed, would state,
‘‘PHLX Orders is currently provided as
part of the TOPO Plus Orders data
product. PHLX Orders provides realtime information to enable users to keep
track of the single and complex order
book(s).’’ The Exchange believes the
proposed sentence is more succinct.
Finally, the Exchange proposes to add
a sentence to the end of the description
of PHLX Order feed that provides, ‘‘The
feed also provides auction and exposure
notifications and order imbalances on
opening/reopening (size of matched
contracts and size of the imbalance).’’
This additional information will more
clearly describe the PHLX Orders feed.
The Exchange also proposes to add the
same sentence to the end of the
description for the PHLX Depth of
Market feed within Options 3, Section
23(a)(3) to also add the same specificity
to that feed. The additional sentence
reflects the current information
provided in both the PHLX Orders and
PHLX Depth of Market feeds.
The removal of the word ‘‘PHLX’’
within Options 3, Section 23(a)(3) and
addition of the word ‘‘order’’ are nonsubstantive technical amendments.
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange proposes to amend the
sixth sentence of Options 5, Section 4(a)
and make some technical amendments.
As proposed, the sentence would
provide, ‘‘For purposes of this rule, the
Phlx’s best bid or offer or ‘‘PBBO’’ does
not include All-or-None Orders or Stop
Orders which have not been triggered.
The ‘‘internal PBBO’’ shall refer to the
actual better price of an order resting on
Phlx’s Order Book, which is not
displayed, but available for execution,
excluding Stop Orders which have not
been triggered and All-or-None Orders
which cannot be satisfied.’’ Stop Orders
must be triggered to be included in the
internal PBBO. A Stop Order is not
available until such time as its
contingency is trigged and then that
Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange
inadvertently did not include the
phrase, ‘‘which cannot be satisfied’’
when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The
limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order
contingency must be met for this order
type to execute, otherwise it will be
executed at such time as the
contingency could be met. Unlike the
Stop Order which is only available once
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
triggered,24 the All-or-None Order is
available for execution once the
contingency is met. This proposed
amendment reflects current System
operation.
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange proposes to add a
sentence within Options 8, Section 2(a)
which provides ‘‘The following terms as
used in the Rules shall, unless the
context otherwise indicates, have the
meanings herein specified:’’. The
Exchange proposes this sentence for
context to the information which
follows thereafter. This is a nonsubstantive change.
The Exchange proposes to add a new
defined term, ‘‘Floor Lead Market
Maker.’’ This defined term will bring
greater clarity to the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange proposes to state, ‘‘The
term ‘Floor Lead Market Maker’ is a
member who is registered as an options
Lead Market Maker pursuant to Options
2, Section 12(a) and has a physical
presence on the Exchange’s trading
floor.’’ This term is currently utilized
within the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange proposes to add the
word ‘‘Organization’’ within Options 8,
Section 2(a)(5). The word was
inadvertently left out. This is not a
substantive change. The term ‘‘Member
Organization’’ is a defined term within
General 1, Section 1(17).
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange proposes to amend
Options 8, Section 32 to add ‘‘FLEX
Option’’ to the list of order types that
are available on Phlx. The Exchange
proposes to provide that a FLEX Option
is as described within Options 8,
Section 34. Further, FLEX Options are
not eligible for entry by a member for
execution through the Options Floor
Based Management System (‘‘FBMS’’).25
Phlx Options 8, Section 22 provides,
24 Stop orders are inactive until they are
‘‘elected.’’ Stop orders are elected when either the
bid (offer) is updated to a price equal to or greater
(less) than the stop price of a Buy (Sell) Stop order
or an execution on the Exchange occurs at a price
equal to or greater (less) than the stop price of a
Buy(Sell) stop order. Stop order election takes place
at the end of the transaction that caused the election
and at that time the stop order enters the book as
a new market or limit order depending on the
participant instructions. Stop orders that are
‘‘electable’’ upon entry are rejected.
25 FBMS, an order management system, is the
gateway for the electronic execution of equity,
equity index and U.S. dollar-settled foreign
currency option orders represented by Floor
Brokers on the Exchange’s Options Floor. Floor
Brokers contemporaneously upon receipt of an
order and prior to the representation of such an
order in the trading crowd, record all options orders
represented by such Floor Broker into FBMS, which
creates an electronic audit trail. The execution of
orders into Phlx’s electronic trading system also
occurs via FBMS.
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(a) Options transactions on the Exchange’s
Trading Floor shall be executed in one of the
following ways:
(1) automatically by the Exchange Trading
System as provided in applicable Exchange
Rules;
(2) through the Options Floor Based
Management System. Members authorized to
operate on the floor are not permitted to
execute orders in the Exchange’s options
trading crowd, except as follows:
(A) The Exchange may determine to permit
executions otherwise than in accordance
with subparagraphs (1) and (2) above
respecting an option or all options in the
event of a problem with Exchange systems.
(B) In addition, members can execute
orders in the options trading crowd pursuant
to Options 8, Section 33, Accommodation
Transactions (cabinet trades), and Options 8,
Section 34, FLEX Equity, Index and Currency
Options.
(C) Multi-leg orders with more than 15 legs
can be executed in the trading crowd.
(D) The following split price orders that,
due to FBMS system limitations, require
manual calculation:
(i) Simple orders not expressed in the
applicable minimum increment (‘‘sub-MPV’’)
and that cannot be evenly split into two
whole numbers to create a price at the
midpoint of the minimum increment; and (ii)
complex and multi-leg orders with at least
one option leg with an odd-numbered
volume that must trade at a sub-MPV price
or one leg that qualifies under (i) above.
(E) As set forth in Options 8, Section
29(e)(v), members may use the Snapshot
feature of the Options Floor Based
Management System to provisionally execute
orders in the options trading crowd.
*
*
*
*
*
Today, FLEX Options are executed in
open outcry on the Trading Floor and
not through the Options Floor Broker
Management System as provided for
within Options 8, Section 22(a)(1)(B).26
The Exchange believes that the addition
of FLEX Options within Options 8,
Section 34 will make clear the order
types that are available for execution on
the Trading Floor and also clearly note
26 The Exchange has previously noted that FLEX
may be executed manually. See Securities and
Exchange Act Release No. 69471 (April 29, 2013),
78 FR 26096 (May 3, 2013) (SR–Phlx–2013–09). The
rule change noted that FLEX orders will continue
to be executable by Floor Brokers in the trading
crowd, rather than through FBMS because FBMS
will not be able to accept FLEX orders, which have
varied and complicated terms. Further, the
Exchange requires floor brokers or their employees
to enter the certain data elements into the
Exchange’s electronic audit trail in the same
electronic format as the required information for
equity and index options. Floor brokers or their
employees must enter the required information for
FLEX Options into the electronic audit trail on the
same business day that a specific event surrounding
the lifecycle of an order in FLEX (including,
without limitation, orders, price or size changes,
execution or cancellation) occurs. See Securities
and Exchange Act Release No. 50997 (January 7,
2005), 70 FR 2444 (January 3, 2013) (SR–Phlx–
2003–40). See also Options 8, Section 28(f).
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
that this order type is not eligible for
FBMS.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its
proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)
of the Act,27 in general, and furthers the
objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,28
in particular, in that it is designed to
promote just and equitable principles of
trade and to protect investors and the
public interest.
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange’s proposal to update
the cross reference within Options 1,
Section 1(b)(46), and make other
grammatical amendments within
Options 1, Section 1 are nonsubstantive.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange’s proposal to add a title
to Options 2, Section 4(c)(1) to make
clear that this section applies intra-day
is consistent with the Act because it will
bring greater clarity to the rule text.
The Exchange’s proposal to remove
the phrase, ‘‘or its decimal equivalent
rounded down to the nearest minimum
increment’’ within Options 2, Section
4(c)(1) is a non-substantive amendment
because the bid/ask differentials may be
as wide as the spread between the
national best bid and offer in the
underlying security, if rounding up it
would cause the spread to be wider than
the underlying spread, so rounding is
superfluous.
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange’s proposal to update
certain terms within Options 2, Section
6, which conforms with a previously
filed rule change,29 is consistent with
the Act. The updates to change the
names of the terms are non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 6 to re-number and
re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx’s
rule structure, update rule citations, and
add spacing where necessary are nonsubstantive amendments.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4) is consistent
with the Act. While processing an order
that is working through Acceptable
Trade Ranges, if that order encounters a
situation where the Exchange’s next
available price is the ABBO that also
equals the outer limit of the Acceptable
Trade Range, the order is able to post at
27 15
U.S.C. 78f(b).
U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
29 See note 3 above.
its limit price on the Order Book after
routing after it is executed with quotes
at the away exchange. Any unexecuted
contracts which return to the Exchange
may post at their original limit price
with a new timestamp, subject to certain
entry checks. Order entry checks are
applied for new orders when they post
to the Order Book as provided for in
Phlx Options 3, Section 5(a)(4). This
proposed rule text protects investors
and the general public because it will
provide market participants with an
expectation of how the System will
handle orders that remain unexecuted
in this scenario. The proposed
amendment provides the market
participant with greater certainty as to
the order. Further, the Exchange offers
market participants various options
with respect to routing. A market
participant may elect to route as a FIND
or SRCH Order which provides the
Exchange with instructions as to how an
order may route anew once posted on
the Order Book.30 A market participant
may also choose to submit an order with
varying TIF options (e.g., DAY, IOC,
GTC) that provide the Exchange
instructions as to how to either post an
order on the Order Book or cancel back
an order after exhausting its potential to
trade upon entry. Further, this
amendment provides more liquidity on
the Exchange with the order posting to
the Order Book, instead of potentially
being cancelled after a 10 second
period.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), to replace the term
‘‘cancelled immediately’’ with
‘‘rejected’’ conforms the rule text to
other uses of the word rejected within
the Rulebook. This amendment is nonsubstantive.
Finally, the Exchange’s proposal to
amend Supplementary Material .02 to
Options 3, Section 6 to remove the
phrase, ‘‘resulting in the dissemination
of a ‘‘locked’’ quotation (e.g., $1.00
bid—1.00 offer)’’ is consistent with the
Act. This phrase is out of date as under
the current Locked and Crossed Market
Plan, the Exchange would not
disseminate a locked quotation. Rather,
the Exchange would reprice its quote as
described within Options 3, Section
4(b)(6). The Exchange believes that this
rule text existed prior to the Locked and
Crossed Market Plan and was not
updated since that plan came into
existence. The amendment will protect
investors and the general public by
removing this inaccurate statement.
Options 3, Section 7
Similar to the changes proposed
within Options 2, Section 6, the
Exchange’s proposal to replace the term
‘‘Registered Options Traders’’ or
‘‘ROTs’’ with ‘‘Market Makers’’ and
replace ‘‘Specialists’’ with ‘‘Lead Market
Makers’’ within Options 3, Section 7
conforms the usage of these terms
within Phlx’s Rulebook.31 These nonsubstantive amendments which update
outdated terms within Options 3,
Section 7 is consistent with the Act.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
All-or-None Orders within Options 3,
Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to
the description of an All-or-None Order
is consistent with the Act because the
proposed rule text will bring greater
transparency to this order type. The
Exchange today provides that All-orNone Orders are non-displayed and
non-routable. To expand on this notion,
the Exchange proposes to amend the
sentence to provide, ‘‘All-or-None
Orders are non-routable. The Exchange
does not disseminate bids or offers of
All-or-None Orders to OPRA and the
Top of PHLX Options feed, however
All-or-None Orders are displayed in the
PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth of Book
feed.’’ This additional rule text will
make clear that these order types are not
disseminated on OPRA. Further, the
Exchange proposes to add, ‘‘If an All-orNone Order contingency cannot be met,
the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the
contingency could be met.’’ This
language is intended to make clear that
an All-or-None Order will not cause
other orders to queue until such time as
the All-or-None Order may execute.
Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest
on the Order Book until the contingency
will be met, at which time that Public
Customer All-or-None Order will have
priority over other orders on the Book.
The Exchange believes the addition of
this rule text will bring greater
transparency to the current System
handling of All-or-None Orders.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 7(c)(3), ‘‘Opening
Only,’’ to correct incorrect rule text, and
also add a clarifying sentence, is
consistent with the Act. Today, Options
3, Section 7(c)(3) provides, ‘‘An
Opening Only (‘‘OPG’’) order is entered
with a TIF of ‘‘OPG’’. This order can
only be executed in the Opening Process
pursuant to Options 3, Section 8. This
order type would continue to not be
valid outside of the Opening Process.
