Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 3, Sections 15 and 25, 72125-72128 [2024-19769]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2024 / Notices because it establishes or changes a due, or fee. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend the rule change if it appears to the Commission that the action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or would otherwise further the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 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: ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 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– NYSEARCA–2024–69 on the subject line. Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to file number SR–NYSEARCA–2024–69. 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:26 Sep 03, 2024 Jkt 262001 identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR–NYSEARCA–2024–69 and should be submitted on or before September 25, 2024. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.194 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–19759 Filed 9–3–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–100859; File No. SR–BX– 2024–031] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 3, Sections 15 and 25 August 28, 2024. 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 August 20, 2024, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (‘‘BX’’ or ‘‘Exchange’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, 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 its Rules at Options 3, Sections 15 and 25. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange’s website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/ rulebook/nasdaq/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 194 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 78s(b)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4. 1 15 PO 00000 Frm 00248 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72125 concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. A. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change 1. Purpose BX proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25, Anonymity, to permit trade reports to reveal certain additional information concerning contra parties. The Exchange also proposes an amendment to Options 3, Section 15, Risk Protections. Each change will be described below. Anonymity Today, transaction reports produced by the System indicate the details of the transactions, but do not reveal ‘‘contra party identities’’ pursuant to Options 3, Section 25(a). In limited circumstances, BX will reveal a Participant’s identity as described in Options 3, Section 25(b).3 Background Today, BX does not display any market participant capacity information 4 prior to execution, nor does BX provide transaction reports that include contra party identities.5 For example, BX does not reveal the market capacity in its BX Top of Market (BX Top) feed.6 Additionally, BX provides a 3 Pursuant to Options 3, Section 25(b), BX will reveal a Participant’s identity: (1) when a registered clearing agency ceases to act for a participant, or the Participant’s clearing firm, and the registered clearing agency determines not to guarantee the settlement of the Participant’s trades; (2) for regulatory purposes or to comply with an order of an arbitrator or court; (3) if both Participants to the transaction consent; and (4) Unless otherwise instructed by a Member, BX will reveal to a member, no later than the end of the day on the date an anonymous trade was executed, when the member’s Order has been decremented by another Order submitted by that same member. 4 A market participant capacity is a code that correlates to the capacity of an order at The Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’). 5 The contra party identity is the mnemonic or house account for the contra side of the trade. The term ‘‘mnemonic’’ means an acronym comprised of letters and/or numbers assigned to Participants pursuant to Options 1, Section 1(a)(32). A Participant account may be associated with multiple mnemonics. A house account is a number provided by the Exchange to identify members. 6 Pursuant to Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), BX Top of Market (BX Top) calculates and disseminates BX’s best bid and offer and last sale information for trades executed on BX Options. The feed also Continued E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1 72126 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2024 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Clearing Trade Interface 7 message for post-trade reporting and a Trade Details report 8 that do not display contra party identities. Unlike BX, other options exchanges are not anonymous and display market participant capacity prior to execution and provide transaction reports with contra party identities.9 For example, Phlx displays market participants capacity information in its PHLX Orders feed,10 and MIAX provides a Clearing Trade Drop report 11 with the contra party MPID displayed. With this amendment, BX’s CTI would provide the house account of the contra party and BX’s Trade Detail report would provide the mnemonic, firm name, and other relevant clearing information of the contra party. These changes would be identical to the CTI and Trade Detail Report contra party information provided by Phlx, ISE, GEMX and MRX and analogous to the contra party information that MIAX provides its members. provides last trade information and 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 BX and identifies if the series is available for closing transactions only. 7 Pursuant to BX Options 3, Section 23(b)(1), the Clearing Trade Interface (‘‘CTI’’) is a real-time clearing trade update message that is sent to a member after an execution has occurred and contains trade details specific to that member. The information includes, among other things, the following: (i) The Clearing Member Trade Agreement or ‘‘CMTA’’ or ‘‘OCC’’ number; (ii) Exchange badge or house number; (iii) the Exchange internal firm identifier; (iv) an indicator which will distinguish electronic and non-electronically delivered orders; (v) liquidity indicators and transaction type for billing purposes; and (vi) capacity. 