[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52926-52932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18911]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-78480; File No. SR-NASDAQ-2016-097]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change 
Related to Detection of Loss of Connection

August 4, 2016.
    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 July 28, 2016, The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (``Nasdaq'' 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

[[Page 52927]]

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 NASDAQ Options Market LLC's 
(``NOM'') Rules at Chapter VI, Section 6, entitled ``Acceptance of 
Quotes and Orders'' to adopt functionality which is designed to assist 
NOM Participants, hereinafter ``Participants,'' in the event that they 
lose communication with their assigned Financial Information eXchange 
(``FIX''),\3\ Specialized Quote Feed (``SQF''),\4\ or Ouch to Trade 
Options (``OTTO'') \5\ Ports due to a loss of connectivity.
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    \3\ FIX permits the entry of orders.
    \4\ SQF permits the transmission of quotes to the Exchange by a 
NOM Market Maker using its Client Application.
    \5\ OTTO permits the transmission of orders to the Exchange by a 
Participant. Immediate or cancel orders will not be cancelled 
pursuant to this Chapter VI, Section 6 because, by definition, these 
orders will cancel if not executed. All Participants have the 
ability to utilize OTTO. Orders submitted by NOM Market Makers over 
this interface will be treated as quotes.
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    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com, at the principal office of 
the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

    In its filing with the Commission, the 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 Exchange proposes to amend Chapter VI, Section 6, entitled 
``Acceptance of Quotes and Orders'' to adopt a new section ``(e)'' 
entitled ``Detection of Loss of Connection,'' a new automated process 
which NOM proposes to adopt for its SQF,\6\ FIX and OTTO Ports in the 
event that they lose communication with a Client Application due to a 
loss of connectivity. This feature is designed to protect NOM Options 
Market Makers \7\ and other market participants from inadvertent 
exposure to excessive risk.
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    \6\ Today, SQF, FIX and OTTO have the capability to cancel 
quotes and orders respectively. The rule change would adopt a 
formalized process to automatically disconnect and cancel quotes for 
SQF and offer the opportunity to cancel orders for FIX and OTTO in 
addition to a disconnect if elected, when there is a loss of 
communication with the Participant's Client Application. The 
Exchange is formalizing the process within Chapter VI, Section 6(e).
    \7\ The term ``Nasdaq Options Market Maker'' or ``Options Market 
Maker'' (herein ``NOM Market Maker'') means an Options Participant 
registered with the Exchange for the purpose of making markets in 
options contracts traded on the Exchange and that is vested with the 
rights and responsibilities specified in Chapter VII of these Rules. 
See NOM Rules at Chapter I, Section 1(a)(26).
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    By way of background, Participants currently enter quotes and 
orders utilizing either an SQF, FIX or OTTO Port. SQF is utilized by 
NOM Options Market Makers. FIX and OTTO are available to all market 
participants. These ports are System \8\ components through which a 
Participant communicates its quotes and/or orders to the NOM match 
engine through the Participant's Client Application.
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    \8\ The term ``System'' shall mean the automated system for 
order execution and trade reporting owned and operated by NOM as the 
NOM Options market. See Chapter VI, Section 1(a).
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    Under the proposed rule change, an SQF Port would be defined as the 
Exchange's System component through which Participants communicate 
their quotes from the Client Application at proposed Chapter VI, 
Section 6(e)(i)(B). FIX and OTTO Ports would be defined as the 
Exchange's System components through which Participants communicate 
their orders from the Client Application at proposed Chapter VI, 
Section 6(e)(i)(C). NOM Options Market Makers may submit quotes to the 
Exchange from one or more SQF Ports.
    Similarly, market participants may submit orders to the Exchange 
from one or more FIX and/or OTTO Ports. The proposed removal feature 
will be mandatory for each NOM Market Makers utilizing SQF for the 
removal of quotes and optional for any market participant utilizing FIX 
and OTTO for the removal of orders.
    When the SQF Port detects the loss of communication with a 
Participant's Client Application because the Exchange's server does not 
receive a Heartbeat message \9\ for a certain period of time (``nn'' 
seconds), the Exchange will automatically logoff the Participant's 
affected Client Application and automatically cancel all of the 
Participant's open quotes. Quotes will be cancelled across all Client 
Applications that are associated with the same NOM Market Makers ID and 
underlying issues.
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    \9\ It is important to note that the Exchange separately sends a 
connectivity message to the Participant as evidence of connectivity.
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    The Exchange proposes to define ``Client Application'' as the 
System component of the Participant through which the Exchange 
Participant communicates its quotes and orders to the Exchange at 
proposed Chapter VI, Section 6(e)(i)(D). The Exchange proposes to 
define a ``Heartbeat'' message as a communication that acts as a 
virtual pulse between the SQF, FIX or OTTO Port and the Client 
Application at proposed Chapter VI, Section 6(e)(i)(A). The Heartbeat 
message sent by the Participant and subsequently received by the 
Exchange allows the SQF, FIX or OTTO Port to continually monitor its 
connection with the Participant.
SQF Ports
    The Exchange's System has a default time period, which will trigger 
a disconnect from the Exchange and remove quotes, set to fifteen (15) 
seconds for SQF Ports. A Participant may change the default period of 
``nn'' seconds of no technical connectivity to trigger a disconnect 
from the Exchange and remove quotes to a number between one hundred 
(100) milliseconds and 99,999 milliseconds for SQF Ports prior to each 
session of connectivity to the Exchange. This feature is enabled for 
each NOM Market Makers and may not be disabled.
    There are two ways to change the number of ``nn'' seconds: (1) 
systemically or (2) by contacting the Exchange's operations staff. If 
the Participant systemically changes the default number of ``nn'' 
seconds, that new setting shall be in effect throughout the current 
session of connectivity \10\ and will then default back to fifteen 
seconds.\11\ The Participant may change the default setting 
systemically prior to each session of connectivity. The Participant may 
also communicate the time to the Exchange by calling the Exchange's 
operations staff. If the time period is communicated to the