This order type is not subject to any
protections listed in Options 3, Section
28 15
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
30 See
Jkt 253001
PO 00000
note 5 above.
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
31 Id.
Sfmt 4703
8961
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
8962
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
15, except for Automated Quotation
Adjustments.’’ The Exchange proposes
to remove the phrase ‘‘except for
Automated Quotation Adjustments’’
because, today, an OPG order is not
subject to Automated Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange believes
that it is consistent with the Act to not
apply any risk protections during the
Opening Process as the Opening Process
itself has boundaries within which
orders will be executed. As provided for
within Options 3, Section 15(c),
Automated Quotation Adjustments
protections are available to Market
Makers and Lead Market Makers only.
Any participant may enter an Opening
Only Order. Typically Market Makers
and Lead Market Makers submit Valid
Width Quotes, as provided for within
Options 3, Section 8, during the
Opening Process. Further, an Opening
Sweep,32 which is utilized by Market
Makers and Lead Market Makers, is
protected by Automation Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange’s proposal
to note that OPG orders may not route
will bring greater transparency to the
rule.
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange’s proposal to make a
grammatical correction to Options 3,
Section 10 is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange’s proposal to update
certain rule references within Options 3,
Section 13 is non-substantive.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
various references within Options 3,
Section 13 to make clear the manner in
which All-Or-None Orders are treated
within a PIXL Auction is consistent
with the Act as this rule text will bring
greater clarity to the current System
operation. All-or None Orders are Limit
Orders or Market Orders that are to be
executed in their entirety or not at all,
and are non-displayed.33 The term
‘‘Reference BBO,’’ as described within
Options 3, Section 13(a)(2), describes
displayed and non-displayed orders,
however, All-Or-None Orders are not
considered. Today, the System does not
consider All-Or-None Orders, until the
32 An Opening Sweep is a one-sided order entered
by a Specialist or ROT through SQF for execution
against eligible interest in the System during the
Opening Process. This order type is not subject to
any protections listed in Options 3, Section 15,
except for Automated Quotation Adjustments. The
Opening Sweep will only participate in the
Opening Process pursuant to Options 3, Section 8
and will be cancelled upon the open if not
executed. See Options 3, Section 7(b)(6). This
definition is being amended herein to update the
terms Specialist and ROT to Lead Market Maker
and Market Maker.
33 See Options 3, Section 7(b)(5).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
order is being allocated because the
System is unable to determine whether
an All-Or-None Order can be satisfied
until the System receives responses to
the PIXL Order and is able to allocate
the PIXL Order. The Exchange proposes
to add rule text to make clear where the
Reference BBO or the Reference cPBBO
is mentioned, whether All-Or-None
Orders are included or excluded. With
respect to PIXL entry checks and,
thereafter, the treatment of auction
responses, All-Or-None Orders are not
considered for price checks. The
Exchange’s proposal protects investors
and the general public by considering
the contingency associated with an AllOr-None Order when it can be
determined if the All-Or-None Order
can be satisfied based on allocation
priority and responses received to the
PIXL Order.
The Exchange’s proposal to add rule
text, within Options 3, Section 13(f), to
provide that with respect to a PIXL
Order for the account of a Public
Customer that is paired with an order
for the account of another Public
Customer, that All-Or-None Orders that
can be satisfied are included within the
Reference BBO is consistent with the
Act. Today, Phlx does consider All-OrNone Orders when checking the Order
Book for other Public Customer Orders.
The proposed rule text within Options
3, Section 13(f) clarifies the current
System operation. Specifically, the
addition of ‘‘including Reference BBO’’
is necessary with respect to Complex
Orders because a Complex Public
Customer-to-Public Customer Cross
Order cannot trade equal to or through
a non-displayed price. The Complex
Public Customer-to-Public Customer
Cross Order would be rejected if the
result were that it would trade at a price
equal to or through the cPBBO.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 13 in various places
to replace ‘‘one minimum price
improvement increment,’’ with ‘‘$0.01’’
is a non-substantive amendment.
The Exchange’s proposed
amendments to Options 3, Section
13(b)(7) and (8) are consistent with the
Act because they clarify the current rule
text by adding ‘‘or better’’ to make clear
that the execution price may be better
than an order on the Limit Order Book.
Today, this is the case. This context
reflects the current System operation.
Similar amendments were made
recently made to BX Options 3, Section
13(ii)(I).
The remainder of the proposed
changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature
and therefore non-substantive.
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 7(c)(3), ‘‘Opening
Only,’’ to correct incorrect rule text, and
also add a clarifying sentence is
consistent with the Act. The Exchange’s
proposal to remove the phrase ‘‘except
for Automated Quotation Adjustments’’
because, today, an OPG order is not
subject to Automated Quotation
Adjustments. As provided for within
Options 3, Section 15(c), Automated
Quotation Adjustments protections are
available to Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers only. Any participant
may enter an Opening Only Order.
Typically Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers submit Valid Width
Quotes, as provided for within Options
3, Section 8, during the Opening
Process. Further, an Opening Sweep,
which is utilized by Market Makers and
Lead Market Makers, is protected by
Automation Quotation Adjustments.
Nasdaq BX, Inc. recently adopted a
similar rule.34 This proposal represent
current System functionality.
The Exchange’s proposal to note that
OPG orders may not route is consistent
with the Act. This additional
information will bring greater clarity to
this TIF. This proposal represent current
System functionality.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 15(c)(1) to make clear
that the Anti-Internalization
functionality does not apply during the
Opening Process described within
Options 3, Section 8 is consistent with
the Act. Anti-Internalization will not
apply during an Opening Process is
consistent with the Act as it would
provide more specificity on how this
functionality currently operates. During
the Opening Process, Lead Market
Makers are able to observe the primary
market and then determine how they
would like to quote. Anti-Internalization
is unnecessary during an Opening
Process due to the high level of control
that Lead Market Makers exercise over
their quotes during this process. A
similar change was recently made to
BX’s Rules.35
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed, is
consistent with the Act. All-or-None
Orders are non-displayed and nonroutable. They are executed in price34 See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89731
(September 1, 2020), 85 FR 55524 (September 8,
2020) (SR–BX–2020–016) (Order Approving
Proposed Rule Change To Amend BX’s Opening
Process in Connection With a Technology
Migration).
35 See note 16 above.
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
time priority among all Public
Customer Orders if the size contingency
can be met. All-or-None Orders have a
quantity contingency requiring the full
quantity of the order to execute in order
for any trade to take place which may
cause the order to not execute. If an Allor-None Order contingency cannot be
met, the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the
contingency could be met.
The PHLX Orders data feed displays
all orders on the Phlx Order Book with
original information, this is in contrast
to the Top of PHLX Options feed, which
is not being amended by this proposal,
that only provides information as to the
displayed Order Book. The Exchange
does not disseminate All-or-None
Orders to either the Top of PHLX
Options feed or the OPRA data feed
because All-or-None Orders may only
execute if the contingency can be met,
otherwise the System would bypass the
All-or-None Order. As such, All-orNone Orders are non-displayed to avoid
locking or crossing away markets by
displaying this order type which may
not execute because of the contingency
attributed to the order pursuant to the
Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Plan.36 The Exchange does
display All-Or-None Orders on the
PHLX Orders data feed to inform market
participants of orders that are available
for execution. Public Customers
submitting All-or-None Orders on Phlx
desire their orders to be executed and
the display of those orders on the PHLX
Orders data feed allows other member
organizations to see their orders are
available to execute against those
orders.
Similar to Phlx, Cboe permits all-ornone orders to rest in its order book and
does not disseminate all-or-none orders
to OPRA.37 Similar to Phlx, Cboe
36 17 CFR 242.608. Pursuant to Section 6 of the
Plan, Locked and Crossed Markets, The Participants
agree that they shall establish, maintain and enforce
written rules that: (a) Require their members
reasonably to avoid displaying Locked and Crossed
Markets; (b) Are reasonably designed to assure the
reconciliation of Locked and Crossed Markets; and
(c) Prohibit its members from engaging in a pattern
or practice of displaying Locked and Crossed
Markets; in all cases subject to such exceptions as
may be contained in the rules of a Participant
approved by the Commission.
37 Cboe Rule 5.6(b) provides, ‘‘. . . An ‘‘All-orNone’’ or ‘‘AON’’ order is an order to be executed
in its entirety or not at all. An AON order may be
a market or limit order. Users may not designate an
AON order as All Sessions. (1) The Exchange does
not disseminate bids or offers of AON orders to
OPRA. (2) A User may not designate an AON order
as Post Only. (3) An AON limit order is always
subject to the Price Adjust process as set forth in
Rule 5.32. (4) A User may apply MCN (as defined
below), but no other MTP Modifier (if a User
applies any other MTP Modifier to an AON order,
the System handles it as an MCN), to an AON order.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
8963
displays all-or-none orders on its Depth
of Book feed.38 The proposed
amendments represent the current
information contained in the PHLX
Orders feed. The proposed amendments
are intended to add more description
and bring greater clarity to the rule text.
will make clear the order types that are
available for execution on the Trading
Floor. Today, FLEX Options are
executed in open outcry on the Trading
Floor and not through the Options Floor
Broker Management System as provided
for within Options 8, Section 22B.40
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 5, Section 4(a) is consistent
with the Act as the proposal clarifies the
definition of internal PBBO. Stop Orders
must be triggered to be included in the
internal PBBO. A Stop Order is not
available until such time as its
contingency is trigged and then that
Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange
inadvertently did not include the
phrase, ‘‘which cannot be satisfied’’
when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The
limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order
contingency must be met for this order
type to execute, otherwise it will be
executed at such time as the
contingency could be met. Unlike the
Stop Order which is only available once
triggered,39 the All-or-None Order is
available for execution once the
contingency is met. This proposed
amendment reflects current System
operation.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange’s proposal to add a new
defined term, ‘‘Floor Lead Market
Maker’’ is consistent with the Act and
will bring greater clarity to the Options
8 rules. This term is currently utilized
within the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange’s proposal to add an
introductory sentence within Options 8,
Section 2(a) is a non-substantive
amendment which will bring greater
clarity to the rule text. The addition of
the word ‘‘Organization’’ within
Options 8, Section 2(a)(5) will correct
the rule text to provide for a defined
term.
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 8, Section 32 to add ‘‘FLEX
Option’’ to the list of order types that
are available on Phlx is consistent with
the Act because the addition of FLEX
Options within Options 8, Section 34
(5) The Exchange may restrict the entry of AON
orders in a series or class if the Exchange deems it
necessary or appropriate to maintain a fair and
orderly market. (6) A User may not designate a bulk
message as AON.’’
38 See Section 4.5 of this specification. https://
cdn.cboe.com/resources/membership/US_
EQUITIES_OPTIONS_MULTICAST_PITCH_
SPECIFICATION.pdf.
39 See note 24 above.
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change will impose
any burden on competition not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance
of the purposes of the Act.
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange’s proposal to update
the cross reference within Options 1,
Section 1(b)(46) and make other
grammatical amendments within
Options 1, Section 1 does not impose an
undue burden on competition as these
amendments are non-substantive.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange’s proposal to add a title
to Options 2, Section 4(c)(1) to make
clear that this section applies intra-day
does not impose an undue burden on
competition because it will bring greater
clarity to the rule text.
The Exchange’s proposal to remove
the phrase, ‘‘or its decimal equivalent
rounded down to the nearest minimum
increment’’ within Options 2, Section
4(c)(1) does not impose an undue
burden on competition. This is a nonsubstantive amendment because the
bid/ask differentials may be as wide as
the spread between the national best bid
and offer in the underlying security, if
rounding up it would cause the spread
to be wider than the underlying spread,
so rounding is superfluous.
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange’s proposal to update
certain terms within Options 2, Section
6 conform the rule with the use of terms
in the Rulebook 41 and does not impose
an undue burden on competition. These
changes are non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 6 to re-number and
re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx’s
rule structure, update rule citations, and
add spacing where necessary does not
impose an undue burden on
competition as these amendments are
non-substantive.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4) does not
40 See
41 See
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
note 25 above.
note 3 above.
10FEN1
8964
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
impose an undue burden on
competition as this proposal will correct
the rule text within Options 3, Section
6, and provide market participants with
the expected outcome in this scenario.
The proposed amendment provides the
market participant with greater certainty
as to the order. Further, the Exchange
offers market participants various
options with respect to routing and time
in force. A market participant may elect
to route as a FIND or SRCH Order which
provides the Exchange with instructions
as to how an order may route anew once
posted on the Order Book.42 A market
participant may also choose to submit
an order with varying TIF options (e.g.,
DAY, IOC, GTC) that provide the
Exchange instructions as to how to
either post an order on the Order Book
or cancel back an order after exhausting
its potential to trade upon entry.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), to replace ‘‘cancelled
immediately’’ with the term ‘‘rejected’’
conforms the rule text to other uses of
the word rejected within the Rulebook.
