Notice2023-04231
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend Rules 11.9, 11.10, and 11.11
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 2, 2023
Issuing agencies
Securities and Exchange Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)</title>
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<body><pre>[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13203-13209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04231]
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[Release No. 34-96973; File No. SR-CboeEDGX-2023-012]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a Proposed Rule Change To
Amend Rules 11.9, 11.10, and 11.11
February, 24, 2023.
Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
[[Page 13204]]
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on February 15, 2023, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or
``EDGX'') 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
filed the proposal as a ``non-controversial'' proposed rule change
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\4\ 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)(iii).
\4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change
Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the ``Exchange'' or ``EDGX'') proposes to
amend Rule 11.9(a)(4) to provide that a change in position from either
sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to
sell short (or vice versa) will result in a loss of time priority if
made when a short sale circuit breaker pursuant to Rule 201 of
Regulation SHO is in effect. The Exchange also proposes to amend Rule
11.10(e)(3) to provide that orders may be modified from either sell
long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell
short (or vice versa) using a Replace Message. Additionally, the
Exchange proposes to amend Rule 11.11(a) to clarify when the Exchange
may route orders with a short sale instruction when a short sale
circuit breaker pursuant to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO is in effect.
The text of the proposed rule change is provided in Exhibit 5.
The text of the proposed rule change is also available on the
Exchange's website (<a href="http://markets.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/edgx/">http://markets.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/edgx/</a>), at the Exchange's Office of the Secretary, 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 Rule 11.9(a)(4) to reflect that if a
User \5\ changes the position of an order from sell long to sell short
exempt (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) while a Regulation SHO Rule 201 \6\ short sale circuit breaker
(the ``SSCB'') \7\ is in effect, the change will result in a loss of
time priority. This proposed change is substantially similar to MIAX
PEARL, LLC (``MIAX Pearl'') Rule 2616 (discussed infra).\8\ The
Exchange also proposes to amend Rule 11.10(e)(3) to provide that an
order may be modified from sell long to sell short exempt (or vice
versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) using a
Replace Message. Additionally, the Exchange proposes to amend Rule
11.11(a) (Regulation SHO) to make clear that short sale orders \9\
entered with an order instruction to post to an away trading center
when an SSCB is in effect are eligible for routing by the Exchange.
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\5\ See Exchange Rule 1.5(ee).
\6\ See 17 CFR 242.201; Securities Exchange Act Release No.
61595 (February 26, 2010), 75 FR 11232 (March 10, 2010).
\7\ For any execution of a short sale order to occur on the
Exchange when a short sale price test restriction is in effect, the
price must be better than the national best bid (``NBB''), unless
the sell order was initially displayed by the System at a price
above then the current NBB or is market ``short exempt'' pursuant to
Regulation SHO. See Exchange Rule 11.10(a)(1).
\8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 93506 (November 2,
2021), 86 FR 61796 (November 8, 2021) (SR-PEARL-2021-35) (Notice of
Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of
a Proposed Rule Changes, as Modified by Amendment No. 1, To Amend
Exchange Rule 2616, Priority of Orders).
\9\ See 17 CFR 242.200(a). The term ``short sale'' is defined as
``any sale of a security which the seller does not own or any sale
which is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by, or
for the account of, the seller.''
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Priority Loss for Position Changes During an SSCB
Pursuant to Exchange Rule 11.10(e)(3), certain order modifications
may be made via a Replace Message (i.e., other than changing a Limit
Order to a Market Order, only the price, Stop Price, the sell long
indicator, Short Sale instruction, Max Floor of an order with a Reserve
Quantity, and size of the order may be changed by a Replace Message),
while other modifications require that the existing order be cancelled,
and a new order be entered. Furthermore, pursuant to Rule 11.9(a)(4),
when an order is cancelled or replaced in accordance with 11.10(e)(3),
such order will retain its priority only for certain types of
modifications (e.g., changing an order's position from sell long to
sell short or a decrease in the size of the order). Certain other types
of order modifications \10\ (e.g., a change in the order's price) will
otherwise receive a new timestamp and lose priority on the EDGX
Book.\11\ For example, if pursuant to Rule 11.10(e)(3) an order is
modified from sell long to sell short, such modification may be
accomplished via a Replace Message, and the System will, pursuant to
Rule 11.9(a)(4), allow such order to retain its original timestamp and
priority on the EDGX Book.
