Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to the Clearly Erroneous Rule

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Federal RegisterOct 2, 2013
78 Fed. Reg. 60977 (Oct. 2, 2013)
September 26, 2013.

Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, notice is hereby given that, on September 26, 2013, 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.

17 CFR 240.19b-4.

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

The Exchange proposes to extend the pilot period of recent amendments to Rule 11890, concerning clearly erroneous transactions, so that the pilot will now expire on April 8, 2014. The Exchange also proposes to remove certain references to individual stock trading pauses contained in Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4).

The text of the proposed rule change is available from NASDAQ's Web site at http://nasdaq.cchwallstreet.com/Filings/,, at NASDAQ's principal office, 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

On September 10, 2010, the Commission approved, for a pilot period to end December 10, 2010, a proposed rule change submitted by the Exchange, together with related rule changes of the BATS Exchange, Inc., NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc., Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated, Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., EDGA Exchange, Inc., EDGX Exchange, Inc., International Securities Exchange LLC, New York Stock Exchange LLC, NYSE MKT LLC (formerly, NYSE Amex LLC), NYSE Arca, Inc., and National Stock Exchange, Inc., to amend certain of their respective rules to set forth clearer standards and curtail discretion with respect to breaking erroneous trades. The changes were adopted to address concerns that the lack of clear guidelines for dealing with clearly erroneous transactions may have added to the confusion and uncertainty faced by investors on May 6, 2010. The pilot program was extended several times since its adoption and is currently set to expire on September 30, 2013. In its rule change that extended the pilot program to September 30, 2013, the Exchange also adopted a provision designed to address the operation of the National Market System Plan to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility (the “Limit Up-Limit Down Plan”). The Exchange believes the benefits to market participants from the more objective clearly erroneous executions rule should continue on a pilot basis through April 8, 2014, which is one year following commencement of operations of the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan. The Exchange believes that continuing the pilot during this time will protect against any unanticipated consequences. Thus, the Exchange believes that the protections of the Clearly Erroneous Rule should continue while the industry gains further experience operating the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan.

Securities Exchange Act Release No. 62886 (September 10, 2010), 75 FR 56613 (September 16, 2010).

Securities Exchange Act Release No. 68819 (February 1, 2013), 78 FR 9438 (February 8, 2013) (SR-NASDAQ-2013-022).

Id.

Securities Exchange Act Release No. 67091 (May 31, 2012), 77 FR 33498 (June 6, 2012); see also Rule 11890(g).

The Exchange also proposes to eliminate all references in Rule 11890 to individual stock trading pauses issued by a primary listing market. Specifically, Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4) provides specific rules to follow with respect to review of an execution as potentially clearly erroneous when there was an individual stock trading pause issued for that security and the security is included in the S&P 500 Index, the Russell 1000 Index, or a pilot list of Exchange Traded Products (“Subject Securities”). The stock trading pauses described in Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4) are being phased out as securities become subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan pursuant to a phased implementation schedule. The Limit Up-Limit Down Plan is already operational with respect to all Subject Securities, and thus, the Exchange believes that all references to individual stock trading pauses should be removed, including all cross-references to Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4) contained in other portions of Rule 11890.

The Exchange notes that certain Exchange Traded Products (“ETPs”) are not yet subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan. Because such ETPs are not on the pilot list of securities, such ETPs are not subject to Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4). Securities Exchange Act Release No. 65104 (August 11, 2011), 76 FR 51076 (August 17, 2011) (SR-NASDAQ-2011-116) (notice of filing and immediate effectiveness to amend the clearly erroneous rule to specify that Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(4) applies only to the current securities of the Individual Stock Trading Pause pilot). Accordingly, the proposed rule change does not change the status quo with respect to such ETPs. As amended, all securities, including ETPs not subject to the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan, will continue to be subject to Rule 11890(a)(2)(C)(1)-(3).

The Exchange is also making technical amendments to certain citations within Rule 11890 to make them more accurate.

2. Statutory Basis

The statutory basis for the proposed rule change is Section 6(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), which requires the rules of an exchange 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. The Exchange believes that the pilot program promotes just and equitable principals of trade in that it promotes transparency and uniformity across markets concerning review of transactions as clearly erroneous. More specifically, the Exchange believes that the extension of the pilot would help assure that the determination of whether a clearly erroneous trade has occurred will be based on clear and objective criteria, and that the resolution of the incident will occur promptly through a transparent process. The proposed rule change would also help assure consistent results in handling erroneous trades across the U.S. markets, thus furthering fair and orderly markets, the protection of investors and the public interest. Although the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan will become fully operational during the same time period as the proposed extended pilot, the Exchange believes that maintaining the pilot will help to protect against unanticipated consequences. To that end, the extension will allow the Exchange to determine whether Rule 11890 is necessary once the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan is fully operational and, if so, whether improvements can be made. Finally, the elimination of references to individual stock trading pauses will help to avoid confusion amongst market participants, which is consistent with the Act. As described above, individual stock trading pauses have been replaced by the Limit Up-Limit Down Plan with respect to all Subject Securities.

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

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will result in any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act, as amended. To the contrary, the Exchange believes that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and other national securities exchanges are also filing similar proposals, and thus, that the proposal will help to ensure consistency across market centers.

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

Written comments were neither solicited nor 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 and Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) thereunder.

17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6)(iii). As required under Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the Commission with written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and the 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 asked the Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposal may become operative immediately upon filing. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest, as it will allow the pilot program to continue uninterrupted, thereby avoiding investor confusion that could result from a temporary interruption in the pilot program. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing.

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).

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.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposal 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 rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR-NASDAQ-2013-127 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

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

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2013-127. 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 Web site ( 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 Web site 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; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NASDAQ-2013-127 and should be submitted on or before October 23, 2013.

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

Kevin M. O'Neill,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2013-24018 Filed 10-1-13; 8:45 am]

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