[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36870-36872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15692]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-75259; File No. SR-BX-2015-034]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to a 
Proposal To Amend Chapter VI, Section 18 of the Exchange's Options 
Rules

June 22, 2015.
    Pursuant to section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 \2\ thereunder, notice is hereby given 
that, on June 12, 2015, NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc. (``BX'' 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.
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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 chapter VI, section 18 of the 
Exchange's options rules.
    The text of the proposed rule change is set forth below.
    Proposed new language is italicized. Proposed deletions are 
enclosed in [brackets].
* * * * *
NASDAQ OMX BX Rules
* * * * *
Options Rules
* * * * *
Chapter VI Trading Systems
* * * * *
Sec. 18 Order Price Protection
    Order Price Protection (``OPP'') is a feature of the System that 
prevents certain day limit, good til cancelled, and immediate or cancel 
orders at prices outside of pre-set standard limits from being accepted 
by the System. OPP

[[Page 36871]]

applies to all options but does not apply to market orders or 
Intermarket Sweep Orders.
    (a) OPP is operational each trading day after the opening until the 
close of trading, except during trading halts. [The Exchange may also 
temporarily deactivate OPP from time to time on an intraday basis at 
its discretion if it determines that volatility warrants deactivation. 
Participants will be notified of intraday OPP deactivation due to 
volatility and any subsequent intraday reactivation by the Exchange 
through the issuance of system status messages.]
    (b) OPP will reject incoming orders that exceed certain parameters 
according to the following algorithm:
    (i) If the better of the NBBO or the internal market BBO (the 
``Reference BBO'') on the contra-side of an incoming order is greater 
than $1.00, orders with a limit more than 50% through such contra-side 
[NBBO] Reference BBO will be rejected by the System upon receipt. For 
example, if the [NBBO] Reference BBO on the offer side is $1.10, an 
order to buy options for more than $1.65 would be rejected. Similarly, 
if the [NBBO] Reference BBO on the bid side is $1.10, an order to sell 
options for less than $0.55 will be rejected.
    (ii) If the [NBBO] Reference BBO on the contra-side of an incoming 
order is less than or equal to $1.00, orders with a limit more than 
100% through such contra-side [NBBO] Reference BBO will be rejected by 
the System upon receipt. For example, if the [NBBO] Reference BBO on 
the offer side is $1.00, an order to buy options for more than $2.00 
would be rejected. However, if the [NBBO] Reference BBO of the bid side 
of an incoming order to sell is less than or equal to $1.00, the OPP 
limits set forth above will result in all incoming sell orders being 
accepted regardless of their limit.
* * * * *

