Notice2026-06044

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a Proposed Rule Change, as Modified and Superseded by Amendment No. 1, To Amend Functionality Relating to the Processing of Auction Responses

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 30, 2026

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 60 (Monday, March 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15663-15671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06044]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-105080; File No. SR-CBOE-2025-074]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe Exchange, Inc.; Notice of 
Filing of Amendment No. 1 and Order Granting Accelerated Approval of a 
Proposed Rule Change, as Modified and Superseded by Amendment No. 1, To 
Amend Functionality Relating to the Processing of Auction Responses

March 25, 2026.

I. Introduction

    On September 30, 2025, Cboe Exchange, Inc. (``Exchange'' or 
``Cboe'')

[[Page 15664]]

filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission''), 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ a proposed rule change to 
amend the maximum amount of time permitted for processing auction 
responses in non-FLEX classes. The proposed rule change was published 
for comment in the Federal Register on October 3, 2025.\4\ On November 
3, 2025, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of the Act,\5\ the 
Commission designated a longer period within which to approve the 
proposed rule change, disapprove the proposed rule change, or institute 
proceedings to determine whether to disapprove the proposed rule 
change.\6\ On December 17, 2025, the Commission instituted proceedings 
under Section 19(b)(2)(B) of the Act \7\ to determine whether to 
approve or disapprove the proposed rule change.\8\ On March 18, 2026, 
the Exchange submitted Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change, 
which amended and superseded the proposed rule change in its 
entirety.\9\ The Commission has not received any comments on the 
proposal. The Commission is publishing this Notice and Order to solicit 
comment on Amendment No. 1 in Sections II and III below, which sections 
are being published verbatim as filed by the Exchange, and to approve 
the proposed rule change, as modified and superseded by Amendment No. 
1, on an accelerated basis.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \4\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 104159 (September 
30, 2025), 90 FR 48094 (``Notice'').
    \5\ See 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I).
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 104173, 90 FR 51424 
(November 17, 2025). The Commission designated January 1, 2026, as 
the date by which the Commission shall approve or disapprove, or 
institute proceedings to determine whether to disapprove, the 
proposed rule change.
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2)(B).
    \8\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 104440, 90 FR 59928 
(December 22, 2025) (``OIP''). The Commission designated April 1, 
2026, as the date by which the Commission shall approve or 
disapprove the proposed rule change.
    \9\ Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change is available at: 
<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/public-comments/sr-cboe-2025-074">https://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/public-comments/sr-cboe-2025-074</a>.
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II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance 
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes to amend its functionality relating to the 
processing of auction responses. The Exchange initially submitted this 
rule filing SR-CBOE-2025-074 to the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(the ``Commission'') on September 30, 2025 (the ``Initial Rule 
Filing''). This Amendment No. 1 supersedes the Initial Rule Filing and 
replaces it in its entirety. This Amendment No. 1 provides additional 
support for the proposal and makes minor changes to the rule text \10\ 
but makes no substantive changes to the proposal. The text of the 
proposed rule change is also available on the Commission's website 
(<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>), the Exchange's website (<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/">https://www.cboe.com/us/options/regulation/rule_filings/bzx/</a>), and at the 
principal office of the Exchange.
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    \10\ Specifically, this Amendment No. 1 moved the term ``non-
FLEX'' to directly before the phrase ``auction mechanisms'' for 
grammatical purposes, but this did not change the substance of the 
proposal, which was to exclude FLEX auctions from the auction 
response processing time period. Additionally, this Amendment No. 1 
moved the word ``and'' from before Solicitation Auction Mechanism 
(``SAM'') to before Complex SAM (``C-SAM''), as C-SAM is the last 
item in the list.
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III. 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 V 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 currently offers a variety of auction mechanisms which 
provide price improvement opportunities for eligible orders. 
Particularly, the Exchange offers the following auction mechanisms: 
Complex Order Auction (``COA''),\11\ Step Up Mechanism (``SUM''),\12\ 
Automated Improvement Mechanism (``AIM''),\13\ Complex AIM (``C-
AIM''),\14\ Solicitation Auction Mechanism (``SAM''),\15\ Complex SAM 
(``C-SAM''),\16\ FLEX Auction process,\17\ FLEX AIM,\18\ and FLEX 
SAM.\19\ The Exchange notes that eligible orders (``auctioned orders'') 
are electronically exposed for an Exchange-determined period 
(collectively referred to herein as ``auction response period'') in 
accordance with the applicable Exchange Rule, during which time Users 
may submit responses (collectively referred to herein as ``auction 
responses'' or ``auction response messages'') to an auction message.
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    \11\ See Rule 5.33(d).
    \12\ See Rule 5.35.
    \13\ See Rule 5.37.
    \14\ See Rule 5.38.
    \15\ See Rule 5.39.
    \16\ See Rule 5.40.
    \17\ See Rule 5.72(c).
    \18\ See Rule 5.73.
    \19\ See Rule 5.74.
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    By way of background, Trading Permit Holders (``TPHs'') may submit 
auction responses via logical port connectivity.\20\ Each logical port 
corresponds to a single running order handler application.\21\ Each 
order handler application processes the messages it receives from the 
connected TPH. This processing includes determining whether the message 
contains the required information to enter the System and where to send 
that message within the System (i.e., to which matching engine). 
Messages are sent from an order handler application to a matching 
engine via User Datagram Protocol (``UDP''). The Exchange has multiple 
matching engines, each of which controls the book for one or more 
classes of options listed for trading on the Exchange. The Exchange may 
run multiple matching engine applications on a single server. Once at a 
matching engine, the message is received at a server Network Interface 
Card (``NIC''), which timestamps each message upon arrival and places 
it in a queue. Currently, each matching engine processes all messages 
it receives from a single queue from the NIC and prioritizes the 
processing of all message traffic, including auction responses, in the 
order in which the NIC receives each message (i.e., in time priority).
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    \20\ A User connects to the Exchange using a logical port 
available through an API, such as the industry-standard FIX or BOE 
protocol. Logical ports represent a technical port established by 
the Exchange within the Exchange's trading system for the delivery 
and/or receipt of trading messages, including orders, cancels, and 
auction responses.
    \21\ The Exchange has numerous order handlers and uses an 
algorithm to determine at random which ports connect to which order 
handlers. This algorithm attempts to spread out a single TPH's ports 
across order handlers as well as balance the number of ports that 
connect to a single order handler.
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    Auction response messages wait in the same queue as all other order 
and quote message traffic. As such, if an auction response is submitted 
at a time where there is a deep queue of other message traffic, such as 
mass cancellation messages or other orders and quotes, it is possible 
that the auction response may not be ``processed'' by the System in 
sufficient

