Self-Regulatory Organizations; EDGX Exchange, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change, as Modified by Amendment No. 1 Thereto, To Adopt an Early Trading Session and Three New Time-In-Force Instructions

I. Introduction

On February 2, 2016, EDGX Exchange, Inc. (the “Exchange” or “EDGX”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, a proposed rule change to amend its rules to: (i) Create a new trading session to be known as the Early Trading Session, which will run from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time; and (ii) adopt three new Time-in-Force (“TIF”) instructions. On February 12, 2016, the Exchange filed Amendment No. 1 to the proposed rule change. The proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1 thereto, was published for comment in the Federal Register on February 22, 2016. The Commission received no comments on the proposed rule change. This order approves the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1.

II. Description of the Proposal

The Exchange proposes to amend its rules to: (i) Create a new trading session, the Early Trading Session, which will run from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time; and (ii) adopt three new TIF instructions.

A. Early Trading Session

The Exchange trading day is currently divided into three sessions: (i) The Pre-Opening Session which starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time; (ii) Regular Trading Hours which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time; and (iii) the Post-Closing Session, which runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Exchange proposes to amend its rules to create the Early Trading Session. Exchange Rule 1.5 would be amended to add a new term, “Early Trading Session,” under proposed paragraph (ii). “Early Trading Session” would be defined as “the time between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.”

The Exchange also proposes to amend Exchange Rule 11.1(a) to state that orders may be entered or executed on, or routed away from, the Exchange during the the Early Trading Session and to reflect the start time of the Early Trading Session as 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Other than the proposal to adopt an Early Trading Session, the Exchange does not propose to amend the substance or operation of Exchange Rule 11.1(a).

Users currently designate when their orders are eligible for execution by selecting a desired TIF instruction. Orders entered between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time are not eligible for execution until the start of the Pre-Opening Session or Regular Trading Hours, depending on the TIF selected by the User. Users may enter orders in advance of the trading session for which the order is eligible. For example, Users may enter orders starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with a TIF of Regular Hours Only (“RHO”), which designates that the order only be eligible for execution during Regular Trading Hours. Users may enter orders as early as 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, but those orders would not be eligible for execution until the start of the Pre-Opening Session at 8:00 a.m. According to the Exchange, some Users have requested the ability for their orders to be eligible for execution starting at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Therefore, the Exchange is proposing to adopt the Early Trading Session.

As amended, Exchange Rule 11.1(a)(1) would state that orders entered between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, rather than 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, would not be eligible for execution until the start of the Early Trading Session, Pre-Opening Session, or Regular Trading Hours, depending on the TIF selected by the User. Exchange Rule 11.1(a)(1) will also be amended to state that the Exchange will not accept the following orders prior to 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, rather than 8:00 a.m.: Orders with a Post Only instruction, Intermarket Sweep Orders (“ISOs”), Market Orders with a TIF other than Regular Hours Only, orders with a Minimum Execution Quantity instruction that also include a TIF of Regular Hours Only, and all orders with a TIF instruction of Immediate-or-Cancel (“IOC”) or Fill-or-Kill (“FOK”). At the commencement of the Early Trading Session, orders entered between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, rather than 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, will be handled in time sequence, beginning with the order with the oldest time stamp, and will be placed on the EDGX Book, routed, cancelled, or executed in accordance with the terms of the order. As amended, Exchange Rule 11.1(a) would state that orders may be executed on the Exchange or routed away from the Exchange during Regular Trading Hours and during the Early Trading, Pre-Opening, Regular and Post Closing Sessions.

The Exchange also proposes to make the changes described below to Exchange Rules 3.21, 11.8, 11.10, 11.15, 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 to reflect the adoption of the Early Trading Session:

• Exchange Rule 3.21, Customer Disclosures. Exchange Rule 3.21 prohibits Members from accepting an order from a customer for execution in the Pre-Opening or Post-Closing Session without disclosing to their customer that extended hours trading involves material trading risks, including the possibility of lower liquidity, high volatility, changing prices, unlinked markets, an exaggerated effect from news announcements, wider spreads and any other relevant risk. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 3.21 to also require such disclosures for customer orders that are to be executed during the Early Trading Session.
• Exchange Rules 11.8(b), (c), (d), and (f). The Exchange proposes to amend the description of Limit Orders under Exchange Rule 11.8(b), ISOs under Exchange Rule 11.8(c), MidPoint Peg Orders under Exchange Rule 11.8(d), and Supplemental Peg Orders under Exchange Rule 11.8(f) to account for the Early Trading Session. Every order type that is currently available beginning at 8:00 a.m. will be available beginning at 7:00 a.m. for inclusion in the Early Trading Session. All other order types, and all order type behaviors, will otherwise remain unchanged. Therefore, each of the above rules for Limit Orders, ISOs, MidPoint Peg Orders, and Supplemental Peg Orders would be amended to state that those order types are available during the Early Trading Session.
• Exchange Rules 11.8(a) and (e). Market Orders and Market Maker Peg Orders would not be eligible for execution during the Early Trading Session. Market Orders are only eligible for execution during the Regular Session. Market Maker Peg Orders may currently be submitted to the Exchange starting at the beginning of the Pre-Opening Session, but the order will not be executable or automatically priced until after the first regular way transaction on the listing exchange in the security, as reported by the responsible single plan processor. Exchange Rule 11.8(e)(7) would be amended to state that Market Maker Peg Orders may be submitted to the Exchange starting at the beginning of the Early Trading Session. Market Maker Peg Orders would continue to not be executable or automatically priced until after the first regular way transaction on the listing exchange in the security, as reported by the responsible single plan processor.