[[Page 52928]]

Exchange by calling Exchange operations, the number of ``nn'' seconds 
selected by the Participant shall persist for each subsequent session 
of connectivity until the Participant either contacts Exchange 
operations and changes the setting or the Participant systemically 
selects another time period prior to the next session of connectivity.
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    \10\ Each time the Participant connects to the Exchange's System 
is a new period of connectivity. For example, if the Participant 
were to connect and then disconnect within a trading day several 
times, each time the Participant disconnected the next session would 
be a new session of connectivity.
    \11\ The Exchange's System would capture the new setting 
information that was changed by the Participant and utilize the 
amended setting for that particular session. The setting would not 
persist beyond the current session of connectivity and the setting 
would default back to 15 seconds for the next session if the 
Participant did not change the setting again.
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FIX Ports
    The Exchange's System has a default time period, which will trigger 
a disconnect from the Exchange and remove orders, set to thirty (30) 
seconds for FIX Ports. The Participant may disable the removal of 
orders feature but not the disconnect feature. If the Participant 
elects to have its orders removed, in addition to the disconnect, the 
Participant may determine a time period of no technical connectivity to 
trigger the disconnect and removal of orders between (1) second and 
thirty (30) seconds for FIX Ports prior to each session of connectivity 
to the Exchange.
    There are two ways to change the number of ``nn'' seconds: (1) 
systemically or (2) by contacting the Exchange's operations staff. If 
the Participant systemically changes the default number of ``nn'' 
seconds, that new setting shall be in effect throughout that session of 
connectivity and will then default back to thirty seconds at the end of 
that session. The Participant may change the default setting 
systemically prior to each session of connectivity. The Participant may 
also communicate the time to the Exchange by calling the Exchange's 
operations staff. If the time period is communicated to the Exchange by 
calling Exchange operations, the number of ``nn'' seconds selected by 
the Participant shall persist for each subsequent session of 
connectivity until the Participant either contacts Exchange operations 
and changes the setting or the Participant systemically selects another 
time period prior to the next session of connectivity.
    Similar to SQF Ports, when a FIX Port detects the loss of 
communication with a Participant's Client Application for a certain 
time period (``nn'' seconds), the Exchange will automatically logoff 
the Participant's affected Client Application and if elected, 
automatically cancel all open orders. The Participant may have an order 
which has routed away prior to the cancellation, in the event that the 
order returns to the Order Book, because it was either not filled or 
partially filled, that order will be subsequently cancelled.
    The disconnect feature is mandatory for FIX users, however the user 
has the ability to elect to also enable a removal feature, which will 
cancel all open orders submitted through that FIX Port. If the removal 
of orders feature is not enabled, the System will simply disconnect the 
FIX user and not cancel any orders. The FIX user would have to commence 
a new session to add, modify or cancel its orders once disconnected.
OTTO Ports
    The Exchange's System has a default time period, which will trigger 
a disconnect from the Exchange and remove orders, set to fifteen (15) 
seconds for OTTO Ports. The Participant may disable the removal of 
orders feature but not the disconnect feature. If the Participant 
elects to have its orders removed, in addition to the disconnect, the 
Participant may determine a time period of no technical connectivity to 
trigger the disconnect and removal of orders between one hundred (100) 
milliseconds and 99,999 milliseconds.
    There are two ways to change the number of ``nn'' seconds: (1) 
systemically or (2) by contacting the Exchange's operations staff. If 
the Participant systemically changes the default number of ``nn'' 
seconds, that new setting shall be in effect throughout that session of 
connectivity and will then default back to fifteen seconds at the end 
of that session. The Participant may change the default setting 
systemically prior to each session of connectivity. The Participant may 
also communicate the time to the Exchange by calling the Exchange's 
operations staff. If the time period is communicated to the Exchange by 
calling Exchange operations, the number of ``nn'' seconds selected by 
the Participant shall persist for each subsequent session of 
connectivity until the Participant either contacts Exchange operations 
and changes the setting or the Participant systemically selects another 
time period prior to the next session of connectivity.
    Similar to SQF and FIX Ports, when an OTTO Port detects the loss of 
communication with a Participant's Client Application for a certain 
time period (``nn'' seconds), the Exchange will automatically logoff 
the Participant's affected Client Application and if elected, 
automatically cancel all open orders. The Participant may have an order 
which has routed away prior to the cancellation; in the event that the 
order returns to the Order Book, because it was either not filled or 
partially filled, that order will be subsequently cancelled.
    The disconnect feature is mandatory for OTTO users however the user 
has the ability to elect to also enable a removal feature, which will 
cancel all open orders submitted through that OTTO Port. If the removal 
of orders feature is not enabled, the System will simply disconnect the 
OTTO user and not cancel any orders. The OTTO user would have to 
commence a new session to add, modify or cancel its orders once 
disconnected.
    The trigger for the SQF, FIX and OTTO Ports is event and Client 
Application specific. The automatic cancellation of the NOM Market 
Maker's quotes for SQF Ports and open orders, if elected by the 
Participant for FIX and OTTO Ports entered into the respective SQF, FIX 
or OTTO Ports via a particular Client Application will neither impact 
nor determine the treatment of the quotes of other NOM Market Makers 
entered into SQF Ports or orders of the same or other Participants 
entered into FIX or OTTO Ports via a separate and distinct Client 
Application.
    In other words, with respect to quotes, each NOM Market Maker only 
maintains one quote in a given option in the order book. A new quote 
would replace the existing quote. Orders on the other hand do not 
replace each other in the order book as multiple orders may exist in a 
given option at once. Therefore, the difference in the impact between 
NOM Market Makers submitting quotes and Participants submitting orders 
is that quotes may continue to be submitted and/or refreshed by 
unaffected NOM Market Makers because these market participants are 
cancelled based on ID when an SQF Port disconnects, whereas all of the 
open orders submitted by a given firm will be impacted when a FIX or 
OTTO port disconnects, if the firm elected to have orders cancelled.
    The Exchange will issue an Options Trader Alert advising 
Participants on the manner in which they should communicate the number 
of ``nn'' seconds to the Exchange for SQF, FIX and OTTO Ports.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 
6(b) of the Act,\12\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\13\ 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, by offering removal functionality for NOM Market Makers as 
well as all other market participants to prevent disruption in the 
marketplace and also