[[Page 15665]]

time (i.e., prior to the end of the auction response period).\22\ 
Particularly, the queued auction response may not be able to 
participate in the applicable auction mechanism because the System had 
unprocessed (queued) messages at the time of the auction execution 
despite the fact that the User submitted the auction response prior to 
the end of the auction response period. Auctioned orders may therefore 
be missing out on potential price improvement that may have otherwise 
resulted if queued timely auction response(s) were able to participate 
in the auction.
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    \22\ For example, it takes the Exchange's system approximately 
10 microseconds to process a single order/quote or auction response 
message and, on average, approximately 190 microseconds to process a 
mass cancel message. As such, under the current system, an auction 
response that is entered after a mass cancel message is more likely 
to be detrimentally delayed as compared to a mass cancel message 
that is entered after an auction response (i.e., a 190 microsecond 
``wait time'' versus a 10 microsecond ``wait time'').
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    To address the issue of missed auction responses, in June 2023, the 
Exchange adopted new functionality that applies across all of its 
auction mechanisms to increase the likelihood that timely submitted 
auction responses may participate in the applicable auction, even 
during periods of high message traffic in orders, and thus potentially 
provide customers with additional opportunities for price 
improvement.\23\ Under this functionality, at the time an auction 
response period ends, the System continues to process its inbound queue 
for any messages that were received by the System before the end of the 
auction period (including auction responses) for up to an Exchange-
determined period of time, not to exceed 100 milliseconds (which the 
Exchange may determine on a class-by-class basis which would apply to 
all auction mechanisms and which would be announced with reasonable 
advanced notice via Exchange Notice). That is, any auction responses 
that were in the queue before the conclusion of the auction (as 
identified by the NIC timestamp on the message) would be processed as 
long as the Exchange-determined time on a class-by-class basis (not to 
exceed 100 milliseconds) is not exceeded. Only auction responses 
received prior to the execution of the applicable auction are eligible 
to be processed for that auction. The applicable auction will execute 
once all messages, including auction responses, received before the end 
time of the auction response period have been processed or the 
Exchange-determined maximum time limit of up to 100 milliseconds has 
elapsed, whichever occurs first. This continuation of processing the 
queue for an additional amount of time for messages that were received 
before the end of the auction allows for auction responses that would 
otherwise have been canceled due to the conclusion of the auction 
response period to still have an opportunity to participate in the 
auction.
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    \23\ See Rule 5.25(c); see also Securities Exchange Act Release 
No. 97738 (June 15, 2023), 88 FR 40878 (June 22, 2023) (SR-CBOE-
2022-051). This functionality applies to COA, SUM, AIM, SAM, C-AIM, 
C-SAM, FLEX Auction Process, FLEX AIM, and FLEX SAM.
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    In May 2025, the Exchange increased the permissible maximum length 
of this Exchange-determined time period for SPX options.\24\ 
Specifically, with respect to SPX options, this Exchange-determined 
period of time for this continuation of auction response processing 
plus the length of the auction response or exposure period, as 
applicable,\25\ may not exceed 1000 milliseconds (which the Exchange 
announces with reasonable advance notice via Exchange Notice).\26\ The 
Exchange increased the additional processing time so that more auction 
responses could be executed in SPX auctions, particularly in times of 
high message traffic. This increase in processing time is currently in 
place until June 30, 2026 \27\ and applies to non-FLEX SPX options 
only.
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    \24\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 102966 (May 1, 
2025), 90 FR 19330 (May 7, 2025) (SR-CBOE-2025-031); see also Cboe 
Exchange Notice C2025042903, available at <a href="https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=54332">https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=54332</a>.
    \25\ Current lengths of auction response and exposure periods 
are available at cboe_options_product_configurations.xlsx.
    \26\ The auction response processing time is currently set to 
900 milliseconds (with auction timers set to 100 milliseconds) for 
S&P 500 Index options (``SPX options'').
    \27\ The Exchange extended this sunset date from December 31, 
2025, to June 30, 2026. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
104525 (December 30, 2025), 91 FR 303 (January 5, 2026) (SR-CBOE-
2025-095).
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    Presently, all classes have the benefit of the additional auction 
response processing time following auctions (900 milliseconds for non-
SPX options and 100 milliseconds for all other classes). Therefore, 
after TPHs may submit auction responses via logical port connectivity, 
as described above, the applicable order handler application for that 
logical port processes those messages and sends them to the appropriate 
matching engine for the class identified in the auction response. The 
NIC at the matching engine then timestamps each message upon arrival 
and places it in a queue in time priority. As noted above, auction 
response messages wait in the same queue as all other order and quote 
message traffic. At the end of an auction response period, the System 
continues to process its inbound queue for any messages, including 
auction responses, the System received before the end of the auction 
period based on the messages' NIC timestamp, for up to 100 milliseconds 
(up to 900 milliseconds for non-FLEX SPX options).\28\ In other words, 
the System processes any auction responses that were in the queue with 
a NIC timestamp earlier than the time of the conclusion during this 
additional processing time. The applicable auction will execute once 
all messages, including auction responses, with NIC timestamps earlier 
than the end time of the auction response period have been processed or 
the additional auction response processing time has lapsed, whichever 
occurs first. The Exchange has observed the benefits of a longer 
auction processing time in non-FLEX SPX option auctions, namely that 
nearly all auction responses that are received (based on NIC timestamp) 
by the System prior to the end of the application auction have 
opportunities to participate in the auction, as opposed to being 
canceled (as further discussed below). In other non-FLEX classes, the 
Exchange has observed at times (particularly in higher volume classes 
and during times of volatility or higher market activity) auction 
responses continue to be cancelled, because the System is unable to 
process all timely received auction responses before the end of the 
auction and 100 milliseconds auction response processing time. The 
Exchange believes auctions in these classes would benefit from a longer 
auction response processing time in the same way non-FLEX SPX options 
have benefitted.
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    \28\ As noted above, the auction response processing time is 
currently set to 900 milliseconds for SPX options and 100 
milliseconds for all other classes. See Cboe Exchange Notices 
C2025042903, available at <a href="https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=54332">https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=54332</a>; and C2024111903, available at <a href="https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=51420">https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=51420</a>.
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    Therefore, the proposed rule change makes a longer auction response 
processing time available to all non-FLEX classes (the proposed 
exclusion of FLEX classes is further discussed below) and makes the 
longer auction response processing time available to non-FLEX SPX 
options on a permanent basis. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to 
amend Rule 5.25(c) to provide that the Exchange-determined period of 
time \29\ during which the System will, at the conclusion of an auction 
response or exposure period, continue to process any messages in its 
inbound queue that