This amendment is non-substantive.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Supplementary Material .02 to Options
3, Section 6 does not impose an undue
burden on competition as this
amendment corrects out of date rule
text. The System does not disseminate
locked quotations, rather the System reprices orders. The amendment will
remove an inaccurate statement and
bring greater clarity to the Rulebook.
Options 3, Section 7
The Exchange’s proposal to update
certain terms within Options 3, Section
7 to conform to a prior rule change 43
does not impose an undue burden on
competition. These changes are nonsubstantive.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
All-or-None Orders within Options 3,
Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to
the description of an All-or-None Order
does not impose an undue burden on
competition because the proposed rule
text will bring greater transparency to
this order type. The Exchange today
provides that All-or-None Orders are
non-displayed and non-routable. To
expand on this notion, the Exchange
proposes to amend the sentence to
provide, ‘‘All-or-None Orders are nonroutable. The Exchange does not
disseminate bids or offers of All-orNone Orders to OPRA and the Top of
PHLX Options feed, however All-orNone Orders are displayed in the PHLX
Orders and PHLX Depth of Book feed.’’
42 See
note 5 above.
43 Id.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
This additional rule text will make clear
that these order types are not
disseminated on OPRA. Further, the
Exchange proposes to add, ‘‘If an All-orNone Order contingency cannot be met,
the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the
contingency could be met.’’ This
language is intended to make clear that
an All-or-None Order will not cause
other orders to queue until such time as
the All-or-None Order may execute.
Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest
on the Order Book until the contingency
will be met, at which time that Public
Customer All-or-None Order will have
priority over other orders on the Book.
The Exchange believes the addition of
this rule text will bring greater
transparency to the current System
handling of All-or-None Orders.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 7(c)(3), ‘‘Opening
Only,’’ to amend incorrect rule text, and
also add a clarifying sentence does not
impose an undue burden on
competition. An OPG Only Order may
be executed by any market participant
in the Opening Process pursuant to
Options 3, Section 8. This order type
would continue to not be not valid
outside of the Opening Process.
Removing the phrase ‘‘except for
Automated Quotation Adjustments’’
does not impose an undue burden on
competition because, today, an OPG
Order is not subject to Automated
Quotation Adjustments. The Opening
Process itself has boundaries within
which orders will be executed. Any
participant may enter an Opening Only
Order. Typically Market Makers and
Lead Market Makers submit Valid
Width Quotes, as provided for within
Options 3, Section 8, during the
Opening Process. Further, an Opening
Sweep which is utilized by Market
Makers and Lead Market Makers, is
protected by Automation Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange’s proposal
to note that OPG orders may not route
will bring greater transparency to the
rule.
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange’s proposal to make a
grammatical correction to Options 3,
Section 10 is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange’s proposal to update
certain rule references within Options 3,
Section 13 is non-substantive.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
various references within Options 3,
Section 13 to make clear the manner in
which All-Or-None Orders are treated
by the System within a PIXL Auction
does not impose an undue burden on
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
competition as this rule text will bring
greater clarity to the current System
operation. All market participants will
be treated in a uniform manner when
they enter an All-Or-None Order into
PIXL.
The Exchange’s proposal to add rule
text, within Options 3, Section 13(f), to
provide that with respect to a PIXL
Order for the account of a Public
Customer that is paired with an order
for the account of another Public
Customer, that All-Or-None Orders that
can be satisfied are included within the
Reference BBO does not impose an
undue burden on competition. The
proposed rule text within Options 3,
Section 13(f) clarifies the current
System operation. The Reference BBO
also pertains to Complex Orders because
the cPBBO is derived from displayed
quotes for the individual legs.
The Exchange’s proposal to make
clear where the Reference BBO is
specified within this rule, or the
Reference cPBBO, that All-or-None
Orders are excluded does not impose an
undue burden on competition. The
Exchange proposes to note ‘‘including
Reference BBO’’ within Options 3,
Section 13(b)(2)(C) and 13(f) to conform
the rule text. The Reference BBO also
pertains to Complex Orders because the
cPBBO is derived from displayed quotes
for the individual legs. This represents
current System operation.
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 13 in various places
to replace ‘‘one minimum price
improvement increment,’’ with ‘‘$0.01’’
is a non-substantive amendment.
The Exchange’s proposed
amendments to Options 3, Section
13(b)(7) and (8) do not impose an undue
burden on competition because they
clarify current rule text without any
substantive amendment.
The remainder of the proposed
changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature
and therefore non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange’s proposal to note that
the Automated Quotation Adjustments
protection removes both quotes and
Immediate-or-Cancel Orders does not
impose an undue burden on
competition. Market Makers and Lead
Market Makers utilize the Immediate-orCancel Orders within SQF to respond to
auctions. The auction response requires
the same protection afforded by the
Automation Quotation Adjustments
which it affords the underlying option
in which the Market Maker or Lead
Market Maker is quoting continuously
among its assigned options classes. The
Automation Quotation Adjustments
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
protection removes both quotes and
Immediate-or-Cancel Orders submitted
through SQF because Market Maker and
Lead Market Maker risk applies to all
interest in the underlying option in
which the Market Maker or Lead Marker
Maker is assigned to quote in
throughout the trading day. Market
Makers and Lead Marker Makers
measure risk per underlying option. The
System functionality for the Automated
Quotation Adjustment is not being
amended.
The Exchange believes its proposal to
clarify that Anti-Internalization will not
apply during an Opening Process does
not impose an undue burden on
competition as it would provide more
specificity on how this functionality
currently operates. During the opening,
Market Makers are able to observe the
primary market and then determine how
they would like to quote. Market Makers
are sophisticated market participants
that have their own tools and other
protections to manage risk during the
Opening Process.
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed,
does not impose an undue burden on
competition. The proposed amendments
represent current information contained
in the PHLX Orders feed. This
proprietary data feed displays all orders
on the Order Book with original
information, whereas the Exchange’s the
Top of PHLX Options feed, which is not
being amended by this proposal, only
provides information as to the displayed
order book. The Exchange does not
disseminate non-displayed order
information to the OPRA data feed,
rather only non-displayed prices are
submitted. The Exchange does display
All-Or-None Orders on the PHLX Orders
data feed to inform market participants
of orders that are available for
execution. Public Customers submitting
All-or-None Orders on Phlx desire their
orders to be executed and the display of
those orders on the PHLX Orders data
feed allows other member organizations
to see their orders are available to
execute against those orders. The
proposed amendments are simply
clarifying in nature and intended to add
more description to the rule.
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 5, Section 4(a), and make some
technical amendments, does not impose
an undue burden on competition. Stop
Orders must be triggered to be included
in the internal PBBO. A Stop Order is
not available until such time as its
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
contingency is triggered and then that
Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange
inadvertently did not include the
phrase, ‘‘which cannot be satisfied’’
when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The
limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order
contingency must be met for this order
type to execute, otherwise it will be
executed at such time as the
contingency could be met. Unlike the
Stop Order which is only available once
triggered,44 the All-or-None Order is
available for execution once the
contingency is met. This proposed
amendment reflects current System
operation and will bring greater clarity
to the rule.
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange’s proposal to add a new
defined term, ‘‘Floor Lead Market
Maker’’ does not impose an undue
burden on competition. This defined
term, which is currently utilized within
the Options 8 rules, will bring greater
clarity to the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange’s proposal to add an
introductory sentence within Options 8,
Section 2(a) that provides context to the
information that follows is a nonsubstantive amendment. The addition of
the word ‘‘Organization’’ within
Options 8, Section 2(a)(5) will make
clear the reference to the defined term
‘‘member organization.’’
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange’s proposal to amend
Options 8, Section 32 to add ‘‘FLEX
Option’’ to the list of order types that
are available on Phlx does not impose
an undue burden on competition
because the addition of FLEX Options
within Options 8, Section 34 will make
clear the order types that are available
for execution on the Trading Floor.
Today, FLEX Options are executed in
open outcry on the Trading Floor and
not through the Options Floor Broker
Management System as provided for
within Options 8, Section 22B.45
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received From
Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either
solicited or received.
44 See
45 See
PO 00000
note 24 above.
note 23 above.
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8965
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule
change does not: (i) Significantly affect
the protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant
burden on competition; and (iii) become
operative for 30 days from the date on
which it was filed, or such shorter time
as the Commission may designate, it has
become effective pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act 46 and
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4
thereunder.47
A proposed rule change filed under
Rule 19b–4(f)(6) 48 normally does not
become operative prior to 30 days after
the date of the filing. However, pursuant
to Rule 19b–4(f)(6)(iii),49 the
Commission may designate a shorter
time if such action is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public
interest. The Exchange requests that the
Commission waive the 30-day operative
delay so that the proposal may become
operative immediately upon filing. The
Exchange asserts that waiver of the 30day operative delay would be consistent
with the protection of investors and the
general public by permitting the
Exchange to immediately remove the
two incorrect and contradictory
sentences in the Phlx routing rule to
bring greater clarity and transparency to
its rules. The Commission believes that
waiving the 30-day operative delay is
consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest as it
will bring greater transparency to the
rules of the Exchange. Accordingly, the
Commission waives the 30-day
operative delay and designates the
proposed rule change operative upon
filing.50
At any time within 60 days of the
filing of the proposed rule change, the
Commission summarily may
temporarily suspend such rule change if
it appears to the Commission that such
action is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest, for the protection of
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of the Act. If the
Commission takes such action, the
46 15
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b–
4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give
the Commission written notice of its intent to file
the proposed rule change at least five business days
prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule
change, or such shorter time as designated by the
Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this
requirement.
48 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6).
49 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii).
50 For purposes only of waiving the 30-day
operative delay, the Commission has considered the
proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition,
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
47 17
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
8966
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 10, 2021 / Notices
Commission shall institute proceedings
to determine whether the proposed rule
should be approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act.
Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–
Phlx–2021–05 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
• Send paper comments in triplicate
to Securities and Exchange Commission,
100 F Street NE, Washington, DC
20549–1090.
All submissions should refer to File
Number SR–Phlx–2021–05. 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
office 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–Phlx–2021–05 and should
be submitted on or before March 3,
2021.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:53 Feb 09, 2021
Jkt 253001
For the Commission, by the Division of
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
authority.51
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
places specified in Item IV below. The
Exchange has prepared summaries, set
forth in sections A, B, and C below, of
the most significant aspects of such
statements.
[FR Doc. 2021–02710 Filed 2–9–21; 8:45 am]
A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–91058; File No. SR–Phlx–
2021–04]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq
PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and
Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed
Rule Change To Relocate Its PSX
Equity and General Rules From Its
Current Rulebook Into Its New
Rulebook Shell and Make Other
Changes to the Phlx Rules
February 4, 2021.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(‘‘Act’’),1 and Rule 19b–4 thereunder,2
notice is hereby given that on January
22, 2021, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (‘‘Phlx’’ or
‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule
change as described in Items I and II
below, which Items have been prepared
by the Exchange. The Commission is
publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.
I. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange proposes to relocate its
PSX equity and general rules from its
current Rulebook into its new Rulebook
shell and make other changes to the
Phlx Rules.
The text of the proposed rule change
is available on the Exchange’s website at
https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/
rulebook/phlx/rules, at the principal
office of the Exchange, and at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule
Change
In its filing with the Commission, the
Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for
the proposed rule change and discussed
any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of these
statements may be examined at the
51 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
2 17 CFR 240.19b–4.
1 15
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1. Purpose
The purpose of this rule change is to
relocate the PSX equity and general
rules from the current Rulebook into the
new Rulebook shell 3 and also make
other amendments to the Phlx Rules.
The Exchange also proposes a number
of minor, non-substantive changes to the
Rulebook shell as described below. The
relocation and harmonization of these
rules is part of the Exchange’s continued
effort to promote efficiency and
conformity of its processes with those of
its affiliated exchanges. The Exchange
believes that the placement of these
rules into their new location in the
Rulebook shell will facilitate the use of
the Rulebook by members and member
organizations.