[[Page 52929]]

offering this removal feature to other market participants.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \13\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    NOM Market Makers will be required to utilize removal functionality 
with respect to SQF Ports. This feature will remove impediments to and 
perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market 
system and protect investors and the public interest by requiring NOM 
Market Makers quotes to be removed in the event of a loss of 
connectivity with the Exchange's System. NOM Market Makers provide 
liquidity to the market place and have obligations unlike other market 
participants.\14\ This risk feature for SQF is important because it 
will enable NOM Market Makers to avoid risks associated with 
inadvertent executions in the event of a loss of connectivity with the 
Exchange. The proposed rule change is designed to not permit unfair 
discrimination among market participants, as it would apply uniformly 
to all NOM Market Makers utilizing SQF.
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    \14\ Pursuant to NOM Rules at Chapter VII, Section 5, entitled 
``Obligations of NOM Options Market Makers'', in registering as a 
market maker, an Options Participant commits himself to various 
obligations. Transactions of a NOM Options Market Makers must 
constitute a course of dealings reasonably calculated to contribute 
to the maintenance of a fair and orderly market, and NOM Options 
Market Makers should not make bids or offers or enter into 
transactions that are inconsistent with such course of dealings. 
Further, all NOM Options Market Makers are designated as specialists 
on NOM for all purposes under the Act or rules thereunder. See 
Chapter VII, Section 5.
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    Utilizing a time period for SQF Ports of fifteen (15) seconds and 
permitting the NOM Market Makers to modify the setting to between 100 
milliseconds and 99,999 milliseconds is consistent with the Act because 
the Exchange does not desire to trigger unwarranted logoffs of 
Participants and therefore allows Participants the ability to set their 
time in order to enable the Exchange the authority to disconnect the 
Participant with this feature. Each NOM Market Makers has different 
levels of sensitivity with respect to this disconnect setting and each 
NOM Market Makers has their own system safeguards as well. A default 
setting of fifteen (15) seconds is appropriate to capture the needs of 
all NOM Market Makers and high enough not to trigger unwarranted 
removal of quotes.
    Further, NOM Market Makers are able to customize their setting. The 
Exchange's proposal to permit a timeframe for SQF Ports between 100 
milliseconds and 99,999 milliseconds is consistent with the Act and the 
protection of investors because the purpose of this feature is to 
mitigate the risk of potential erroneous or unintended executions 
associated with a loss in communication with a Client Application. 
Participants are able to better anticipate the appropriate time within 
which they may require prior to a logoff as compared to the Exchange. 
The Participant is being offered a timeframe by the Exchange within 
which to select the appropriate time. The Exchange does not desire to 
trigger unwarranted logoffs of Participants and therefore permits 
Participants to provide an alternative time to the Exchange, within the 
Exchange's prescribed timeframe, which authorized the Exchange to 
disconnect the Participant. The ``nn'' seconds serve as the 
Participant's instruction to the Exchange to act upon the loss of 
connection and remove quotes from the System. This range will 
accommodate Participants in selecting their appropriate times within 
the prescribed timeframes.
    Also, NOM Market Makers have quoting obligations \15\ and are more 
sensitive to price movements as compared to other market participants. 
It is consistent with the Act to provide a wider timeframe within which 
to customize settings for FIX Ports as compared to SQF Ports. NOM 
Market Makers need to remain vigilant of market conditions and react 
more quickly to market movements as compared to other Participants 
entering orders into the System. The proposal acknowledges this 