[[Page 15666]]

were received by the System before the end of the auction response or 
exposure period (as identified by each message's NIC timestamp), plus 
the length of the auction response or exposure period, as applicable, 
may not exceed 1000 milliseconds. The Exchange believes the proposed 
maximum amount of additional time for processing will result in more 
auction responses being executed in all non-FLEX classes, particularly 
in times of high message traffic.
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    \29\ The Exchange may determine this time period on a class-by-
class basis. See Rule 5.25(c).
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    Additionally, as noted above, the proposed rule change removes the 
applicability of the auction response processing time to FLEX auctions 
(i.e., FLEX Auction Process, FLEX AIM, and FLEX SAM). The Exchange 
believes the additional processing time is unnecessary for FLEX 
auctions given lower liquidity levels in the FLEX market and longer 
FLEX auction response periods. As a result, unlike in non-FLEX classes, 
the Exchange has not observed missed auction responses in FLEX 
auctions.
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.\30\ Specifically, the 
Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the 
Section 6(b)(5) \31\ 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) \32\ requirement that the rules of an exchange not be 
designed to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, 
brokers, or dealers.
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    \30\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \31\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
    \32\ Id.
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    In particular, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will 
remove impediments to a free and open market, as it will allow the 
Exchange's System to potentially process more, if not all, timely 
submitted auction responses in all non-FLEX classes (rather than just 
non-FLEX SPX options), particularly in times of volatility and high 
message traffic, which may ultimately provide further opportunities for 
auctioned orders to receive price improvement to the benefit of 
investors. The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will continue 
to appropriately balance providing investors with timely processing of 
their options quote and order messages and providing investors who 
submit orders that are auctioned with additional liquidity. Indeed, the 
proposed rule change may allow more investors additional opportunities 
to receive price improvement through an auction mechanism. 
Additionally, because the proposed functionality may provide liquidity 
providers that submit auction responses with additional execution 
opportunities in auctions, the Exchange believes liquidity providers 
may be further encouraged to submit more auction responses, which may 
contribute to a deeper, more liquid auction process that provides 
investors with additional price improvement opportunities. The Exchange 
believes the proposal will continue to allow the Exchange to set each 
auction response period or exposure time to an amount of time that 
provides TPHs submitting responses with sufficient time to respond to, 
compete for, and provide price improvement for orders, but also 
continues to provide auctioned orders with improved execution 
opportunities and minimal impact on market and execution risk.
    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will result in 
increased execution opportunities for liquidity providers that submit 
auction responses and enhance the potential for price improvement for 
orders submitted to each mechanism to the benefit of investors and 
public interest. The proposed rule change will permit the Exchange to 
set a longer time period in all non-FLEX classes in which the System 
may process auction responses the System receives before the end of an 
auction response or exposure period (as identified by each auction 
response message's NIC timestamp). The Exchange believes the proposed 
increase in maximum time will increase the possibility that timely 
submitted auction responses are processed by the Exchange and have an 
opportunity for execution in the applicable auction mechanism, even if 
there is a deep pending message queue. The Exchange believes the 
proposed maximum amount of additional time for processing will permit 
the Exchange to respond to times of high message traffic. The Exchange 
generally experiences significant increases in volumes and messages 
traffic when the market experiences volatility. As a result, the 
Exchange has observed deeper pending message queues, which results in 
an increased number of timely received auction responses not being 
processed as part of the execution at the conclusion of an auction. 
Based on these observations, the Exchange believes the proposed maximum 
time may increase the number of timely received auction responses that 
may execute against an auction order.\33\
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    \33\ The Exchange has undertaken various steps to improve the 
performance (including to reduce latency) of the matching engine on 
which SPX trades. For example, the Exchange made hardware and 
software upgrades. See <a href="https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=53830">https://www.cboe.com/notices/content/?id=53830</a>. Additionally, the Exchange adopted an excessive mass 
cancel and purge charge to encourage efficient use of network and 
system capacity and reduce the incentive for market participants to 
engage in excessive mass cancellation and purge activity, which may 
create latency and impact other market participants' ability to 
receive timely executions. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 
103040 (May 14, 2025), 90 FR 21525 (May 20, 2025) (SR-CBOE-2025-
033). The Exchange regularly evaluates other potential means that 
may improve performance and reduce latency for all options.
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    The Exchange believes the proposed rule change will 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 because of the adaptability of the auction response 
processing time functionality, pursuant to which the System uses only 
the additional processing time it needs. This generally relates to the 
amount of message activity (and thus the length of the message queue) 
at the time of an auction occurs unlike an auction response or exposure 
period, which must run in its entirety. For example, if the System is 
``caught up'' and processes all auction responses received prior to the 
completion of a 100-millisecond auction response period within 50 
milliseconds after the end of the auction period, the total processing 
time would be 150 milliseconds. The System only uses the portion of the 
auction response processing time it needs to process responses 
timestamped prior to the end of the auction period. The Exchange 
believes this is preferable to extending the auction response or 
exposure period, which must run in its entirety. For example, if an 
auction response period is extended to 200 milliseconds with no 
additional processing time, the total processing time would always be 
200 milliseconds regardless of the message queue.
    The sunset period permitted the Exchange to evaluate whether a 
longer