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\10\ See Rule 11.9(a)(4).
\11\ See Rule 1.5(d).
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The Exchange first proposes to amend Rule 11.10(e)(3) to provide
that an order's position may be modified from sell long to sell short
exempt (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) through the use of a Replace Message. The Exchange notes that
Users complete a position modification from sell long to sell short
exempt (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) using the same functionality to mark an order as either sell
long or sell short under Rule 11.10(e)(3). The Exchange believes this
change will provide additional specificity to the rule and ensure the
rule uses terminology consistent with the description of Replace
Messages and their impact on an order's priority under Exchange Rule
11.9(a)(4) (discussed infra).
The Exchange also proposes to amend Rule 11.9(a)(4) in order to
align the Rule text with how the System currently behaves when an SSCB
is in effect, and to provide clarification to Users that when an SSCB
is in effect that changing an order's position from either sell long to
sell short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) will instead result in such order receiving a new timestamp and
losing its original priority. The Exchange is not proposing to change
the timestamp for modifications from either sell long to sell short (or
vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) when an
SSCB is not in effect. Additionally, the Exchange is also proposing to
add language to Rule 11.9(a)(4) stating that a modification from sell
long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) is a type of order
modification that would retain time priority and would not receive a
new timestamp, regardless of whether an SSCB is in effect (discussed
infra).
[[Page 13205]]
The Exchange also proposes a non-substantive change to Rule
11.9(a)(4) to provide that an order is being modified by a Replace
Message rather than cancelled and replaced with a new order. This
change is intended to provide that an order does not need to be
cancelled and replaced with a new order, but rather includes
modifications to orders via the use of a Replace Message. The proposed
changes to Exchange Rule 11.9(a)(4) are based on previously-approved
changes to MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a)(5), which is substantially similar
to Exchange Rule 11.9(a)(4).\12\
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\12\ Supra note 8.
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In the event that a User requests an order modification using a
Replace Message, the System will first determine whether the
modification is of a kind that may result in a loss of time priority in
order to determine how the modification will be handled by the System.
For example, as noted in Exchange Rule 11.9(a)(4), a modification to
the price of an order will cause the loss of time priority. Therefore,
in the event of a modification of the price of an order, the System
will first determine that the type of modification may result in a loss
of time priority and then handle the order accordingly by giving it a
new timestamp.\13\ Since an order modification from sell long to sell
short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) may result in a change in price of the order when an SSCB is in
effect, the Exchange immediately gives the order a new timestamp. As
previously discussed, a modification from sell long to sell short (or
vice versa) or a modification from sell short exempt to sell short (or
vice versa) requires the System to determine whether an order must be
re-priced to be compliant with the requirements of Regulation SHO. The
Exchange notes, however, that an order modification from sell long to
sell short exempt (or vice versa) does not require the System to
determine whether the order shall be re-priced as a result of the
modification, as both a sell long and a sell short exempt order may
execute at a more aggressive price than a sell short order when an SSCB
is in effect. Given that the System does not have to evaluate whether a
price change is required as part of an order modification from sell
long to sell short exempt (or vice versa), this specific order
modification does not lose priority on the EDGX Book.
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\13\ Alternatively, as noted in Rule 11.9(a)(4) a modification
that involves a decrease in the size of the order will not cause the
loss of time priority. Therefore, in order to decrease the size of
the order, the System will first determine that the type of
modification will not result in a loss of time priority and will
handle the order in a completely different manner than it would if
the order would have resulted in a loss of time priority.
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Specifically, if a sell long order is modified to a sell short
order (or vice versa) or a sell short exempt order is modified to a
sell short order (or vice versa) while an SSCB is in effect, the
Exchange cannot simply change the order from sell long to sell short
(or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa)
while resting on the book, but rather must verify that the sell short
order would not violate Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) \14\ of Regulation SHO
before the order is re-added to the EDGX Book. Therefore, as such a
modification may result in a change of the order's price, the System
gives the order a new timestamp, resulting in a loss of priority.