sensitivity borne by NOM Market Makers and reflects the reaction time 
of NOM Market Makers as compared to Participants entering orders. Of 
note, the proposed customized timeframe for FIX would be too long for 
NOM Market Makers given their quoting requirements and sensitivity to 
price movements. NOM Market Makers would be severely impacted by a loss 
of connectivity of more than several seconds. The NOM Market Makers 
would have exposure during the time period in which they are unable to 
manage their quote and update that quote. The Participant is best 
positioned to determine its setting.
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    \15\ See note 14 above.
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    The Exchange's proposal is further consistent with the Act because 
it will mitigate the risk of potential erroneous or unintended 
executions associated with a loss in communication with a Client 
Application which protects investors and the public interest. Also, any 
interest that is executable against a NOM Market Maker's quotes that is 
received \16\ by the Exchange prior to the trigger of the disconnect to 
the Client Application, which is processed by the System, automatically 
executes at the price up to the NOM Market Maker's size. In other 
words, the System will process the request for cancellation in the 
order it was received by the System.
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    \16\ The time of receipt for an order or quote is the time such 
message is processed by the Exchange book.
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    The System operates consistently with the firm quote obligations of 
a broker-dealer pursuant to Rule 602 of Regulation NMS. Specifically, 
with respect to NOM Market Makers, their obligation to provide 
continuous two-sided quotes on a daily basis is not diminished by the 
removal of such quotes triggered by the disconnect. NOM Market Makers 
are required to provide continuous two-sided quotes on a daily 
basis.\17\ NOM Market Makers will not be relieved of the obligation to 
provide continuous two-sided quotes on a daily basis, nor will it 
prohibit the Exchange from taking disciplinary action against a NOM 
Market Makers for failing to meet the continuous quoting obligation 
each trading day as a result of disconnects.
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    \17\ See note 14 above.
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    The proposal to permit NOM Market Makers to amend the default 
setting at the beginning of each session of connectivity is consistent 
with the Act because it avoids unwarranted logoffs of Participants and 
provides Participants the opportunity to set a time, within the 
prescribed timeframe, to authorize the Exchange to disconnect the 
Participant.
    Today, NASDAQ PHLX LLC (``Phlx'') and NASDAQ BX, INC. (``BX'') 
offer its market makers a similar feature to the one proposed by the 
Exchange for the automatic removal of quotes when connectivity issues 
arise.\18\ Phlx and BX have identical rules to the NOM proposal for SQF 
Ports.
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    \18\ See Phlx Rule 1019(c) and BX Rule at Chapter VI, Section 
6(e).
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    With respect to FIX Ports,\19\ the Exchange will offer an optional 
removal functionality to all market participants. Offering the FIX 
removal feature on a voluntary basis to all other non-Market Maker 
Participants is consistent with the Act because it permits them an 
opportunity to utilize this risk feature, if desired, and avoid risks 
associated with inadvertent executions in the event of a loss of 
connectivity with the Exchange. The removal feature is designed to 
mitigate the risk of missed and/or unintended executions associated 
with a loss in communication with a Client Application.
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    \19\ OTTO ports may be utilized today by non-NOM Market Makers. 
The removal functionality remains optional for non-NOM Market Makers 
similar to FIX.
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    The proposed rule change is designed to not permit unfair 
discrimination among market participants, as this