[[Page 15667]]

auction response processing time would continue to be appropriate in 
times of high volatility. For example, in 2025 prior to May 12 (the 
date on which the Exchange implemented the longer auction processing 
response time for SPX options), the percentage of auction responses in 
SPX that were received by the System before the end of the auction 
period (i.e., had received a NIC timestamp) but were rejected because 
the Exchange could not process them before the end of the auction 
response or exposure period, as applicable, plus shorter buffer time, 
reached over 20% on several occasions and averaged approximately 7.64%. 
Between May 12 and September 5, 2025, this percentage was nearly 0. The 
Exchange notes during that time period of having the maximum auction 
response processing time be 900 milliseconds, the average length of 
that time period used since that time was only about 14 milliseconds. 
While this is a relatively small amount of auction response processing 
time being used on average, between May 12, 2025 and February 27, 2026, 
the maximum 900 milliseconds of auction response processing time was 
used on 178 of 214, or 83% of, trading days. This data demonstrates the 
benefits of the dynamic nature of the auction response processing time, 
as the System uses only the additional processing time based on the 
message queue at the time.
    For example, suppose an auction begins at 10:00:00:000 a.m. one day 
with an auction response period of 100 milliseconds. The auction 
response period ends at 10:00:00:100 a.m., but there is a message queue 
requiring an additional 14 milliseconds to process all timely received 
responses. Therefore, executions for the auction occur at 10:00:00:114 
a.m. and consider all timely auction responses, despite the fact that 
the maximum response processing time was set to 900 milliseconds. Now 
suppose a major news event occurred at 2:00 p.m. that same day, causing 
market activity (and the System's message queue) to increase. An 
auction is then initiated at 2:30:00:000 p.m. that same day. The 
auction response period ends at 2:30:00:100 p.m., but there is a 
message queue requiring an additional 824 milliseconds to process all 
timely received auction responses. Therefore, executions for the 
auction occur at 2:30:00:924 p.m. and consider all timely received 
auction responses.\34\
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    \34\ For comparison, if the Exchange instead maximized the 
auction response period to 1 second, executions for the first 
auction would have occurred at 10:00:01 a.m., and executions for the 
second auction would have occurred at 2:30:01 p.m.
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    Currently, only non-FLEX SPX options have the benefit of having 
this longer auction response processing time, while other non-FLEX 
classes have the benefit of only an additional 100 milliseconds of 
processing time. However, across all classes trading on the Exchange, 
between May 12, 2025 and February 27, 2026, the Exchange has observed 
that each matching engine has experienced delays in message queues that 
have resulted in auctions not being able to process all timely received 
(based on NIC timestamp) auction messages within the 100 milliseconds 
of additional response processing time at least once per trading day. 
In other words, at least once per trading day during that time period, 
the System cancelled timely received auction responses because the 
System was unable to ``catch up'' in the message queue on each matching 
engine within 100 milliseconds after the end of the auction. Therefore, 
at least once per trading on each matching engine, auctioned orders 
missed potential execution and price opportunities. The Exchange also 
observed instances in certain classes when the System needed more than 
400 milliseconds to process all timely received auction responses but 
could only had 100 milliseconds available under the current Rule.
    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, the Exchange could set the 
auction response processing time for any non-FLEX class up to 900 
milliseconds, which, based on current data, would result in the 
processing of all timely received auction responses in all classes. 
While no non-FLEX class other than SPX options currently needs 900 
milliseconds to process all timely received auction responses, even if 
the Exchange set this buffer amount to 900 milliseconds, as described 
above, the System would only use the time it needed to catch up, so 
there is no harm or impact in providing a maximum of 900 milliseconds 
of auction response processing time even if a class only needs 50 
milliseconds or 450 milliseconds.\35\ Additionally, applying a longer 
auction response processing time can account for changes in volumes and 
market activity, as well as times of higher volatility. Options volumes 
continue to increase across the industry, and the market can become 
volatile at any moment. Therefore, while classes may currently not need 
more than 450 milliseconds of additional auction response processing 
time, it is possible certain classes may need more time in the future 
because volume in the class has significantly increased or volatility 
has become more extreme.
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    \35\ As demonstrated above, this generally results in auction 
executions occurring more quickly than if the Exchange instead 
lengthened auction response or exposure times.
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    The proposed rule change will result in the System being able to 
process timely auction responses if volume increases and volatility 
spikes result in longer queue times than those that have occurred to 
date without having to reject responses and potentially reduce 
execution and price improvement opportunities. This would have no 
impact on current trading because any ``excess'' time permitted by the 
rule is ultimately unused and executions would occur after an auction 
as soon as the System is caught up (it would not need to wait for the 
entire maximum auction response processing time to elapse). The 
Exchange believes this is preferable to increasing the length of the 
auction response or exposure period, as executions after an auction 
would always have to wait for the end of that longer auction response 
or exposure period to occur. For example, if the Exchange increases the 
length of the auction response time to one second, executions would 
always occur one second after the initiation of the auction (and 
auction responses may still not be concerned if there is queue), 
compared to executions occurring after the amount additional processing 
time necessary after the conclusion of a shorter auction response or 
exposure period. The application of a flexible buffer time as proposed 
permits the System to only use the time it needs and permits executions 
as timely as possible while still considering all timely received 
auction responses. During times of higher market activity, including 
when the markets are more volatile, there is generally more message 
traffic in general. The longer maximum buffer time may be necessary 
during those times, even if less frequent, to account for longer 
message queues when those market conditions exist. However, the 
majority of the time, the System may only need a small portion of this 
buffer time to get caught up, regardless of how long the maximum 
auction response processing time is set.
    This data demonstrates the effectiveness of the longer auction 
response processing time for SPX options. The proposed rule change 
would permit the Exchange to retain this longer auction response period 
for SPX and thus retain these benefits, as well as extend these 
benefits to other classes traded on the Exchange. Given that times of 
high volatility are unpredictable, and impact all classes, having the 
longer auction response