8 The Trade Details report is a report containing all of a member’s executed trades along with all relevant trade information, and clearing information. 9 See e.g. Nasdaq Phlx, LLC (‘‘Phlx’’), Nasdaq ISE, LLC (‘‘ISE’’), Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (‘‘GEMX’’) and Nasdaq MRX, LLC (‘‘MRX’’) and MIAX. 10 Pursuant to 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 Order book for displayed order types as well as market participant capacity. 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 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. The feed also provides auction and exposure notifications and order imbalances on opening/reopening (size of matched contracts and size of the imbalance). 11 For example, see Miami International Securities Exchange LLC (‘‘MIAX’’) Clearing Trade Drop specifications at: https:// www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/files/page-files/ Clearing_Trade_Drop_CTD_v2.6c.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:26 Sep 03, 2024 Jkt 262001 Ovation In terms of workflow, today, BX’s System executes an order, the trade information for that order is sent to OCC and includes contra party identities. OCC then disseminates trade messages that contain a matched trade per record with both buy and sell sides of an order, also revealing contra party identities. OCC announced that it will amend its platform, with project Ovation, in 2025.12 Among other changes, OCC will amend trade reporting and will split the trade into two trade messages; one for the buyer and one for the seller. As a result of this change, OCC Clearing Members will only receive the clearing message relevant to their side(s) of the trade and exchanges will receive both messages and will need to link each trade by clearing sequence numbers, exchange and business date.13 Therefore, BX Participants will no longer receive trade message information from OCC that reveals contra party identities. BX Participants have requested that the Exchange offer contra party identities, similar to other exchanges, on its post-trade reporting because this information is essential information for reconciliations when there are errors or clearing breaks especially on an expiring option or option with a pending corporate action. Additionally, contra party identities are important in the event of an obvious or catastrophic error. Without this information, a representing broker dealer would be less able to input trade detail to the Exchange in a timely manner. Proposal At this time, at the request of several BX Participants, BX proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25, Anonymity, to permit the Exchange to reveal contra party identities, post-trade, to provide BX Participants with information that OCC provides today and that other options exchanges also provide today.14 Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25(a) which currently states, ‘‘The transaction reports produced by the System will indicate the details of the transactions and shall not reveal contra party identities.’’ As amended, Options 3, Section 25(a) would provide, ‘‘Orders and quotes entered into the System will be displayed anonymously and, as such, 12 See https://www.theocc.com/companyinformation/occ-transformation. 13 See https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/ 0db1ac5e-ca85-43b6-a109-4354a572d912/OvationPlatform-Changes-and-Enhancements_TradeSources_Jan2024.pdf. 14 See supra note 9. PO 00000 Frm 00249 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 will trade anonymously. Transaction reports produced by the System (i.e. the Clearing Trade Interface and the Trade Details report) will indicate the details of the transactions, and will include contra party identities.’’ Today, options trades on BX are not completely anonymous through settlement as they are submitted by the Exchange to OCC with contra-side OCC member information. The Exchange believes that this amendment will continue to provide Participants with anonymity when transacting options orders on BX, while also providing Participants with post-trade contra party identities as a replacement for the data that OCC is providing today and will no longer be provided with OCC’s technology migration. BX’s post trade reporting (i.e. the Clearing Trade Interface and the Trade Details report) would provide information identical to or analogous to other options exchanges that display contra party identities.15 Acceptable Trade Range The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1), which describes the Acceptable Trade Range. Today, BX’s System calculates an Acceptable Trade Range to limit the range of prices at which an order and/ or quote (except an All-or-None Order) will be allowed to execute. The Acceptable Trade Range is calculated by taking the Reference Price, plus or minus a value to be determined by the Exchange. (i.e., the Reference Price—(x) for sell orders/quotes and the Reference Price + (x) for buy orders/quotes). Upon receipt of a new order/quote, the Reference Price is the better of the National Best Bid (‘‘NBB’’) or internal best bid for sell orders/quotes and the National Best Offer (‘‘NBO’’) or internal best offer for buy orders/quotes or the last price at which the order/quote is posted whichever is higher for a buy order/quote or lower for a sell order/ quote. If an order/quote reaches the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range (the ‘‘Threshold Price’’) without being fully executed, it will be posted at the Threshold Price for a brief period, not to exceed one second (‘‘Posting Period’’), to allow more liquidity to be collected, unless a Quote Exhaust has occurred, in which case the Quote Exhaust process in Options 3, Section 6(a)(ii)(B)(3) will ensue, triggering a new Reference Price. Upon posting, either the current Threshold Price of the order or an updated NBB for buy orders or the NBO for sell orders (whichever is higher for a buy order/lower for a sell order) 15 See E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM supra note 9. 04SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2024 / Notices then becomes the Reference Price for calculating a new Acceptable Trade Range. If the order/quote remains unexecuted after the Posting Period, a New Acceptable Trade Range will be calculated and the order/quote will execute, route, or post up to the new Acceptable Trade Range Threshold Price, unless a member organization has requested that their orders be returned if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range (in which case, the order will be returned). Today, the System permits a BX Participant to request that their order be returned to them if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range instead of executing, routing or posting to the order book. This functionality, which is not specified in the current rule, provides a BX Participant with additional choice as to the price at which their order could execute. The Exchange proposes to reflect this existing functionality in Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(A) to make clear that the choice exists to have an order returned. Today, Phlx offers this functionality.16 Implementation The Exchange proposes to implement the amendments to Options 3, Section 25 on or before March 31, 2025. The Exchange would announce the date of implementation in an Options Trader Alert ahead of the implementation date. No implementation is necessary for the change to the Acceptable Trade Range rule. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,17 in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,18 in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest. Anonymity BX’s proposal to amend Options 3, Section 25 to reveal contra party identities post-trade promotes just and equitable principles of trade, and removes impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system because it would provide BX Participants with identical or analogous post trade information (i.e. the Clearing Trade 16 See Phlx Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(B). U.S.C. 78f(b). 18 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). Interface and the Trade Details report) that OCC and other options exchanges 19 provide these market participants today. BX Participants have requested that the Exchange offer contra party identities, similar to other exchanges, on its posttrade reporting because this information is essential information for reconciliations when there are errors or clearing breaks especially on an expiring option or option with a pending corporate action. Additionally, contra party identities are important in the event of an obvious or catastrophic error. Without this information, a representing broker dealer would be less able to input trade detail to the Exchange in a timely manner. Today, options trades are not completely anonymous through settlement as they are submitted by the Exchange to OCC with contra-side identities. This amendment will continue to provide BX Participants with anonymity when transacting options orders on BX pre-trade, while also providing Participants with posttrade contra party identities as a replacement for the data that OCC is providing today and will no longer provide with OCC’s technology migration. Acceptable Trade Range The Exchange’s proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1), which describes the Acceptable Trade Range, to note that, ‘‘. . . . unless a Participants has requested that their orders be returned if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range (in which case, the order will be returned) . . .’’ protects investors and the public interest because it permits BX Participants to elect to have their orders returned to them if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range instead of executing, routing or posting to the order book. This functionality provides Participants with additional choice as to the price at which their order could execute. The Acceptable Trade Range functionality is intended to reduce the negative impacts of sudden, unanticipated volatility in individual options, and serve to preserve an orderly market in a transparent and uniform manner, enhance the pricediscovery process, increase overall market confidence, and promote fair and orderly markets and the protection of investors. The Exchange proposes to reflect this existing functionality in Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(A) to make clear that the option exists to have an 17 15 VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:26 Sep 03, 2024 Jkt 262001 order returned. Today, Phlx offers this functionality.20 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. Anonymity The Exchange’s proposal does not impose an undue burden on intramarket competition because all BX Participants currently have the ability to view contra party identities at OCC once the trade executes. With this amendment, all Participants will be able to continue to have the ability to view contra party identities through BX’s post trade reporting. Further, to the extent that BX fails to provide equivalent post trade information to its Participants as other options exchanges provide today, it would be at a competitive disadvantage as market participants have expressed the importance to receiving this information. The Exchange’s proposal does not impose an undue burden on intermarket competition because other options exchanges 21 provide contra party identities today post-trade. Other options markets could also adopt an anonymity rule similar to BX. Acceptable Trade Range The Exchange’s proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1) does not impose an undue burden on intramarket competition because all Participants would have the ability to have their orders returned to them. The Exchange’s proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1) does not impose an undue burden on intermarket competition because other options exchanges could adopt similar functionality. 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 20 See 19 See PO 00000 supra note 9. Frm 00250 Fmt 4703 21 See Sfmt 4703 72127 E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM Phlx Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(B). supra note 9. 04SEN1 72128 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2024 / Notices 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 22 and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b–4 thereunder.23 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 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: For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.24 Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. Electronic Comments [FR Doc. 2024–19769 Filed 9–3–24; 8:45 am] • 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– BX–2024–031 on the subject line. BILLING CODE 8011–01–P Paper Comments • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to file number SR–BX–2024–031. 