2019-12659. Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Delay Implementation of the MIDP Routing Option  

  • Start Preamble June 11, 2019.

    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 June 3, 2019, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

    The Exchange proposes to delay implementation of the MIDP routing option until the third quarter of 2019.

    The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

    II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

    A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    The Exchange is proposing to delay implementation of the MIDP routing option until the third quarter of 2019. Start Printed Page 28118MIDP is a new order routing option under Nasdaq Rule 4758(a)(1)(A), which will allow members to seek midpoint liquidity on Nasdaq and other markets on the Nasdaq system routing table. On May 20, 2019, the Commission approved MIDP, noting that the Exchange planned to implement the new routing option in the second quarter of 2019 and would provide at least 30 days notice.[3] The Exchange is proposing to delay implementation of MIDP until the third quarter of 2019. Currently, the Exchange is reducing the number of changes to the System in preparation for an upcoming “quadruple witching” day [4] and the Russell Rebalance, two significant market events occurring in June 2019. Accordingly, the Exchange believes that it would be in the best interest of the markets if MIDP was implemented after these events, in the third quarter 2019. As originally proposed by the Exchange, it will provide at least 30 days notice to market participants of the implementation date.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The Exchange believes that its proposal is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act,[5] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,[6] in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public interest, by allowing the Exchange to implement the approved changes after two significant market events. The Exchange believes that the short delay will allow the Exchange to limit the number of changes implemented to its systems prior to these events, reducing any risk to the operation of the system by implementation of changes thereto, in turn, protecting investors.

    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 not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The brief delay described herein is proposed solely in the interest of protecting the markets and investors, and is not being proposed for any competitive reasons. Accordingly, the delay does not implicate competition whatsoever.

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

    No written comments were either solicited or received.

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

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act [7] and Rule 19b-4(f)(6) thereunder.[8]

    A proposed rule change filed pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6) under the Act [9] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of its filing. However, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) [10] permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the Exchange may delay implementation of MIDP and provide public notice thereof at the earliest possible time. The Exchange states that waiver would thereby avoid any market participant confusion that may be caused by the Exchange not implementing the proposal in the second quarter of 2019. For this reason, the Commission believes that waiver of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. Therefore, the Commission hereby waives the operative delay and designates the proposal as operative upon filing.[11]

    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.

    IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

    Electronic Comments

    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-NASDAQ-2019-050. 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 Start Printed Page 28119comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2019-050 and should be submitted on or before July 8, 2019.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.[12]

    Eduardo A. Aleman,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    3.  See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 85892 (May 20, 2019), 84 FR 24191 (May 24, 2019) (SR-NASDAQ-2019-004).

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    4.  A “quadruple witching” day occurs when stock options, index options, index futures, and single stock futures all expire on the same day. This will occur next on June 21, 2019.

    Back to Citation

    8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

    Back to Citation

    11.  For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission also has considered the proposed rule's impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f).

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. 2019-12659 Filed 6-14-19; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Published:
06/17/2019
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2019-12659
Pages:
28117-28119 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-86087, File No. SR-NASDAQ-2019-050
PDF File:
2019-12659.Pdf