Similarly, if a sell short order is modified to a sell long order (or
vice versa) or a sell short order is modified to a sell short exempt
(or vice versa) order while an SSCB is in effect, the order may be
eligible to display at a more aggressive price. As such, the System
gives the order a new timestamp, again resulting in a loss of time
priority, but potentially in improved price priority. However, if an
order is modified from sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa)
when an SSCB is in effect, the System does not have to take an
additional step to evaluate whether the modification violates Rule
201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO given that sell long and sell short
exempt orders may execute at more aggressive prices that sell short
orders during an SSCB. Accordingly, an order modification from sell
long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) would not result in a loss of
priority. Stated differently, the System treats orders marked sell long
and sell short exempt the same, and only order modifications from
either sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to
sell short (or vice versa) would cause an order to lose priority during
an SSCB because the System is required to determine whether a change in
the order's price is required as a consequence of the change in status
from either sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short
exempt to sell short (or vice versa). This order price analysis by the
System is required in order to prevent potential violations of Rule
201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO as orders may be required to be re-
priced to prevent potential violations of Rule 201 when the SSCB is in
effect.
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\14\ Pursuant to Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO, the
Exchange must establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and
procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution or display
of a short sale order of a covered security at a price that is less
than or equal to the current NBB during an SSCB.
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To illustrate order behavior with a modification from sell long to
sell short during an SSCB, consider the following example:
Assume the National Best Bid and Offer (``NBBO'') \15\ in a given
covered security \16\ is $5.00 x $5.10 while an SSCB is in effect. A
User enters a non-displayed sell long order with a limit price of
$5.00. Subsequently, the User modifies the position of the order from
sell long to sell short, while the NBBO has remained the same. In order
to effect the modification, the System determines that a modification
from sell long to sell short may result in a change in the order's
price in order to prevent potential violations of Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of
Regulation SHO, as orders may be required to be repriced to prevent
potential violations of Rule 201 when the SSCB is in effect.
Accordingly, the order loses its time priority in order for the System
to handle the potential price change. In this example, the subject
order resulted in a change of the order's price as the sell short order
was not eligible for execution at a price equal to the NBB.
Nonetheless, even if the modification would not have ultimately
resulted in a price change, the modification would have necessarily
caused the System to evaluate whether a price change was necessary and,
thus, required a new timestamp, resulting in a loss of time priority.
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\15\ See Exchange Rule 1.5(o).
\16\ Rule 201(a)(1) of Regulation SHO defines the term ``covered
security'' to mean any ``NMS stock'' as defined under Rule
600(b)(48) of Regulation NMS. Rule 600(b)(48) of Regulation NMS
defines an ``NMS stock'' as ``any NMS security other than an
option.'' Rule 600(b)(47) of Regulation NMS defines an ``NMS
security'' as ``any security or class of securities for which
transaction reports are collected, processed, and made available
pursuant to an effective transaction reporting plan, or an effective
national market system plan for reporting transactions in listed
options.'' See 17 CFR 242.201(a)(1); 17 CFR 242.600(b)(47); and 17
CFR 242.600(b)(48).
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Order modifications from sell long to sell short (or vice versa),
sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa), or sell short exempt to
sell short (or vice versa) that occur when an SSCB is not in effect
will not be subject to a loss of priority on the Exchange, as orders
may be required to be re-priced to prevent potential violations of Rule
201 of Regulation SHO, only when an SSCB is in effect. When an SSCB is
not in effect the System does not have to take the additional step of
determining whether a price change is required before effecting a
position modification from sell long to sell short (or vice versa),
sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa),
[[Page 13206]]
or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) and as such, these
order modifications can be processed without a loss of priority.
Routing Clarification for Orders That Will Post to an Away Trading
Center
The Exchange is also proposing to amend Rule 11.11(a) in order to
codify that any sell short order that will post to an away Trading
Center \17\ will be routed when an SSCB is in effect. Given that sell
short orders that post to an away Trading Center are subjected to the
receiving Trading Center's processes for handling sell short orders in
compliance with Rule 201 of Regulation SHO,\18\ the Exchange believes
the capability to route all sell short orders with the ability to post
to an away market center during an SSCB is appropriate and that
Exchange Rules should be amended to codify such functionality.\19\
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\17\ Rule 600(b)(82) of Regulation NMS defines a ``Trading
Center'' as ``a national securities exchange or national securities
association that operates an SRO trading facility, an alternative
trading system, an exchange market maker, an OTC market maker, or
any other broker or dealer that executes orders internally by
trading as principal or crossing orders as agent.'' See 17 CFR
242.201(a)(9); 17 CFR 242.600(b)(82).
