[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77555-77557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30118]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-73874; File No. SR-BYX-2014-039]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change to Rules
11.9(a)(2) and 11.18(e) of BATS Y-Exchange, Inc.
December 18, 2014.
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 December 10, 2014, BATS Y-Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or
``BYX'') 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
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 the
Substance of the Proposed Rule Change
The Exchange filed a proposal to amend Rule 11.9(a)(2), which
describes BATS market orders, and Rule 11.18(e), which describes the
Exchange's implementation of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, as defined
below.
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 Exchange proposes to amend Rule 11.9(a)(2), which describes
BATS market orders, and Rule 11.18(e), which describes the Exchange's
implementation of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, as defined below. The
proposed change to the operation of BATS market orders is based on
existing behavior of Market Orders available on EDGA Exchange, Inc.
(``EDGA'') and EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``EDGX'').\3\
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\3\ See EDGA Rule 11.8(a)(4) and EDGX Rule 11.8(a)(4).
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Earlier this year, the Exchange and its affiliate, BATS Exchange,
Inc. (``BZX''), received approval to effect a merger (the ``Merger'')
of the Exchange's parent company, BATS Global Markets, Inc., with
Direct Edge Holdings LLC, the indirect parent of EDGX and EDGA
(together with BZX, BYX and EDGX, the ``BGM Affiliated Exchanges'').\4\
In the context of the Merger, the BGM Affiliated Exchanges are working
to align certain system functionality, retaining only intended
differences between the BGM Affiliated Exchanges. Thus, the proposal
set forth below is intended to add certain system functionality
currently offered by EDGA and EDGX in order to provide a consistent
technology offering for users of the BGM Affiliated Exchanges.
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\4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 71375 (January 23,
2014), 79 FR 4771 (January 29, 2014) (SR-BATS-2013-059; SR-BYX-2013-
039).
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Currently, BATS market orders can be executed on the Exchange or
routed to other destinations but cannot be posted to the BATS Book. The
proposed modification to the operation of a BATS Market Order would
allow such orders to post to the BATS Book under certain limited
circumstances to the extent such BATS Market Order is designated with a
time-in-force of Day. Specifically, as proposed, a BATS market order
that is not eligible for routing (i.e., BATS Only) and contains a time-
in-force of Day will be cancelled if, when reaching the Exchange, it
cannot be executed on the System in accordance with Rule 11.13(a)(1)
unless the reason that such BATS market order cannot be executed is
because it is entered into the System and the NBO (NBB) is greater
(less) than the Upper (Lower) Price Band, as such term is defined in
the Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility Pursuant to Rule
608 of Regulation NMS under the Act (the ``Limit Up-Limit Down Plan''),
in which case such order will be posted by the System to the BATS Book
and priced at the Upper (Lower) Price Band, and re-priced as set forth
in Rule 11.18(e)(5)(B), which the Exchange proposes to amend as
described below. Similarly, a BATS market order to sell with a time-in-
force of Day that is marked short that cannot be executed because of
the existence of a Short Sale Circuit Breaker pursuant to Regulation
SHO will be posted by the System to the BATS Book subject to the price
sliding process as set forth in Rule 11.9(g).
The Exchange also proposes to modify Rule 11.18(e)(5)(A), which
describes the handling of BATS market orders and other orders that are
not currently posted to the Exchange's order book when not executable
pursuant to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan. The Exchange proposes to make
clear that a BATS market order that cannot be executed within the
applicable Price Bands will be cancelled if it contains a time-in-force
other than Day but if it maintains a time-in-force of Day that such an
order will be posted and displayed at the applicable Price Band and re-
priced to remain at such Price Band. Specifically, the Exchange
proposes to state that a BATS market order to buy (sell) with a time-
in-force of Day that is posted to the BATS Book and displayed at the
Upper (Lower) Price Band will be re-priced and displayed at the Upper
(Lower) Price Band if Price Bands move such that the price of the
resting market order to buy (sell) would be above (below) the Upper
(Lower) Price Band or if the Price Bands move such that the order is no
longer posted and displayed at the most aggressive permissible price.
The Exchange further proposes that the System shall re-price such
displayed interest to the most aggressive permissible price until the
order is executed in its entirety or cancelled.