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 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR–BX–2024–031 and should be submitted on or before September 25, 2024. 22 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. 23 17 VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:26 Sep 03, 2024 Jkt 262001 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34–100852; File No. SR–FICC– 2024–803] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed Income Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing and Extension of Review Period of Advance Notice To Host Certain Core Clearance and Settlement Systems in a Public Cloud August 28, 2024. Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, entitled Payment, Clearing and Settlement Supervision Act of 2010 (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) 1 and Rule 19b–4(n)(1)(i) 2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Act’’),3 notice is hereby given that on August 14, 2024, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (‘‘FICC’’) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) an advance notice as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been prepared primarily by the clearing agency. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the advance notice from interested persons 24 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). U.S.C. 5465(e)(1). 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i). 3 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq. 1 12 PO 00000 Frm 00251 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and to extend the review period of the advance notice. I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Advance Notice FICC files this advance notice seeking no objection to host a specified set of core clearance, settlement, and risk applications, including any Regulation Systems Compliance and Integrity (‘‘Reg. SCI’’) systems and Critical SCI systems,4 (‘‘Core C&S Systems’’) on an on-demand network of configurable information technology resources running on a public cloud infrastructure (‘‘Cloud’’ or ‘‘Cloud Infrastructure’’) hosted by a single, third-party service provider (‘‘Cloud Service Provider’’ or ‘‘CSP’’) (altogether, the ‘‘Cloud Proposal’’), as described in greater detail below. II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Advance Notice In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the advance notice and discussed any comments it received on the advance notice. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The clearing agency has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A and B below, of the most significant aspects of such statements. (A) Clearing Agency’s Statement on Comments on the Advance Notice Received From Members, Participants or Others FICC has not received or solicited any written comments relating to this proposal. If any written comments are received, FICC will amend this filing to publicly file such comments as an Exhibit 2 to this filing, as required by Form 19b–4 and the General Instructions thereto. Persons submitting written comments are cautioned that, according to Section IV (Solicitation of Comments) of the Exhibit 1A in the General Instructions to Form 19b–4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) does not edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. Commenters should submit only information that they wish to make available publicly, including their name, email address, and any other identifying information. All prospective commenters should follow the Commission’s instructions on How to Submit Comments, available at www.;sec.gov/regulatory-actions/how4 17 E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM CFR 242.1000 et seq. 04SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72125-72128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19769]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-100859; File No. SR-BX-2024-031]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend Options 3, 
Sections 15 and 25

August 28, 2024.
    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 August 20, 2024, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (``BX'' or ``Exchange'') filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed 
rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, 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.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend its Rules at Options 3, Sections 15 
and 25.
    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/nasdaq/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 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
    BX proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25, Anonymity, to permit 
trade reports to reveal certain additional information concerning 
contra parties. The Exchange also proposes an amendment to Options 3, 
Section 15, Risk Protections. Each change will be described below.
Anonymity
    Today, transaction reports produced by the System indicate the 
details of the transactions, but do not reveal ``contra party 
identities'' pursuant to Options 3, Section 25(a). In limited 
circumstances, BX will reveal a Participant's identity as described in 
Options 3, Section 25(b).\3\
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    \3\ Pursuant to Options 3, Section 25(b), BX will reveal a 
Participant's identity: (1) when a registered clearing agency ceases 
to act for a participant, or the Participant's clearing firm, and 
the registered clearing agency determines not to guarantee the 
settlement of the Participant's trades; (2) for regulatory purposes 
or to comply with an order of an arbitrator or court; (3) if both 
Participants to the transaction consent; and (4) Unless otherwise 
instructed by a Member, BX will reveal to a member, no later than 
the end of the day on the date an anonymous trade was executed, when 
the member's Order has been decremented by another Order submitted 
by that same member.