\18\ Rule 201(b)(1) of Regulation SHO requires a Trading Center
(e.g., Cboe EDGX) to establish, maintain, and enforce written
policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the execution
or display of a short sale order of a covered security at a price
that is less than or equal to the national best bid if the price of
that covered security decrease by 10% or more from the covered
security's closing price as determined by the listing market for the
covered security as of the end of regular trading hours on the prior
day. See 17 CFR 242.201(b)(1).
\19\ See, e.g., Nasdaq Rule 4763; NYSE Rule 440B; and Nasdaq's
Regulation SHO Frequently Asked Questions (updated March 10, 2011),
available at <a href="https://nasdaqtrader.com/content/marketregulation/regsho/regshoFAQs.pdf">https://nasdaqtrader.com/content/marketregulation/regsho/regshoFAQs.pdf</a>.
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The proposed rule change would provide Users with clarity as how
the Exchange will handle routable sell short orders when the SSCB is in
effect. For instance, Rule 11.11(a) explicitly states that the Post to
Away,\20\ RDOT,\21\ and ROOC \22\ routing options will post an order to
another Trading Center's book when the SSCB is in effect.\23\ While
Rule 11.11(a) provides that the Post to Away, RDOT, and ROOC routing
options may post an order to another Trading Center's book (which could
occur if the order is entered with a time-in-force (``TIF'') of
Day),\24\ the Exchange seeks to clarify that any routing strategy that
would post the remainder of the routed order to another Trading
Center's book is eligible for routing during an SSCB. Under Exchange
Rule 11.11(a), orders that include a Short Sale instruction and a Time-
in-Force of IOC \25\ that are not eligible for routing during an SSCB
will continue to be cancelled. For any other order that includes a
Short Sale instruction that is ineligible for routing due to an SSCB
being in effect, the Exchange will continue to post the unfilled
balance of the order to the EDGX Book, treat the order as if it
included a Book Only or Post Only instruction, and subject it to the
Re-Pricing Instructions to Comply with Rule 201 of Regulation SHO, as
described in Rule 11.6(l)(2), unless the User has elected the order
Cancel Back as described in Rule 11.6(b).
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\20\ See Rule 11.11(g)(11). Post to Away is a routing option
that routes the remainder of a routed order to and posts such order
on the order book of a destination on the System routing table as
specified by the User.
\21\ See Rule 11.11(g)(5). RDOT is a routing option under which
an order checks the System for available shares and then is sent to
destinations on the System routing table. If shares remain
unexecuted after routing, they are sent to the NYSE and can be re-
routed by the NYSE. Any remainder will be posted to the NYSE, unless
otherwise instructed by the User.
\22\ See Rule 11.11(g)(8). ROOC is a routing option for orders
that the entering firm wishes to designate for participation in the
opening, re-opening (following a halt, suspension, or pause), or
closing process of a primary listing market (Cboe BZX, NYSE, Nasdaq,
NYSE American, or NYSE Arca) if received before the opening/re-
opening/closing time of such market. If shares remain unexecuted
after attempting to execute in the opening, re-opening, or closing
process, they are either posted to the EDGX Book, executed, or
routed to destinations on the System routing table.
\23\ The Exchange notes that orders routed pursuant to the Post
to Away routing option that include a short sale instruction are
identified as ``short'' and are subject to the receiving Trading
Center's processes for handling sell short orders in compliance with
Rule 201 of Regulation SHO. See Securities Exchange Act Release No.
79151 (October 25, 2016) 81 FR 75458 (October 31, 2016) (SR-
BatsEDGX-2016-54) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of a
Proposed Rule Change to Amend EDGX Rule 11.11, Routing to Away
Trading Centers). See also Securities Exchange Act Release No. 34-
88154 (February 7, 2020) 85 FR 8327 (February 13, 2020) (SR-
CboeEDGX-2020-006) (Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of
a Proposed Rule Change To Adopt the Dark Routing Technique Routing
Option; To Eliminate References to the ROUD, ROUE, and ROUQ Routing
Options; and To Reflect Additional Routing Strategies for Which the
Exchange May Route Orders with a Short Sale Instruction).
