[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9955-9957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03186]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-68851; File No. SR-BATS-2013-009]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend
the Pilot Program Related to Trading Pauses Due to Extraordinary Market
Volatility
February 6, 2013.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the ``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given
that on January 30, 2013, BATS Exchange, Inc. (``BATS'' or
``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I and
II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange
has designated this proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder,4 which renders it effective upon filing with
the Commission. 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.
\3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange is proposing to extend a pilot program previously
approved by the Commission related to Rule 11.18, entitled ``Trading
Halts Due to Extraordinary Market Volatility.''
The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange's
Web site at http://www.batstrading.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 parts 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 this filing is to extend the effectiveness of the
Exchange's rule related to individual stock circuit breakers, which is
contained in Rule 11.18(d) and Interpretation and Policy .05 to Rule
11.18. The rule, explained in further detail below, is currently
operating as a pilot program set to expire on February 4, 2013.
On June 10, 2010, the Commission approved on a pilot basis changes
to BATS Rule 11.18 to provide for uniform market-wide trading pause
standards for individual securities in the S&P 500[supreg] Index that
experience rapid price movement.\5\ Later, the Exchange and other
markets proposed extension of the trading pause standards on a pilot
basis to individual securities in the Russell 1000[supreg] Index and
specified Exchange Traded Products, which changes the Commission
approved on September 10, 2010.\6\ More recently, the Exchange proposed
expansion of the pilot program to apply to all NMS stocks.\7\ This
expansion was approved on June 23, 2011.\8\ The pilot program relating
to trading pause standards has been extended five times since its
inception.\9\ The Exchange believes the benefits to market participants
from the individual stock trading pause rule should be continued on a
pilot basis until individual stocks become, on a rolling basis, subject
to the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule
608 of Regulation NMS
[[Page 9956]]
under the Act (the ``Limit Up-Limit Down Plan'' or ``Plan'').\10\
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\5\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62252 (June 10, 2010),
75 FR 34186 (June 16, 2010) (SR-BATS-2010-014).
\6\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62884 (September 10,
2010), 75 FR 56618 (September 16, 2010) (SR-BATS-2010-018).
\7\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64435 (May 6, 2011), 76
FR 27684 (May 12, 2011) (SR-BATS-2011-016).
\8\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64735 (June 23, 2011),
76 FR 38243 (June 29, 2011) (File Nos. SR-BATS-2011-016; SR-BYX-
2011-011; SR-BX-2011-025; SR-CBOE-2011-049; SR-CHX-2011-09; SR-EDGA-
2011-15; SR-EDGX-2011-14; SR-FINRA-2011-023; SR-ISE-2011-028; SR-
NASDAQ-2011-067; SR-NYSE-2011-21; SR-NYSEAmex-2011-32; SR-NYSEArca-
2011-26; SR-NSX-2011-06; SR-Phlx-2011-64).
\9\ Securities Exchange Act Release No. 63497 (December 9,
2010), 75 FR 78315 (December 15, 2010) (SR-BATS-2010-037);
Securities Exchange Act Release No. 64207 (April 6, 2011), 76 FR
20424 (April 12, 2011) (SR-BATS-2011-011); Securities Exchange Act
Release No. 65081 (August 9, 2011), 76 FR 50798 (August 16, 2011)
(SR-BATS-2011-027); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 66190
(January 19, 2012), 77 FR 3834 (January 25, 2012) (SR-BATS-2012-
001); Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67520 (July 27, 2012), 77
FR 46129 (August 2, 2012) (SR-BATS-2012-031).
\10\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31,
2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012) (the ``Limit Up-Limit Down
Release'').
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The Exchange, in conjunction with other national securities
exchanges and FINRA, recently filed an amendment to the Plan to change
the date of initial operations of the Plan from February 4, 2013 to
April 8, 2013. The extension proposed herein would allow the pilot to
continue to operate without interruption until implementation of the
Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, which will occur on a rolling basis.
The Exchange proposes to extend the effective date of the pilot
from the current scheduled expiration date of February 4, 2013 until
February 4, 2014. The Exchange also proposes to modify the definition
of ``Circuit Breaker Securities'' subject to the individual stock
circuit breaker pilot to mean all NMS stocks other than NMS stocks
subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan. Accordingly, as securities
become subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, they will no longer be
Circuit Breaker Securities subject to the individual stock trading
pause pilot.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with the
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that
are applicable to a national securities exchange, and, in particular,
with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\11\ In particular,
the proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\12\ because
it would promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove
impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a free and open market
and a national market system. The proposed rule change is also
consistent with Section 11A(a)(1) of the Act \13\ in that it seeks to
assure fair competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange
markets. The Exchange believes that the pilot program promotes just and
equitable principles of trade in that it promotes transparency and
uniformity across markets concerning decisions to pause trading in a
security when there are significant price movements. The Exchange
believes that the pilot program is working well, that it has been
infrequently invoked during the previous months, and that the extension
of the pilot will allow the Exchange to further assess the effect of
the pilot on the market until securities become subject to the Limit
Up-Limit Down Plan on a rolling basis.
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\11\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\12\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78k-1(a)(1).
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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 that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed changes are
being made to extend the operation of the trading pause pilot to allow
the pilot to continue to operate without interruption until
implementation of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, which contributes to
the protection of investors and the public interest. Other competing
equity exchanges are subject to the same trading pause requirements
specified in the Plan. Thus, the proposed changes will not impose any
burden on competition while providing trading pause requirements
specified in the Plan.
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 written comments on
the proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The Exchange has filed the proposed rule change pursuant to Section
19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \14\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\15\
Because the 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 prior to
30 days from the date on which it was filed, 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 and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.
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\14\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\15\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)
requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice of the
Exchange's 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 satisfied this requirement.
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A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \16\ normally
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the
filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b4(f)(6)(iii),\17\ the Commission
may 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 the proposal
may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes
that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest because such waiver
would allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted. Accordingly,
the Commission hereby grants the Exchange's request and designates the
proposal operative upon filing. \18\
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\16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\17\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\18\ 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 such 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-BATS-2013-009 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-BATS-2013-009. 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
[[Page 9957]]
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 publicly available. All submissions should refer to
File Number SR-BATS-2013-009 and should be submitted on or before March
5, 2013.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\19\
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\19\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-03186 Filed 2-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P