[[Page 15668]]

processing time available at all times will permit the Exchange to 
continue to achieve these results when volatile times do occur. 
Additionally, given the continued increase in options volumes across 
the industry (and thus all classes), the Exchange believes all classes 
could benefit from the additional processing times.
    While the proposed increase is significant, the Exchange notes that 
the combined maximum length of the auction response or exposure period 
plus the auction response processing period is the same length as the 
maximum permissible auction response or exposure period for certain 
auctions.\36\ Therefore, the Commission has already determined that 
letting a executions after a price improvement auction occur up to 1000 
milliseconds is consistent with the Act (which would permit the 
combined maximum auction response period plus maximum auction response 
processing time to be 1000 milliseconds for auctions). Given that the 
current length of the non-FLEX auctions is 100 milliseconds (except for 
SUM auctions, for which the exposure period is 50 milliseconds), and 
the auction response processing time is 100 milliseconds (except for 
SPX, for which it is 900 milliseconds pursuant to the current temporary 
rule), the proposed rule change would increase the total maximum 
processing time (auction response period plus response processing) for 
all non-FLEX classes other than SPX by 800 milliseconds (850 
milliseconds for SUM auctions) and would keep the maximum processing 
time for non-FLEX SPX options the same. The proposed rule change 
provides the Exchange with flexibility to increase the number of 
auction responses that can participate in an auction without increasing 
the length of an auction (and may permit the Exchange to reduce the 
length of an auction). While the Exchange may increase the length of 
auction response periods to accommodate more auction responses, the 
Exchange believes shifting some of the already permissible auction 
response or exposure period time to the auction response processing 
time that may occur after the conclusion of the auction response or 
exposure period better addresses the issue of missed auction responses. 
Particularly, the Exchange believes the proposed rule change will 
accommodate more auction responses while also mitigating market risk 
that may accompany a longer auction period by setting the length of an 
auction response period to a timeframe that both allows an adequate 
amount of time for TPHs to respond to an auction message and provides 
the auctioned order with fast executions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ See Rule 5.33(d)(3), 5.35(b)(1), 5.37(c)(3), and 
5.38(c)(3), 5.39(c)(3), and 5.40(c)(3) (which permit the Exchange to 
set the length of the COA, SUM, AIM, C-AIM, SAM, and C-SAM exposure 
and auction response periods, as applicable, up to one second). 
Current lengths of auction response and exposure periods are 
available at cboe_options_product_configurations.xlsx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, the Exchange understands some TPHs choose to submit 
auction responses towards the end of an auction response period to 
better ensure the response is at a price that the market participant is 
willing to trade given the market at the time the auction response 
period concludes. For example, from October 1, 2025 through February 
28, 2026, nearly one-quarter of AIM responses and approximately 13% of 
COA responses were submitted within the last 20 milliseconds of the 
applicable auctions, which represent meaningful amounts of liquidity 
submitted into these auctions. This is particularly true during times 
of higher volatility, which times generally result in higher message 
traffic and thus make it more likely these auction responses will not 
participate in the auction. As such, extending the auction response or 
exposure period in each auction would not prevent auction responses 
from continuing to miss the auction notwithstanding being submitted 
timely. Therefore, the Exchange believes extending the auction response 
processing time is preferable to extending the auction response or 
exposure period, which the Exchange believes would not prevent auction 
responses from continuing to miss the auction notwithstanding being 
submitted timely.
    The Exchange believes the proposed increase in maximum auction 
response processing time for all options will provide an adequate 
amount of time to provide pending auction responses with execution 
opportunities in times of high message traffic and will continue to 
have a de minimis impact on other message traffic. Even in times of 
high message traffic, auction responses continue to represent a small 
percentage of volume on the Exchange. Auction responses account for a 
small fraction of message traffic submitted to the Exchange. The 
Exchange believes the processing of such a small amount of message 
traffic, even after the conclusion of an auction response period, would 
therefore continue to have de minimis, if any, impact on the processing 
of non-auction response messages waiting in the queue, even if that 
processing occurs over a longer timeframe. The Exchange also notes that 
all messages are currently processed one at a time by the System. 
Therefore, the System still needs to ``process'' all pending auction 
responses, regardless of whether that processing involves canceling the 
pending auction response because it wasn't processed in time to 
participate in the auction or actually processing the response to 
participate in the auction. Either way, the non-auction response 
messages will still have to wait for processing of any pending 
responses ahead of it, regardless of the length of the auction response 
processing time. Further, updates to prices in the market will still be 
processed in the same order, and thus executions of the responses at 
the end of the auction response processing time will not trade through 
the market at that time. The Exchange notes the proposed rule change 
makes no changes to how the auction response processing functionality 
will work (or how any auctions work). Additionally, all message traffic 
(including auction responses) will continue to be processed in time-
priority. Therefore, the Exchange believes any impact of processing 
additional auction responses for inclusion in an auction rather than 
cancelling those responses will have minimal impact on message traffic 
behind them.
    The Exchange continues to believe in the vast majority of cases, 
the additional time needed after the conclusion of an auction response 
period, if any, to process all pending auction responses will be 
shorter than the proposed maximum (and possibly zero). As discussed 
above, this is a further benefit of being able to increase the length 
of the auction response processing time rather than the length of an 
auction response period. To the extent the Exchange determines a lesser 
amount of time would be sufficient, the Exchange could implement an 
additional amount of time for processing auction responses that is less 
than the combined time of 1000 milliseconds, which time would be 
announced with reasonable advance notice to market participants via 
Exchange Notice.\37\ However, as demonstrated above, there is no impact 
if the Exchange designates an amount of processing time that is ``too 
long,'' as that extra time just goes unused. Additionally, in practice, 
the Exchange generally discusses with market participants potential 
changes to the length of auction response or exposure periods and to 
the auction response processing timer. Further, given the