\24\ A ``Day Order'' refers to an order to buy or sell which, if
not executed, expires at the end of Regular Trading Hours. See
Exchange Rule 11.6(q)(2). Day Orders routed pursuant to the RDOT
routing option that include a short sale instruction are identified
as ``short'' and are subject to the receiving Trading Center's
processes for handling short sale orders in compliance with Rule 201
of Regulation SHO.
\25\ An ``IOC Order'' refers to an order that is to be executed
in whole or in part as soon as such order is received and the
portion not executed immediately on the Exchange or another trading
center is treated as cancelled and is not posted to the EDGX Book.
See Exchange Rule 11.6(q)(1).
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2. Statutory Basis
The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ``Act'') and the rules and
regulations thereunder applicable to the Exchange and, in particular,
the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act.\26\ Specifically, the
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) \27\ requirements that the rules of an exchange be
designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to
promote just and equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation
and coordination with persons engaged in regulating, clearing,
settling, processing information with respect to, and facilitating
transactions in securities, 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. Additionally,
the Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the
Section 6(b)(5) \28\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers,
brokers, or dealers.
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\26\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
\27\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
\28\ Id.
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In particular, the proposed rule change to Rule 11.10(e)(3) is
consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest
because it aligns the rule text with the how the System currently
operates and helps to eliminate any potential confusion Users may have
regarding current Rule 11.10(e)(3). This proposed amendment will not
change existing System behavior and Users will have more certainty
about how orders may be modified, which is related to the proposed
changes to Rule 11.9(a)(4).
Additionally, the proposed rule change to Rule 11.9(a)(4) is
designed to ensure all sell short orders are subjected to the
Exchange's process for ensuring that the order would not violate Rule
201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO during an SSCB. In order to verify the
displayed price of an order with a position modification from sell long
to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or
vice versa) during an SSCB, the System handles the modification as if a
price change would occur, even if the modification does not ultimately
result in a price change. If the System permitted such order
modifications to forego this process, no order modifications from sell
long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short
(or vice versa) during an SSCB would result in a loss of time priority,
and as a result, certain sell short orders could be permitted to
display or execute at an impermissible price that would not comply with
Rule 201(b)(1)(ii). The Exchange's process is
[[Page 13207]]
designed to ensure compliance with Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO
and is consistent with the protection of investors and the public
interest. As designed, during an SSCB, the System determines up front
whether an order modification could result in a price change before it
can properly effect the modification. If the modification is of a type
that may result in a price change to comply with Regulation SHO, the
System gives the order a new timestamp. As a result, such a
modification from sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short
exempt to sell short (or vice versa) always results in a loss of time
priority even if the modification did not result in a change of the
order's price. Conversely, an order modification from sell long to sell
short exempt (or vice versa) does not result in an order losing
priority because the System does not conduct an order price analysis to
ensure compliance with Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO as both
sell long and sell short exempt orders may execute at more aggressive
prices than sell short orders during an SSCB.
Moreover, the Exchange processes billions of order modifications
each month, with only a limited amount of modifications involving a
change from sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short
exempt to sell short (or vice versa) during an SSCB. Out of the
billions of order modifications processed by the Cboe affiliated equity
exchanges during the months of May, June, and July 2022, the Exchange
identified approximately 369,884 order modifications from sell long to
sell short (or vice versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) across the Cboe affiliated equity exchanges during an SSCB that
would potentially be affected by the proposed amendment to Rule
11.9(a)(4).\29\ Given that 369,884 order modifications during an SSCB
across the Cboe affiliated equity exchanges is an extremely small
percentage of the billions of order modifications that the Cboe
affiliated equity exchanges processed during the months of May, June,
and July 2022, the Exchange believes that any benefit from restoring
priority to this limited amount of order modifications is outweighed by
the burden of changing the System to be able to conduct an order price
analysis in real time to prevent potential violations of Rule
201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO and to permit these orders to retain
priority.