Universal Changes
The Exchange proposes to update all
cross-references within the Rulebook
shell to the new relocated rule cites. The
Exchange proposes to replace internal
rule references to simply state ‘‘this
Rule’’ where the rule is citing itself
without a more specific cite included in
the Rule. For example, if PSX Rule 4619
refers currently to ‘‘Rule 4619’’ or ‘‘this
Rule 4619’’ the Exchange will amend
the phrase to simply ‘‘this Rule.’’ Except
where the Exchange specifies below that
it will retain the current rule
numbering, the Exchange also proposes
to conform the paragraph numbering
and lettering to that used in the
Rulebook shell for greater consistency,
and to correct punctuation. The
Exchange proposes to replace ‘‘PSX
Rules’’ with ‘‘Equity Rules’’ where
applicable as the title of the ruleset is
proposed to be ‘‘Equity Rules.’’
Furthermore, the Exchange proposes to
delete any empty reserved rules and
already deleted rules in the current
Rulebook. Finally, the Exchange
proposes to make certain technical
corrections to add hyphens and spacing
where necessary.
In addition to updating rule citations
impacted by the proposed rule
relocations herein, the Exchange
3 Previously, the Exchange filed to relocate other
rules within its Rulebook. See Securities Exchange
Act Release No. 88213 (February 14, 2020), 85 FR
9859 (February 20, 2020) (SR–Phlx–2020–03)
(‘‘Prior Relocation Rule Change’’).
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8955-8966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02710]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-91060; File No. SR-Phlx-2021-05]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Phlx Rules
February 4, 2021.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on January 26, 2021, Nasdaq PHLX LLC (``Phlx'' or ``Exchange'') filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'')
the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which
Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing
this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from
interested persons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
\2\ 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 Phlx Rules at Options 1, Section 1,
``Applicability, Definitions and References''; Options 2, Section 4,
``Obligations of Market Makers''; Options 2, Section 6, ``Market Maker
Orders''; Options 3, Section 6, ``Firm Quotations''; Options 3, Section
7, ``Types of Orders and Order and Quote Protocols''; Options 3,
Section 10, ``Electronic Execution Priority and Processing in the
System''; Options 3, Section 13, ``Price Improvement XL (``PIXL'')'';
Options 3, Section 15, ``Simple Order Risk Protections''; Options 3,
Section 23, ``Data Feeds and Trade Information''; Options 5, Section 4,
``Order Routing''; Options 8, Section 2, ``Definitions''; and Options
8, Section 32, ``Types of Floor-Based (Non-System) Orders''.
The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/phlx/rules, at the
principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public
Reference Room.
II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements
concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the
[[Page 8956]]
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant aspects of such statements.
A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change
1. Purpose
The Exchange proposes to amend Phlx Rules at Options 1, Section 1,
``Applicability, Definitions and References''; Options 2, Section 4,
``Obligations of Market Makers''; Options 2, Section 6, ``Market Maker
Orders''; Options 3, Section 6, ``Firm Quotations''; Options 3, Section
7, ``Types of Orders and Order and Quote Protocols''; Options 3,
Section 10, ``Electronic Execution Priority and Processing in the
System''; Options 3, Section 13, ``Price Improvement XL (``PIXL'')'';
Options 3, Section 15, ``Simple Order Risk Protections''; Options 3,
Section 23, ``Data Feeds and Trade Information''; Options 5, Section 4,
``Order Routing''; Options 8, Section 2, ``Definitions''; and Options
8, Section 32, ``Types of Floor-Based (Non-System) Orders''. Each
change is described below.
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange proposes to update the cross reference within Options
1, Section 1(b)(46) to Options 1, Section 1(b)(45) and make other non-
substantive grammatical amendments within Options 1, Section 1.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange proposes to add a title to Options 2, Section 4(c)(1)
to make clear that this section applies intra-day. The Exchange
proposes to add the title, ``Intra-Day Bid/Ask Differentials (Quote
Spread Parameters).''
Additionally, the Exchange proposes to remove the phrase, ``or its
decimal equivalent rounded down to the nearest minimum increment''
within Options 2, Section 4(c)(1). This is a non-substantive amendment
because the bid/ask differentials may be as wide as the spread between
the national best bid and offer in the underlying security, if rounding
up it would cause the spread to be wider than the underlying spread, so
rounding is superfluous.
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange previously filed a rule change \3\ to replace the term
``Registered Options Traders'' or ``ROTs'' with ``Market Makers'' and
replace ``Specialists'' with ``Lead Market Makers.'' The Exchange is
updating this rule to conform to those prior changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 88213 (February 14,
2020), 85 FR 9859 (February 20, 2020) (SR-Phlx-2020-03) (``Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To
Relocate Rules From Its Current Rulebook Into Its New Rulebook
Shell'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 6 to re-number
and re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx's rule structure, update rule
citations, and add spacing where necessary.
The Exchange also proposes to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4), which provides,
(A) If the Best Price is the Exchange's next available price . . .
and is also equal to both the ABBO price and the Acceptable Range
price, any remainder order volume from the execution on the Exchange
will be routed away, and if after such routing, there still remain
unexecuted contracts, the remainder will be posted on the Phlx at the
Acceptable Range price for a period not to exceed ten seconds, and then
cancelled after this time has elapsed, unless the member that submitted
the original order has instructed the Exchange in writing to re-enter
the remaining size, in which case the remaining size will be
automatically submitted as a new order. During this up to ten second
period, the System will disseminate, on the opposite side of the market
from remaining unexecuted contracts: (i) A non-firm bid for the price
and size of the next available bid(s) on the Exchange if the remaining
size is a seller, or (ii) a non-firm offer for the price and size of
the next available offer(s) on the Exchange if the remaining size is a
buyer.
The Exchange proposes to amend the sentence which provides,
If the Best Price is the Exchange's next available price . . .
and is also equal to both the ABBO price and the Acceptable Trade
Range price, any remainder order volume from the execution on the
Exchange will be routed away, and if after such routing, there still
remain unexecuted contracts, the remainder will be posted on the
Phlx at the Acceptable Trade Range price for a period not to exceed
ten seconds, and then cancelled after this time has elapsed, unless
the member that submitted the original order has instructed the
Exchange in writing to re-enter the remaining size, in which case
the remaining size will be automatically submitted as a new order.
This statement does not represent the current function of the
System. The Exchange proposes to amend the rule text to properly
represent system functionality. Today, in this scenario, if the
Exchange's next available price is the ABBO price (which equates to the
Acceptable Trade Range price) after the remaining order has routed away
and executed with quotes at the away exchange and the unexecuted
contracts are returned to the Exchange, the incoming order may post at
its original limit price, with a new timestamp and would be subject to
certain entry checks. The Exchange proposes to amend the sentence to
correctly provide,
If the Best Price is the Exchange's next available price . . .
and is also equal to both the ABBO price and the Acceptable Trade
Range price, any remainder order volume from the execution on the
Exchange will be routed away, and if after such routing, there still
remain unexecuted contracts, the unexecuted contracts would post to
the Order Book at their Limit Order price, with a new timestamp,
subject to order entry price checks.
The order entry checks are applied for new orders when they post to
the Order Book as provided for in Phlx Options 3, Section 5(a)(4). The
Exchange filed prior rule changes \4\ which established Phlx's System
as it exists today. As the new System was amended through a series of
rule changes, certain technology was automated to prevent any manual
intervention, and provide System-enforced functionalities. The Exchange
believes that this process was modified with certain enhancements which
further automated the System. The proposed amendment provides the
market participant with greater certainty as to the order. Further, the
Exchange offers market participants various options with respect to
routing. A market participant may elect to route as a FIND or SRCH
Order which provides the Exchange with instructions as to how an order
may route anew once posted on the Order Book.\5\ A market participant
may also choose to submit an order with varying TIF options (e.g., DAY,
IOC, GTC) that provide the Exchange instructions as to how to either
post an order on the Order Book
[[Page 8957]]
or cancel back an order after exhausting its potential to trade upon
entry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 50100 (July 27,
2004), 69 FR 46612 (August 3, 2004) (SR-Phlx-2003-59); 55498 (March
20, 2007, 72 FR 14318 (March 27, 2007) (SR-Phlx-2007-15); 59995 (May
28, 2009), 74 FR 26750 (June 3, 2009) (SR-Phlx-2009-32); and 72152
(May 12, 2014), 79 FR 28561 (May 16, 2014) (SR-Phlx-2014-32).
\5\ Options 5, Section 4 describes the various options routing
functionalities available on Phlx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final sentence of Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4),\6\ which is being removed, is no longer
relevant in this scenario as the ten second period does not exist.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ During this up to ten second period, the System will
disseminate, on the opposite side of the market from remaining
unexecuted contracts: (i) A non-firm bid for the price and size of
the next available bid(s) on the Exchange if the remaining size is a
seller, or (ii) a non-firm offer for the price and size of the next
available offer(s) on the Exchange if the remaining size is a buyer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), which states, ``If there are no offers both on the
Exchange and on away markets in the affected series, Market Orders to
buy in the affected series will be cancelled immediately, and an
electronic report of such cancellation will be transmitted to the
sender.'' The Exchange proposes to replace ``cancelled immediately''
with the term ``rejected'' to conform the rule text to conform to other
uses of the word rejected in the Rulebook. The System would reject and
not accept the order in this case.
Finally, the Exchange proposes to amend Supplementary Material .02
to Options 3, Section 6 which states, ``In the event that an SQT, RSQT,
and/or Lead Market Maker's electronically submitted quotations interact
with the electronically submitted quotations of other SQTs, RSQTs and/
or the Lead Market Maker, resulting in the dissemination of a
``locked'' quotation (e.g., $1.00 bid-1.00 offer), the locked
quotations will automatically execute against each other in accordance
with the allocation algorithm set forth in Options 3, Section 10.'' The
phrase, ``resulting in the dissemination of a ``locked'' quotation
(e.g., $1.00 bid-1.00 offer)'' is out of date as under the current
Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed Market Plan,\7\ the
Exchange would not disseminate a locked quotation. Rather, the Exchange
would reprice its quote as described within Options 3, Section 4(b)(6).
As a result, the Exchange proposes to delete this rule text. The
Exchange believes that this rule text existed prior to the Locked and
Crossed Market Plan and was not updated when the new plan came into
existence.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 60405 (July 30,
2009), 74 FR 39362 (August 6, 2009) (File No. 4-546).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 7
Similar to the changes proposed within Options 2, Section 6, the
Exchange proposes to replace the term ``Registered Options Traders'' or
``ROTs'' with ``Market Makers'' and replace ``Specialists'' with ``Lead
Market Makers'' within Options 3, Section 7 to conform to the remainder
of the Rulebook.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See note 3 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to amend All-or-None Orders within Options 3,
Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to the description of an All-or-
None Order to bring greater transparency to this order type. Today, the
Exchange provides that All-or-None Orders are non-displayed and non-
routable. To expand on this notion, the Exchange proposes to amend the
sentence to provide, ``All-or-None Orders are non-routable. The
Exchange does not disseminate bids or offers of All-or-None Orders to
OPRA and the Top of PHLX Options feed, however All-or-None Orders are
displayed in the PHLX Orders \9\ and PHLX Depth of Book \10\ feed.''
This additional rule text will make clear that these order types are
not disseminated on OPRA or the Top of PHLX Options feed, however All-
or-None Orders are displayed in the PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth of Book
feed.\11\ Further, the Exchange proposes to add, ``If an All-or-None
Order contingency cannot be met, the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the contingency could be met.'' This
language is intended to make clear that an All-or-None Order will not
cause other orders to queue until such time as the All-or-None Order
may execute. Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest on the Order Book
until the contingency will be met, at which time that Public Customer
All-or-None Order will have priority over other orders on the Book. The
Exchange believes the addition of this rule text will bring greater
transparency to the current System handling of All-or-None Orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Phlx Options 3, Section 23(a)(2). PHLX Orders is a real-
time full Limit Order book data feed that provides pricing
information for orders on the PHLX Limit Order book. PHLX Orders is
currently provided as part of the TOPO Plus Orders data product.
PHLX Orders provides real-time information to enable users to keep
track of the single order book(s), single and Complex Orders, and
Complex Order Live Auction (``COLA'') for all symbols listed on
Phlx. The data provided for each options series includes the symbols
(series and underlying security), put or call indicator, expiration
date, the strike price of the series, leg information on complex
strategies and whether the option series is available for trading on
Phlx and identifies if the series is available for closing
transactions only.
\10\ See Phlx Options 3, Section 23(a)(3). PHLX Depth of Market
is a data product that provides: (i) Order and quotation information
for individual quotes and orders on the PHLX book; (ii) last sale
information for trades executed on Phlx; (iii) auction; and (iv) an
Imbalance Message which includes the symbol, side of the market,
size of matched contracts, size of the imbalance, and price of the
affected series. The data provided for each options series includes
the symbols (series and underlying security), put or call indicator,
expiration date, the strike price of the series, and whether the
option series is available for trading on Phlx and identifies if the
series is available for closing transactions only.
