[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4224-4225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01397]


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

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-71343; File No. SR-BOX-2014-03]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; BOX Options Exchange LLC; Notice 
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Add 
Rule 7280 (Bulk Cancellation of Trading Interest)

January 17, 2014.
    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 6, 2014, BOX Options Exchange LLC (the ``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 self-regulatory organization. The Commission 
is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule 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 add Rule 7280 (Bulk Cancellation of 
Trading Interest) to codify and clarify a protection mechanism already 
available on the Exchange. The text of the proposed rule change is 
available from the principal office of the Exchange, at the 
Commission's Public Reference Room and also on the Exchange's Internet 
Web site at http://boxexchange.com.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization 
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the 
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the 
proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at 
the places specified in Item IV below. The self-regulatory organization 
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 is proposing to add BOX Rule 7280 (Bulk Cancellation 
of Trading Interest) to codify and clarify protection mechanisms 
already available on the Exchange. The Exchange currently has the 
ability to cancel all of a Participant's bids, offers and orders when 
directed by the Participant. In addition, when requested by the 
Participant, the Exchange can block any incoming orders from the 
Participant. The Exchange believes that these bulk cancellation 
mechanisms provide value to Participants by helping them quickly 
mitigate the risk of erroneous trades when faced with technology 
issues.
    The Exchange is proposing to add BOX Rule 7280 to codify these 
existing mechanisms and provide clarity on how they function. As set 
forth in proposed Rule 7280, when instructed by a Participant, the 
Exchange can simultaneously cancel all the bids, offers, and orders of 
a Participant in all series in all classes of options. In order for the 
Exchange to remove the bids, offers and orders of a Participant, the 
Participant must call the BOX Market Operations Center (``MOC'').\3\ 
The Exchange believes requiring Participants to contact the MOC 
directly is necessary since the Participant could be experiencing 
difficulties connecting to the Exchange and may have no other method of 
contacting the Exchange. Additionally, if the Participant is 
experiencing system issues they may not be confident in their ability 
to send a message to the Trading Host directly. Therefore, the Exchange 
believes requiring Participants to contact the MOC directly for all 
bulk cancelation requests will lead to less investor confusion whenever 
these situations occur.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The term ``Market Operations Center'' or ``MOC'' means the 
BOX Market Operations Center, which provides market support for 
Options Participants during the trading day. See BOX Rule 
100(a)(31).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Proposed Rule 7280 also states that when requested, the Exchange 
will block all new incoming orders submitted by the Participant until 
the Participant contacts the MOC to have the block removed. The 
Exchange believes this feature provides an additional layer of 
protection by blocking new orders that could have been sent in error or 
with incorrect prices when a Participant's systems were compromised. 
Blocking all new incoming orders can give the Participant time to 
address the particular system issue without having to continually 
cancel any new orders being sent to the Exchange. Once the issue is 
resolved, the Participant must contact the MOC to remove the block.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that the proposal is consistent with the 
requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\4\ in general, and Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\5\ in particular, in that it is designed to prevent 
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and 
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination 
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system, and, in general to protect 
investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes that 
cancelling all bids, offers, and orders when requested by a Participant 
reduces the risk of unintended executions and executions at erroneous 
prices, thereby serving to protect investors and the public interest. 
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule assists with the 
maintenance of fair and orderly markets by helping to

[[Page 4225]]

mitigate the potential risks associated with the execution of orders 
when a Participant is experiencing system issues. In addition, the 
ability for the Exchange to block new incoming orders provides an 
additional layer of protection for the Participant against unintended 
executions, thereby promoting a fair and orderly market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will 
impose any burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in 
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange believes the 
proposal will provide Participants with additional protection from 
anomalous executions when the Participant is experiencing system 
problems or difficulties connecting with the Trading Host. The Exchange 
notes that this functionality is available to all Participants. 
Additionally, this functionality does not require any changes or 
upgrades to any Participant's system. Thus, the Exchange does not 
believe the proposal creates any significant impact on competition.

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

    The Exchange has neither solicited nor received comments on the 
proposed rule change.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (1) 
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public 
interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) by 
its terms does not become operative for 30 days after the date of this 
filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate if 
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, 
the proposed rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to provide the Commission 
with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, 
along with a brief description and text of 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 met 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.

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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml ); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BOX-2014-03 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, 
Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20549-1090.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BOX-2014-03. This 
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To 
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml 
). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written 
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with 
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed 
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those 
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for Web site viewing and printing in 
the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 
3:00 p.m. Copies of such filing also will be available for inspection 
and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments 
received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit 
personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. All 
submissions should refer to File Number SR-BOX-2014-03 and should be 
submitted on or before February 14, 2014.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-01397 Filed 1-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P