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\29\ When identifying orders impacted by this functionality
during May, June, and July 2022, the Exchange broadly identified any
orders regardless of whether those orders were at or near the NBBO
(i.e., marketable orders) at the time of the event. The Cboe
affiliated equities exchanges refers to the Exchange, Cboe BYX
Exchange, Inc. (``BYX''), Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (``BZX''), and
Cboe EDGA Exchange, Inc. (``EDGA'').
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In addition, the proposed change to Rule 11.9(a)(4) will also
protect investors and the public interest because it continues to
promote compliance with Regulation SHO, including Regulation SHO's
order marking requirements \30\ and Users' compliance with any
applicable exemptions. Users are currently able to modify their order's
position using a Replace Message and the proposed rule change does not
alter a User's ability to do so. Users are required to mark their
orders properly upon entry and upon modification \31\ and the proposed
amendment to Rule 11.9(a)(4) does not change this obligation. As they
are required to do today, Users must also continue to ensure that their
order complies with any applicable exemption from Regulation SHO that
they seek to avail themselves of, not only at the time of entry, but
also at the time they change an order's position via a Replace
Message.\32\ The Exchange notes that it will continue to surveil for
compliance with Exchange Rules 11.5 and 11.10(a)(5) as well as
Regulation SHO.
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\30\ 17 CFR 242.200(g).
\31\ See Exchange Rule 11.10(a)(5) (``Short Sales''). The rule
provides that ``[a]ll orders to sell short shall include a Short
Sale instruction, and if applicable, a Short Exempt instruction when
entered into the System. If an order includes a Short Exempt
instruction, the Exchange shall execute, display and/or route an
order without regard to any short sale price test restriction in
effect under Regulation SHO. The Exchange relies on the inclusion of
a Short Exempt instruction when handling such order, and thus, it is
the entering Member's responsibility, not the Exchange's
responsibility, to comply with the requirements of Regulation SHO
relating to including a Short Exempt instruction on an order.''
\32\ A change in an order's price or position as well as an
increase in an order's size via a Replace Message implicitly results
in a new order. All Users must, therefore, ensure continued
compliance with the order market and locate requirements of
Regulation SHO (17 CFR 242.201) including compliance with Question
2.6 of the Commission's ``Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
Concerning Regulation SHO'' available at <a href="https://www.sec.gov/divisions//rule201faq.htm">https://www.sec.gov/divisions//rule201faq.htm</a> (last accessed October 3, 2022).
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The proposed amendment to Rule 11.10(e)(3) is designed to remove
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and
a national market system because it does not seek to change how order
modifications from either sell long to sell short exempt (or vice
versa) or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) are
accomplished. Instead, the proposed change provides clarity to Users
that a position change from either sell long to sell short exempt (or
vice versa) or from sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) may
be accomplished through the use of a Replace Message and does not
require an order to be cancelled and a new order submitted in order to
modify an order's position to sell short exempt. The proposed change to
Rule 11.10(e)(3) will also provide continuity between Rule 11.10(e)(3)
and the proposed changes to Rule 11.9(a)(4), and as such are directly
intended to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free
and open market and national market system.
The proposed change to Rule 11.9(a)(4) removes impediments to and
perfects the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market
system because it addresses a limited scenario when a User modifies an
order's position using a Replace Message during an SSCB. The proposed
rule change specifically states that orders whose positions are
modified from either sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell
short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) using a Replace Message when
an SSCB is in effect will not lose priority as compared to other orders
on the EDGX Book. Further, the proposed rule change provides that order
modifications from sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) using
a Replace Message will not lose priority as compared to other orders on
the EDGX Book, regardless of whether an SSCB is in effect.
Additionally, the proposed change to Rule 11.9(a)(4) removes
impediments to and perfects a free and open market system because it is
designed to make clear to Users that orders may be modified using a
Replace Message without losing priority subject to the limitations
named in Rule 11.9(a)(4). This change does not amend the meaning or
operation of Rule 11.9(a)(4).