\11\ The Exchange discusses these data feeds in more detail
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 7(c)(3),
``Opening Only,'' to correct incorrect rule text, and also add a
clarifying sentence. Today, Options 3, Section 7(c)(3) provides, ``An
Opening Only (``OPG'') order is entered with a Time in Force (``TIF'')
of ``OPG''. This order can only be executed in the Opening Process
pursuant to Options 3, Section 8. This order type is not subject to any
protections listed in Options 3, Section 15, except for Automated
Quotation Adjustments.'' The Exchange proposes to remove the phrase
``except for Automated Quotation Adjustments'' because, today, an OPG
order is not subject to Automated Quotation Adjustments. As provided
for within Options 3, Section 15(c), Automated Quotation Adjustments
protections are available to Market Makers and Lead Market Makers only.
Any participant may enter an Opening Only Order. Typically Market
Makers and Lead Market Makers submit Valid Width Quotes,\12\ as
provided for within Options 3, Section 8, during the Opening Process.
Further, an Opening Sweep,\13\ which is utilized by Market
[[Page 8958]]
Makers and Lead Market Makers, is protected by Automation Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange also proposes to note that OPG orders may not
route. Both of these amendments represent current System functionality.
This additional information is proposed to bring greater clarity to
this TIF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ A Valid Width Quote is a two-sided electronic quotation
submitted by a Phlx Electronic Market Maker that meets the following
requirements: Options on equities and index options bidding and/or
offering so as to create differences of no more than $.25 between
the bid and the offer for each option contract for which the
prevailing bid is less than $2; no more than $.40 where the
prevailing bid is $2 or more but less than $5; no more than $.50
where the prevailing bid is $5 or more but less than $10; no more
than $.80 where the prevailing bid is $10 or more but less than $20;
and no more than $1 where the prevailing bid is $20 or more,
provided that, in the case of equity options, the bid/ask
differentials stated above shall not apply to in-the-money series
where the market for the underlying security is wider than the
differentials set forth above. For such series, the bid/ask
differentials may be as wide as the quotation for the underlying
security on the primary market, or its decimal equivalent rounded
down to the nearest minimum increment. The Exchange may establish
differences other than the above for one or more series or classes
of options. See Options 3, Section 8(a)(ix).
\13\ An Opening Sweep is a one-sided order entered by a
Specialist or ROT through SQF for execution against eligible
interest in the System during the Opening Process. This order type
is not subject to any protections listed in Options 3, Section 15,
except for Automated Quotation Adjustments. The Opening Sweep will
only participate in the Opening Process pursuant to Options 3,
Section 8 and will be cancelled upon the open if not executed. See
Options 3, Section 7(b)(6). This definition is being amended herein
to update the terms Specialist and ROT to Lead Market Maker and
Market Maker.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange proposes to make a grammatical correction to Options
3, Section 10 which is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange proposes to update incorrect rule references within
Options 3, Section 13.
The Exchange proposes to amend various references within Options 3,
Section 13 to make clear the manner in which All-Or-None Orders \14\
are treated within a PIXL Auction. Specifically, the Exchange proposes
to make clear that the term ``Reference BBO,'' as described within
Options 3, Section 13(a)(2), describes displayed and non-displayed
orders, however, All-Or-None Orders are not considered. The Exchange
does not consider All-Or-None Orders, until the order is being
allocated because the System is unable to determine whether an All-Or-
None Order can be satisfied until the System receives responses to the
PIXL Order and is able to allocate the PIXL Order. The Exchange
proposes to add rule text to make clear where the Reference BBO or the
Reference cPBBO \15\ is mentioned, whether All-Or-None Orders are
included or excluded. With respect to PIXL entry checks and,
thereafter, the treatment of auction responses, All-Or-None Orders are
not considered for price checks. The Exchange does consider All-Or-None
Orders for allocation purposes. Options 3, Section 13(a)(5)(B)(i),
which is not proposed to be amended, provides,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Options 3, Section 7(b)(5) provides, ``An All-or-None Order
is a Limit Order or Market Order that is to be executed in its
entirety or not at all. An All-or None Order may only be submitted
by a Public Customer. All-or-None Orders are non-displayed and non-
routable. All-or-None Orders are executed in price-time priority
among all Public Customer orders if the size contingency can be met.
The Acceptable Trade Range protection in Options 3, Section 15(a) is
not applied to All-Or-None Orders.'' The Exchange is proposing to
amend Options 3, Section 7(b)(5), please see discussion regarding
All-or-None Order on page 9.
\15\ The term ``cPBBO'' means the best net debit or credit price
for a Complex Order Strategy based on the PBBO for the individual
options components of such Complex Order Strategy, and, where the
underlying security is a component of the Complex Order, the
National Best Bid and/or Offer for the underlying security. See
Options 3, Section 14(a)(iv).
If the Initiating Member selected the single stop price option
of the PIXL Auction (except if it is a Complex Order), PIXL
executions will occur at prices that improve the stop price, and
then at the stop price with up to 40% of the remaining contracts
after Public Customer interest is satisfied being allocated to the
Initiating Member at the stop price. However, if only one other
participant matches the stop price, then the Initiating Member may
be allocated up to 50% of the contracts executed at such price.
Remaining contracts shall be allocated pursuant to the algorithm set
forth in Options 3, Section 10(a)(1)(G) among remaining quotes,
orders and PAN responses at the stop price. Thereafter, remaining
contracts, if any, shall be allocated to the Initiating Member. The
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
allocation will account for Surrender, if applicable.
Options 3, Section 10 considers All-Or-None Orders that can be
satisfied. This proposal clarifies the current System operation.
The Exchange also proposes to add rule text, within Options 3,
Section 13(f), to provide that with respect to a PIXL Order for the
account of a Public Customer that is paired with an order for the
account of another Public Customer, that All-or-None Orders that can be
satisfied are included within the Reference BBO. The Exchange considers
All-Or-None Orders when checking the Order Book for other Public
Customer Orders. The proposed rule text within Options 3, Section 13(f)
clarifies the current System operation. The addition of ``including
Reference BBO'' is necessary with respect to Complex Orders because a
Complex Public Customer-to-Public Customer Cross Order cannot trade
equal to or through a non-displayed price. The Complex Public Customer-
to-Public Customer Cross Order would be rejected if the result were
that it would trade at a price equal to or through the cPBBO.
The Exchange proposes to note ``including Reference BBO'' within
Options 3, Section 13(b)(2)(C) and 13(f) to conform the rule text
throughout the rule. These amendments represent current System
operation. The Reference BBO also pertains to Complex Orders because
the cPBBO is derived from displayed quotes for the individual legs.
These amendments are intended to bring greater clarity to the
representation of All-Or-None Orders within this Rule.
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 13 in various
places to replace ``one minimum price improvement increment,'' with
``$0.01.'' This amendment is non-substantive.
The Exchange proposes amendments to Options 3, Section 13(b)(7) and
(8) to clarify the rule text. The proposed amendments are non-
substantive and are similar to amendments recently made to BX Options
3, Section 13(ii)(I). The Exchange proposes to add some context to the
rule to better reflect the current System operation. First, the
Exchange purposes to add the word ``execution'' in the first sentences
of Options 3, Section 13 (b)(7) and (8). The execution price of the
PIXL Auction is utilized to compare to the price of an order on the
Limit Order book. The Exchange utilizes the execution price today on
Phlx. Adding the word ``execution'' makes clear to members that the
initial PIXL Order stop price is not utilized to compare the same side
of the market transactions at execution. If the potential execution
price of the PIXL Order would be the same or better than the price of
an order on the Limit Order book on the same side of the market as the
PIXL Order then, today, the PIXL Order would be executed at a price
$0.01 better than such limit order, regardless of whether such limit
was a Public or Non-Public Customer Order. Second, while the phrase
``or better'' is not clearly specified in the rule text, today, the
System captures cases where PAN responses provide price improvement for
the PIXL Order at prices that are crossed with the same side interest
mentioned above. Third, the remainder of the changes are grammatical
and technical in nature. The Exchange is creating two separate
sentences for readability.
The remainder of the proposed changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature and therefore non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 15(c)(1) to make
clear that the Anti-Internalization functionality does not apply during
the Opening Process described within Options 3, Section 8. A similar
change was recently made to BX's Rules.\16\ The Exchange proposes to
clarify that Anti-Internalization does not apply during an Opening
Process or reopening following a trading halt, pursuant to Options 3,
Section 8, to provide more specificity on how this functionality
currently operates. The same procedures used during an Opening Process
are used to reopen an option series after a trading halt, and therefore
proposes to specify that Anti-Internalization will not apply during the
Opening Process (i.e., the opening and halt reopening processes).
During the Opening Process, Lead Market Makers are able to observe the
primary market and then determine how they would like to submit a Valid
Width
[[Page 8959]]
Quote. AIQ is unnecessary during an Opening Process due to the high
level of control that Market Makers exercise over their quotes during
this process. This clarifying rule text reflects current System
functionality.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89759 (September 3,
2020). 85 FR 55877 (September 10, 2020) (SR-BX-2020-023).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange also proposes to amend Options 3, Section 15 to note
that with Automated Quotation Adjustments all interest entered through
SQF will be automatically removed. As provided for within Options 3,
Section 7(a)(i)(B),
Specialized Quote Feed'' or ``SQF'' is an interface that allows
Lead Market Makers, Streaming Quote Traders (``SQTs'') and Remote
Streaming Quote Traders (``RSQTs'') to connect, send, and receive
messages related to quotes, Immediate-or-Cancel Orders, and auction
responses into and from the Exchange. Features include the
following: (1) Options symbol directory messages (e.g., underlying
and complex instruments); (2) system event messages (e.g., start of
trading hours messages and start of opening); (3) trading action
messages (e.g., halts and resumes); (4) execution messages; (5)
quote messages; (6) Immediate-or-Cancel Order messages; (7) risk
protection triggers and purge notifications; (8) opening imbalance
messages; (9) auction notifications; and (10) auction responses. The
SQF Purge Interface only receives and notifies of purge request from
the Lead Market Maker, SQT or RSQT. Lead Market Makers, SQTs and
RSQTs may only enter interest into SQF in their assigned options
series.
Today, Quotes and Immediate-or-Cancel Orders that may be entered
through SQF are removed when the Automated Quotation Adjustment risk
mechanism is triggered. The current rule text only considers quotes
entered through SQF. The amendment will update the rule text to
represent current System functionality, and will bring greater clarity
to Automated Quotation removals. Market Makers and Lead Market Makers
utilize the Immediate-or-Cancel Orders within SQF to respond to
auctions. The auction response requires the same protection afforded by
the Automation Quotation Adjustments which it affords the underlying
option in which the Market Maker or Lead Market Maker is quoting
continuously among its assigned options classes. The Automation
Quotation Adjustments protection removes both quotes and Immediate-or-
Cancel Orders submitted through SQF because Market Maker and Lead
Market Maker risk applies to all interest in the underlying option in
which the Market Maker or Lead Marker Maker is assigned to quote in
throughout the trading day. Market Makers and Lead Marker Makers
measure risk per underlying option. The System functionality for the
Automated Quotation Adjustment is not being amended.
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 23(a)(2) which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed. The proposed amendments represent
the current information contained in the PHLX Orders feed. The proposed
amendments are intended to better represent the information in the feed
by adding more description to the current rule text.
The Exchange proposes to note in the first sentence of Options 3,
Section 23(a)(2) that PHLX Orders is a real-time full Limit Order book
data feed that provides pricing information for orders on the PHLX
Order book for displayed order types and All-or-None Orders,\17\ as
well as market participant capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ See note 14 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All-or-None Orders are non-displayed and non-routable. They are
executed in price-time priority among all Public Customer Orders if the
size contingency can be met. All-or-None Orders have a quantity
contingency requiring the full quantity of the order to execute in
order for any trade to take place which may cause the order to not
execute. If an All-or-None Order contingency cannot be met, the All-or-
None Order would be bypassed until such time as the contingency could
be met.\18\ The Exchange is proposing to amend the rule text within
Options 3, Section 7(b)(5) which describes All-or-None Orders to add
more clarity about the dissemination of All-or-None Orders and the
manner in which the System will bypass those orders if the contingency
cannot be met.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ Options 3, Section 7(b)(5)(i) provides, ``Non-Displayed
Contingency Orders. A Non-Displayed Contingency Order shall be
defined to include the following non-displayed order types: (1) Stop
Orders; and (2) All-or-None Orders.'' Unlike All-or-None Orders,
Stop Orders are not available for execution until such time as the
Stop Order's contingency has been met, therefore, Stop Orders are
not displayed on data feeds or OPRA until the Stop Order is
available for execution.