[[Page 52930]]

removal feature will be offered uniformly to all Participants utilizing 
FIX. The Exchange will not require OTTO users to utilize the removal 
feature for orders similar to FIX. The disconnect feature for FIX is 
mandatory, however market participants will have the option to either 
enable or disable the removal feature, which would result in the 
cancellation of all orders submitted over a FIX port when such port 
disconnects. It is appropriate to offer this removal feature as 
optional to all market participants utilizing FIX because these market 
participants may not bear the same magnitude of risk of potential 
erroneous or unintended executions.\20\ In addition, market 
participants utilizing FIX may desire their orders to remain on the 
order book despite a technical disconnect, so as not to miss any 
opportunities for execution of such orders while the FIX session is 
disconnected. The Exchange will disconnect Participants from the 
Exchange and not cancel its orders if the removal feature is disabled 
for FIX. The disconnect feature is mandatory and will cause the 
Participant to be disconnected within the default timeframe or the 
timeframe otherwise specified by the Participant.
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    \20\ NOM Market Makers utilizes both SQF and OTTO and would be 
subject to quoting obligations.
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    This feature is consistent with the Act because it enables FIX or 
OTTO users, particularly non-Market Maker OTTO users, the ability to 
disconnect from the Exchange, assess the situation and make a 
determination concerning their risk exposure. The Exchange notes that 
in the event that orders need to be removed, the Participant may elect 
to utilize the Kill Switch \21\ feature. It is consistent with the Act 
to require other market participants to be disconnected because the 
Participant is otherwise not connected to the Exchange's System and the 
Participant simply needs to reconnect to commence submitting and 
cancelling orders. Requiring a disconnect when a loss of communication 
is detected is a rational course of action for the Exchange to alert 
the Participant of the technical connectivity issue.
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    \21\ See NOM Rule at Chapter VI, Section 6(d). The Kill Switch 
would impact all three protocols, SQF, FIX and OTTO.
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    The Exchange's proposal to set a default timeframe of thirty (30) 
seconds for FIX and permit a FIX user to customize their timeframe 
between 1 second and 30 seconds for the removal of orders is consistent 
with the Act and the protection of investors because the purpose of 
this optional feature is to mitigate the risk of potential erroneous or 
unintended executions associated with a loss in communication with a 
Client Application. Participants selecting the removal feature are able 
to better anticipate the appropriate time that they require prior to a 
logoff as compared to the Exchange, within the Exchange's prescribed 
timeframes.
    The Exchange does not desire to trigger unwarranted logoffs of 
Participants and therefore permits Participants to provide a time to 
the Exchange, within the Exchange's prescribed timeframe, to authorize 
the Exchange to disconnect the Participant and remove orders. The 
``nn'' seconds serve as the Participant's instruction to the Exchange 
to act upon the loss of connection and remove orders from the System. 
The Participant is also best positioned to determine that it only 
desires the disconnect feature, which is mandatory, and not the removal 
feature.
    The Exchange's proposal to offer FIX users the removal feature on a 
voluntary basis is similar to Phlx and BX.\22\ Both Phlx and BX have 
identical rules regarding FIX and a loss of communication as proposed 
for NOM.
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    \22\ See Phlx Rule 1019(c) and BX Rule at Chapter VI, Section 
6(e).
