2020-04575. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To Amend EDGX Rule 11.8(g), Which Describes the Handling of Midpoint Discretionary Orders Entered on the Exchange

March 2, 2020.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) ^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on February 19, 2020, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. (“EDGX” or the “Exchange”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a proposed rule change to amend EDGX Rule 11.8(g), which describes the handling of Midpoint Discretionary Orders entered on the Exchange. 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 (http://markets.cboe.com/​us/​options/​regulation/​rule_​filings/​edgx/​), 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

A Midpoint Discretionary Order (“MDO”) is a Limit Order that is executable at the national best bid (“NBB”) for an order to buy or the national best offer (“NBO”) for an order to sell while resting on the EDGX Book, with discretion to execute at prices to and including the midpoint of the national best bid or offer (“NBBO”).^[3] The purpose of the proposed rule change is to amend EDGX Rule 11.8(g) to introduce two optional instructions that Users would be able to include on MDOs entered on the Exchange. First, the Exchange would allow Users to enter MDOs with an offset to the NBBO, similar to orders entered with a Primary Peg Instruction today.^[4] Second, the Exchange would allow Users to enter MDOs that include a Quote Depletion Protection (“QDP”) instruction that would disable discretion for a limited period in certain circumstances where the best bid or offer displayed on the EDGX Book is executed or cancelled below one round lot. The Exchange believes that both of these features would enhance the usefulness of MDOs to members and investors, and would allow the exchange to better compete with other national securities exchanges that currently offer order types that include similar features.

Offset Instruction

As explained, MDOs are pegged to the same side of the NBBO, with discretion to execute at prices to and including the midpoint of the NBBO. An MDO is therefore similar to an order entered with both a Primary Peg instruction and an instruction to exercise discretion to the NBBO midpoint. It is also similar to certain order types offered by other national securities exchanges, including Discretionary Peg Orders offered by the Investors Exchange LLC (“IEX”).^[5] Today, Users can include an offset on orders entered on the Exchange that include a Primary Peg instruction, which allows them to specify that the order be pegged to a price above or below the NBB or NBO to which the order is pegged. Specifically, pursuant to Rule 11.6(j)(2), which defines the Primary Peg instruction, a User may, but is not required to, select an offset equal to or greater than one Minimum Price Variation (“MPV”) above or below the applicable NBB or NBO. Although an offset is generally available to Users that enter an order with the Primary Peg instruction, it is not available for an MDO that is similarly pegged to the same side of the NBBO—i.e., pegged to NBB for buy orders, or NBO for sell orders. The Exchange now proposes to extend the flexibility to include an offset instruction to MDOs, thus increasing the usefulness of this order type.

As proposed, MDOs entered with an offset would function in the same manner as currently implemented for Primary Peg orders entered with an offset pursuant to Rule 11.6(j)(2), thereby ensuring a familiar and consistent experience for Users. First, a User entering an MDO would be able to select an offset equal to or greater than one MPV above or below the NBB or NBO that the order is pegged to (“Offset Amount”). Second, the Offset Amount for an MDO that is to be displayed on the EDGX Book would need to result in the price of such order being inferior to or equal to the inside quote on the same side of the market.^[6] Although the Exchange expects that some Users may continue to want MDOs that are ranked at the same side of the NBBO without any offset, certain other Users may find the offset functionality useful as it would allow them to specify more or less aggressive pegged prices for MDOs resting on the EDGX Book. The Exchange is therefore proposing to introduce the offset functionality as an optional feature that can be included at the preference of the User entering an MDO for trading on the Exchange.