[[Page 15669]]

Exchange will provide advanced notice of any change, market 
participants may contact the Exchange to discuss any proposed changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ The Exchange generally gives notice one to two weeks in 
advance of implementation for changes such as this; however, shorter 
notice may be provided if the Exchange believes it is necessary to 
maintain fair and orderly markets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The markets experience periods of high volatility, which generally 
results in increased market traffic. The Exchange has observed during 
these higher market traffic times an increase in the number of auction 
responses not being able to participate in auctions, notwithstanding 
being submitted timely within the auction response period, except 
recently in SPX given the longer auction processing time during the 
current sunset period. This higher traffic generally occurs across all 
classes. The Exchange believes permitting an increased auction response 
processing time in all classes would better provide market participants 
with additional opportunities for price improvements with very little, 
if any, impact to non-auction response message traffic, thereby 
removing impediments to a free and open market and ultimately 
protecting and benefiting investors. Additionally, because the proposed 
rule change may provide liquidity providers that submit auction 
responses with additional execution opportunities in auctions, the 
Exchange believes they may be further encouraged to submit more auction 
responses, which may contribute to a deeper, more liquid auction 
process that provides investors with additional price improvement 
opportunities
    Given the current maximum auction response processing time in 
classes other than SPX (and if the current higher time applicable to 
SPX were to sunset), investors may miss out on opportunities to receive 
price improvement through the Exchange's auction mechanisms, even if 
such responses were submitted timely but not processed due to the 
System being otherwise occupied processing messages in queue ahead of 
it. The Exchange, therefore, believes its proposal will make it more 
likely that the System processes timely submitted auction responses and 
includes them in applicable auctions during periods of high message 
traffic, thus providing them with more opportunities to execute against 
auctioned orders.
    The Exchange does not believe the proposed functionality raises any 
novel legal or regulatory issues as the proposed maximum auction 
response processing time is significantly shorter than the longest 
maximum auction response or exposure period permissible in the 
Exchange's Rules.\38\ As discussed above, the proposed rule change 
effectively only increases the permissible response processing time by 
no more than 850 milliseconds. The Exchange notes the proposed rule 
change makes no changes to how the auction response processing 
functionality will work (or how any auctions work). Additionally, all 
message traffic (including auction responses) will continue to be 
processed in time-priority, including market price updates, and thus 
the System is designed to prevent trade-throughs. Further, as noted 
above, the auction response or exposure period for all non-FLEX 
auctions on the Exchange permitted by Rules that have been previously 
filed with the Commission as being consistent with the Act may be no 
longer than one second. Even if the System uses the maximum buffer 
time, that means execution following an auction would occur one second 
following the beginning of an auction. Therefore, the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the length of time in the Rules that an 
auction may occur. The proposed rule change merely shifts some of the 
permissible auction response or exposure period time to the auction 
response processing time that may occur after the conclusion of the 
auction response or exposure period. As described above, the Exchange 
believes being able to have more time available as auction response 
processing time rather than increased auction response or exposure 
period time is beneficial due to the dynamic nature of the auction 
response processing time. This is because the Exchange can then set a 
shorter auction response or exposure period time, such as 100 
milliseconds, and only use additional time when necessary, rather than 
for all auctions, which is what occurs if the Exchange were to lengthen 
the auction response or exposure period time. The Exchange believes, 
therefore, the proposed rule change promotes just and equitable 
principles of trade, removes impediments to and perfect the mechanism 
of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in 
general, to protects investors and the public interest, because it will 
provide investors in all non-FLEX classes with additional execution and 
price improvement opportunities while processing investors' quote and 
order messages in a timely manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ See Rules 5.33(d)(3), 5.37(c)(3), and 5.38(c)(3) (which 
permits the Exchange to set the length of the COA, AIM, and C-AIM, 
respectively, auction response periods up to three seconds). Given 
that the auction response processing time plus the length of the 
auction response or exposure period may not exceed 1000 
milliseconds, the maximum auction response processing time will be 
significantly less than the maximum auction response time currently 
permissible under the Exchange's Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule change excludes FLEX auctions from the rule that 
increases the auction response processing time. The terms of FLEX 
options are customized by users, and liquidity providers generally need 
additional time to consider these non-standard terms of a FLEX-
auctioned order to price and manage associated risk of the auction 
option before submitting a response. This is reflected by the much 
longer lengths of FLEX auctions, which may last three seconds to five 
minutes,\39\ compared to non-FLEX Auctions (which may last no more than 
one second) that are intended to result in nearly instantaneous 
matching of auctioned orders and responses. As a result of the 
customized nature of the FLEX market, as well as lack of book with 
resting quotes that Market-Makers continuously update, there is 
generally less liquidity and volume in FLEX options. As a result, FLEX 
auctions generally do not receive significant numbers of responses as 
can occur in auctions for non-FLEX auctions for options with 
standardized terms. Therefore, the Exchange believes additional auction 
response processing time is unnecessary for FLEX auctions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ See Rules 5.72(c)(1)(F), 5.73(c)(3), and 5.74(c)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Exchange does not 
believe that the proposed changes will impose any burden on intramarket 
competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act, as the proposed rule change would apply equally to 
TPHs that submit auction responses. The proposed rule change would 
permit a longer auction response processing time for all non-FLEX 
classes on the Exchange (rather than just one as is the case today), 
and thus market participants in all classes would be able to benefit 
from this increased processing time, including reducing the likelihood 
that their auction responses are rejected. Additionally, as noted 
above, the Exchange believes the proposed increase in the maximum 
auction response processing time will have little to no impact on non-
auction response message traffic and continues to be designed to 
prevent trade-throughs given all messages, including market