\19\ See proposed Options 3, Section 7(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PHLX Orders data feed displays all orders on the Phlx Order
Book with original information, this is in contrast to the Top of PHLX
Options \20\ feed, which is not being amended by this proposal, that
only provides information as to the displayed Order Book. The Exchange
does not disseminate All-or-None Orders to either the Top of PHLX
Options feed or the OPRA data feed because All-or-None Orders may only
execute if the contingency can be met, otherwise the System would
bypass the All-or-None Order. As such, All-or-None Orders are non-
displayed to avoid locking or crossing away markets by displaying this
order type which may not execute because of the contingency attributed
to the order pursuant to the Options Order Protection and Locked/
Crossed Plan.\21\ The Exchange does display All-Or-None Orders on the
PHLX Orders data feed to inform market participants of orders that are
available for execution. Public Customers submitting All-or-None Orders
on Phlx desire their orders to be executed and the display of those
orders on the PHLX Orders data feed allows other member organizations
to see their orders are available to execute against those orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ Top of PHLX Options (``TOPO'') is a direct data feed
product that includes the Exchange's best bid and offer price, with
aggregate size, based on displayable order and quoting interest on
Phlx and last sale information for trades executed on Phlx. The data
contained in the TOPO data feed is identical to the data
simultaneously sent to the processor for the OPRA and subscribers of
the data feed. The data provided for each options series includes
the symbols (series and underlying security), put or call indicator,
expiration date, the strike price of the series, and whether the
option series is available for trading on Phlx and identifies if the
series is available for closing transactions only. See Options 3,
Section 23(a)(1).
\21\ 17 CFR 242.608. The ``NBBO'' is the best Protected Bid and
Protected Offer as defined in the Options Order Protection and
Locked/Crossed Markets Plan; Protected Bids and Protected Offers
that are displayed at a price but available on the Exchange at a
better non-displayed price shall be included in the NBBO at their
better non-displayed price for purposes of this rule. See Reg. NMS
Rule 600(a)(42). Options 5, Section 1(o) defines a ``Protected Bid''
or ``Protected Offer'' as a Bid or Offer in an options series,
respectively, that: (i) Is disseminated pursuant to the OPRA Plan;
and (ii) is the Best Bid or Best Offer, respectively, displayed by
an Eligible Exchange.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similar to Phlx, Cboe permits all-or-none orders to rest in its
order book and does not disseminate all-or-none orders to OPRA.\22\
Similar to Phlx, Cboe displays all-or-none orders on its Orders and
Depth of Book feed.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ Cboe Rule 5.6(b) provides, ``. . . An ``All-or-None'' or
``AON'' order is an order to be executed in its entirety or not at
all. An AON order may be a market or limit order. Users may not
designate an AON order as All Sessions. (1) The Exchange does not
disseminate bids or offers of AON orders to OPRA. (2) A User may not
designate an AON order as Post Only. (3) An AON limit order is
always subject to the Price Adjust process as set forth in Rule
5.32. (4) A User may apply MCN (as defined below), but no other MTP
Modifier (if a User applies any other MTP Modifier to an AON order,
the System handles it as an MCN), to an AON order. (5) The Exchange
may restrict the entry of AON orders in a series or class if the
Exchange deems it necessary or appropriate to maintain a fair and
orderly market. (6) A User may not designate a bulk message as
AON.''
\23\ See Section 4.5 of this specification: https://cdn.cboe.com/resources/membership/US_EQUITIES_OPTIONS_MULTICAST_PITCH_SPECIFICATION.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange proposes to remove the second use of the word
``Limit'', as it is redundant. The additional text makes clear that
both displayed and non-displayed orders types and market participant
capacity are available.
[[Page 8960]]
The second sentence is being amended to add ``and complex'' in lieu
of ``single and Complex Orders, and Complex Order Live Auction
(``COLA'') for all symbols listed on Phlx. The sentence, as proposed,
would state, ``PHLX Orders is currently provided as part of the TOPO
Plus Orders data product. PHLX Orders provides real-time information to
enable users to keep track of the single and complex order book(s).''
The Exchange believes the proposed sentence is more succinct.
Finally, the Exchange proposes to add a sentence to the end of the
description of PHLX Order feed that provides, ``The feed also provides
auction and exposure notifications and order imbalances on opening/
reopening (size of matched contracts and size of the imbalance).'' This
additional information will more clearly describe the PHLX Orders feed.
The Exchange also proposes to add the same sentence to the end of the
description for the PHLX Depth of Market feed within Options 3, Section
23(a)(3) to also add the same specificity to that feed. The additional
sentence reflects the current information provided in both the PHLX
Orders and PHLX Depth of Market feeds.
The removal of the word ``PHLX'' within Options 3, Section 23(a)(3)
and addition of the word ``order'' are non-substantive technical
amendments.
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange proposes to amend the sixth sentence of Options 5,
Section 4(a) and make some technical amendments. As proposed, the
sentence would provide, ``For purposes of this rule, the Phlx's best
bid or offer or ``PBBO'' does not include All-or-None Orders or Stop
Orders which have not been triggered. The ``internal PBBO'' shall refer
to the actual better price of an order resting on Phlx's Order Book,
which is not displayed, but available for execution, excluding Stop
Orders which have not been triggered and All-or-None Orders which
cannot be satisfied.'' Stop Orders must be triggered to be included in
the internal PBBO. A Stop Order is not available until such time as its
contingency is trigged and then that Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange inadvertently did not include the phrase,
``which cannot be satisfied'' when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order contingency must be met for this
order type to execute, otherwise it will be executed at such time as
the contingency could be met. Unlike the Stop Order which is only
available once triggered,\24\ the All-or-None Order is available for
execution once the contingency is met. This proposed amendment reflects
current System operation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ Stop orders are inactive until they are ``elected.'' Stop
orders are elected when either the bid (offer) is updated to a price
equal to or greater (less) than the stop price of a Buy (Sell) Stop
order or an execution on the Exchange occurs at a price equal to or
greater (less) than the stop price of a Buy(Sell) stop order. Stop
order election takes place at the end of the transaction that caused
the election and at that time the stop order enters the book as a
new market or limit order depending on the participant instructions.
Stop orders that are ``electable'' upon entry are rejected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange proposes to add a sentence within Options 8, Section
2(a) which provides ``The following terms as used in the Rules shall,
unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings herein
specified:''. The Exchange proposes this sentence for context to the
information which follows thereafter. This is a non-substantive change.
The Exchange proposes to add a new defined term, ``Floor Lead
Market Maker.'' This defined term will bring greater clarity to the
Options 8 rules. The Exchange proposes to state, ``The term `Floor Lead
Market Maker' is a member who is registered as an options Lead Market
Maker pursuant to Options 2, Section 12(a) and has a physical presence
on the Exchange's trading floor.'' This term is currently utilized
within the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange proposes to add the word ``Organization'' within
Options 8, Section 2(a)(5). The word was inadvertently left out. This
is not a substantive change. The term ``Member Organization'' is a
defined term within General 1, Section 1(17).
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange proposes to amend Options 8, Section 32 to add ``FLEX
Option'' to the list of order types that are available on Phlx. The
Exchange proposes to provide that a FLEX Option is as described within
Options 8, Section 34. Further, FLEX Options are not eligible for entry
by a member for execution through the Options Floor Based Management
System (``FBMS'').\25\ Phlx Options 8, Section 22 provides,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ FBMS, an order management system, is the gateway for the
electronic execution of equity, equity index and U.S. dollar-settled
foreign currency option orders represented by Floor Brokers on the
Exchange's Options Floor. Floor Brokers contemporaneously upon
receipt of an order and prior to the representation of such an order
in the trading crowd, record all options orders represented by such
Floor Broker into FBMS, which creates an electronic audit trail. The
execution of orders into Phlx's electronic trading system also
occurs via FBMS.
(a) Options transactions on the Exchange's Trading Floor shall
be executed in one of the following ways:
(1) automatically by the Exchange Trading System as provided in
applicable Exchange Rules;
(2) through the Options Floor Based Management System. Members
authorized to operate on the floor are not permitted to execute
orders in the Exchange's options trading crowd, except as follows:
(A) The Exchange may determine to permit executions otherwise
than in accordance with subparagraphs (1) and (2) above respecting
an option or all options in the event of a problem with Exchange
systems.
(B) In addition, members can execute orders in the options
trading crowd pursuant to Options 8, Section 33, Accommodation
Transactions (cabinet trades), and Options 8, Section 34, FLEX
Equity, Index and Currency Options.
(C) Multi-leg orders with more than 15 legs can be executed in
the trading crowd.
(D) The following split price orders that, due to FBMS system
limitations, require manual calculation:
(i) Simple orders not expressed in the applicable minimum
increment (``sub-MPV'') and that cannot be evenly split into two
whole numbers to create a price at the midpoint of the minimum
increment; and (ii) complex and multi-leg orders with at least one
option leg with an odd-numbered volume that must trade at a sub-MPV
price or one leg that qualifies under (i) above.
(E) As set forth in Options 8, Section 29(e)(v), members may use
the Snapshot feature of the Options Floor Based Management System to
provisionally execute orders in the options trading crowd.
* * * * *
Today, FLEX Options are executed in open outcry on the Trading
Floor and not through the Options Floor Broker Management System as
provided for within Options 8, Section 22(a)(1)(B).\26\ The Exchange
believes that the addition of FLEX Options within Options 8, Section 34
will make clear the order types that are available for execution on the
Trading Floor and also clearly note
[[Page 8961]]
that this order type is not eligible for FBMS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ The Exchange has previously noted that FLEX may be executed
manually. See Securities and Exchange Act Release No. 69471 (April
29, 2013), 78 FR 26096 (May 3, 2013) (SR-Phlx-2013-09). The rule
change noted that FLEX orders will continue to be executable by
Floor Brokers in the trading crowd, rather than through FBMS because
FBMS will not be able to accept FLEX orders, which have varied and
complicated terms. Further, the Exchange requires floor brokers or
their employees to enter the certain data elements into the
Exchange's electronic audit trail in the same electronic format as
the required information for equity and index options. Floor brokers
or their employees must enter the required information for FLEX
Options into the electronic audit trail on the same business day
that a specific event surrounding the lifecycle of an order in FLEX
(including, without limitation, orders, price or size changes,
execution or cancellation) occurs. See Securities and Exchange Act
Release No. 50997 (January 7, 2005), 70 FR 2444 (January 3, 2013)
(SR-Phlx-2003-40). See also Options 8, Section 28(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section
6(b) of the Act,\27\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(5) of the Act,\28\ in particular, in that it is designed to
promote just and equitable principles of trade and to protect investors
and the public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\28\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange's proposal to update the cross reference within
Options 1, Section 1(b)(46), and make other grammatical amendments
within Options 1, Section 1 are non-substantive.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange's proposal to add a title to Options 2, Section
4(c)(1) to make clear that this section applies intra-day is consistent
with the Act because it will bring greater clarity to the rule text.
The Exchange's proposal to remove the phrase, ``or its decimal
equivalent rounded down to the nearest minimum increment'' within
Options 2, Section 4(c)(1) is a non-substantive amendment because the
bid/ask differentials may be as wide as the spread between the national
best bid and offer in the underlying security, if rounding up it would
cause the spread to be wider than the underlying spread, so rounding is
superfluous.
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange's proposal to update certain terms within Options 2,
Section 6, which conforms with a previously filed rule change,\29\ is
consistent with the Act. The updates to change the names of the terms
are non-substantive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\29\ See note 3 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 6 to re-number
and re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx's rule structure, update rule
citations, and add spacing where necessary are non-substantive
amendments.