The proposed changes related to the offset instruction are included in proposed subparagraph (9) under EDGX Rule 11.8(g). In addition, the Exchange proposes to make conforming changes to language currently included in EDGX Rule 11.8(g). First, rather than explaining that an MDO is “executable at” the applicable NBB or NBO, the rule would instead provide that an MDO is “pegged to” the NBB or NBO, “with or without an offset.” Second, language that describes when an MDO is executable at its limit price would be amended to state that an MDO to buy (sell) with a limit price that is less (higher) than its pegged price, including any offset, is posted to the EDGX Book at its limit price. This change would replace references to circumstances where an MDO is posted to the EDGX Book at its limit price due to such limit price being less aggressive than the prevailing NBB or NBO, as the applicable NBB or NBO is not the relevant pegged price for MDOs entered with an offset. Third, the Exchange would amend language contained in EDGX Rule 11.8(g)(6) and (8), which deal with limit up-limit down (“LULD”) and locked/crossed market handling, respectively, to account for the fact that an MDO entered with an offset would not be posted at the NBB or NBO. Specifically, the Exchange would amend EDGA Rule 11.8(g)(6) to reference handling in situations where the applicable LULD price band is at or through the “the order's pegged price” rather than “an existing Protected Bid” or “an existing Protected Offer.” With the introduction of an offset, the Exchange's LULD handling would only apply when the LULD price band is at or through the pegged price of the MDO, which could be different from the price of an existing Protected Bid or Offer. Similarly, the Exchange would amend EDGX Rule 11.8(g)(8) to provide that an MDO's pegged price would be adjusted to the current NBO (for bids) or NBB (for offers), when “an MDO posted on” the EDGX Book is crossed by another market. The current version of the rule references the EDGX Book being crossed by another market since the MDO would be posted at the best price available on the Exchange (i.e., the applicable NBB or NBO). With the introduction of an offset, however, an MDO may be more or less aggressive than the NBB or NBO, and this handling would apply when the posted MDO is itself crossed by another market. Each of these changes are meant to reflect the proposed operation of MDOs that are entered with an offset, as previously described, and would not otherwise impact the handling of MDOs entered on the Exchange.

Quote Depletion Protection

The Exchange also proposes to introduce an optional instruction that Users would be able to include on an MDO to limit the order's ability to exercise discretion in certain circumstances: “Quote Depletion Protection” or “QDP.” ^[7] Similar to crumbling quote features offered for Discretionary Peg Orders entered on IEX, QDP would restrict the exercise of discretion on MDOs entered with this instruction in circumstances where applicable market conditions indicate that it may be less desirable to execute within an order's discretionary range.^[8] The QDP feature would do this by tracking significant executions or cancellations of orders that constitute the best bid or offer on EDGX.^[9] As proposed, a “QDP Active Period” would be enabled or refreshed for buy (sell) MDOs if the best bid (offer) displayed on the EDGX Book is either: (A) Executed below one round lot; or (B) at the national best bid (offer) and cancelled below one round lot.^[10] During this QDP Active Period, an MDO entered with a QDP instruction would not exercise discretion for a limited period of time. Instead, such an order would be only be executable at its ranked price.^[11]

Once activated, the QDP Active Period would remain in place to prevent the execution of MDOs within their discretionary ranges for a specified period. Specifically, the Exchange proposes that when a QDP Active Period is initially enabled, or refreshed by a subsequent execution or cancellation of the best bid (offer) then displayed on the EDGX Book, it would remain enabled for a configurable period of up to five milliseconds. The Exchange would determine the duration of the QDP Active Period, and would publish this value in a circular distributed to members. As the Exchange gains experience with the proposed QDP functionality, it may revise the chosen duration to better reflect the needs of members and investors using the this instruction. Such changes would be made with the goal of facilitating the protection provided by the QDP instruction, while at the same time not unduly limiting the ability of orders entered with this instruction to exercise discretion and execute at more aggressive prices within the order's discretionary range.

Finally, since the QDP instruction is designed to protect resting MDOs based on the execution or cancellation of the best bids and offers displayed on the EDGX Book, the Exchange anticipates that Users may prefer to utilize the QDP instruction along with an offset instruction that results in the MDO being posted at a price that is inferior to the applicable NBB or NBO (with discretion to the midpoint). The Exchange also believes that given the less aggressive offset, and the fact that these orders are seeking additional protection, there may be less incentive for Users to include a Displayed instruction. As a result, unless the User chooses otherwise, an MDO to buy (sell) entered with a QDP instruction would default to a Non-Displayed instruction and would include an Offset Amount equal to one Minimum Price Variation below (above) the NBB (NBO).^[12] This implementation is similar to the implementation of Discretionary Peg Orders on IEX but would permit Users to change these default instructions based on their specific needs.^[13]

Examples. The examples below illustrate the proposed operation of the QDP instruction: ^[14]

Example 1:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $10.00 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 3: Sell 1 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 4: Sell 100 shares @ $10.00 Midpoint Pegged IOC—Time = 12:00:00:001

Order 2, which is an MDO to buy, is ranked at $9.99 non-displayed with discretion to the midpoint price of $10.005. When Order 3 is entered it will trade a single share with Order 1 at $10.00, triggering a QDP Active Period for Order 2 because of the execution of the EDGX Best Bid below one round lot. This restricts the ability for Order 2 to exercise discretion for two milliseconds, and prevents the execution of Order 4 within Order 2's discretionary range. As a result, the Order 4 would be cancelled without an execution.