• Exchange Rule 11.10, Order Execution and Routing. Exchange Rule 11.10(a)(2) discusses compliance with Regulation NMS and Trade Through Protections and states that the price of any execution occurring during the Pre-Opening Session or the Post-Closing Session must be equal to or better than the highest Protected Bid or lowest Protected Offer, unless the order is marked ISO or a Protected Bid is crossing a Protected Offer. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 11.10(a)(2) to expand the rule's requirements to the Early Trading Session.
• Exchange Rule 11.15, Clearly Erroneous Executions. Exchange Rule 11.15 outlines under which conditions the Exchange may determine that an execution is clearly erroneous. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 11.15 to include executions that occur during the Early Trading Session. Exchange Rule 11.15(c)(1) sets forth the numerical guidelines the Exchange is to follow when determining whether an execution was clearly erroneous during Regular Trading Hours or the Pre-Opening or Post-Closing Trading Session. Exchange Rule 11.15(c)(3) sets forth additional factors the Exchange may consider in determining whether a transaction is clearly erroneous. These factors include whether the transaction was executed during the Pre-Opening or Post-Closing Trading Sessions. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 11.15(c)(1) and (3) to include executions occurring during the Early Trading Session.
• Exchange Rule 14.1, Unlisted Trading Privileges. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rules 14.1(c)(2), and Interpretation and Policies .01(a) and (b) to account for the Early Trading Session. Specifically, the Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (c)(2) to state that an information circular distributed by the Exchange prior to the commencement of trading of a UTP Derivative Security will describe the risk of trading during the Early Trading Session. In addition, the Exchange proposes to amend Interpretation and Policies .01(a) to add Early Trading Session to the paragraph's title and to state that if a UTP Derivative Security begins trading on the Exchange in the Early Trading Session or Pre-Opening Session and subsequently a temporary interruption occurs in the calculation or wide dissemination of the Intraday Indicative Value (“IIV”) or the value of the underlying index, as applicable, to such UTP Derivative Security, by a major market data vendor, the Exchange may continue to trade the UTP Derivative Security for the remainder of the Early Trading Session and Pre-Opening Session. Lastly, the Exchange proposes to amend Interpretation and Policies .01(b) to add Early Trading Session to the paragraph's title and to amend subparagraph (2) of that section to state that if the IIV or the value of the underlying index continues not to be calculated or widely available as of the commencement of the Early Trading Session or Pre-Opening Session on the next business day, the Exchange shall not commence trading of the UTP Derivative Security in the Early Trading Session or Pre-Opening Session that day.

• Exchange Rule 14.2, Investment Company Units. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 14.2(g) to state that transactions in Investment Company Units may occur during the Early Trading Session. Currently, such transactions may occur during Regular Trading Hours and the Pre-Opening and Post Closing Sessions.
• Exchange Rule 14.3, Trust Issued Receipts. The Exchange proposes to amend Exchange Rule 14.3(d) to state that transactions in Trust Issued Receipts may occur during the Early Trading Session. Currently, such transactions may occur during Regular Trading Hours and the Pre-Opening and Post-Closing Sessions.

B. TIF Instructions

The Exchange proposes to adopt three new TIF instructions under Exchange Rule 11.6(q). As discussed above, a User may designate when its order is eligible for execution by selecting the desired TIF instruction under Exchange Rule 11.6(q).

Although the Exchange states that the proposal to adopt an Early Trading Session is in response to User requests for their orders to be eligible for execution starting at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, some Users have requested that their orders continue to not be eligible for execution until the start of the Pre-Opening Session at 8:00 a.m. Therefore, the Exchange proposes to adopt the following three new TIF instructions under Exchange Rule 11.6(q):

• Pre-Opening Session Plus (“PRE”). A limit order that is designated for execution during the Pre-Opening Session and Regular Trading Hours. Like the current Day TIF instruction, any portion not executed expires at the end of Regular Trading Hours.

• Pre-Opening Session `til Extended Day (“PTX”). A limit order that is designated for execution during the Pre-Opening Session, Regular Trading Hours, and the Post-Closing Session. Like the current GTX TIF instruction, any portion not executed expires at the end of the Post-Closing Session.

• Pre-Opening Session `til Day (“PTD”). A limit order that is designated for execution during the Pre-Opening Session, Regular Trading Hours, and the Post-Closing Session. Like the current GTD TIF instruction, any portion not executed will be cancelled at the expiration time assigned to the order, which can be no later than the close of the Post-Closing Trading Session.