The Exchange proposes to post to the BATS Book all BATS market
orders with a time-in-force of Day in these circumstances (i.e., when
an execution would otherwise occur but cannot due to the application of
Price Bands pursuant to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan or due to a
Regulation SHO Short Sale Circuit Breaker), because the sender of a
market order typically expects an execution when such order is sent. In
these circumstances although an execution could not occur, the Exchange
believes that Users would
[[Page 77556]]
prefer to have their orders posted to the Exchange's book in compliance
with the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan and Regulation SHO to potentially
receive a later execution.
A BATS market order will default to a time-in-force of Day unless
otherwise specified by a User, however, Users that do not want their
orders posted to the BATS Book in these circumstances can choose a
different time-in-force, in which case their order will be cancelled
back in such circumstances. A BATS market order that is not eligible
for routing with a time-in-force other than Day will be cancelled if,
when reaching the Exchange, it cannot be executed on the System in
accordance with Rule 11.13(a)(1). Further, the Exchange proposes to
make clear that BATS market orders that are designated as BATS Post
Only are rejected.
2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes that the proposed rule changes are consistent
with section 6(b) of the Act \5\ and further the objectives of section
6(b)(5) of the Act \6\ because they are 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, to
foster cooperation and coordination with persons engaged in
facilitating transactions in securities, and, in general, to protect
investors and the public interest.
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\5\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\6\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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The proposed rule change adds certain system functionality
currently offered by EDGA and EDGX in order to provide a consistent
technology offering across the BGM Affiliated Exchanges. A consistent
technology offering, in turn, will simplify the technology
implementation, changes and maintenance by Users of the Exchange that
are also participants on BZX, EDGA and/or EDGX. The proposed rule
changes would also provide Users with access to functionality that may
result in the execution of such orders when they would otherwise be
cancelled and will provide additional flexibility as well as increased
functionality to the Exchange's System and its Users. Therefore, the
Exchange believes that the proposed change removes impediments to and
perfects the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system.
As explained elsewhere in this proposal, the proposed operation of
BATS Market Orders with a time-in-force of Day is intended to allow
such orders to post to the BATS Book, rather than cancel back to the
User unexecuted, when an execution would have occurred but did not
because of the application of Limit Up-Limit Down Price Bands or a
Regulation SHO Short Sale Circuit Breaker. The Exchange believes that
Users in such circumstances would prefer to have their orders posted to
the BATS Book in compliance with the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan and
Regulation SHO, to potentially receive a later execution. Similarly,
the Exchange believes that it is reasonable and consistent with the Act
to continue to re-price and display BATS market orders at their most
aggressive permissible price because this functionality will be more
likely to result in an execution of such order and is consistent with
the overall intent of a BATS market order, which is to receive an
execution not bounded by price but at the going price for the security.
Specifically, the Exchange believes that its proposed handling of BATS
market orders in this way is consistent with the Act because it is
designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free
and open market and a national market system. Lastly, the Exchange does
not believe that this will permit unfair discrimination among
customers, brokers, or dealers because it will be available to all
Users and will be applied as the default for BATS market orders. The
Exchange notes that Users that do not want to have their orders posted
to the BATS Book in such circumstances can elect a different time-in-
force.
B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The Exchange
does not believe that the proposed rule change raises any competitive
issues, as it will simply allow certain orders that would otherwise be
cancelled to post to the BATS Book. In addition, the Exchange believes
the proposed rule change will benefit Exchange participants in that it
is one of several changes necessary to achieve a consistent technology
offering by the BGM Affiliated Exchanges.
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 \7\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.\8\
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) thereunder.\9\
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\7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).
\8\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\9\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). As required under Rule 19b-
4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a
brief description and the 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.
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A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the
Act \10\ normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date
of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \11\ 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
the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing, noting that
a waiver of the operative delay will allow the Exchange to continue to
strive towards a complete technology integration of the BGM Affiliated
Exchanges, with gradual roll-outs of new functionality to ensure
stability of the System. The Exchange also notes that waiver of the
operative delay will allow orders that would otherwise be cancelled to
post to the BATS Book for potential later execution. The Commission
believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the
protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the
Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the
proposed rule change operative upon filing.\12\
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\10\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
\11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\12\ 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
[[Page 77557]]
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 under section
19(b)(2)(B) \13\ of the Act to determine whether the proposed rule
change should be approved or disapproved.
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\13\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
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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-BYX-2014-039 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-BYX-2014-039. 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 at 100 F Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20549-1090 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-BYX-
2014-039, and should be submitted on or before January 14, 2015.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\14\
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\14\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-30118 Filed 12-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P