Example 2:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $10.00 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 3: Sell 200 shares @ $9.99 ISO IOC—Time = 12:00:00:000

This example is the same as Example 1, except that Order 3 is an ISO IOC for 200 shares that is priced equal to the non-displayed ranked price of Order 2, and there is no Order 4. Order 3 would trade 100 shares with Order 1 at $10.00, triggering a QDP Active Period. However, the triggering of a QDP Active Period would not prevent the execution of an MDO at its ranked price. As a result, Order 3 would trade its remaining 100 shares with Order 2 at $9.99.

Example 3:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $10.00 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 3: Sell 100 share @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 4: Sell 100 shares @ $10.00 Midpoint Pegged IOC—Time = 12:00:00:003

This example is the same as Example 1, except that Order 3 is for 100 shares and Order 4 is entered after the QDP Active Period has concluded. In this example, Order 3 would trade 100 shares with Order 1 at $10.00, triggering a QDP Active Period. The QDP Active Period triggered by the execution of the EDGX Best Bid below one round lot would be disabled after two milliseconds, and Order 4 would execute 100 shares against Order 2 at $10.005.

Example 4:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $10.00 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 3: Sell 200 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 2, which is an MDO to buy, is ranked at $9.99 non-displayed with discretion to the midpoint price of $10.005. When Order 3 is entered it would first trade 100 shares with Order 1 at $10.00. A QDP Active Period is then immediately enabled for Order 2 because of the execution of the EDGX Best Bid below one round lot. This restricts the ability for Order 2 to exercise discretion for two milliseconds, and prevents the execution of the remaining 100 shares of Order 3 within Order 2's discretionary range. As a result, the remaining quantity of Order 3 would be cancelled.

Example 5:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $10.00 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 1: Full Cancel—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 3: Sell 200 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:001

This example is the same as Example 4, except that Order 1 is cancelled one millisecond before the receipt of Order 3. Because Order 1, which establishes the EDGX Best Bid, is priced at the NBB, a QDP Active period would be immediately enabled following its cancellation. This restricts the ability for Order 2 to exercise discretion for two milliseconds, and prevents the execution of Order 3 within Order 2's discretionary range. As a result, Order 3 would be cancelled without an execution.

Example 6:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Sell 100 shares @ $10.01 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset= −$0.01

Order 1: Full Cancel—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 3: Sell 200 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:001

This example is the same as Example 5, except that Order 1 is an offer priced at the NBO rather than a bid at the NBB. A QDP Active Period for an MDO would only enabled by an execution or cancellation of an order on the same side of the market. Thus, Order 2, which is an MDO to buy, would not be impacted by the cancellation of Order 1, which is an order to sell. As a result, Order 3 would execute 200 shares with Order 2 at $10.00.

Example 7:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $9.99 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 200 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset = −$0.01

Order 1: Full Cancel—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 3: Sell 200 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:001

This example is the same as Example 5, except that Order 1 is entered at a price that is inferior to the NBB. Because Order 1 is not at the NBB, its cancellation does not trigger a QDP Active Period. As a result, Order 3 would trade 200 shares with Order 2 at $10.00.

Example 8:

QDP Active Period = 2 milliseconds

NBBO: $10.00 × $10.01

Order 1: Buy 100 shares @ $9.99 Displayed

Order 2: Buy 100 shares @ 10.00 Displayed

Order 3: Buy 100 shares @ $10.01—MDO with QDP, Hidden, Offset = −$0.02

Order 4: Sell 100 shares @ $10.00 IOC—Time = 12:00:00:000

Order 5: Sell 100 shares @ $9.99 ISO IOC—Time = 12:00:00:001

Order 6: Sell 100 shares @ $10.00 ISO IOC—Time = 12:00:00:002

Order 3, which is an MDO to buy, is ranked at $9.98 non-displayed with discretion to the midpoint price of $10.005. When Order 4 is entered it would trade 100 shares with Order 2 at $10.00. A QDP Active Period is then immediately enabled for Order 3 because of the execution of the EDGX Best Bid below one round lot. This restricts the ability for Order 3 to exercise discretion for two milliseconds. When Order 5 is entered it would trade 100 shares with Order 1, which is now the EDGX Best Bid, at $9.99, refreshing the QDP Active Period and extending it until 12:00:00:003. When Order 6 is entered it would be cancelled without an execution as Order 3 would still be subject to the extended QDP Active Period.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes the proposed rule change is consistent with the requirements of Section 6(b) of the Act,^[15] in general, and Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[16] in particular, in that it is designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest and not to permit unfair discrimination between customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers. The two proposed changes would increase the usefulness of MDOs offered by the Exchange, and would allow the Exchange to better compete with order types on other national securities exchanges that offer similar features to their members.

Offset Instruction for MDOs

The Exchange believes that it is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest to introduce an offset instruction that Users could choose to include on their MDOs.^[17] With this proposed change, MDOs would behave similarly to orders entered with a Primary Peg instruction today in that such orders could be entered with an offset that results in the order being pegged to a price that is more or less aggressive than the applicable NBB or NBO on the same side of the market (i.e., NBB for buy orders and NBO for sell orders). This change would make MDOs a more flexible tool for members and investors. Further, the introduction of the offset instruction on MDOs would be similar to and competitive with features offered on other national securities exchanges that offer similar order types. For example, Discretionary Peg Orders offered on IEX are pegged one MPV less aggressive than the applicable NBB or NBO when posted to the order book, with discretion to the midpoint of the NBBO (subject to the order's limit price). Introducing an offset instruction for MDOs offered on EDGX would allow members and investors that trade on the Exchange to utilize similar functionality. Such functionality could be used for a number of purposes, including to mitigate risk by posting an order at a price that is lower (higher) than the prevailing NBB (NBO). At the same time, the offset instruction would be offered on a purely voluntary basis, and with flexibility for Users to choose the amount of any offset, thereby maintaining flexibility to continue using the current offering, which pegs MDOs to the applicable NBB or NBO without an offset, and to choose different offsets based on a User's specific needs. As is the case for orders entered with a Primary Peg instruction and an offset, displayed MDOs would not be accepted with an offset that results in such orders being posted at a price that is better than the applicable NBB or NBO. Users that wish to enter an MDO with an aggressive offset would be required to enter such orders with a non-displayed instruction, thereby ensuring that such orders would not be eligible to set a new NBBO, which the Exchange believes may unnecessarily increase the complexity of its System.^[18]

Quote Depletion Protection

The Exchange also believes that it is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest to introduce the QDP instruction to provide additional protection to Users that enter MDOs with this instruction. Similar to Discretionary Peg Orders offered by IEX, the QDP instruction would provide Users with protective features that would limit the order's ability to exercise discretion in certain circumstances that may be indicative of a quotation that is moving against the resting MDO—i.e., a buy quotation that is moving to a lower price for MDOs to buy, or a sell quotation that is moving to a higher price for MDOs to sell. The specific trigger for enabling a QDP Active Period, or refreshing a QDP Active Period that has already been enabled, would be based on the execution or cancellation of the best bid or offer displayed by the Exchange on the same side of the market. Any trade that results in such bid or offer being executed below one round lot would trigger a QDP Active Period. A cancellation of the Exchange's best bid or offer below one round lot, however, would only trigger a QDP Active period if such best bid or offer quotation is also at the NBBO. The Exchange believes that a cancellation of orders displayed at the Exchange's best bid or offer, but not at the NBBO, may not be indicative of an quotation that is about to transition to a less aggressive price, and is therefore proposing to limit the triggering of a QDP Active Period to instances where that quotation is at the best price available in the market. When a QDP Active Period is enabled or refreshed, the MDO would forgo discretion for a limited period but would remain executable at its displayed or non-displayed ranked price. Thus, the QDP instruction may provide additional comfort to Users entering MDOs that would allow them to utilize discretion, and thereby provide potential price improvement opportunities to incoming orders, while at the same time limiting the exercise of discretion in circumstances where an execution within the order's discretionary range may be undesirable. The Exchange therefore believes that the introduction of the QDP instruction would remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system. Further, while the QDP instruction would be available to all Users, use of this instruction would be voluntary, meaning that Users could choose to use this instruction, or not, based on their specific needs.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. To the contrary, the proposal is a competitive response to similar features available on other markets, such as IEX, and would therefore facilitate increased competition between exchange markets. As with other national securities exchanges, the Exchange must continually assess and improve its offerings to compete with other exchanges and off-exchange venues. The proposed rule change is indicative of this competition. Further, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change would implicate any competitive concerns with respect to its Users. Both instructions proposed to be introduced for MDOs with this filing would be available to all Users on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. Rather than impede competition, the proposed rule change would provide additional tools for members and investors to facilitate their trading goals.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