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    The proposed timeframe for the FIX feature is consistent with the 
Act because the Exchange seeks to provide its Participants with the 
ability to select the amount of time that they desire for a loss of 
communication prior to taking action to cancel open orders or simply 
disconnect. The Participant should have the ability to select the 
appropriate time, within a prescribed timeframe, for authorizing the 
Exchange to cancel its open orders or simply disconnect from the 
Exchange. Inadvertent cancellations may create a greater risk of harm 
to investors and the Participant is better positioned to determine the 
appropriate time, with the prescribed timeframe, to remove orders or 
disconnect.
    With respect to OTTO Ports, the Exchange notes that it offers OTTO 
to all market participants, not just NOM Market Makers. Similar to SQF, 
the Exchange desires to utilize the 15 second default with the ability 
to customize the setting to permit a timeframe between 100 milliseconds 
and 99,999 milliseconds. The Exchange believes that it is consistent 
with the Act to utilize the shorter timeframe of 15 seconds as compared 
to the 30 second timeframe for FIX because today, OTTO is utilized 
solely by NOM Market Makers, although it is offered to all 
Participants. OTTO orders submitted by NOM Market Makers over this 
interface are treated as quotes for purposes of compiling with quoting 
obligations.
    As noted previously, NOM Market Makers have quoting obligations 
\23\ and are more sensitive to price movements as compared to other 
market participants. NOM Market Makers need to remain vigilant of 
market conditions and react more quickly to market movements as 
compared to other Participants entering orders into the System. The 
proposal acknowledges this sensitivity borne by NOM Market Makers and 
reflects the reaction time of NOM Market Makers as compared to 
Participants entering orders. NOM Market Makers would be severely 
impacted by a loss of connectivity of more than several seconds. The 
NOM Market Makers would have exposure during the time period in which 
they are unable to manage their quote and update that quote. The 
Participant is best positioned to determine its setting. Also, the 
Exchange desires to offer NOM Market Makers the ability to have SQF 
quotes and OTTO orders removed with the same timeframes in order that 
NOM Market Makers may attend to all open interest in a similar manner 
with this risk feature.
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    \23\ See note 14 above.
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    The Exchange notes that offering the shorter timeframe, despite the 
fact that non-Market Maker Participants are utilizing this feature is 
also consistent with the Act because the removal feature will not be 
mandatory. The disconnect feature for OTTO will be mandatory, however 
market participants will have the option to either enable or disable 
the removal feature, which would result in the cancellation of all 
orders submitted over an OTTO Port when such port disconnects. NOM 
Market Makers will be able to set a similar timeframe for both SQF and 
OTTO to ensure all open interest is removed simultaneously.
    The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the Act to permit 
OTTO users to disable the removal feature, similar to FIX, because the 
Exchange does not desire to require non-Market Maker Participants to 
have orders removed on mandatory basis. While the Exchange believes 
that this risk feature will mitigate the risk of potential erroneous or 
unintended executions associated with a loss in communication with a 
Client Application which protects investors and the public interest, as 
noted above, Participants are able to better anticipate the appropriate 
time within which they may require prior to a logoff as compared to the 
Exchange.
    The Exchange does not desire to trigger unwarranted logoffs of 
Participants and therefore permits