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Background
    Today, BX does not display any market participant capacity 
information \4\ prior to execution, nor does BX provide transaction 
reports that include contra party identities.\5\ For example, BX does 
not reveal the market capacity in its BX Top of Market (BX Top) 
feed.\6\ Additionally, BX provides a

[[Page 72126]]

Clearing Trade Interface \7\ message for post-trade reporting and a 
Trade Details report \8\ that do not display contra party identities.
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    \4\ A market participant capacity is a code that correlates to 
the capacity of an order at The Options Clearing Corporation 
(``OCC'').
    \5\ The contra party identity is the mnemonic or house account 
for the contra side of the trade. The term ``mnemonic'' means an 
acronym comprised of letters and/or numbers assigned to Participants 
pursuant to Options 1, Section 1(a)(32). A Participant account may 
be associated with multiple mnemonics. A house account is a number 
provided by the Exchange to identify members.
    \6\ Pursuant to Options 3, Section 23(a)(2), BX Top of Market 
(BX Top) calculates and disseminates BX's best bid and offer and 
last sale information for trades executed on BX Options. The feed 
also provides last trade information and 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 BX and 
identifies if the series is available for closing transactions only.
    \7\ Pursuant to BX Options 3, Section 23(b)(1), the Clearing 
Trade Interface (``CTI'') is a real-time clearing trade update 
message that is sent to a member after an execution has occurred and 
contains trade details specific to that member. The information 
includes, among other things, the following: (i) The Clearing Member 
Trade Agreement or ``CMTA'' or ``OCC'' number; (ii) Exchange badge 
or house number; (iii) the Exchange internal firm identifier; (iv) 
an indicator which will distinguish electronic and non-
electronically delivered orders; (v) liquidity indicators and 
transaction type for billing purposes; and (vi) capacity.
    \8\ The Trade Details report is a report containing all of a 
member's executed trades along with all relevant trade information, 
and clearing information.
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    Unlike BX, other options exchanges are not anonymous and display 
market participant capacity prior to execution and provide transaction 
reports with contra party identities.\9\ For example, Phlx displays 
market participants capacity information in its PHLX Orders feed,\10\ 
and MIAX provides a Clearing Trade Drop report \11\ with the contra 
party MPID displayed.
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    \9\ See e.g. Nasdaq Phlx, LLC (``Phlx''), Nasdaq ISE, LLC 
(``ISE''), Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (``GEMX'') and Nasdaq MRX, LLC (``MRX'') 
and MIAX.
    \10\ Pursuant to 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 Order book for displayed order 
types as well as market participant capacity. 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 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. The feed also 
provides auction and exposure notifications and order imbalances on 
opening/reopening (size of matched contracts and size of the 
imbalance).
    \11\ For example, see Miami International Securities Exchange 
LLC (``MIAX'') Clearing Trade Drop specifications at: https://www.miaxglobal.com/sites/default/files/page-files/Clearing_Trade_Drop_CTD_v2.6c.pdf.
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    With this amendment, BX's CTI would provide the house account of 
the contra party and BX's Trade Detail report would provide the 
mnemonic, firm name, and other relevant clearing information of the 
contra party. These changes would be identical to the CTI and Trade 
Detail Report contra party information provided by Phlx, ISE, GEMX and 
MRX and analogous to the contra party information that MIAX provides 
its members.
Ovation
    In terms of workflow, today, BX's System executes an order, the 
trade information for that order is sent to OCC and includes contra 
party identities. OCC then disseminates trade messages that contain a 
matched trade per record with both buy and sell sides of an order, also 
revealing contra party identities.
    OCC announced that it will amend its platform, with project 
Ovation, in 2025.\12\ Among other changes, OCC will amend trade 
reporting and will split the trade into two trade messages; one for the 
buyer and one for the seller. As a result of this change, OCC Clearing 
Members will only receive the clearing message relevant to their 
side(s) of the trade and exchanges will receive both messages and will 
need to link each trade by clearing sequence numbers, exchange and 
business date.\13\ Therefore, BX Participants will no longer receive 
trade message information from OCC that reveals contra party 
identities. BX Participants have requested that the Exchange offer 
contra party identities, similar to other exchanges, on its post-trade 
reporting because this information is essential information for 
reconciliations when there are errors or clearing breaks especially on 
an expiring option or option with a pending corporate action. 