The Exchange's proposal to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4) is consistent with the Act. While
processing an order that is working through Acceptable Trade Ranges, if
that order encounters a situation where the Exchange's next available
price is the ABBO that also equals the outer limit of the Acceptable
Trade Range, the order is able to post at its limit price on the Order
Book after routing after it is executed with quotes at the away
exchange. Any unexecuted contracts which return to the Exchange may
post at their original limit price with a new timestamp, subject to
certain entry checks. Order entry checks are applied for new orders
when they post to the Order Book as provided for in Phlx Options 3,
Section 5(a)(4). This proposed rule text protects investors and the
general public because it will provide market participants with an
expectation of how the System will handle orders that remain unexecuted
in this scenario. The proposed amendment provides the market
participant with greater certainty as to the order. Further, the
Exchange offers market participants various options with respect to
routing. A market participant may elect to route as a FIND or SRCH
Order which provides the Exchange with instructions as to how an order
may route anew once posted on the Order Book.\30\ A market participant
may also choose to submit an order with varying TIF options (e.g., DAY,
IOC, GTC) that provide the Exchange instructions as to how to either
post an order on the Order Book or cancel back an order after
exhausting its potential to trade upon entry. Further, this amendment
provides more liquidity on the Exchange with the order posting to the
Order Book, instead of potentially being cancelled after a 10 second
period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ See note 5 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), to replace the term ``cancelled immediately'' with
``rejected'' conforms the rule text to other uses of the word rejected
within the Rulebook. This amendment is non-substantive.
Finally, the Exchange's proposal to amend Supplementary Material
.02 to Options 3, Section 6 to remove the phrase, ``resulting in the
dissemination of a ``locked'' quotation (e.g., $1.00 bid--1.00 offer)''
is consistent with the Act. This phrase is out of date as under the
current Locked and Crossed Market Plan, the Exchange would not
disseminate a locked quotation. Rather, the Exchange would reprice its
quote as described within Options 3, Section 4(b)(6). The Exchange
believes that this rule text existed prior to the Locked and Crossed
Market Plan and was not updated since that plan came into existence.
The amendment will protect investors and the general public by removing
this inaccurate statement.
Options 3, Section 7
Similar to the changes proposed within Options 2, Section 6, the
Exchange's proposal to replace the term ``Registered Options Traders''
or ``ROTs'' with ``Market Makers'' and replace ``Specialists'' with
``Lead Market Makers'' within Options 3, Section 7 conforms the usage
of these terms within Phlx's Rulebook.\31\ These non-substantive
amendments which update outdated terms within Options 3, Section 7 is
consistent with the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to amend All-or-None Orders within Options
3, Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to the description of an All-
or-None Order is consistent with the Act because the proposed rule text
will bring greater transparency to this order type. The Exchange today
provides that All-or-None Orders are non-displayed and non-routable. To
expand on this notion, the Exchange proposes to amend the sentence to
provide, ``All-or-None Orders are non-routable. The Exchange does not
disseminate bids or offers of All-or-None Orders to OPRA and the Top of
PHLX Options feed, however All-or-None Orders are displayed in the PHLX
Orders and PHLX Depth of Book feed.'' This additional rule text will
make clear that these order types are not disseminated on OPRA.
Further, the Exchange proposes to add, ``If an All-or-None Order
contingency cannot be met, the All-or-None Order would be bypassed
until such time as the contingency could be met.'' This language is
intended to make clear that an All-or-None Order will not cause other
orders to queue until such time as the All-or-None Order may execute.
Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest on the Order Book until the
contingency will be met, at which time that Public Customer All-or-None
Order will have priority over other orders on the Book. The Exchange
believes the addition of this rule text will bring greater transparency
to the current System handling of All-or-None Orders.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 7(c)(3),
``Opening Only,'' to correct incorrect rule text, and also add a
clarifying sentence, is consistent with the Act. Today, Options 3,
Section 7(c)(3) provides, ``An Opening Only (``OPG'') order is entered
with a TIF of ``OPG''. This order can only be executed in the Opening
Process pursuant to Options 3, Section 8. This order type would
continue to not be valid outside of the Opening Process. This order
type is not subject to any protections listed in Options 3, Section
[[Page 8962]]
15, except for Automated Quotation Adjustments.'' The Exchange proposes
to remove the phrase ``except for Automated Quotation Adjustments''
because, today, an OPG order is not subject to Automated Quotation
Adjustments. The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act
to not apply any risk protections during the Opening Process as the
Opening Process itself has boundaries within which orders will be
executed. As provided for within Options 3, Section 15(c), Automated
Quotation Adjustments protections are available to Market Makers and
Lead Market Makers only. Any participant may enter an Opening Only
Order. Typically Market Makers and Lead Market Makers submit Valid
Width Quotes, as provided for within Options 3, Section 8, during the
Opening Process. Further, an Opening Sweep,\32\ which is utilized by
Market Makers and Lead Market Makers, is protected by Automation
Quotation Adjustments. The Exchange's proposal to note that OPG orders
may not route will bring greater transparency to the rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\32\ An Opening Sweep is a one-sided order entered by a
Specialist or ROT through SQF for execution against eligible
interest in the System during the Opening Process. This order type
is not subject to any protections listed in Options 3, Section 15,
except for Automated Quotation Adjustments. The Opening Sweep will
only participate in the Opening Process pursuant to Options 3,
Section 8 and will be cancelled upon the open if not executed. See
Options 3, Section 7(b)(6). This definition is being amended herein
to update the terms Specialist and ROT to Lead Market Maker and
Market Maker.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange's proposal to make a grammatical correction to Options
3, Section 10 is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange's proposal to update certain rule references within
Options 3, Section 13 is non-substantive.
The Exchange's proposal to amend various references within Options
3, Section 13 to make clear the manner in which All-Or-None Orders are
treated within a PIXL Auction is consistent with the Act as this rule
text will bring greater clarity to the current System operation. All-or
None Orders are Limit Orders or Market Orders that are to be executed
in their entirety or not at all, and are non-displayed.\33\ The term
``Reference BBO,'' as described within Options 3, Section 13(a)(2),
describes displayed and non-displayed orders, however, All-Or-None
Orders are not considered. Today, the System does not consider All-Or-
None Orders, until the order is being allocated because the System is
unable to determine whether an All-Or-None Order can be satisfied until
the System receives responses to the PIXL Order and is able to allocate
the PIXL Order. The Exchange proposes to add rule text to make clear
where the Reference BBO or the Reference cPBBO is mentioned, whether
All-Or-None Orders are included or excluded. With respect to PIXL entry
checks and, thereafter, the treatment of auction responses, All-Or-None
Orders are not considered for price checks. The Exchange's proposal
protects investors and the general public by considering the
contingency associated with an All-Or-None Order when it can be
determined if the All-Or-None Order can be satisfied based on
allocation priority and responses received to the PIXL Order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\33\ See Options 3, Section 7(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to add rule text, within Options 3, Section
13(f), to provide that with respect to a PIXL Order for the account of
a Public Customer that is paired with an order for the account of
another Public Customer, that All-Or-None Orders that can be satisfied
are included within the Reference BBO is consistent with the Act.
Today, Phlx does consider All-Or-None Orders when checking the Order
Book for other Public Customer Orders. The proposed rule text within
Options 3, Section 13(f) clarifies the current System operation.
Specifically, the addition of ``including Reference BBO'' is necessary
with respect to Complex Orders because a Complex Public Customer-to-
Public Customer Cross Order cannot trade equal to or through a non-
displayed price. The Complex Public Customer-to-Public Customer Cross
Order would be rejected if the result were that it would trade at a
price equal to or through the cPBBO.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 13 in various
places to replace ``one minimum price improvement increment,'' with
``$0.01'' is a non-substantive amendment.
The Exchange's proposed amendments to Options 3, Section 13(b)(7)
and (8) are consistent with the Act because they clarify the current
rule text by adding ``or better'' to make clear that the execution
price may be better than an order on the Limit Order Book. Today, this
is the case. This context reflects the current System operation.
Similar amendments were made recently made to BX Options 3, Section
13(ii)(I).
The remainder of the proposed changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature and therefore non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 7(c)(3),
``Opening Only,'' to correct incorrect rule text, and also add a
clarifying sentence is consistent with the Act. The Exchange's proposal
to remove the phrase ``except for Automated Quotation Adjustments''
because, today, an OPG order is not subject to Automated Quotation
Adjustments. As provided for within Options 3, Section 15(c), Automated
Quotation Adjustments protections are available to Market Makers and
Lead Market Makers only. Any participant may enter an Opening Only
Order. Typically Market Makers and Lead Market Makers submit Valid
Width Quotes, as provided for within Options 3, Section 8, during the
Opening Process. Further, an Opening Sweep, which is utilized by Market
Makers and Lead Market Makers, is protected by Automation Quotation
Adjustments. Nasdaq BX, Inc. recently adopted a similar rule.\34\ This
proposal represent current System functionality.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\34\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89731 (September 1,
2020), 85 FR 55524 (September 8, 2020) (SR-BX-2020-016) (Order
Approving Proposed Rule Change To Amend BX's Opening Process in
Connection With a Technology Migration).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to note that OPG orders may not route is
consistent with the Act. This additional information will bring greater
clarity to this TIF. This proposal represent current System
functionality.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(c)(1) to
make clear that the Anti-Internalization functionality does not apply
during the Opening Process described within Options 3, Section 8 is
consistent with the Act. Anti-Internalization will not apply during an
Opening Process is consistent with the Act as it would provide more
specificity on how this functionality currently operates. During the
Opening Process, Lead Market Makers are able to observe the primary
market and then determine how they would like to quote. Anti-
Internalization is unnecessary during an Opening Process due to the
high level of control that Lead Market Makers exercise over their
quotes during this process. A similar change was recently made to BX's
Rules.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\35\ See note 16 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed, is consistent with the Act. All-
or-None Orders are non-displayed and non-routable. They are executed in
price-
[[Page 8963]]
time priority among all Public Customer Orders if the size contingency
can be met. All-or-None Orders have a quantity contingency requiring
the full quantity of the order to execute in order for any trade to
take place which may cause the order to not execute. If an All-or-None
Order contingency cannot be met, the All-or-None Order would be
bypassed until such time as the contingency could be met.
The PHLX Orders data feed displays all orders on the Phlx Order
Book with original information, this is in contrast to the Top of PHLX
Options feed, which is not being amended by this proposal, that only
provides information as to the displayed Order Book. The Exchange does
not disseminate All-or-None Orders to either the Top of PHLX Options
feed or the OPRA data feed because All-or-None Orders may only execute
if the contingency can be met, otherwise the System would bypass the
All-or-None Order. As such, All-or-None Orders are non-displayed to
avoid locking or crossing away markets by displaying this order type
which may not execute because of the contingency attributed to the
order pursuant to the Options Order Protection and Locked/Crossed
Plan.\36\ The Exchange does display All-Or-None Orders on the PHLX
Orders data feed to inform market participants of orders that are
available for execution. Public Customers submitting All-or-None Orders
on Phlx desire their orders to be executed and the display of those
orders on the PHLX Orders data feed allows other member organizations
to see their orders are available to execute against those orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\36\ 17 CFR 242.608. Pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan, Locked
and Crossed Markets, The Participants agree that they shall
establish, maintain and enforce written rules that: (a) Require
their members reasonably to avoid displaying Locked and Crossed
Markets; (b) Are reasonably designed to assure the reconciliation of
Locked and Crossed Markets; and (c) Prohibit its members from
engaging in a pattern or practice of displaying Locked and Crossed
Markets; in all cases subject to such exceptions as may be contained
in the rules of a Participant approved by the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similar to Phlx, Cboe permits all-or-none orders to rest in its
order book and does not disseminate all-or-none orders to OPRA.\37\
Similar to Phlx, Cboe displays all-or-none orders on its Depth of Book
feed.\38\ The proposed amendments represent the current information
contained in the PHLX Orders feed. The proposed amendments are intended
to add more description and bring greater clarity to the rule text.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\37\ Cboe Rule 5.6(b) provides, ``. . . An ``All-or-None'' or
``AON'' order is an order to be executed in its entirety or not at
all. An AON order may be a market or limit order. Users may not
designate an AON order as All Sessions. (1) The Exchange does not
disseminate bids or offers of AON orders to OPRA. (2) A User may not
designate an AON order as Post Only. (3) An AON limit order is
always subject to the Price Adjust process as set forth in Rule
5.32. (4) A User may apply MCN (as defined below), but no other MTP
Modifier (if a User applies any other MTP Modifier to an AON order,
the System handles it as an MCN), to an AON order. (5) The Exchange
may restrict the entry of AON orders in a series or class if the
Exchange deems it necessary or appropriate to maintain a fair and
orderly market. (6) A User may not designate a bulk message as
AON.''