[[Page 15670]]

price updates, will continue to be processed in time priority. The 
Exchange does not believe the proposed rule change will impose any 
burden on intermarket competition that is not necessary or appropriate 
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as the proposed change 
affects how the System processes auction responses that may only 
participate in auctions that occur on the Exchange.

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 written comments on the 
proposed rule change.

IV. Discussion and Commission Findings

    After careful review, the Commission finds that the proposed rule 
change, as modified and superseded by Amendment No. 1 (``Amended 
Proposal''), is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities 
exchange.\40\ In particular, the Commission finds that the Amended 
Proposal is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,\41\ which 
requires, among other things, that the rules of a national securities 
exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove 
impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and 
a national market system and, in general, to protect investors and the 
public interest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ In approving this proposed rule change, the Commission has 
considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, 
and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).
    \41\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed above, currently, at the conclusion of an auction 
response or exposure period, the Exchange-determined period of 
additional processing time for timely-received auction messages may not 
exceed 100 milliseconds; except that, with respect to non-FLEX SPX 
options, this Exchange-determined period of additional processing time 
plus the length of the auction response or exposure period, as 
applicable, may not exceed 1000 milliseconds (``1000 millisecond 
maximum processing time'').\42\ The Amended Proposal would apply to all 
non-FLEX classes the 1000 millisecond maximum processing time currently 
applicable to non-FLEX SPX options, make the 1000 millisecond maximum 
processing time permanent for non-FLEX SPX options, and eliminate 
additional auction message processing time for FLEX auctions.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See Rule 5.25. This aspect of auction response processing 
for non-FLEX SPX options is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Id. With 
auction timers set to 100 milliseconds for non-FLEX auctions (except 
for SUM auctions, for which the exposure period is 50 milliseconds), 
the 1000 millisecond maximum processing time provides 900 
milliseconds of additional auction response processing time after 
the auction response or exposure period concludes. See Amendment No. 
1, supra note 9, at 7 n. 17, 42-43.
    \43\ See proposed Rule 5.25; see also Amendment No. 1, supra 
note 9, at 34.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the OIP, the Commission expressed concern that the Initial Rule 
Filing did not set forth data directly supporting the proposed increase 
in the maximum processing time for non-FLEX classes other than SPX, or 
support for the proposed removal of additional auction response 
processing times for FLEX auctions.\44\ The Commission believes that 
the Amended Proposal addresses these concerns, and is reasonably 
designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free 
and open market and a national market system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ See OIP, supra note 8, 90 FR at 59930.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Amended Proposal demonstrates that the 100 milliseconds of 
additional auction message processing time currently available for non-
FLEX classes other than SPX can be insufficient to allow the Exchange 
to process all timely-received auction responses. The Exchange states 
that between May 12, 2025 and February 27, 2026, at least once per 
trading day, each of its matching engines experienced delays in message 
queues that resulted in the Exchange not being able to process all 
timely-received auction messages within the 100 milliseconds of 
additional response processing time currently available.\45\ As a 
result, according to the Exchange, this meant that, at least once per 
trading day during that time period, auctioned orders missed potential 
execution and price improvement opportunities.\46\ The Exchange also 
states that there have been instances in certain classes when it needed 
more than 400 milliseconds to process all timely-received auction 
responses but only had 100 milliseconds available.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ See Amendment No. 1, supra note 9, at 15.
    \46\ Id.
    \47\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission believes that the Amended Proposal, by applying the 
1000 millisecond maximum processing time to all non-FLEX classes, is 
reasonably designed to improve the Exchange's ability to process all 
timely-received auction responses and provide enhanced opportunities 
for executions, potentially with price improvement, through an auction 
mechanism. The Commission also believes that it is appropriate and 
consistent with the Act for the Exchange to apply to all non-FLEX 
classes the same 1000 millisecond maximum processing time that it 
currently applies to non-FLEX SPX classes, in light of the Exchange's 
experience with non-FLEX SPX classes. In this vein, the Exchange states 
that, for a time period before it implemented the 1000 millisecond 
maximum processing time for non-FLEX SPX options, the Exchange 
cancelled, on average, 7.64% of timely-received auction responses--and 
on some occasions over 20% of timely-received auction responses--
because the Exchange could not process them before the end of the then-
applicable maximum processing time period.\48\ But according to the 
Exchange, this percentage became nearly zero after the Exchange 
implemented the 1000 millisecond maximum processing time for non-FLEX 
SPX classes.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ Id. at 13.
    \49\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Commission believes the Amended Proposal is 
consistent with the Act insofar as it designed to be tailored to the 
Exchange's processing needs, which may vary depending on the amount of 
message activity and length of the message queue at the time of an 
auction.\50\ As the Exchange has stated, it uses only the portion of 
the processing time that it needs to process responses timestamped 
prior to the end of the auction period.\51\ In other words, the 1000 
millisecond maximum processing time is a ceiling but not a floor, such 
that the Exchange will use less than the full 1000 milliseconds of 
additional processing time when doing so is conducive to processing all 
timely-received auction messages.\52\ While, according to the Exchange, 
no non-FLEX class other than SPX currently needs 900 milliseconds to 
process all timely-received auction responses, the portion of the 1000 
millisecond maximum processing time that is not needed for a particular 
auction would go unused and the auction would occur once the Exchange 
has processed all timely-received messages.\53\ At the same time, the 
1000 millisecond maximum processing time would provide the Exchange 
with flexibility to process longer auction message queues than those 
experienced to date in non-FLEX classes other than SPX, which could