Additionally, contra party identities are important in the event of an 
obvious or catastrophic error. Without this information, a representing 
broker dealer would be less able to input trade detail to the Exchange 
in a timely manner.
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    \12\ See https://www.theocc.com/company-information/occ-transformation.
    \13\ See https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/0db1ac5e-ca85-43b6-a109-4354a572d912/Ovation-Platform-Changes-and-Enhancements_Trade-Sources_Jan2024.pdf.
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Proposal
    At this time, at the request of several BX Participants, BX 
proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25, Anonymity, to permit the 
Exchange to reveal contra party identities, post-trade, to provide BX 
Participants with information that OCC provides today and that other 
options exchanges also provide today.\14\ Specifically, the Exchange 
proposes to amend Options 3, Section 25(a) which currently states, 
``The transaction reports produced by the System will indicate the 
details of the transactions and shall not reveal contra party 
identities.'' As amended, Options 3, Section 25(a) would provide, 
``Orders and quotes entered into the System will be displayed 
anonymously and, as such, will trade anonymously. Transaction reports 
produced by the System (i.e. the Clearing Trade Interface and the Trade 
Details report) will indicate the details of the transactions, and will 
include contra party identities.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See supra note 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Today, options trades on BX are not completely anonymous through 
settlement as they are submitted by the Exchange to OCC with contra-
side OCC member information. The Exchange believes that this amendment 
will continue to provide Participants with anonymity when transacting 
options orders on BX, while also providing Participants with post-trade 
contra party identities as a replacement for the data that OCC is 
providing today and will no longer be provided with OCC's technology 
migration. BX's post trade reporting (i.e. the Clearing Trade Interface 
and the Trade Details report) would provide information identical to or 
analogous to other options exchanges that display contra party 
identities.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See supra note 9.
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Acceptable Trade Range
    The Exchange proposes to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1), which 
describes the Acceptable Trade Range. Today, BX's System calculates an 
Acceptable Trade Range to limit the range of prices at which an order 
and/or quote (except an All-or-None Order) will be allowed to execute. 
The Acceptable Trade Range is calculated by taking the Reference Price, 
plus or minus a value to be determined by the Exchange. (i.e., the 
Reference Price--(x) for sell orders/quotes and the Reference Price + 
(x) for buy orders/quotes). Upon receipt of a new order/quote, the 
Reference Price is the better of the National Best Bid (``NBB'') or 
internal best bid for sell orders/quotes and the National Best Offer 
(``NBO'') or internal best offer for buy orders/quotes or the last 
price at which the order/quote is posted whichever is higher for a buy 
order/quote or lower for a sell order/quote.
    If an order/quote reaches the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade 
Range (the ``Threshold Price'') without being fully executed, it will 
be posted at the Threshold Price for a brief period, not to exceed one 
second (``Posting Period''), to allow more liquidity to be collected, 
unless a Quote Exhaust has occurred, in which case the Quote Exhaust 
process in Options 3, Section 6(a)(ii)(B)(3) will ensue, triggering a 
new Reference Price. Upon posting, either the current Threshold Price 
of the order or an updated NBB for buy orders or the NBO for sell 
orders (whichever is higher for a buy order/lower for a sell order)

[[Page 72127]]

then becomes the Reference Price for calculating a new Acceptable Trade 
Range. If the order/quote remains unexecuted after the Posting Period, 
a New Acceptable Trade Range will be calculated and the order/quote 
will execute, route, or post up to the new Acceptable Trade Range 
Threshold Price, unless a member organization has requested that their 
orders be returned if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade 
Range (in which case, the order will be returned).
    Today, the System permits a BX Participant to request that their 
order be returned to them if posted at the outer limit of the 
Acceptable Trade Range instead of executing, routing or posting to the 
order book. This functionality, which is not specified in the current 
rule, provides a BX Participant with additional choice as to the price 
at which their order could execute. The Exchange proposes to reflect 
this existing functionality in Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(A) to make 
clear that the choice exists to have an order returned. Today, Phlx 
offers this functionality.\16\
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    \16\ See Phlx Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(B).