No comments were solicited or received on the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Within 45 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register or within such longer period up to 90 days (i) as the Commission may designate if it finds such longer period to be appropriate and publishes its reasons for so finding or (ii) as to which the self-regulatory organization consents, the Commission will:

(A) By order approve or disapprove the proposed rule change, or

(B) institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2020-010 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

• Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2020-010. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CboeEDGX-2020-010, and should be submitted on or before March 27, 2020.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.^[19]

J. Matthew DeLesDernier,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  See EDGX Rule 11.8(g).

4.  See EDGX Rule 11.6(j)(2).

5.  See IEX Rule 11.190(b)(10). Discretionary Peg Orders on IEX are posted at the less aggressive of one MPV less aggressive than the primary quote or the order's limit price.

6.  An MDO defaults to a Displayed instruction unless the User includes a Non-Displayed instruction on the order. See EDGX Rule 11.8(g)(4). Similar to the current handling of orders entered with a Primary Peg instruction, the Exchange is not proposing to accept displayed MDOs with an aggressive offset at this time. Such orders would add functionality to the Exchange that would effectively set the NBBO through a pegged order, and the Exchange believes that this could potentially add complexity to its System.

7.  Proposed changes related to the introduction of the QDP instruction are reflected in proposed subparagraph (10) under EDGX Rule 11.8(g).

8.  A Discretionary Peg order resting on IEX is only eligible to trade at its resting price during periods of “quote instability.” See IEX Rule 11.190(b)(10). In turn, IEX Rule 11.190(g) describes IEX's quote instability calculation, which uses a proprietary mathematical formula “to assess the probability of an imminent change to the current Protected NBB to a lower price or Protected NBO to a higher price.”

9.  The Exchange would look to the terms of any replacement order to determine if an order modified by a cancel/replace message pursuant to EDGA Rule 11.10(e) qualifies as a cancellation that would trigger a QDP Active Period. For example, a cancel/replace message that increases the size of an order would not trigger a QDP Active Period, notwithstanding that the message cancels the order before replacing it with greater size.

10.  Rule 611 of Regulation NMS generally limits executions to prices that are at or better than the protected best bid or offer. However, there are circumstances, such as the use of intermarket sweep orders, where an order may be executed at an inferior price. In these circumstances, an execution of the EDGX BBO below one round lot would trigger a QDP Active Period even though that quotation is inferior to the NBBO.

11.  An MDOs ranked price is the order's displayed or non-displayed pegged price, which may or may not include an offset, as proposed, or the order's limit price if that limit price is less aggressive than the applicable pegged price.

12.  The Exchange also proposes to amend EDGX Rule 11.8(g)(4) to reflect the fact that MDOs entered with a QDP instruction would default to Non-Displayed. MDOs that are not entered with the QDP instruction would continue to default to a Displayed instruction, as currently provided in EDGX Rule 11.8(g)(4).

13.  As previously discussed, Discretionary Peg Orders on IEX are posted at the less aggressive of one MPV less aggressive than the primary quote or the order's limit price. See supra note 5. Such orders are also Non-Displayed. See IEX Rule 11.190(a)(3).

14.  For purposes of these examples, orders are reflected in the order in which they are received, and only the identified orders are present on the EDGX Book.

15.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

16.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

17.  The Exchange notes that technical changes proposed to EDGX Rule 11.8(g), including paragraphs (6) and (8) thereunder merely reflect language changes that are necessary since an MDO would be allowed with an offset. The Exchange believes that these changes would promote just and equitable principles of trade as they would ensure that MDO handling remains transparent with the introduction of the offset instruction.

18.  See supra note 6.

19.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).