\38\ See Section 4.5 of this specification. https://cdn.cboe.com/resources/membership/US_EQUITIES_OPTIONS_MULTICAST_PITCH_SPECIFICATION.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 5, Section 4(a) is
consistent with the Act as the proposal clarifies the definition of
internal PBBO. Stop Orders must be triggered to be included in the
internal PBBO. A Stop Order is not available until such time as its
contingency is trigged and then that Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange inadvertently did not include the phrase,
``which cannot be satisfied'' when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order contingency must be met for this
order type to execute, otherwise it will be executed at such time as
the contingency could be met. Unlike the Stop Order which is only
available once triggered,\39\ the All-or-None Order is available for
execution once the contingency is met. This proposed amendment reflects
current System operation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\39\ See note 24 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange's proposal to add a new defined term, ``Floor Lead
Market Maker'' is consistent with the Act and will bring greater
clarity to the Options 8 rules. This term is currently utilized within
the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange's proposal to add an introductory sentence within
Options 8, Section 2(a) is a non-substantive amendment which will bring
greater clarity to the rule text. The addition of the word
``Organization'' within Options 8, Section 2(a)(5) will correct the
rule text to provide for a defined term.
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 8, Section 32 to add
``FLEX Option'' to the list of order types that are available on Phlx
is consistent with the Act because the addition of FLEX Options within
Options 8, Section 34 will make clear the order types that are
available for execution on the Trading Floor. Today, FLEX Options are
executed in open outcry on the Trading Floor and not through the
Options Floor Broker Management System as provided for within Options
8, Section 22B.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\40\ See note 25 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purposes of the Act.
Options 1, Section 1
The Exchange's proposal to update the cross reference within
Options 1, Section 1(b)(46) and make other grammatical amendments
within Options 1, Section 1 does not impose an undue burden on
competition as these amendments are non-substantive.
Options 2, Section 4
The Exchange's proposal to add a title to Options 2, Section
4(c)(1) to make clear that this section applies intra-day does not
impose an undue burden on competition because it will bring greater
clarity to the rule text.
The Exchange's proposal to remove the phrase, ``or its decimal
equivalent rounded down to the nearest minimum increment'' within
Options 2, Section 4(c)(1) does not impose an undue burden on
competition. This is a non-substantive amendment because the bid/ask
differentials may be as wide as the spread between the national best
bid and offer in the underlying security, if rounding up it would cause
the spread to be wider than the underlying spread, so rounding is
superfluous.
Options 2, Section 6
The Exchange's proposal to update certain terms within Options 2,
Section 6 conform the rule with the use of terms in the Rulebook \41\
and does not impose an undue burden on competition. These changes are
non-substantive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\41\ See note 3 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 3, Section 6
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 6 to re-number
and re-letter the rule to conform to Phlx's rule structure, update rule
citations, and add spacing where necessary does not impose an undue
burden on competition as these amendments are non-substantive.
The Exchange's proposal to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(2)(g)(iv)(A)(4) does not
[[Page 8964]]
impose an undue burden on competition as this proposal will correct the
rule text within Options 3, Section 6, and provide market participants
with the expected outcome in this scenario. The proposed amendment
provides the market participant with greater certainty as to the order.
Further, the Exchange offers market participants various options with
respect to routing and time in force. A market participant may elect to
route as a FIND or SRCH Order which provides the Exchange with
instructions as to how an order may route anew once posted on the Order
Book.\42\ A market participant may also choose to submit an order with
varying TIF options (e.g., DAY, IOC, GTC) that provide the Exchange
instructions as to how to either post an order on the Order Book or
cancel back an order after exhausting its potential to trade upon
entry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\42\ See note 5 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to amend current Options 3, Section
6(a)(ii)(B)(4)(a), to replace ``cancelled immediately'' with the term
``rejected'' conforms the rule text to other uses of the word rejected
within the Rulebook. This amendment is non-substantive.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Supplementary Material .02 to
Options 3, Section 6 does not impose an undue burden on competition as
this amendment corrects out of date rule text. The System does not
disseminate locked quotations, rather the System re-prices orders. The
amendment will remove an inaccurate statement and bring greater clarity
to the Rulebook.
Options 3, Section 7
The Exchange's proposal to update certain terms within Options 3,
Section 7 to conform to a prior rule change \43\ does not impose an
undue burden on competition. These changes are non-substantive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\43\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Exchange's proposal to amend All-or-None Orders within Options
3, Section 7(b)(5) to add more language to the description of an All-
or-None Order does not impose an undue burden on competition because
the proposed rule text will bring greater transparency to this order
type. The Exchange today provides that All-or-None Orders are non-
displayed and non-routable. To expand on this notion, the Exchange
proposes to amend the sentence to provide, ``All-or-None Orders are
non-routable. The Exchange does not disseminate bids or offers of All-
or-None Orders to OPRA and the Top of PHLX Options feed, however All-
or-None Orders are displayed in the PHLX Orders and PHLX Depth of Book
feed.'' This additional rule text will make clear that these order
types are not disseminated on OPRA. Further, the Exchange proposes to
add, ``If an All-or-None Order contingency cannot be met, the All-or-
None Order would be bypassed until such time as the contingency could
be met.'' This language is intended to make clear that an All-or-None
Order will not cause other orders to queue until such time as the All-
or-None Order may execute. Rather, the All-or-None Order will rest on
the Order Book until the contingency will be met, at which time that
Public Customer All-or-None Order will have priority over other orders
on the Book. The Exchange believes the addition of this rule text will
bring greater transparency to the current System handling of All-or-
None Orders.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 7(c)(3),
``Opening Only,'' to amend incorrect rule text, and also add a
clarifying sentence does not impose an undue burden on competition. An
OPG Only Order may be executed by any market participant in the Opening
Process pursuant to Options 3, Section 8. This order type would
continue to not be not valid outside of the Opening Process.
Removing the phrase ``except for Automated Quotation Adjustments''
does not impose an undue burden on competition because, today, an OPG
Order is not subject to Automated Quotation Adjustments. The Opening
Process itself has boundaries within which orders will be executed. Any
participant may enter an Opening Only Order. Typically Market Makers
and Lead Market Makers submit Valid Width Quotes, as provided for
within Options 3, Section 8, during the Opening Process. Further, an
Opening Sweep which is utilized by Market Makers and Lead Market
Makers, is protected by Automation Quotation Adjustments. The
Exchange's proposal to note that OPG orders may not route will bring
greater transparency to the rule.
Options 3, Section 10
The Exchange's proposal to make a grammatical correction to Options
3, Section 10 is non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 13
The Exchange's proposal to update certain rule references within
Options 3, Section 13 is non-substantive.
The Exchange's proposal to amend various references within Options
3, Section 13 to make clear the manner in which All-Or-None Orders are
treated by the System within a PIXL Auction does not impose an undue
burden on competition as this rule text will bring greater clarity to
the current System operation. All market participants will be treated
in a uniform manner when they enter an All-Or-None Order into PIXL.
The Exchange's proposal to add rule text, within Options 3, Section
13(f), to provide that with respect to a PIXL Order for the account of
a Public Customer that is paired with an order for the account of
another Public Customer, that All-Or-None Orders that can be satisfied
are included within the Reference BBO does not impose an undue burden
on competition. The proposed rule text within Options 3, Section 13(f)
clarifies the current System operation. The Reference BBO also pertains
to Complex Orders because the cPBBO is derived from displayed quotes
for the individual legs.
The Exchange's proposal to make clear where the Reference BBO is
specified within this rule, or the Reference cPBBO, that All-or-None
Orders are excluded does not impose an undue burden on competition. The
Exchange proposes to note ``including Reference BBO'' within Options 3,
Section 13(b)(2)(C) and 13(f) to conform the rule text. The Reference
BBO also pertains to Complex Orders because the cPBBO is derived from
displayed quotes for the individual legs. This represents current
System operation.
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 13 in various
places to replace ``one minimum price improvement increment,'' with
``$0.01'' is a non-substantive amendment.
The Exchange's proposed amendments to Options 3, Section 13(b)(7)
and (8) do not impose an undue burden on competition because they
clarify current rule text without any substantive amendment.
The remainder of the proposed changes within Options 3, Section 13
are grammatical or technical in nature and therefore non-substantive.
Options 3, Section 15
The Exchange's proposal to note that the Automated Quotation
Adjustments protection removes both quotes and Immediate-or-Cancel
Orders does not impose an undue burden on competition. Market Makers
and Lead Market Makers utilize the Immediate-or-Cancel Orders within
SQF to respond to auctions. The auction response requires the same
protection afforded by the Automation Quotation Adjustments which it
affords the underlying option in which the Market Maker or Lead Market
Maker is quoting continuously among its assigned options classes. The
Automation Quotation Adjustments
[[Page 8965]]
protection removes both quotes and Immediate-or-Cancel Orders submitted
through SQF because Market Maker and Lead Market Maker risk applies to
all interest in the underlying option in which the Market Maker or Lead
Marker Maker is assigned to quote in throughout the trading day. Market
Makers and Lead Marker Makers measure risk per underlying option. The
System functionality for the Automated Quotation Adjustment is not
being amended.
The Exchange believes its proposal to clarify that Anti-
Internalization will not apply during an Opening Process does not
impose an undue burden on competition as it would provide more
specificity on how this functionality currently operates. During the
opening, Market Makers are able to observe the primary market and then
determine how they would like to quote. Market Makers are sophisticated
market participants that have their own tools and other protections to
manage risk during the Opening Process.
Options 3, Section 23
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), which
describes the PHLX Orders data feed, does not impose an undue burden on
competition. The proposed amendments represent current information
contained in the PHLX Orders feed. This proprietary data feed displays
all orders on the Order Book with original information, whereas the
Exchange's the Top of PHLX Options feed, which is not being amended by
this proposal, only provides information as to the displayed order
book. The Exchange does not disseminate non-displayed order information
to the OPRA data feed, rather only non-displayed prices are submitted.
The Exchange does display All-Or-None Orders on the PHLX Orders data
feed to inform market participants of orders that are available for
execution. Public Customers submitting All-or-None Orders on Phlx
desire their orders to be executed and the display of those orders on
the PHLX Orders data feed allows other member organizations to see
their orders are available to execute against those orders. The
proposed amendments are simply clarifying in nature and intended to add
more description to the rule.
Options 5, Section 4
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 5, Section 4(a), and make
some technical amendments, does not impose an undue burden on
competition. Stop Orders must be triggered to be included in the
internal PBBO. A Stop Order is not available until such time as its
contingency is triggered and then that Stop Order becomes available for
execution. Also, the Exchange inadvertently did not include the phrase,
``which cannot be satisfied'' when referencing All-or-None Orders
within Options 5, Section 4. The limitation is noted in other places
within this rule. An All-or-None Order contingency must be met for this
order type to execute, otherwise it will be executed at such time as
the contingency could be met. Unlike the Stop Order which is only
available once triggered,\44\ the All-or-None Order is available for
execution once the contingency is met. This proposed amendment reflects
current System operation and will bring greater clarity to the rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\44\ See note 24 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options 8, Section 2
The Exchange's proposal to add a new defined term, ``Floor Lead
Market Maker'' does not impose an undue burden on competition. This
defined term, which is currently utilized within the Options 8 rules,
will bring greater clarity to the Options 8 rules.
The Exchange's proposal to add an introductory sentence within
Options 8, Section 2(a) that provides context to the information that
follows is a non-substantive amendment. The addition of the word
``Organization'' within Options 8, Section 2(a)(5) will make clear the
reference to the defined term ``member organization.''
Options 8, Section 32
The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 8, Section 32 to add
``FLEX Option'' to the list of order types that are available on Phlx
does not impose an undue burden on competition because the addition of
FLEX Options within Options 8, Section 34 will make clear the order
types that are available for execution on the Trading Floor. Today,
FLEX Options are executed in open outcry on the Trading Floor and not
through the Options Floor Broker Management System as provided for
within Options 8, Section 22B.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\45\ See note 23 above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
No written comments were either solicited or received.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii)
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \46\ and
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\46\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\47\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \48\ normally
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\49\ the Commission
may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange requests
that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay so that the
proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange
asserts that waiver of the 30-day operative delay would be consistent
with the protection of investors and the general public by permitting
the Exchange to immediately remove the two incorrect and contradictory
sentences in the Phlx routing rule to bring greater clarity and
transparency to its rules. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-
day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and
the public interest as it will bring greater transparency to the rules
of the Exchange. Accordingly, the Commission waives the 30-day
operative delay and designates the proposed rule change operative upon
filing.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\48\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\49\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\50\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the
[[Page 8966]]
Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the
proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include
File Number SR-Phlx-2021-05 on the subject line.
Paper Comments
Send paper comments in triplicate to Securities and
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
All submissions should refer to File Number SR-Phlx-2021-05. 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 office 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-Phlx-2021-05 and should be submitted on
or before March 3, 2021.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\51\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-02710 Filed 2-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P