The proposed changes to Rule 11.11(a) are designed to clarify that
any sell short order that will post to an away Trading Center will be
routed when an SSCB is in effect. In addition, providing Users the
ability to send sell short orders that will post to an away Trading
Center, and thus are routable when an SSCB is in effect provides them
additional flexibility with regard to the handling of their orders, and
may provide additional execution opportunities for those orders. Given
this, the proposed amendments to Rule 11.11(a) are directly targeted at
removing impediments to and perfecting the mechanism of a free and open
market and national market system, as well as to assure fair
competition among brokers and dealers and among exchange markets.
[[Page 13208]]
The proposed change to Rule 11.11(a) further promotes just and
equitable principles of trade and perfects a free and open market
system by identifying which orders containing routing instructions are
eligible to route and post to an away market center during an SSCB. As
all Trading Centers are required to comply with Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of
Regulation SHO, a User can expect that an order routed from the
Exchange to an away market center will be treated similarly on the away
market center as it would on the Exchange during an SSCB. There is no
change to the meaning or operation of this rule, but rather an
amendment to make clear that an order that is eligible to post to an
away market may be routed during an SSCB.
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 as the proposed rule changes
are not being proposed for competitive reasons. Rather, the proposed
amendment to Rule 11.10(e)(3) provides that modifications from sell
long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) or from sell short exempt to
sell short (or vice versa) may be accomplished through the use of a
Replace Message. This proposed amendment will not change existing
System behavior and Users will have more certainty about how orders may
be modified, which is related to the proposed changes to Rule
11.9(a)(4). Order modifications from sell long to sell short (or vice
versa) use the same Replace Message functionality as a modification
from either sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) or from sell
short exempt to sell short (or vice versa), and amending Rule
11.10(e)(3) to describe this behavior for Users is directly related to
the Exchange's proposed changes to Rule 11.9(a)(4) and does not impose
a burden on inter-market competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the Act.
Additionally, the proposed amendments to Rule 11.9(a)(4) will
enhance the transparency of the rules by revising the rule text. By
revising the rule text to align with the current System behavior, Users
will be aware that if they modify their orders from sell long to sell
short (or vice versa) or from sell short exempt to sell short (or vice
versa) and an SSCB is in effect, their orders will be given a new
timestamp and lose time priority. Users are free to consider this
proposed change as part of their overall experience with the Exchange,
which also includes execution quality and functionality offerings, when
making order routing decisions. Additionally, the Exchange notes that
the proposed rule change applies equally to all Users, and all Users'
orders are subject to the described functionality, regardless of their
size. Users may not opt-out of this System functionality.
Furthermore, this loss of time priority for a position modification
would only occur when an SSCB is in effect and the Exchange is required
to comply with Rule 201 of Regulation SHO. The impact of an order
modification from sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short
exempt to sell short (or vice versa) using a Replace Message during an
SSCB with respect to loss of time priority is no different than when a
User seeks to increase the size of their order using a Replace Message
or when a User seeks to change the position of their order by
cancelling the existing order and entering a new order. In each
instance, the order will receive a new timestamp reflecting the time
the modification was made and the order would lose priority as compared
to other orders on the EDGX Book.
Furthermore, the proposed change to Rule 11.9(a)(4) does not impose
any burden on inter-market competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the Act in that the proposed change does
not present a novel approach to sell short order handling. Indeed, the
proposed changes to Rule 11.9(a)(4) are consistent with a recently
approved amendment \33\ to MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a).\34\ Pursuant to
MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a), any position modification involving a change
from sell long to either sell short exempt or sell short (or vice
versa) will result in the order receiving a new timestamp and the order
losing priority, as compared to other orders resting on the book while
an SSCB is in effect. The Exchange's proposed Rule is also similar to
MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a) in that modifications from sell long to sell
short (or vice versa) and modifications from sell short exempt to sell
short (or vice versa) will be subject to a loss of priority during an
SSCB.
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\33\ Supra note 8.
\34\ MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a) states: ``[i]n the event an order
has been modified via a Cancel/Replace message in accordance with
Rule 2614(e) above, such order only retains its timestamp if such
modification involves a decrease in the size of the order, a change
to the Max Floor of an order with a Reserve Quantity, or when a
Short Sale Period, as defined in Exchange Rule 2614(g)(3)(A), is not
in effect, a change in position from (A) sell to sell short; (B)
sell to sell short exempt; (C) sell short to sell; (D) sell short to
sell short exempt; (E) sell short exempt to sell; and (F) sell short
exempt to sell short.''
