[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 64 (Thursday, April 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18626-18628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06854]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-88505; File No. SR-BX-2020-005]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing 
and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Extend the 
Current Pilot Program Related to BX Rule 11890

March 27, 2020.
    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 March 23, 2020, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (``BX'' 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 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 extend the current pilot program related 
to BX Rule 11890 (Clearly Erroneous Transactions) by six months, to the 
close of business on October 20, 2020.

[[Page 18627]]

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's 
website at http://nasdaqbx.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 purpose of the proposed rule change is to extend the current 
pilot program related to Rule 11890, Clearly Erroneous Transactions, to 
the close of business on October 20, 2020. This change is being 
proposed to allow the Exchange to further consider a permanent proposal 
for clearly erroneous execution reviews.
    On September 10, 2010, the Commission approved, on a pilot basis, 
changes to Rule 11890 that, among other things: (i) Provided for 
uniform treatment of clearly erroneous[thinsp]execution reviews in 
multi-stock events involving twenty or more securities; and (ii) 
reduced the ability of the Exchange to deviate from the objective 
standards set forth in the rule.\3\ In 2013, the Exchange adopted a 
provision designed to address the operation of the Plan.\4\ Finally, in 
2014, the Exchange adopted two additional provisions providing that: 
(i) A series of transactions in a particular security on one or more 
trading days may be viewed as one event if all such transactions were 
effected based on the same fundamentally incorrect or grossly 
misinterpreted issuance information resulting in a severe valuation 
error for all such transactions; and (ii) in the event of any 
disruption or malfunction in the operation of the electronic 
communications and trading facilities of an Exchange, another SRO, or 
responsible single plan processor in connection with the transmittal or 
receipt of a trading halt, an Officer, acting on his or her own motion, 
shall nullify any transaction that occurs after a trading halt has been 
declared by the primary listing market for a security and before such 
trading halt has officially ended according to the primary listing 
market.\5\ These changes are currently scheduled to operate for a pilot 
period that concludes on April 20, 2020.\6\
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    \3\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62886 (September 10, 
2010), 75 FR 56613 (September 16, 2010) (SR-BX-2010-040).
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68818 (February 1, 
2013), 78 FR 9100 (February 7, 2013) (SR-BX-2013-010).
    \5\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 72434 (June 19, 
2014), 79 FR 36110 (June 25, 2014) (SR-BX-2014-021).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 87359 (October 18, 
2019), 84 FR 57131 (October 24, 2019) (SR-BX-2019-037).
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    If the pilot period is not either extended, replaced or approved as 
permanent, the prior versions of paragraphs (a)(2)(C), (c)(1), (b)(i), 
and (b)(ii) shall be in effect, and the provisions of paragraphs (g) 
through (i) shall be null and void.\7\ In such an event, the remaining 
sections of Rule 11890 would continue to apply to all transactions 
executed on the Exchange. The Exchange understands that the other 
national securities exchanges and Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority (``FINRA'') will also file similar proposals to extend their 
respective clearly erroneous execution pilot programs, the substance of 
which are identical to Rule 11890.
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    \7\ See notes 3-5, supra. The prior versions of paragraphs 
(a)(2)(C), (c)(1), (b)(i), and (b)(ii) generally provided greater 
discretion to the Exchange with respect to breaking erroneous 
trades.
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    The Exchange does not propose any additional changes to Rule 11890. 
The Exchange believes the benefits to market participants from the more 
objective clearly erroneous executions rule should continue on a 
limited six month pilot basis after the current expiration date to 
allow the Exchange to continue to assess whether additional changes 
should also be made to the operation of the clearly erroneous execution 
rules. Extending the effectiveness of Rule 11890 for an additional six 
months should provide the Exchange, other national securities exchanges 
and FINRA additional time to consider further amendments to the clearly 
erroneous execution rules.
2. Statutory Basis
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with 
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,\8\ in general, and Section 
6(b)(5) of the Act,\9\ in particular, in that it is designed to remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system, to promote just and equitable principles of 
trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest 
and not to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \9\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change promotes just 
and equitable principles of trade in that it promotes transparency and 
uniformity across markets concerning review of transactions as clearly 
erroneous. The Exchange believes that extending the clearly erroneous 
execution pilot under Rule 11890 for an additional six months would 
help assure that the determination of whether a clearly erroneous trade 
has occurred will be based on clear and objective criteria, and that 
the resolution of the incident will occur promptly through a 
transparent process. The proposed rule change would also help assure 
consistent results in handling erroneous trades across the U.S. 
equities markets, thus furthering fair and orderly markets, the 
protection of investors and the public interest. Based on the 
foregoing, the Exchange believes the amended Clearly Erroneous 
Transactions rule should continue to be in effect on a pilot basis 
while the Exchange, other national securities exchanges and FINRA 
consider a permanent proposal for clearly erroneous execution reviews.

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

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would 
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposal would ensure 
the continued, uninterrupted operation of harmonized clearly erroneous 
execution rules across the U.S. equities markets while the Exchange, 
other national securities exchanges and FINRA consider further 
amendments to these rules. The Exchange understands that the other 
national securities exchanges and FINRA will also file similar 
proposals to extend their respective clearly erroneous execution pilot 
programs. Thus, the proposed rule change will help to ensure 
consistency across market centers without implicating any competitive 
issues.

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.

[[Page 18628]]

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 \10\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\11\
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    \10\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \11\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) 
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission 
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along 
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at 
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed 
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. 
The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) \12\ normally 
does not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the 
filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) \13\ 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 proposed 
rule change may become effective and 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, as 
it will allow the current clearly erroneous execution pilot program to 
continue uninterrupted, without any changes, while the Exchange and the 
other national securities exchanges consider a permanent proposal for 
clearly erroneous execution reviews. For this reason, the Commission 
hereby waives the 30-day operative delay and designates the proposed 
rule change as operative upon filing.\14\
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    \12\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
    \13\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
    \14\ 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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    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.

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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include 
File Number SR-BX-2020-005 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-2020-005. 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 website (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 website 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. Persons submitting comments are 
cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying 
information from comment submissions. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions 
should refer to File Number SR-BX-2020-005 and should be submitted on 
or before April 23, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\15\
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    \15\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-06854 Filed 4-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