[[Page 52931]]

Participants to provide an alternative time to the Exchange, within the 
Exchange's prescribed timeframe, which authorized the Exchange to 
disconnect the Participant. The ``nn'' seconds serve as the 
Participant's instruction to the Exchange to act upon the loss of 
connection and remove quotes from the System. This range will 
accommodate Participants in selecting their appropriate times within 
the prescribed timeframes.
    The Exchange believes this hybrid approach will permit NOM Market 
Makers to synchronize the removal of their SQF quotes and OTTO 
orders,\24\ while still permitting non-Market Maker Participants the 
ability to choose to enable the risk feature. OTTO is not available on 
either Phlx or BX, so the OTTO feature is not similar to those markets, 
rather, as mentioned, it is a hybrid approach.
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    \24\ NOM Market Makers may utilize both SQF and OTTO.
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    It is appropriate to offer this removal feature as optional to all 
Participants utilizing OTTO, who may not be required to provide quotes 
in all products in which they are registered. Non-Market Maker 
Participants utilizing OTTO may not bear the same magnitude of risk of 
potential erroneous or unintended executions as NOM Market Makers. In 
addition, non-Market Maker Participants utilizing OTTO may desire their 
orders to remain on the order book despite a technical disconnect, so 
as not to miss any opportunities for execution of such orders while the 
OTTO session is disconnected. OTTO is similar to FIX on Phlx and BX 
because it offers market participants, on a voluntary basis, the 
ability to cancel orders when a technical disconnect occurs.\25\
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    \25\ See Phlx Rule 1019(c) and BX Rule at Chapter VI, Section 
6(e).
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    The Exchange's default timeframe for the disconnect and removal of 
orders for OTTO is 15 seconds with the ability to modify that timeframe 
to between 100 milliseconds and 99,999 milliseconds, on a session by 
session basis. This timeframe is similar to the SQF timeframe offered 
by Phlx and BX today.\26\ Similar to FIX on Phlx and BX today, OTTO 
users may choose to enable or disable the removal feature when a 
disconnect occurs. The proposed timeframe for the OTTO feature is 
consistent with the Act because the Exchange seeks to provide its 
Participants with the ability to select the amount of time that they 
desire for a loss of communication prior to taking action to cancel 
open orders or simply disconnect.
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    \26\ Id.
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    The Exchange notes that Participants are free to select the 
protocols with which they desire to access NOM. The Exchange does not 
require Participants to utilize more than one protocol to access NOM. 
The proposed rule change will help maintain a fair and orderly market 
which promotes efficiency and protects investors. This mandatory 
removal feature for NOM Market Makers using SQF and optional removal 
for all market participants using FIX or OTTO will mitigate the risk of 
potential erroneous or unintended executions associated with a loss in 
communication with a Client Application.