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While the proposed rule change is substantially similar to that of
MIAX Pearl, the Exchange's proposal differs in that its proposal would
not cause orders modified from sell long to sell short exempt (or vice
versa) to lose priority during an SSCB, whereas MIAX Pearl Rule 2616(a)
specifically states that a change from sell long to sell short exempt
is a type of order modification that would be subject to a loss of
priority during an SSCB. The Exchange's System does not view an order
modification from sell long to sell short exempt (or vice versa) as a
type of change which requires an order price analysis in order to
prevent potential violations of Rule 201(b)(1)(ii) of Regulation SHO,
and as such does not cause these types of order modifications to result
in a loss of priority.
In addition, the proposed rule change is more narrowly tailored
than the rules of Investors Exchange LLC (``IEX''), which requires
market participants to enter a new order where an order's position is
changed even when an SSCB is not in effect \35\ and Nasdaq Stock
Market, LLC (``Nasdaq''), which requires orders to be cancelled if the
order's position is redesignated as short during a Short Sale Period
and the order is not priced at a Permitted Price or higher under Nasdaq
Rule 4763(e).\36\ In each instance mentioned above, the original order
would need to be replaced with a new order and therefore would receive
a new timestamp which would result in a loss of priority. The Exchange
is seeking to only append a new timestamp and cause a loss of priority
as compared to other orders on the EDGX Book when an order's position
is modified from sell long to sell short (or vice versa) or sell short
exempt to sell short (or vice versa) during an SSCB, which is more
narrowly-tailored than the rules governing similar order behavior on
MIAX Pearl, IEX and Nasdaq.
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\35\ See IEX Rule 11.190(d)(3) and IEX Rule 11.190(d)(4).
\36\ See Nasdaq Equity 4, Rule 4756(a)(3).
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Furthermore, the proposed change to Rule 11.11(a) does not impose
any burden on inter-market competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the Act as it makes clear that orders
that may post to away market centers will be routed during an SSCB.
Users will have the ability to take this factor into consideration when
determining which routing strategy to use when entering an order on the
Exchange and are able to consider this proposed change as part of their
overall
[[Page 13209]]
experience with the Exchange. If a User disfavors this proposed change
they are free to use a different routing strategy or submit an order
directly to an away market center. This proposed change is not being
proposed for competitive reasons, but rather to make clear that any
order eligible to be posted to an away market center will be routed
during an SSCB. As each market center is required to comply with Rule
201 of Regulation SHO, the Exchange believes that any order eligible to
be posted to an away market center should be permitted to route, as the
order would be subject to the away market center's rules regarding
compliance with Rule 201 of Regulation SHO upon posting.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange neither solicited nor received comments on the
proposed rule change.
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 \37\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) thereunder.\38\
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\37\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
\38\ 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) normally does
not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of the filing.
However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),\39\ 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. The Exchange states
the proposed rule change provides clarity on how orders modified to
sell short exempt are accomplished and the priority of orders marked
sell short exempt. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change
related to modifications from sell long to sell short (or vice versa)
or sell short exempt to sell short (or vice versa) that occur during an
SSCB will affect only a small percentage of overall order
modifications.\40\ Finally, the Exchange states that the proposed
change to Rule 11.11(a) will permit orders containing routing
instructions entered by all Users that would post to an away market
during an SSCB to route to away market centers immediately upon
becoming operative. The Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day
operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the
public interest because the proposed rule change does not raise any new
or novel issues. Accordingly, the Commission hereby waives the
operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.\41\
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\39\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).
\40\ See supra note 29.
\41\ 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 will institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or
disapproved.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Electronic Comments
<bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
<bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c0e091019511f1311111912080f3c0f191f521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5321263f367e303c3e3e363d2720132036307d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include
File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2023-012.
Paper Comments
<bullet> 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-CboeEDGX-2023-012. 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 (<a href="http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>).
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-CboeEDGX-2023-012, and should be
submitted on or before March 23, 2023.
For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\42\
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\42\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12), (59).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-04231 Filed 3-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P
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