Under each proposed TIF instruction, Users may designate that their orders only be eligible for execution starting with the Pre-Opening Session. Users may continue to enter orders as early as 6:00 a.m., but orders with the proposed TIF instructions would not be eligible for execution until 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the start of the Pre-Opening Session. At the commencement of the Pre-Opening Session, orders entered between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time with one of the proposed TIF instructions will be handled in time sequence, beginning with the order with the oldest time stamp, and will be placed on the EDGX Book, routed, cancelled, or executed in accordance with the terms of the order.

The Exchange proposes to amend the following order types under Exchange Rule 11.8 to account for the three proposed TIF instructions:

• Market Orders. The proposed TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, and PTD would not be available for Market Orders. Under Exchange Rule 11.8(a)(2), a Market Order may only include a TIF instruction of IOC, RHO, FOK, or Day.
• Limit Orders. Exchange Rule 11.8(b)(2) describes the TIF instructions that may be attached to a Limit Order. The Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (b)(2) to add the TIF instructions of PRE, PTX, or PTD to the list of TIF instructions that a Limit Order may include.
• ISOs. Exchange Rule 11.8(c)(1) describes the TIF instructions that may be attached to an incoming ISO. The Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (c)(1) to state that an incoming ISO may have a TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, or PTD, in addition to Day, GTD, RHO, GTX, and IOC. Exchange Rule 11.8(c)(1) would be further amended to state that an incoming ISO with a Post Only and TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, or PTD, like those with an TIF instruction or GTD, GTX, or Day, will be cancelled without execution if, when entered, it is immediately marketable against an order with a Displayed instruction resting in the EDGX Book unless such order removes liquidity pursuant to Exchange Rule 11.6(n)(4).

• MidPoint Peg Orders. Exchange Rule 11.8(d)(1) describes the TIF instructions that may be attached to a MidPoint Peg Order. The Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (d)(1) to state that a MidPoint Peg Order may have a TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, or PTD, in addition to Day, FOK, IOC, RHO, GTX and GTD.
• Market Maker Peg Orders. The proposed TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, and PTD would not be available to Market Maker Peg Orders. Under Exchange Rule 11.8(e)(4), a Market Maker Peg Order may only include a TIF instruction of Day, RHO, or GTD.
• Supplemental Peg. Exchange Rule 11.8(f)(1) describes the TIF instructions that may be attached to a Supplemental Peg Order. The Exchange proposes to amend paragraph (f)(1) to state that a Supplemental Peg Order may have a TIF instruction of PRE, PTX, or PTD, in addition to GTD, GTX, RHO and Day.

III. Discussion and Commission Findings

After careful consideration, the Commission finds that the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder applicable to a national securities exchange. The Commission believes that the proposed rule change, as modified by Amendment No. 1, is consistent with Section 6(b)(5) in particular, in that it is 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 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.

The Exchange proposes to adopt an Early Trading Session and three new TIF instructions and to make related changes to its rules as discussed above. The Commission believes that the proposed rules would provide Users with additional options for trading on the Exchange. The Commission notes that the proposed Early Trading Session hours are similar to those of other exchanges and that the proposed TIF instructions would offer functionality similar to existing functionality available on the Exchange and other exchanges which allows Members to select when their orders become eligible for execution.

The Commission notes that the Exchange has represented that it would subject orders that are eligible for execution as of the start of the Pre-Opening Session to all of the Exchange's standard regulatory checks, as it currently does with all orders upon entry. Specifically, the Exchange will subject such orders to checks for compliance with, including but not limited to, Regulation NMS, Regulation SHO, and relevant Exchange rules. Moreover, the Exchange reminds its Members of their regulatory obligations when submitting an order with one of the proposed TIF instructions. In particular, the Exchange states that Members must comply with the Market Access Rule, which requires, among other things, pre-trade controls and procedures that are reasonably designed to assure compliance with Exchange trading rules and Commission rules pursuant to Regulation SHO and Regulation NMS. The Exchange also notes that a Member's procedures must be reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements, not just at the time the order is routed to the Exchange, but also at the time the order becomes eligible for execution.

The Commission further notes the Exchange's discussion of the best execution obligations of Members utilizing the proposed TIF instructions. Specifically, the Exchange states that a Member's best execution obligations may include cancelling an order when market conditions deteriorate and could result in an inferior execution or informing customers if the execution of their order may be delayed intentionally while the Member utilizes reasonable diligence to ascertain the best market for the security. The Exchange further notes that Members will maintain the ability to cancel or modify the terms of an order utilizing any of the proposed TIF instructions at any time, including during the time from when the order is routed to the Exchange until the start of the Pre-Opening Session. As a result, the Exchange states that a Member who utilizes the proposed TIF instructions, but later determines that market conditions favor execution during the Early Trading Session, can cancel the order residing at the Exchange and enter a separate order to execute during the Early Trading Session.

IV. Conclusion

It is therefore ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act that the proposed rule change (SR-EDGX-2016-06), as modified by Amendment No. 1, be, and it hereby is, approved.