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Implementation
    The Exchange proposes to implement the amendments to Options 3, 
Section 25 on or before March 31, 2025. The Exchange would announce the 
date of implementation in an Options Trader Alert ahead of the 
implementation date. No implementation is necessary for the change to 
the Acceptable Trade Range rule.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\17\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\18\ in particular, in that it is designed to 
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments 
to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national 
market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public 
interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \18\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anonymity
    BX's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 25 to reveal contra party 
identities post-trade promotes just and equitable principles of trade, 
and removes impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system because it would provide BX 
Participants with identical or analogous post trade information (i.e. 
the Clearing Trade Interface and the Trade Details report) that OCC and 
other options exchanges \19\ provide these market participants today. 
BX Participants have requested that the Exchange offer contra party 
identities, similar to other exchanges, on its post-trade reporting 
because this information is essential information for reconciliations 
when there are errors or clearing breaks especially on an expiring 
option or option with a pending corporate action. Additionally, contra 
party identities are important in the event of an obvious or 
catastrophic error. Without this information, a representing broker 
dealer would be less able to input trade detail to the Exchange in a 
timely manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See supra note 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Today, options trades are not completely anonymous through 
settlement as they are submitted by the Exchange to OCC with contra-
side identities. This amendment will continue to provide BX 
Participants with anonymity when transacting options orders on BX pre-
trade, while also providing Participants with post-trade contra party 
identities as a replacement for the data that OCC is providing today 
and will no longer provide with OCC's technology migration.
Acceptable Trade Range
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1), which 
describes the Acceptable Trade Range, to note that, ``. . . . unless a 
Participants has requested that their orders be returned if posted at 
the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade Range (in which case, the order 
will be returned) . . .'' protects investors and the public interest 
because it permits BX Participants to elect to have their orders 
returned to them if posted at the outer limit of the Acceptable Trade 
Range instead of executing, routing or posting to the order book. This 
functionality provides Participants with additional choice as to the 
price at which their order could execute. The Acceptable Trade Range 
functionality is intended to reduce the negative impacts of sudden, 
unanticipated volatility in individual options, and serve to preserve 
an orderly market in a transparent and uniform manner, enhance the 
price-discovery process, increase overall market confidence, and 
promote fair and orderly markets and the protection of investors. The 
Exchange proposes to reflect this existing functionality in Options 3, 
Section 15(b)(1)(A) to make clear that the option exists to have an 
order returned. Today, Phlx offers this functionality.\20\
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    \20\ See Phlx Options 3, Section 15(b)(1)(B).
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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.
Anonymity
    The Exchange's proposal does not impose an undue burden on 
intramarket competition because all BX Participants currently have the 
ability to view contra party identities at OCC once the trade executes. 
With this amendment, all Participants will be able to continue to have 
the ability to view contra party identities through BX's post trade 
reporting. Further, to the extent that BX fails to provide equivalent 
post trade information to its Participants as other options exchanges 
provide today, it would be at a competitive disadvantage as market 
participants have expressed the importance to receiving this 
information.
    The Exchange's proposal does not impose an undue burden on 
intermarket competition because other options exchanges \21\ provide 
contra party identities today post-trade. Other options markets could 
also adopt an anonymity rule similar to BX.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See supra note 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acceptable Trade Range
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1) does 
not impose an undue burden on intramarket competition because all 
Participants would have the ability to have their orders returned to 
them.
    The Exchange's proposal to amend Options 3, Section 15(b)(1) does 
not impose an undue burden on intermarket competition because other 
options exchanges could adopt similar functionality.

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

[[Page 72128]]

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 \22\ and subparagraph 
(f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\23\
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    \22\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
    \23\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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-BX-2024-031 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to file number SR-BX-2024-031. 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 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not 
include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should 
submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We 
may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted 
material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All 
submissions should refer to file number SR-BX-2024-031 and should be 
submitted on or before September 25, 2024.
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    \24\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\24\
Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-19769 Filed 9-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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