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

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

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

1. Purpose
    The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend and correct 
chapter VI, section 18 of the BX Options rules which describes Order 
Price Protection (``OPP''), a feature of the BX Options trading system 
that prevents certain day limit, good till cancelled, and immediate or 
cancel orders at prices outside of pre-set standard limits from being 
accepted by the System. The amendments also remove language providing 
for the temporary deactivation of OPP from time to time on an intraday 
basis at the Exchange's discretion if the Exchange determines that 
volatility warrants deactivation.
    OPP applies to all options but does not apply to market orders or 
Intermarket Sweep Orders. OPP is operational each trading day after the 
opening until the close of trading, except during trading halts. 
Chapter VI, section 18 also currently provides that the Exchange may 
temporarily deactivate OPP from time to time on an intraday basis at 
its discretion if it determines that volatility warrants deactivation. 
Participants are notified of intraday OPP deactivation due to 
volatility and any subsequent intraday reactivation by the Exchange 
through the issuance of system status messages.
    OPP rejects incoming orders that exceed certain parameters. 
Currently, chapter VI, section 18(b) establishes those parameters with 
reference to the NBBO. It states that if the NBBO on the contra-side of 
an incoming order is greater than $1.00, orders with a limit more than 
50% through such contraside NBBO will be rejected by the system upon 
receipt. For example, the rule provides that if the NBBO on the offer 
side is $1.10, an order to buy options for more than $1.65 would be 
rejected. Similarly, the rule states that if the NBBO on the bid side 
is $1.10, an order to sell options for less than $0.55 will be 
rejected. The rule provides that if the NBBO on the contra-side of an 
incoming order is less than or equal to $1.00, orders with a limit more 
than 100% through such contra-side NBBO will be rejected by the system 
upon receipt. For example, under the rule if the NBBO on the offer side 
is $1.00, an order to buy options for more than $2.00 would be 
rejected. However, the rule provides that if the NBBO of the bid side 
of an incoming order to sell is less than or equal to $1.00, the OPP 
limits set forth above will result in all incoming sell orders being 
accepted regardless of their limit.
    The Exchange has determined that a discrepancy exists between this 
rule description of how the OPP process works and how the system 
actually functions in cases where Price Improving Orders are present. 
Price Improving Orders may be submitted in $0.01 increments on BX 
Options rather than at the minimum price variation (``MPV'').\3\ These 
Price Improving Orders are considered part of the Exchange's internal 
market BBO at their non-MPV limit and are displayed at the allowable 
MPV price as part of the NBBO. While chapter VI, section 18 states that 
the NBBO is used for OPP determinations as described above, the system 
is actually basing OPP determinations on the better of (a) the NBBO, or 
(b) the Exchange's internal market BBO, which may differ from the NBBO 
due to the presence of Price Improving Orders. The Exchange is 
proposing to correct this discrepancy by deleting the term ``NBBO'' in 
each instance where it appears in chapter VI, section 18 and replacing 
it with the term ``Reference BBO'' which will be defined in the rule as 
the better of the NBBO or the internal market BBO.
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    \3\ See chapter VI, sction 1, which provides that Price 
Improving Orders are orders to buy or sell an option at a specified 
price at an increment smaller than the minimum price variation in 
the security. Price Improving Orders may be entered in increments as 
small as one cent. Price Improving Orders that are available for 
display shall be displayed at the minimum price variation in that 
security and shall be rounded up for sell orders and rounded down 
for buy orders.
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    Finally, the Exchange is removing from chapter VI, section 18 the 
statements that the Exchange may temporarily deactivate OPP from time 
to time on an intraday basis at its discretion if it determines that 
volatility warrants deactivation, and that members will be notified of 
intraday OPP deactivation due to volatility and any subsequent intraday 
reactivation by the Exchange through the issuance of system status 
messages. The Exchange currently lacks the technology to implement 
intraday OPP deactivation and is deleting the language which suggests 
that it has such capability.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with section 
6(b) \4\ of the Act in general, and furthers the objectives of section 
6(b)(5) \5\ of the Act 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

[[Page 36872]]

open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect 
investors and the public interest, by amending and correcting the rule 
text to that it accurately reflects the functioning of the trading 
system. The amendments concerning the Reference BBO and the elimination 
of references to intraday deactivation of the OPP are both intended to 
improve the accuracy of the rule. The Exchange believes that the 
amendments should promote just and equitable principles of trade as 
well as protect investors and the public interest by making clear how 
OPP determinations are actually made on the Exchange and by eliminating 
the potential for confusion inherent in the statement that the Exchange 
may temporarily deactivate OPP on an intraday basis when in fact it 
lacks the technical capacity to do so. Calculating OPP on the basis of 
the better of the NBBO or the internal market BBO rather than solely on 
the basis of the NBBO protects investors and the public interest by 
extending the benefits of OPP to orders received in instances where the 
internal market BBO is better than the NBBO.
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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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, as the amendments to chapter 
VI, section 18 will apply uniformly to all market participants availing 
themselves of the OPP feature. Nor will the proposal impose a burden on 
competition among the options exchanges, because of the vigorous 
competition for order flow among the options exchanges. To the extent 
that market participants disagree with the particular approach taken by 
the Exchange herein, market participants can easily and readily direct 
order flow to competing venues.

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) of the Act \6\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\7\
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \7\ 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 Commission has determined to waive the five-day pre-filing 
period in this case.
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    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the 
Act \8\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date 
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \9\ permits the Commission to 
designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange believes 
that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the 
protection of investors and the public interest because it would allow 
the Exchange to immediately correct the inaccuracy with respect to the 
NBBO described above, as well as eliminate language suggesting the 
Exchange possesses the capability to temporarily deactivate OPP on an 
intraday basis when in fact this is not the case. The Exchange believes 
that the public interest would not be served by preserving these 
inaccuracies in its rules during a notice and comment period for this 
proposed rule change. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day 
operative delay \10\ is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest and designates the proposal operative on filing.
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    \8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \10\ 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).
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    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 will institute proceedings to 
determine whether the proposed rule change 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 (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to [email protected]. Please include 
File Number SR-BX-2015-034 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-2015-034. 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-BX-2015-034 and should be 
submitted on or before July 17, 2015.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\11\
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    \11\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-15692 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P