2018-11983. Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change To Amend the Descriptions of Certain Data Feeds Within Chapter VI, Section 19 Entitled “Data Feeds and Trade ...

May 30, 2018.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”),^[1] and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,^[2] notice is hereby given that on May 25, 2018, Nasdaq BX, Inc. (“BX” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I and II below, which Items have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

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

The Exchange proposes to amend the descriptions of certain data feeds within Chapter VI, Section 19 entitled “Data Feeds and Trade Information.” The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at http://nasdaqbx.cchwallstreet.com/​,, at the principal office of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

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

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend Chapter VI, Section 19 entitled “Data Feeds and Trade Information” to: (i) To further detail the type of information available on BX Depth of Market (BX Depth); and (ii) add a sentence to BX Depth and BX Top of Market (BX Top) which describes symbol directory information with a more specific description of the options symbol directory that was recently utilized in ISE Rule 718(a).^[3]

The Exchange desires to amend the description for BX Depth which currently provides, “BX Depth is a data feed that provides quotation information for individual orders on the BX Options book, last sale information for trades executed on BX Options, and Order Imbalance Information as set forth in BX Options Rules Chapter VI, Section 8.” The Exchange proposes to amend this sentence to provide, “BX Depth is a data feed that provides full order and quote depth information for individual orders and quotes on the BX Options book, last sale information for trades executed on BX Options, and Order Imbalance Information as set forth in BX Options Rules Chapter VI, Section 8.” The Exchange proposes this language to make clear that this data feed has full order and quote information and not top of book information. The Exchange believes this proposed language will bring greater clarity to this description. The BX Depth feed is not changing.

Also, today BX Depth and BX Top have an options symbol directory within those data feeds. The Exchange proposes to add a sentence to each of those data feeds to describe the data provided for each options series. The data includes the symbol (series and underlying security), put or call indicator, expiration date, the strike price of the series, and whether the option series is available for trading on BX and identifies if the series is available for closing transactions only. The Exchange inadvertently excluded this information when it originally filed the description for these feeds. The Exchange believes that adding this language will bring greater clarity to each of these feeds.

The Exchange also proposes to replace the word “Exchange” with “BX” in Section 19(a).

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,^[4] in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,^[5] in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest, by providing greater transparency to the data feed information offered on BX. The Exchange's proposal to add more detail to both the BX Depth and BX Top data feeds will bring greater transparency to the Exchange's Rules. The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest as it provides information relating to the data available on the Exchange for the benefit of its Participants within its Rules and adds greater transparency to these offerings. Finally, the amendments seek to add greater clarity to the data offerings and conform the text of the offerings across its Nasdaq affiliated markets.

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

In accordance with Section 6(b)(8) of the Act,^[6] the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intermarket or intra-market competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The data feed offerings are available to any market participant. The Exchange's proposal to amend the data offerings will bring greater transparency to the Rulebook. The amendments seek to add greater clarity to the data offerings and conform the text of the offerings.

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 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, if consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, the proposed rule change 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 under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) ^[9] normally does not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However, pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii),^[10] the Commission may designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Exchange has asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative upon filing. The Exchange states that such waiver will allow it to update its rules to provide more detail regarding its data offerings and will further the protection of investors and the public interest because it will provide greater transparency as to the data offerings available to members. For this reason, the Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest and, therefore, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be 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 should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

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

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml);​; or
• Send an email to [e-mail]. Please include File Number SR-BX-2018-021 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2018-021. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-BX-2018-021 and should be submitted on or before June 26, 2018.

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

Eduardo A. Aleman,

Assistant Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

2.  17 CFR 240.19b-4.

3.  The data provided for each options series includes the symbols (series and underlying security), put or call indicator, expiration date, the strike price of the series, and whether the option series is available for trading on ISE and identifies if the series is available for closing transactions only.

4.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

5.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

6.  15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(8).

7.  15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).

8.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires the Exchange to give the Commission written notice the Exchange's 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.

9.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6).

10.  17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii).

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

12.  17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).