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. Specifically, the Exchange does 
not believe the proposed rule change will cause an undue burden on 
intra-market competition because NOM Market Makers, unlike other market 
participants, have greater risks in the market place. Quoting across 
many series in an option creates large principal positions that expose 
NOM Market Makers, who are required to continuously quote in assigned 
options, to potentially significant market risk.
    Providing a broader timeframe for the disconnect and removal of 
orders for FIX as compared to the disconnect and removal of quotes for 
SQF Ports does not create an undue burden on competition. NOM Market 
Makers have quoting obligations \27\ and are more sensitive to price 
movements as compared to other market participants. The proposal does 
not impose an undue burden on intra-market competition because it 
provides a tighter timeframe for the disconnect and removal of quotes 
for SQF Ports as compared to the disconnect and removal of orders, if 
enabled, for FIX Ports. NOM Market Makers need to remain vigilant of 
market conditions and react more quickly to market movements as 
compared to other Participants entering multiple orders into the 
System.
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    \27\ See note 14 above.
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    The proposal reflects this sensitivity borne by NOM Market Makers 
and reflects the reaction time of NOM Market Makers as compared to 
other Participants entering orders. Offering the removal feature to 
other market participants on an optional basis for FIX and OTTO users 
does not create an undue burden on intra-market competition because 
unlike NOM Market Makers, other market participants do not bear the 
same risks of potential erroneous or unintended executions. FIX users 
have the opportunity to disable the removal feature and simply 
disconnect from the Exchange. FIX users may also set a timeframe that 
is appropriate for their business. It is appropriate to offer this 
optional cancellation functionality to other market participants for 
open orders, because those orders are subject to risks of missed and/or 
unintended executions due to a lack of connectivity which the 
Participants need to weigh.
    Today, OTTO is utilized solely by NOM Market Makers, although it is 
offered to all Participants. OTTO Orders submitted by NOM Market Makers 
over this interface are treated as quotes for purposes of compiling 
with quoting obligations. NOM Market Makers have quoting obligations 
\28\ and are more sensitive to price movements as compared to other 
market participants. NOM Market Makers need to remain vigilant of 
market conditions and react more quickly to market movements as 
compared to other Participants entering orders into the System. For 
this reason, the proposal does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition because the proposal acknowledges this sensitivity 
borne by NOM Market Makers and reflects the reaction time of NOM Market 
Makers as compared to Participants entering orders. As noted, NOM 
Market Makers would be severely impacted by a loss of connectivity of 
more than several seconds. NOM Market Makers would have exposure during 
the time period in which they are unable to manage their quote and 
update that quote.
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    \28\ See note 14 above.
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    The Exchange's proposal offers NOM Market Makers the ability to 
have SQF and OTTO orders removed within the same timeframes in order 
that NOM Market Makers may attend to all open interest in a similar 
manner with this risk feature. The Exchange notes that offering the 
shorter timeframe, despite the fact that non-Market Maker Participants 
may utilize this feature does not impose an undue burden on intra-
market competition because the removal feature will not be mandatory. 
The disconnect feature for OTTO will be mandatory, however market 
participants will have the option to either enable or disable removal 
feature, which would result in the cancellation of all orders submitted 
over an OTTO Port when such port disconnects.

[[Page 52932]]

    The Exchange believes that it does not impose an undue burden on 
intra-market competition to permit OTTO users to disable the removal 
feature, similar to FIX, because the Exchange does not desire to 
require non-Market Maker Participants to have orders removed on 
mandatory basis. While the Exchange believes that this risk feature 
will mitigate the risk of potential erroneous or unintended executions 
associated with a loss in communication with a Client Application which 
protects investors and the public interest, as noted above, 
Participants are able to better anticipate the appropriate time within 
which they may require prior to a logoff as compared to the Exchange.
    The Exchange does not desire to trigger unwarranted logoffs of 
Participants and therefore permits Participants to provide an 
alternative time to the Exchange, within the Exchange's prescribed 
timeframe, which authorized the Exchange to disconnect the Participant. 
This hybrid approach will permit NOM Market Makers to synchronize the 
removal of their SQF quotes and OTTO orders, while still permitting 
non-NOM Market Makers the ability to choose to enable the risk feature.
    Finally, the Exchange does not believe that such change will impose 
any burden on inter-market competition that is not necessary or 
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. Other options 
exchanges offer similar functionality.\29\
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    \29\ See BOX's Rule 8140, CBOE's Rule 6.23C, Phlx Rule 1019(c) 
and BX Rule at Chapter VI, Section 6(e).
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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 \30\ and 
subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\31\
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    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(a)(iii).
    \31\ 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.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does 
not become operative for 30 days from the date of filing. However, Rule 
19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \32\ permits the Commission to designate a shorter 
time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 
30-day operative delay so that it may immediately offer the proposed 
risk protection feature. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-
day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and 
the public interest. The Exchange proposes to adopt a functionality 
designed to assist Participants with managing certain risks in the 
event that a Participant loses communication with its FIX, SQF, or OTTO 
Ports due to a loss of connectivity. The Commission notes that other 
options exchanges currently have similar risk protection 
functionalities for their members.\33\ Therefore, the Commission hereby 
waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposal operative 
upon filing.\34\ 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.
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    \32\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \33\ See Phlx Rule 1019(c) and BX Rule at Chapter VI, Section 
6(e).
    \34\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, 
the Commission has also considered the proposed rule's impact on 
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 
78c(f).
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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-NASDAQ-2016-097 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-NASDAQ-2016-097. 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 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; 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-NASDAQ-2016-097 and should 
be submitted on or before August 31, 2016.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\35\
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    \35\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Robert W. Errett,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-18911 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P