[[Page 15671]]

occur as a result of increases in volume or volatility.\54\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ Id.
    \51\ Id.
    \52\ The Amended Proposal sets forth examples of this Exchange 
behavior. Id. at 13-14.
    \53\ Id. at 16.
    \54\ Id. at 18.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Broadly, the Commission believes that the application of the 1000 
millisecond maximum processing time to all non-FLEX classes could 
incentivize competition in the Exchange's auctions by increasing the 
likelihood of all timely-submitted responses participating in an 
execution at the end of an auction, especially during periods of high 
message traffic. Increasing the number of competitive responses in an 
auction could also increase price improvement opportunities for any 
order submitted into an auction. Additionally, all message traffic 
(including auction responses) will continue to be processed in time-
priority. The Commission emphasizes that the extension of processing 
time is only available to TPHs that have submitted an auction response 
within the response period for each auction.
    Finally, the Commission believes that the proposed removal of 
additional auction response processing times for FLEX auctions is 
adequately supported by the Amended Proposal and reasonably designed to 
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open 
market and a national market system. Specifically, the Amended Proposal 
identifies attributes of FLEX options and auctions that demonstrate 
that additional processing time for the Exchange's FLEX auctions does 
not meaningfully enhance the Exchange's ability to process timely-
submitted FLEX auction messages. These attributes include: (i) FLEX 
options have customized terms and liquidity providers generally need 
additional time to consider these non-standard terms to price and 
manage associated risk of the auction option before submitting a 
response; \55\ (ii) there is no book with resting quotes for FLEX 
options that market makers continuously update; \56\ (iii) FLEX 
auctions are much longer (ranging from three seconds to five minutes) 
than non-FLEX auctions; \57\ and (iv) FLEX auctions generally do not 
receive a significant number of responses as compared to auctions for 
options with standardized terms.\58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ Id. at 24.
    \56\ Id.
    \57\ Id.
    \58\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, the Commission finds that the Amended Proposal is 
consistent with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.\59\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

V. Solicitation of Comments on Amendment No. 1 to the Proposed Rule 
Change

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments concerning whether Amendment No. 1 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="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e89a9d848dc58b8785858d869c9ba89b8d8bc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d1f180108400e0200000803191e2d1e080e430a021b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include 
file number SR-CBOE-2025-074 on the subject line.

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-CBOE-2025-074. 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="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and 
copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include 
personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may 
redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material 
that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions 
should refer to file number SR-CBOE-2025-074 and should be submitted on 
or before April 20, 2026.

VI. Accelerated Approval of the Proposed Rule Change, as Modified and 
Superseded by Amendment No. 1

    The Commission finds good cause to approve the Amended Proposal 
prior to the thirtieth day after the date of publication of notice of 
the filing of Amendment No. 1 in the Federal Register. Amendment No. 1 
provides additional detail regarding the processing of auction 
responses, further justification for the proposal, and additional data 
with respect to the time of submission of responses into certain 
auctions and the duration of auction response processing periods. 
Amendment No. 1 also makes non-substantive changes that update current 
rule text and correct grammar. Amendment No. 1, without altering the 
purpose of the Initial Rule Filing, strengthens the Initial Rule Filing 
by providing additional clarity, support, and data, as explained above 
and set forth fully in Sections II and III above.
    The Commission therefore finds that Amendment No. 1 raises no novel 
regulatory issues that have not previously been subject to comment and 
is reasonably designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and 
practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in 
general, to protect investors and the public interest. Accordingly, the 
Commission finds good cause, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\60\ to approve the Amended Proposal on an accelerated basis prior 
to the 30th day after publication of notice of the filing of Amendment 
No. 1 in the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Conclusion

    It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the 
Act,\61\ that the proposed rule change (SR-CBOE-2025-074), as modified 
and superseded by Amendment No. 1, be, and hereby is, approved on an 
accelerated basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ Id.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\62\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-06044 Filed 3-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 30, 2026.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.